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Why this World Cup finally feels like a turning point for soccer in America
America has a Monday night football game to watch in the middle of July. Only this time, there are no helmets.
Tonight, the U.S. men's national team faces Belgium in a prime-time World Cup knockout match, with a quarterfinal spot on the line and a team the country actually wants to root for.
This isn't the norm, at least in the U.S. For decades, soccer in the States has been treated as the next big thing that never sticks. The World Cup arrives, casual fans tune in, the conversation swells for a few weeks, and then the country usually returns to its regular rotation of football, basketball, baseball, and whatever officiating scandal people are talking about.
But this tournament has been different. The U.S. opener against Paraguay drew an average audience of 18 million across Fox's platforms with another 7 million watching on Spanish-language Telemundo. FIFA has also said attendance surpassed 3.6 million in the first two weeks of the tournament, breaking the record set in 1994, the last time the U.S. hosted the men's World Cup. So if soccer has been trying to prove it belongs in the American sports conversation, this tournament is making a pretty strong case.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Part of the buzz comes down to logistics. The games are being played on American soil and in American time zones, which means the U.S. team is not asking casual fans to wake up at 5 a.m. or plan their entire day around a match happening halfway across the world. A prime-time game is an easier sell. It can be watched at bars, at home, in group chats, after work — the way Americans already watch big sports events.
Part of it is timing. The U.S. reached this stage during a summer already wrapped in red, white, and blue, as the country marked its 250th birthday and host cities turned World Cup matches into something that looked a lot like an extended Fourth of July weekend. Across the country, the scene has been hard to miss: packed fan zones, pop-up shops selling soccer gear, viewing parties in parks, shopping centers, and museums, and U.S. fans showing up in jerseys, flags, and face paint.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.There is also the fact that the U.S. team has given people a reason to keep watching.
Striker Folarin Balogun has been at the center of that, giving the U.S. the kind of scoring threat it has not always had on the World Cup stage. But the entire roster is one of the clearest examples yet of what modern American soccer looks like, from Christian Pulisic to Chris Richards and Weston McKennie.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Plus, players like Tim Weah, Sergiño Dest, Malik Tillman, and others reflect a U.S. program built from several pipelines at once: players developed abroad, players connected to immigrant families, players with eligibility for multiple national teams, and players shaped by European club soccer, MLS academies, and the American youth system. Several could have represented other countries and chose the United States instead. For casual fans, that makes the team easier to get behind.
And then there is the controversy, because nothing pulls Americans into a sporting event faster than a good scandal.
During the U.S. team's 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Balogun was sent off the pitch after a VAR review for a challenge on defender Tarik Muharemović. The red-card decision initially meant he would miss the Belgium match, taking the U.S.'s top scorer out of its biggest game of the tournament. Then, after a conversation between Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino, FIFA changed course.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.The red card itself was not erased, but FIFA suspended Balogun’s one-game ban, clearing him to play in the round of 16. The decision came after Trump reportedly called FIFA president Gianni Infantino and asked for the play to be reviewed, saying Monday that he did not think it was a foul. The decision, though controversial, has sparked debate on the internet.
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However, the increase in interest for the sport did not start with this match, or even the World Cup in general. A Nielsen study found North America's soccer fan base has grown 10.9 percent over the past five years to more than 136 million people. The U.S. now has the fourth-largest soccer fan base in the world, with 62.5 million followers, according to the same report. The tournament is surely helping interest, with nearly seven in 10 North American fans saying their fascination with the sport had increased in the last three years as the World Cup approached, while 64 percent expected their interest to grow further.
Locally, youth soccer clubs have reported new sign-ups and renewed interest from families during the tournament. In Houston, HTX Soccer said hundreds of children signed up in recent weeks, a jump the club connected to World Cup excitement. In Florida, the soccer team Tampa Bay Rowdies has been using watch parties and youth outreach programs to turn World Cup attention into something more lasting.
