World Cup final ball, halftime show outfits to be auctioned

New York: A sale of World Cup memorabilia, including a ball used in the final and outfits worn by performers at the halftime show, was announced yesterday by New York auction house Christie’s.

The week-long online auction begins on July 22 and raises funds for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative working to generate $100m for children worldwide during the World Cup. chickenroadslot.pro

Top items include a yellow crop top and trousers worn by Colombian pop singer Shakira in her music video for Dai Dai, the official song of the 2026 football tournament.

The outfit she will wear during her performance at the first-ever World Cup final halftime show -- an 11-minute musical extravaganza also featuring Madonna, Justin Bieber and BTS - will also be auctioned.

Several soccer balls will go on sale including one from the July 19 final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and another from the opening match in Mexico last month.

A 2022 Argentina jersey signed by star player Lionel Messi is being auctioned too, as well as a US jersey signed by the United States’ men’s team.

Doha, Qatar: Spain head into FIFA World Cup semi-final against France with growing confidence after their dramatic victory over Belgium, convinced they have what it takes to stop the tournament favourites.

Luis de la Fuente’s side booked their place in the last four with a 2-1 win over Belgium on Friday with Mikel Merino coming off the bench to score the winner in the 88th minute after Fabian Ruiz’s opener had been cancelled out by Charles De Ketelaere.

The late triumph extended Spain’s impressive run in North America and reinforced the belief within the camp that the reigning European champions can once again get the better of France on Tuesday.

“It’s fair to think we can beat France; we’re going to work hard for them. We’re the only team that has managed to beat them twice. A great team is going to face another great team,” De la Fuente said after the quarter-final.

The Spain coach described the clash as “a final before the final”, insisting his players are capable of overcoming any opponent despite the quality waiting for them in Arlington.

“We’re aware of their immense potential, but we also know that we’re the only team to have beaten them in two semi-finals,” he said.

Spain defeated France 2-1 in the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-finals before edging Les Bleus 5-4 in last year’s UEFA Nations League semi-final, results that have given the squad added confidence ahead of another meeting with Didier Deschamps’ side.

De la Fuente knows the challenge will be greater than ever against a France team led by Kylian Mbappe and packed with attacking talent, but believes Spain have earned the right to trust their own football.

“The match will be more open than ever. We will have to raise our level of play and we’re going to give everything,” he said.

That confidence is shared by teenage star Lamine Yamal, who once again produced a lively display against Belgium.

“There are two possibilities: either they reach three World Cup finals in a row, or we beat them three times. I don’t know what might happen, but we’re not afraid at all,” Yamal said.

“I’m really happy with the win. Back in the semi-finals again. That’s what we came here for – to play these matches and win them. Now it’s time to rest and start thinking about the match against France.”

Spain have steadily gathered momentum after a goalless draw with Cape Verde in their opening match, going on to top their group before defeating Austria, Portugal and Belgium in the knockout rounds. Merino’s late winners against Portugal and Belgium have highlighted the depth available to De la Fuente, while Spain have conceded just one goal across their last five matches.

France, meanwhile, have lived up to their billing as one of the tournament’s strongest sides, reaching the semi-finals after victories over Sweden, Paraguay and Morocco, with Mbappe continuing to spearhead one of the competition’s most dangerous attacks.

يرى الحارس البلجيكي تيبو كورتوا أن مواجهة نصف النهائي المرتقبة بين منتخب إسبانيا ومنتخب فرنسا قد تحدد هوية بطل كأس العالم 2026.
وقال كورتوا في تصريحات إعلامية: “أعتقد أن الفائز من مواجهة إسبانيا وفرنسا سيفوز بلقب كأس العالم”.
وتأتي تصريحات حارس ريال مدريد بعد خروج منتخب بلجيكا من البطولة، في وقت يواصل فيه المنتخبان الإسباني والفرنسي مشوارهما بقوة، بعدما نجحا في بلوغ الدور نصف النهائي، ليضربا موعدًا في واحدة من أقوى مباريات النسخة الحالية.
ويحظى اللقاء بترقب جماهيري وإعلامي كبير، في ظل المستوى المميز الذي قدمه المنتخبان طوال البطولة، حيث يمتلك كل منهما كوكبة من النجوم القادرين على صناعة الفارق، وهو ما يجعل الفائز من هذه القمة مرشحًا بقوة لاعتلاء منصة التتويج وحصد لقب مونديال 2026.