- Blockbuster quarterfinals to watch: France vs. Morocco (a 2022 rematch), Spain vs. Belgium, and England vs. Norway — plus one final spot decided by the winners of Argentina vs. Egypt and Switzerland vs. Colombia.
- Stars stealing the show — Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah are all must-talk names this week.
- Great storylines for small talk: Morocco reached back-to-back World Cup quarters (historic for an African nation), Norway made its first quarterfinal after beating Brazil, and Argentina enter as favorites.
The news, distilled into what matters.
- Argentina, the defending champions, are unbeaten and heavily favored — Lionel Messi has scored 7 of their 11 goals and has found the net in eight straight World Cup games.
- Egypt will look to Mohamed Salah (with support from Omar Marmoush) to try for a huge upset — can Salah deliver another standout knockout-stage performance?
- Colombia vs. Switzerland is pitched as Xhaka’s midfield leadership versus Colombia’s pacey threat Luis Díaz, with Johan Manzambi a surprise Swiss breakout and Luis Suárez offering veteran spark off the bench.
- Lionel Messi has been unstoppable — 7 of Argentina’s 11 goals and on the scoresheet in eight straight World Cup matches; can anyone stop him vs Egypt?
- Egypt will lean on Mohamed Salah for an upset after surviving a dramatic shootout — he’s their best chance on the break.
- Colombia vs Switzerland is intriguing: Switzerland’s Granit Xhaka and breakout Johan Manzambi vs a Colombia attack led by Luis Díaz (Colombia has three clean sheets in four).
- Lionel Messi and defending champions Argentina meet Egypt in the World Cup Round of 16 with a spot in the quarterfinals — Argentina aiming to go back-to-back.
- Messi has been electric: seven of Argentina’s 11 goals so far and has scored in eight consecutive World Cup matches.
- Egypt have made history by advancing from the group and winning a knockout match for the first time; Mohamed Salah could lead a big upset.
- Ruthin School, a 700‑year‑old independent school in Denbighshire, has abruptly closed, leaving pupils and parents heartbroken after being told the day before summer break.
- Owners and leaders blame mounting financial pressures — notably the recent change to charge VAT on school fees, loss of charitable status and falling pupil numbers — a trend also forcing other private schools in Wales to shut.
- The closures have prompted local campaigns, parental bids to save schools and calls from politicians for urgent government action, sparking wider debate about the future of independent education in Wales.
- Prince Harry lost a long-running suit against the publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday, with the U.K. court dismissing the claims.
- The case — brought alongside figures like Elton John and Elizabeth Hurley — accused the tabloids of tactics such as phone tapping; the publisher denied wrongdoing.
- The ruling, during a rare UK visit by Harry, likely marks the end of his major legal battles with the British press after a mix of earlier settlements and wins.
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