That still does not mean soccer has overtaken football, basketball, or baseball in the U.S. But it does mean this World Cup arrived at a moment when the sport was already gaining ground. Lionel Messi's move to Inter Miami also helped push MLS further into the mainstream, building on the celebrity and global attention David Beckham has been cultivating since becoming one of the club's owners. MLS has grown to 30 teams across the U.S. and Canada. Premier League and La Liga broadcasts have helped make the U.S. the biggest foreign market for several major European leagues. Streaming, social media, FIFA video games, and shows like Ted Lasso and Welcome to Wrexham have made the sport more familiar to American audiences who did not necessarily grow up watching it.
For once, the question about soccer in the United States is not whether people can be persuaded to care. It feels like a lot of them already do.
Galaxy phones have a one-handed mode that actually works—it's just buried where nobody looks
Samsung Galaxy phones, like all other Android phones, come with a regular one-handed mode. It works, but it only goes so far. While it can help you use your phone with one hand, it's fairly limited and doesn't offer any extra features.
Forget the Toyota Corolla—this Italian sports sedan costs the same but drives like a $50K car
Buying a brand-new economy car is usually the sensible choice, but it isn't always the most rewarding one. Thanks to steep depreciation, the used market is full of luxury performance cars that cost no more than a new compact commuter, offering far more character for the same monthly payment.
Stalled Waymo cars involved in July 4 gridlock, company confirms
An hours-long traffic jam in San Francisco on Saturday July 4 was partly the result of stalled Waymo vehicles, the autonomous car company has confirmed.
Alleged videos of the gridlock surfaced on X, where drivers posted angrily about Waymo cars that wouldn't move.
SEE ALSO: Smooth, silent, strange: What it's really like to hail a robotaxiA Waymo spokesperson confirmed to Mashable that the city's 4th of July celebration at the Golden Gate Bridge led to traffic disruptions, a high volume of travelers, and unexpected road closures nearby.
While some of the autonomous vehicles remained operational, others ran out of charge while idling and were towed as a result.
"Our priority is keeping San Francisco moving safely, especially during major city celebrations," the Waymo spokesperson said in a statement. "Our team is always evaluating ways to strengthen Waymo's resilience in major traffic disruptions."
This isn't the first time that stalled Waymo cars have caused traffic jams in the city by the Bay.
Last December, a power outage gave San Francisco Waymo vehicles trouble at intersections without functioning stoplights, and the company had to temporarily suspend its service.
Ironically, two days before the 4th of July gridlock, Waymo posted a video on X about the simplicity of hailing one of its cars.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed."Because after a night out, getting home should be the easiest part," the video's caption reads.
I stopped using spaces to align Excel cells—and it changed everything
Need to nudge text or numbers across an Excel cell? The quickest solution might seem to be tapping the spacebar a few times until everything looks aligned. I used to do exactly that. Unfortunately, it usually comes back to haunt you the next time you resize a column, change the font, or print the sheet.
DDR4 and DDR5 prices are absurd, so I’m building my homelab with DDR3
I'll be honest, I didn't expect to be writing anything positive about DDR3 RAM in 2026, but the RAM market had other plans. With DDR4 and DDR5 kits selling for out-of-this-world prices, buying DDR3 is suddenly a smart buy again.
3 exciting Netflix thrillers to watch this week (July 6-12)
Original movies are dominating Netflix's current top 10. Enola Holmes 3, the third adventure movie in Netflix's detective franchise, occupies the top spot, while Little Brother, a comedy starring John Cena and Eric André, is No. 2. Both movies are satisfying options, but if you're looking for more thrillers, we've got you covered.
Claires is betting Gen Alpha wants creators, not celebrities
For millennials, a trip to Claire's was practically a rite of passage.
It was where ears were pierced, friendship necklaces were split in half, and every trip to the mall somehow ended with an armful of glittery accessories you probably didn't need but absolutely had to have. Long before "girlhood" became an internet buzzword, Claire's had already built an empire around it.
But nostalgia alone isn't enough to sustain a retailer in 2026.
After years of financial struggles, shifting shopping habits, and the slow decline of the American mall, Claire's has spent the past several years redefining itself for a generation that's more likely to hang out with friends on Roblox than at the mall. Its newest customer isn't a millennial looking for a nostalgia fix — she's Gen Alpha, discovering the brand through YouTube, social media, and online gaming platforms.
