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Goalkeeper Unai Simón delivered another impressive performance as Spain defeated France 2-0 in the World Cup semifinals on Tuesday, reaching the final while recording a tournament-record sixth clean sheet. One of Simón's biggest moments came late in the match when he rushed off his line to beat France captain Kylian Mbappé to a loose ball as Les Bleus searched desperately for a goal. After heading the ball clear, Simón briefly found himself out of position with France forward Desire Doue chasing the rebound. The Spanish goalkeeper sprinted back, turned his body toward the play and made a crucial no-hands deflection near the edge of the area before recovering the ball to preserve Spain's lead. Spain advanced to the World Cup final for only the second time in its history, 16 years after winning its only previous title. The team will play either defending champion Argentina or England in Sunday's final. The latest shutout came against FIFA's top-ranked side. Mbappé entered the match with 20 goals in 20 World Cup appearances and had won the Golden Boot in 2022. His eight goals in this year's tournament had matched Argentina great Lionel Messi's tournament-leading tally of 21 World Cup goals. "We are very happy with the work the team has done. We knew it would be a very difficult game against spectacular players, but I think we have them too," Spain defender Pau Cubarsi said. "We are a great family. We helped each other for 90 minutes and pressed like never before." Mbappé managed only three shots during the match, none of them on target, as France failed to create any clear scoring opportunities. The defeat also denied France the chance to become only the third nation to reach three consecutive World Cup finals. "Spain defended very well. I've watched all of their matches and today they did it exceptionally well," France coach Didier Deschamps said. "They closed all the spaces and we also made technical mistakes. It's difficult to create chances when your technical level is below standard." The only goal Simón has conceded in this tournament came in the 41st minute of Spain's 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Belgium, ending his World Cup record streak of 650 scoreless minutes. Tuesday's semifinal was played at the home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, where Spain had defeated Portugal 1-0 in the round of 16 eight days earlier to record its sixth consecutive World Cup match without conceding a goal. In that game, Simón denied two attempts from 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, who was playing in the final World Cup of his career. Spain's clean-sheet streak surpassed the previous World Cup record shared by Italy (1990) and Switzerland (2006-10). The run began with a goalless draw against Morocco in the 2022 round of 16, when Spain was eliminated in a penalty shootout, and also included a surprise scoreless draw against Cape Verde in this year's tournament. Simón had broken the previous record of 517 consecutive scoreless minutes during Spain's 3-0 victory over Austria at the start of the knockout stage.

Lamine Yamal did not find the net, but the teenage star's quick thinking proved crucial as Spain defeated France 2-0 in the World Cup semifinals on Tuesday to book a place in the final. Yamal spotted an opportunity when France defender Lucas Digne struggled to clear a loose ball inside his own penalty area. As Digne attempted to kick the ball away without noticing the Spain forward, he struck Yamal's thigh, leading to a penalty that put Spain ahead for good. The 19-year-old Barcelona winger has scored just once during Spain's run to the World Cup final, but his intelligent play created the breakthrough that helped La Roja secure a showdown in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday against either defending champion Argentina or England. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente had said before the match — played a day after Yamal's 19th birthday — that the youngster contributes much more than goals. Yamal's performance against France highlighted that point. "This team interprets every moment of the game perfectly," de la Fuente said through a translator after Spain advanced to the final. Although Yamal earned the penalty, Mikel Oyarzabal took the spot kick and calmly fired it into the top-right corner in the 22nd minute for his tournament-leading fifth goal. Yamal, who did not speak to reporters after the match, still has only one goal and no assists in the tournament. However, Spain may not have taken a first-half lead against a France side widely considered one of the favourites without his decisive contribution. "Everyone is moving in the same direction with the same idea and understands what is important," Oyarzabal said. "In the end, everyone gives what they can for the benefit of the team." Before the semifinal, de la Fuente had suggested Yamal's big scoring moment was approaching. However, the teenager has consistently said he is more focused on helping the team than on individual statistics. Despite sharing Barcelona's scoring lead with Spain teammate Ferrán Torres last season with 16 goals, Yamal said he never feels pressure to score. "I play the way I am, and I will never play better or worse than I really am," Yamal said on Monday. "I always give everything for the team, and when you know you've done that, you don't feel pressure." That attitude paid off in one of the tournament's biggest matches, as Yamal's awareness helped send Spain into the World Cup final.

