The Two Biggest Events in Sports Collide on the Same Monday
Today is one of the most loaded single days on the entire sports calendar. The World Cup Round of 16 delivers two of the most anticipated matchups of the entire tournament -- the Iberian Derby between Spain and Portugal at 3pm ET in Dallas, and USA vs Belgium at 8pm ET in Seattle, a rematch of the 2014 clash that ended America's run in Brazil. Meanwhile the WSOP Main Event is underway in Las Vegas with Negreanu just winning his 8th bracelet and 84 of 100 total bracelets already awarded. Here is everything you need to know.
World Cup Round of 16: Norway Stuns Brazil, England Beats Mexico at the Azteca
The Round of 16 has already delivered two of the most memorable results in recent World Cup history before today's games even kick off. On Sunday, Norway eliminated Brazil 2-1 in one of the biggest upsets in tournament history -- a result that shook the entire bracket and immediately reshuffled the futures market. Erling Haaland, who has been the player of the tournament, was the driving force of the entire performance. Brazil, coached by Carlo Ancelotti and carrying the weight of a nation desperate for a sixth World Cup title, were eliminated at the round of 16 for just the second time since 1990. Norway are now in the quarterfinals for the first time in their history.
Also on Sunday, England produced what Thomas Tuchel called the best win by an England team on foreign soil in the nation's history -- defeating host Mexico 2-1 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Jude Bellingham scored twice in the second half to turn the game around after Mexico took the lead, and Harry Kane added a penalty to seal it. It was England's first win at the Azteca and ended Mexico's World Cup in front of 87,000 of their own supporters. A brutal exit for the co-hosts who had been one of the stories of the tournament. England now face Norway in the quarterfinals on Saturday, July 11 in Miami -- a blockbuster matchup between the tournament's two most in-form European sides.
On Saturday, Morocco obliterated co-host Canada 3-0 to continue one of the most impressive runs of the entire tournament. The Canadians, who had been one of the stories of the group stage, had no answer for Morocco's attacking press and were eliminated in front of a heavily partisan crowd. France also advanced with a 1-0 win over Paraguay, doing enough without being spectacular.
Today's Games: Spain vs Portugal and USA vs Belgium
The Round of 16 reaches its peak today with two matches that would each individually qualify as the game of the tournament.
Spain vs Portugal -- 3pm ET, Fox, AT&T Stadium, Dallas: The Iberian Derby is back. These two nations have met before at World Cups -- Spain eliminated Portugal in 2010 on their way to lifting the trophy, and they drew 3-3 in a legendary 2018 group-stage match where Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat trick. In 2026, both sides have been among the most convincing teams of the tournament. Spain beat Austria 3-0 in the round of 32 with Lamine Yamal back in full flow. Portugal powered past Croatia 2-1 with Ronaldo -- who has now scored three goals in the tournament -- continuing to defy expectations at 41 years old. This is the deepest Spain squad in a generation. But Portugal without Ronaldo is unthinkable and with him in this form, they are a genuine threat to anyone remaining. The winner faces the winner of USA vs Belgium in the quarterfinals on July 10 in Los Angeles.
USA vs Belgium -- 8pm ET, Fox, Lumen Field, Seattle: Twelve years after Belgium knocked the United States out of the 2014 World Cup in the round of 16, the sides meet again in the exact same stage with the exact same stakes. The USMNT got a major boost when FIFA rescinded the one-game suspension for leading scorer Folarin Balogun, who had received a controversial red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32. Balogun is available tonight. The US also advanced with a 2-0 win over Bosnia behind a breakout performance from Alex Freeman, the son of former Pro Bowl wide receiver Antonio Freeman. Belgium survived a wild 3-2 extra-time win over Senegal -- coming back from 2-0 down -- and showed a resilience that their group-stage form had not suggested. The USMNT has not reached a World Cup quarterfinal since 2002. Tonight in Seattle is their shot.
From a betting standpoint, tonight's USA-Belgium match is the single most interesting line on the board. The USMNT have been arguably the tournament's most consistent side not named Norway or Morocco. They are playing at home, in front of what will be one of the loudest crowds in the tournament, with their full squad available. Belgium have quality but have been inconsistent and only survived their round of 32 match in extra time. The US at plus money or a draw no bet is worth serious consideration. For Spain vs Portugal, both sides are so evenly matched that the draw and then penalties outcome is the single most likely result on the board. Check bonusdrop.io for the latest World Cup odds and promos before today's kickoffs.