SEE ALSO: A parent's guide to keeping kids safe on RobloxThat strategy was on full display at this year's VidCon, where Claire's unveiled its latest collaboration with Roblox YouTuber Lana's Life, which just hit stores nationwide. The collection, inspired by the wildly popular game Dress To Impress, is more than another creator merchandise drop. It's part of a broader effort to position Claire's as what Chief Brand Officer Michelle Goad calls "an inspiring playground for modern girlhood."
"Girls feel very rushed to grow up," Goad told Mashable at the convention. "Because they have access to everything on social. They're seeing grown women in their algorithm, and they feel this urgency to grow up faster. We took a counterculture position and said, 'We're actually going to take a beat and cherish girlhood.'"
View this post on InstagramFor Claire's, that starts with understanding how Gen Alpha differs from the generation before it. While Gen Z embraced louder colors, edgier aesthetics, and more maximalism, Goad says today's tween shoppers are gravitating toward something noticeably softer.
"They're really feminine," she said. "They like a very pastel aesthetic."
She believes part of that shift comes from growing up with millennial parents. "If mom is in her beige era," she joked, "your daughter is probably into something really girly."
That insight has shaped everything from Claire's merchandising to the creators it partners with.
Rather than signing a traditional celebrity ambassador, the company looked to Lana's Life, whose 9.5 million subscribers know her through Roblox roleplay videos, beauty content, and Dress To Impress. Claire's had already seen strong demand for Dress To Impress-inspired products in stores. Lana, Goad said, was the obvious person to help bring that audience into the physical world.
The decision reflects a broader shift in how brands think about influence. "This consumer demands a two-way conversation and a true relationship with their community," Goad said. "You're going to want to engage and be a fan of someone who's actually there, showing up in the comments and doing the work."
Claire's debuted its Lana's Life collaboration at VidCon 2026. Credit: Courtesy of Claire'sFor Gen Alpha, creators often feel more accessible than celebrities. They're present in comment sections, livestreams, and community posts in ways movie stars and musicians rarely are. And that trust and connection hold more weight than a traditional celebrity endorsement. With millions of followers, Lana offers both the scale of a celebrity and the intimacy of a creator, which is exactly the combination Claire's is betting on.
The collaboration itself was designed to blur the line between digital and physical play. Fans visiting Claire's booth at VidCon could test products before they reached stores, meet Lana in person, and purchase items that unlocked digital rewards inside Roblox.
That feedback loop is central to how Claire's says it now operates. Instead of relying solely on trend forecasting months in advance, Goad says the company watches what young girls are actually talking about online and moves quickly. Internally, she describes the strategy as being "on trend, on time."
Whether it's the rise of squishies, Dress To Impress, hackey sacks making a comeback for a new generation, or another internet obsession waiting around the corner, Claire's increasingly treats Gen Alpha communities as its research department.
"I think our job is to listen," Goad said. "What are they saying in the comments? What are they asking for? What are they excited about?"
It's a notable evolution for a retailer once synonymous with mall culture. Instead of asking young shoppers to fit into Claire's vision, the company says it's rebuilding the brand around theirs.
For a generation growing up almost entirely online, Goad hopes Claire's can still offer something increasingly rare: a place — whether that's inside a Roblox game, on social media, or in one of its stores — where girlhood isn't something to rush through, but something worth celebrating.
SpaceX AI device prototype: What we know so far
Elon Musk's space exploration and AI company SpaceX may be looking to compete with Apple and the iPhone, even though Musk has denied the reports.
SpaceX has been showing off a prototype of a "handset-like device" to investors recently, according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal.
The device is reportedly focused on bringing AI capabilities to users, running on the company's own operating system and integrating xAI's technology to power its AI features. It's been described as having a "sleek design" and being "slimmer than an iPhone." The device is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon chipset.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.However, Musk weighed in on the Wall Street Journal report, calling it "utterly false" on his social media platform, X, without elaborating any further.