Kylian Mbappé was named in France's starting lineup for Tuesday's World Cup semifinal against Spain after recovering from the minor ankle injury that forced him off late in the team's quarterfinal victory over Morocco. The France captain was substituted in the 77th minute of the quarterfinal after scoring his eighth goal of the tournament. He enters the semifinal level with Argentina captain Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. Messi, 39, holds the World Cup career scoring record with 21 goals, one more than the 20 scored by the 27-year-old Mbappé. France coach Didier Deschamps said Mbappé was physically fit after suffering what was described as a "slight" injury to his right ankle against Morocco. Mbappé is one of six French players to have started all seven of the team's World Cup matches, alongside forward Ousmane Dembele and goalkeeper Mike Maignan. For Spain, forward Mikel Merino was again named among the substitutes for the sixth time in seven matches. The versatile Arsenal midfielder scored the winning goals shortly after coming off the bench in Spain's 1-0 round-of-16 victory over Portugal and 2-1 quarterfinal win over Belgium. Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal made his sixth consecutive start for Spain, a day after celebrating his 19th birthday. He had come off the bench in Spain's opening 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, one of the tournament's surprise teams. Spain forward Nico Williams, who has been struggling with a muscle injury since the group-stage match against Uruguay, was not included in the starting lineup. He featured as a substitute in all three group-stage matches, missed the first two knockout games and returned as a late substitute in the 79th minute against Belgium.

France and Spain will put their unbeaten records on the line when they face each other in the first semifinal of the FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, with only one team earning a place in Sunday's final. Both sides are playing in their 17th World Cup and neither has trailed in any match during this year's tournament. France, led by Kylian Mbappé, and Spain, inspired by teenage star Lamine Yamal and impact substitute Mikel Merino, will meet at AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. Top-ranked France has scored 14 goals while conceding only twice in the tournament. Mbappé, winner of the 2022 Golden Boot, has scored eight goals to share the tournament lead with Argentina captain Lionel Messi. The French forward is also just one goal away from matching Messi's career World Cup record of 21 goals. "We are confident because of the journey we have had so far, but we also want to remain humble, which has defined us since the start of the tournament," France midfielder Adrien Rabiot said. Mbappé, 27, has now scored 20 goals in 20 World Cup matches. He famously scored in France's 2018 final victory over Croatia, becoming only the second teenager after Pele to score in a World Cup final. Coach Didier Deschamps said Mbappé is fully fit after being substituted in the 77th minute of France's quarterfinal victory over Morocco, in which he scored. Spain will rely on 19-year-old Yamal, who celebrated his birthday on Monday. The young winger has already enjoyed success against France, scoring in Spain's 2-1 victory in the semifinals of the 2024 European Championship just before turning 17. Spain also defeated France 5-4 in last year's UEFA Nations League. "I think if France has to fear anyone, it should be us," Yamal said after Spain's quarterfinal win over Belgium. "We were the team that eliminated them before." Yamal has scored once in this World Cup while registering 10 shots on target despite still recovering from a left hamstring injury that forced him to miss the closing weeks of Barcelona's season. "This is the biggest match I have ever played," Yamal said on Monday. "The best birthday gift would be reaching the final." France defender Jules Koundé, Yamal's teammate at Barcelona, said he was not bothered by the youngster's confident remarks. "He always believes in himself and in the team he plays for. That's simply extra motivation for him," Koundé said. Spain has scored 10 goals and conceded only once since opening the tournament with a goalless draw against Cape Verde. Merino has emerged as a key player, scoring late winning goals in Spain's last two knockout matches. The Arsenal forward scored in the 88th minute to seal a 2-1 victory over Belgium in the quarterfinals after netting in first-half stoppage time of extra time during Spain's 1-0 win over Portugal in the round of 16 at the same venue. Goalkeeper Unai Simón also enjoyed a record-breaking run, going 650 World Cup minutes