What's Left in the Quarterfinals
The quarterfinal bracket is taking shape fast. France meet Morocco on Thursday July 9 in Boston in a rematch of the 2022 semifinal, which France won 2-0. Morocco have been sensational in 2026 -- their 3-0 demolition of Canada was their most complete performance of the tournament -- and the Atlas Lions believe they can go further than anyone from Africa has ever gone in a World Cup. Argentina meet Egypt in Atlanta on Tuesday July 7, with Messi having already scored five goals in the tournament. The winner of today's Iberian Derby plays the winner of USA vs Belgium on July 10 in Los Angeles. And on Saturday July 11 in Miami, Norway face England in what may be the best individual matchup of the quarterfinals -- Haaland vs Kane, two of the best strikers in the world, both in the form of their lives.
WSOP: Negreanu Wins Bracelet 8, Main Event Underway With 1,800+ Players
While the World Cup dominates the sports calendar, the World Series of Poker is simultaneously reaching its own climax in Las Vegas. As of July 5, 84 of the 100 scheduled bracelets have been awarded across 85 events, with 202,385 total entries logged at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. The series has already surpassed 200,000 entries -- a remarkable milestone.
The defining individual performance of the past week came from Daniel Negreanu, who won the $100,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha Championship for $2,257,718 and his eighth career WSOP bracelet. The win came in one of the most elite fields assembled all summer -- a final table of seasoned international high rollers where Artur Martirosian (who won $1,477,434 in second place) and Chris Frank ($1,002,107 in third) both walked away with seven-figure scores. Negreanu defeated Martirosian heads-up to complete the victory. Since breaking onto the poker scene in the late 1990s, Negreanu has now won eight bracelets across multiple disciplines, holds the record for most tournament earnings in WSOP history, and continues to compete at the highest level against the strongest fields the game produces. In his post-win comments, he described the result as validation that he continues to evolve as a player.
Independence Day saw four more champions crowned: Adriaan Jacobs won the $600 Deepstack Championship for $282,817, Toby Price claimed the $800 Summer Celebration for $500,000, Justin Fawcett captured his second bracelet in the $1,500 Double Board Bomb Pot PLO for $322,564, and Myles Mullaly took down the $5,000 Super Turbo Bounty for $593,601. Shaun Deeb also added to his total this week, winning the $1,500 8-Game Mixed Championship for $181,625. Dzmitry Urbanovich, one of the most consistently excellent tournament players never to have won a WSOP bracelet, finally broke through by winning the 8-Game Mixed Championship for $431,260 -- a result met with widespread appreciation throughout the poker community for a player widely considered long overdue.
The biggest story of the entire week, however, is happening right now. The $10,000 Main Event kicked off on Thursday July 2 and the field is already at more than 1,800 players through Day 1B, with Day 1C and 1D starting flights still to run. Defending champion Michael Mizrachi -- who received his ninth gold bracelet in a ceremony before entering the field on Day 1B -- is back to defend his title. The Player of the Year race has also heated up with Alex Foxen leading at 3,004 points, Shaun Deeb second at 2,817, and Naoya Kihara third at 2,676 after his historic back-to-back championship run earlier in the summer. Under this summer's new ESPN deal, the final nine players will come back after a three-week delay to play out the finale from August 3 through 5, with the champion crowned on August 5.
If you want a shot at the Main Event without traveling to Las Vegas, the WSOP Online series is still running through July 14. Head to the Poker section at bonusdrop.io for the best platforms to play online now.
The Full Betting Picture Today
Today is as loaded as any single sports day gets. Two Round of 16 matches with massive implications, the WSOP Main Event building momentum, and a quarterfinal bracket that promises to be the best in tournament history. Before placing any bets on today's Spain vs Portugal or USA vs Belgium, compare lines and grab the best promos available in your state. Check bonusdrop.io for the latest World Cup odds boosts and offers -- and visit our Poker section for everything WSOP Main Event related.