sportsFriday, July 3, 2026

World Cup money and celebrity buzz

The World Cup is in full swing, and today's coverage splits between on-pitch action and off-pitch spectacle. While Switzerland and Portugal advance, the real story is the tournament's financial and cultural footprint in the U.S., with brands, celebrities, and even political no-shows making headlines.

Sources

Pitch action

Two round-of-32 matches produced clear winners and a dose of drama.

#01gazeteoksijen.comJul 3

İsviçre, Cezayir'i 2 golle geçti: Son 16'ya yükseldi

Switzerland beat Algeria 2-0 in the round of 32, with goals from Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye, to book a spot in the last 16.

2 min readRead original

#02www.mirror.co.ukJul 3

World Cup LIVE - Cristiano Ronaldo scores to draw Portugal level v Croatia after retirement bombshell

Cristiano Ronaldo scored to level Portugal's match against Croatia, with the Mirror also noting his sister's hint about his next move and extended pub hours in the UK.

8 min readRead original

Money and politics

Off the field, the tournament's financial scale and political undertones drew attention.

#03www.hollywoodreporter.comJul 3

World Cup Money: The Winners and Losers So Far

The Hollywood Reporter breaks down the World Cup money machine: FIFA projects $9 billion in revenue, while host cities see GDP boosts and celebrities cash in on appearances.

#04www.dailykos.comJul 3

Afraid of getting booed, Trump bails on World Cup

Daily Kos runs an opinion piece accusing Trump and Vance of skipping the US-Belgium match out of fear of being booed, adding a political layer to the tournament.

#05www.rollingstone.comJul 3

Inside the FIFA World Cup 2026: Brands and Celebs Celebrate Soccer’s U.S. Invasion

Rolling Stone catalogs the celebrity and brand presence at World Cup matches, from Sterling K. Brown to Simu Liu, highlighting how the tournament has become a marketing bonanza.

Also today7

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