The dust is beginning to settle on another dramatic World Cup campaign, but there are still plenty of records and farewell moments to keep an eye on.

Last night’s third-place play-off between France and England served as a fitting appetiser ahead of tonight’s showpiece.

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With the stakes at an all-time high for Argentina and Spain, it would be unrealistic to expect anything other than a tactical chess match.

However, stranger things have happened in football. Read on as we bring you the latest updates from North America.

Saka & Bellingham reach impressive milestones

Arsenal talisman Bukayo Saka shone in England’s consolation victory over France in the highest-scoring World Cup fixture since 1982.

The 24-year-old winger scored his first-ever hat-trick for the national team to inspire the Three Lions to a stunning 6-4 win at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.

Saka also became only the fourth England star to score three goals in one World Cup match after Geoff Hurst (1966), Gary Lineker (1986) and Harry Kane (2018).

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Despite failing to lift the trophy, Thomas Tuchel became the first foreign manager to win a World Cup medal since George Raynor, who lost the 1958 final to Brazil while in charge of Sweden.

However, the former Chelsea boss had to survive another late scare to secure a podium finish, with France fighting back from a 4-0 half-time deficit to make it 4-3 heading into the last five minutes of regulation time.

Despite Les Bleus’ valiant attempt to turn the game on its head, England locked in their best World Cup finish since winning the title on home soil in 1966, and Jude Bellingham helped stave off fears of another heartbreak.

Subbed on in the 79th minute, Bellingham notched up a delightful solo goal to put the final nail in France’s coffin.

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With seven goals, the Real Madrid midfielder set a new national record for goals scored at a single World Cup, overtaking Kane and Lineker.

Mbappe & Olise make history despite France’s loss

France’s chances of winning another World Cup medal seemed all but gone at half-time, only for Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise to drag Les Bleus back into contention with a stunning second-half display.

Mbappe entered the game as the tournament’s joint-top scorer alongside Lionel Messi, and he needed less than 20 minutes to put clear daylight between himself and his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate.

His quick-fire second-half double made him the first player to hit double figures at a single World Cup since German legend Gerd Müller in 1970, taking his tournament tally to ten goals.

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With 22 goals at the finals, the 27-year-old forward is now the all-time leading scorer in the competition, steering one clear of the Argentina captain, who’ll have his last chance to return to the top later today.

Much of that was made possible by Michael Olise’s creativity.

Although the skilled winger finished his maiden World Cup appearance without a goal, he made history with two second-half assists, eclipsing Pele’s record by taking his tournament tally to seven.

Olise also became the first player to register at least two assists in four different matches during the same World Cup.

However, he was left to rue missed chances as his wastefulness denied Didier Deschamps the fairytale ending his remarkable tenure deserved.

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Trump pours gasoline on fire with Infantino praise

United States president Donald Trump doesn’t know when to quit.

Just as the controversy surrounding FIFA’s scandalous decision to lift Folarin Balogun’s suspension started to fade, Trump added fresh fuel to the fire by lavishing praise on Gianni Infantino.

Despite previously confirming his involvement in FIFA’s decision-making process, one of the most powerful men on earth doubled down by hailing Infantino’s role in one of the most controversial World Cups ever staged.

In another headline-grabbing media appearance, Trump described this summer’s tournament as one of the best ever, saying: “This has been a tournament like no other.

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“Filled with fierce competition, unforgettable moments – probably the most unforgettable is when they gave that gentleman… Is it a red card?”

He then moved the conversation onto Balogun’s red card, explaining his unprecedented dialogue with Infantino.

“I was forced to call Gianni and just make a recommendation. I said, ‘Gianni, I’d like to make a recommendation. Let the guy in the game.’

“No, I didn’t say that. I said, ‘I’d like to make a complaint’. And actually, I didn’t, I had no idea what was going to happen, but it’s so much better the way it worked out because there’s no controversy.

“They [Belgium] won the game and our team had all of its players. You [Gianni] made another great decision if you think about it. I know you’ll never get credit. But if he [Gianni] didn’t allow him [Balogun], then the [USMNT] would say, ‘We would have won the game if we had our best players’.

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“So Gianni made yet another of his many good decisions.”

Top football stories

• Spain forced to cancel pre-World Cup final training due to adverse weather

• F-16 fighter jets on standby for Trump’s World Cup final appearance

Football Today features

• Spain vs Argentina World Cup 2026 final preview: Prediction, team news & line-ups

• Tuchel admits there’s a visible gap between England and the elites

• Final tickets reach ridiculous price levels, Bellingham tries to lift England spirits

What to watch

No matter who wins at MetLife Stadium, Messi’s final World Cup game will dominate the headlines.

However, fresh off a dominant semi-final win over France, Spain head into proceedings as favourites, and it’s not because of Lamine Yamal.

It’s been Mikel Oyarzabal who has emerged as La Furia Roja’s standout performer in North America, becoming just the third Spanish player to score five goals at a single World Cup.

The Real Sociedad star is one goal away from becoming his country’s top scorer in one tournament, a feat that would see him surpass David Villa’s six-goal tally from the 2010 triumph.