Musk has previously denied reports from earlier this year that SpaceX was working on a phone that would connect directly to Starlink satellites.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed."We are not developing a phone," Musk said in a reply on X, directed at Reuters' report that the company was developing a Starlink phone.
However, this time around, the Wall Street Journal's sources claim that there is a prototype that has been physically shown to investors.
Musk has previously voiced his dissatisfaction with Apple's iPhone and its dominance in the mobile market.
"Man, I sure hope we don't have to make a phone," Musk said at a town hall event in October 2024. "That's a lot of work."
"The idea of making a phone makes me want to die," he continued. "But if we have to make a phone, we will. But we will aspire not to make a phone."
It's possible that Musk doesn't view SpaceX's handheld device as a smartphone, as it seems more like an AI device. It's also possible that the device does have traditional smartphone functionality and Musk is just trying to deny its existence.
According to this most recent report, SpaceX informed investors that the device is in an early stage, so things can change, including whether it ever even reaches the public.
Your old Android phone solves the one problem every traveler faces
Traveling in summer puts our phones through quite a lot. Whether it's running Google Maps all day, sitting in the scorching sun at the beach, or the battery dying moments before arrival, your phone simply can't always keep up with the demand.
The used hybrid that still holds nearly 75% of its value
The used hybrid market is hotter than ever in 2026. Sales are up 34 percent year to date, prices keep climbing, and the average new vehicle now costs $50,900—about the same as a new Honda Pilot TrailSport or Ford Explorer ST-Line.
How to watch Portugal vs. Spain online for free
TL;DR: Live stream Portugal vs. Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup continues with arguably the biggest game of the round. There's a spot in the quarter-final stage up for grabs as Portugal play Spain.
Portugal are led by Cristiano Ronaldo in possibly his last major tournament. Spain are Euro 2024 champions and among the favorites to win the World Cup. It's got all the makings of a classic. Fans will be expecting big performances from the likes of Lamine Yamal and Bruno Fernandes.
If you want to watch Portugal vs. Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Portugal vs. Spain?Portugal vs. Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on July 6. This fixture takes place at the Dallas Stadium.
How to watch Portugal vs. Spain for freePortugal vs. Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.
BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Portugal vs. Spain for free by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit BBC iPlayer
Watch Portugal vs. Spain for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Portugal vs. Spain (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.
ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.
What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including the UK
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.
Live stream Portugal vs. Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.
Stop wasting money on mesh routers—this enterprise Wi-Fi gear is actually cheaper
I finally got tired of the poor performance of my old standard mesh Wi-Fi network and replaced it with a UniFi setup. I wish I had done this years ago. UniFi might have been brutal to set up, but it was so worth it in the end.
5 new movies to watch this week across Netflix, Paramount+, and more (July 6-12)
With the Fourth of July weekend behind us, our attention now turns to a new crop of movies on streaming. My top pick is an adaptation of a novel that features William Shakespeare, his wife, Agnes, and an emotional ending. Plus, it features one of the best acting performances of 2025.
The best microSD, portable SSDs, and hard drive deals to grab this week
If you've been shopping for any kind of storage device, then you're probably well aware of the ongoing global memory crisis (affectionately known as "RAMageddon"). And, like most crises, experts have confirmed that it's only going to get worse before it gets better, if ever. (Thanks, AI.)
SEE ALSO: The best budget tablets of 2026: Testing Apple, Lenovo, and Amazon Fire tabletsDuring Prime Day, we saw hundreds of microSD, portable SSDs, and hard drives go on sale. But now that those deals are gone, you'll have to dig deep to find a genuine discount (read: not some inflated list price BS).
To help you out, I tracked down the best memory and storage deals you can still grab this week to beat the price hikes.
Best microSD deal Gigastone MicroSD Card (128GB) $49.99 at Amazon$59.99 Save $10 Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it
I know a $10 discount doesn't sound like much, especially if you remember buying these things for 20 bucks a few years ago. But thanks to RAMageddon, 17% off the Gigastone 128GB Micro SD Card is basically the best deal we're going to get this week.
Bonus: It comes with a five-year warranty that includes free data recovery. If you've ever lost hours of drone footage or game saves to a corrupted card, that safety net is worth every penny.
Best portable SSD deal Samsung T9 Portable SSD (1TB) $199.99 at Amazon$287.99 Save $88 Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it
If you're looking for laptop storage, the Samsung T9 (1TB) is down to $199.99 this week. That's not the lowest we've seen this portable SSD go for, but since it normally costs around $288, it's a pretty good deal considering (*gestures to everything*).
It delivers read and write speeds up to 2,000 MB/s, so you shouldn't have to wait too long on file transfers. It also features a built-in thermal guard to keep it from overheating, so that's nice. If you need even more space, you can grab the 2TB version on sale for $399.99 or the 4TB for $799.99.
Best internal hard drive deal Samsung 990 PRO (2TB) $159.99 at Best Buy$199.99 Save $40 Get Deal at Best Buy Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it
Attention gamers: The Samsung 990 PRO Gen4 SSD (2TB) is on sale for $389.99 right now. That's a $250 price cut for a top-notch hard drive. Not only is the 990 PRO an "Amazon's Choice" product, but it has more than 13K reviews and a 4.7-star rating.
It hits sequential read speeds up to 7,450 MB/s, is about 50 percent more power-efficient than the older 980 PRO model, and Amazon reviewers say the performance is "unbeatable;" though some have noted that you may need a motherboard heatsink if you're going to be doing heavy video editing or 3D rendering.
More microSD, portable SSD, and hard drive dealsLexar ES3 External SSD (1TB) — $152.99 $169.99 (save $17)
WD My Passport Portable External Hard Drive (5TB) — $180.49 $284.99 (save $104.50)
Samsung T7 Portable SSD (1TB) — $219.99 $274.99 (save $55)
Lexar ES3 External SSD (2TB) — $269.99 $299.99 (save $30)
Hurry to get the Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box for the lowest price weve ever seen at Amazon
SAVE $16.89: The Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box is on sale at Amazon for $18.10, down from the list price of $34.99. That's a 48% discount and the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.
Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box $18.10 at Amazon$34.99 Save $16.89 Get Deal
Just like Pokémon, getting into Magic: The Gathering can take a serious investment. Instead of fretting over the price of a starter pack, check out this deal at Amazon.
As of July 6, the Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box is on sale for only $18.10 at Amazon, marked down from the standard price of $34.99. That's a major 48% discount that shaves $16.89 off the price. It's also the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.
Designed to help learn the basics of the game, the Magic: The Gathering Avatar set is the perfect option for a two-player adventure. The first game takes you on a guided battle between Aang and Zuko with two 20-card decks. There's a step-by-step guide booklet to take beginners through their first game with ease.
After that, players will combine any two of the eight 20-card half decks to form a full 40-card deck. That means players have tons of options to replay the game with new combinations and outcomes.
SEE ALSO: Score the Pokémon TCG: Mega Greninja ex Premium Collection for under $65 — save over $35Today's box includes two packets of 100 cards, including the two 20-card tutorial decks with Aang and Zuko. The eight 20-card half-decks include Firebending, Earthbending, Waterbending, Allies, Big Creatures, Counters, Spells, and Attacking. Accessories include playerboards for both players, two spindown life counters, two beginner guides, and five double-sided tokens.
Since it's on sale for the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon, snag the Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box for only $18.10. It's a great intro to the game that comes with an affordable price.
The compact sedan too many buyers are overlooking
Sedans may not dominate the roads like they once did, but they’re far from gone. As SUVs continue to steal the spotlight, the list of new four-door cars available in the U.S. has become a lot shorter.
Microsoft cuts 3,200 Xbox jobs, spins off four studios in major layoffs
Microsoft laid off 4,800 employees Monday, with more than 30 percent of the cuts in its Xbox division, according to an internal email reviewed by IGN.
The reductions, described internally as an Xbox "reset," will affect roughly 1,600 employees immediately, with the company planning to eliminate about 20 percent of Xbox jobs by the end of its 2027 fiscal year.
SEE ALSO: Xbox hopes to win back disaffected gamers with new disc-to-digital programAs part of the shakeup, four studios are being spun off from Microsoft. Double Fine and Compulsion Games are returning to independent ownership under founders Tim Schafer and Guillaume Provost, respectively, while Ninja Theory and Undead Labs are being sold to new owners, with commitments in place to continue development on their respective titles, Senua and State of Decay 3.
In an internal memo obtained by IGN, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma said the division's business "is not healthy," citing profit margins that are far below those of comparable platform and publishing companies. Sharma noted that Xbox lost 64 cents for every dollar invested in a typical year and pointed to oversaturation in the games market as a factor in the strategic pullback.
The memo also confirmed additional layoffs across Activision, Bethesda/ZeniMax, Blizzard, King, and Mojang, though Sharma said no first-party announced games are being canceled. As part of a broader management shakeup, Mojang and King will now report directly to Sharma, and Helen Chiang has been named Xbox's first Chief Operating Officer.
IGN, which is owned also reported that Microsoft is weighing the sale or closure of Arkane Studios, which has been developing the delayed, over-budget title Blade. According to the outlet, French labor consultations over Arkane's future could take months.
(Disclosure: IGN and Mashable are both owned by the same parent company, Ziff Davis.)
FIFA World Cup schedule today: Games, kickoff times, livestream info for July 6
The 2026 World Cup is now racing to the latter stages of the knockout rounds. The quarter finals are calling for the USA, now facing off against Belgium in the Round of 16. Portugal and Spain are also in action — a fixture that has the makings of an all-time classic.
It all kicks off at 3 p.m. ET. If yesterday's action is anything to go by — with Norway upsetting Brazil and England beating Mexico in an absolute thriller — July 6 could be another special day from this electric tournament.
FIFA World Cup schedule today: July 6Portugal vs. Spain (Dallas Stadium) — kickoff at 3 p.m. ET
USA vs. Belgium (Seattle Stadium) — kickoff at 8 p.m. ET
Cristiano Ronaldo leads Portugal in what is almost certainly the superstar's final World Cup campaign. But it won't be easy getting to the quarter finals. Spain are defending European Championship winners and have their own superstar in 18-year-old Lamine Yamal. It's truly a battle between two powerhouses. Expect fireworks — not to mention goals.
Live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.
Watch USA vs. BelgiumUSA were facing this crucial game without Folarin Balogun after he received a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina. But his one-match ban has been controversially lifted, so USA will be at full strength against Belgium. Can USA ride the wave of home support and reach the quarter finals for the first time since 2002?
Live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.
Opens in a new window Credit: Fox One Fox One (3-Month Subscription) $39.98$59.97 Save $19.99 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock (Spanish Language) Starting at $10.99/month Get Deal More live streaming optionsLive TV cable replacement
Not interested in signing up for a standalone streaming service like Fox One or Peacock? You can sign up for a live TV cable replacement service, like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV.
These services carry over 100 live channels, but run off a WiFi connection. You'll get live access to Fox and FS1, plus a whole lot more. Here are some options to consider:
YouTube TV — 10-day trial, then $67.99/month for 3 months
Fubo Sports — 1-day trial, then $45.99/month for 1 month
Hulu + Live TV — 3-day trial, then $89.99/month
It's possible to watch the World Cup for free on international services like ITVX, BBC iPlayer, NOS, or RTÉ. Our global World Cup watch guide can walk you through the process.
You will need a VPN to live stream the World Cup on these free streaming services. We recommend ExpressVPN — a Mashable-tested service and an Official Tournament Supporter of the FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Europe — as our VPN of choice for sport. It offers servers in 105 countries, a user-friendly app available on all major devices, a speedy connection, and up to 10 simultaneous connections.
Opens in a new window Credit: ExpresVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get DealPeople think Google is feeding their photos to Gemini, but the reality is worse
I recently came across an interesting discussion about the strange things happening in Google Photos: children being made up as oil paintings or hand drawings, etc. People suggested it was most likely an AI filter, not an AI-generated image, but that got me thinking about what Google is actually doing with our pictures.