without conceding before Belgium scored in the 41st minute of the quarterfinal. Spain midfielder Alex Baena said the team has continued to improve throughout the tournament. "From the first game until now, we've gradually found our rhythm. The more we have played and trained together, the stronger we have become," he said. Four former champions in the semifinals For the first time since 1990, all four World Cup semifinalists are former champions. Defending champion Argentina, which beat France in the dramatic 2022 final, will face England in the second semifinal on Wednesday in Atlanta. The World Cup final will be played on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, while the third-place playoff is scheduled for Saturday in Miami Gardens, Florida. History between France and Spain France and Spain have met only once before in the World Cup, with France winning 3-1 in the round of 16 at the 2006 tournament in Germany. Since then, both countries have lifted the trophy. Spain won its only World Cup title in 2010, while France claimed its second crown in 2018. France, playing on Bastille Day, is aiming to become only the third nation after Brazil and Germany to reach three consecutive World Cup finals. Brazil achieved the feat between 1994 and 2002, while West Germany reached three straight finals from 1982 to 1990. France is appearing in its seventh World Cup semifinal and its fifth in the last eight editions. Spain has reached the semifinals only twice before—in 1950 and during its title-winning campaign in 2010. Dallas hosts its final World Cup match Tuesday's semifinal will be the ninth and final World Cup match at AT&T Stadium, the highest number hosted by any venue during the tournament. The stadium has witnessed several memorable moments, including Lionel Messi scoring three goals during Argentina's group-stage matches. On June 22, after missing a penalty, Messi scored twice against Austria to become the all-time leading World Cup scorer with his 20th and 21st career goals before adding another against Jordan on June 27. The venue also hosted Cristiano Ronaldo's final World Cup appearance, as the 41-year-old Portugal star ended his sixth and last tournament in a 1-0 round-of-16 defeat to Spain on July 6.

It was another game-changing moment at the World Cup that had more to do with television replays in a room far away than a moment of brilliance on the field. The sending off of Switzerland's Breel Embolo in Saturday's quarterfinal game against Argentina was the latest call that may have left fans scratching their heads, not least because of the confusing name of the newly implemented law that swung the match. It is called the “mistaken identity” rule. Yet, technically, Embolo was not shown a second yellow card — resulting in a red — for a case of mistaken identity. It was because the referee Joao Pinheiro did not see in real time that the forward had simulated a foul under a challenge from Argentina's Leandro Paredes. Paredes was initially shown a yellow card, which is a key factor. Under FIFA rules, because Paredes was shown a card, the video assistant referee (VAR) can intervene and recommend that the onfield official reviews the sideline monitor. After review the referee deemed Embolo to have committed a “clear simulation” and showed him a second yellow card and sent him off. The rules state that the VAR can assist when the referee penalizes the “wrong team for an offense that results in a red or yellow card being shown to the wrong player.” It was a pivotal point in the match, coming five minutes after Switzerland had made it 1-1. Argentina won 3-1 after extra time. “The referee made the wrong decision,” Switzerland coach Murat Yakin said. “I know they will protect their referee but this rule destroyed our game today, and it’s very painful, and to be eliminated in that way hurts a lot.” It is not the first time at this World Cup that teams have hit out against new rules or technology. Germany infuriated by disallowed goal Newly tightened regulations contributed to Germany's shock elimination in the round of 32. Defender Jonathan Tah’s potentially game-winning goal in extra time against Paraguay was ruled out after VAR review for a foul on goalkeeper Orlando Gill. Replays showed Germany’s Waldemar Anton push Gill to the ground, but the minimal contact led to criticism of the decision. FIFA’s referees chief Pierluigi Collina said officials had been told to punish incidents when players try to block opponents and make no attempt to play the ball, especially where goalkeepers are concerned. Germany went on to lose the game in a penalty shootout, with Tah firing a decisive spot kick over the bar. Elimination could have a seismic effect on German soccer, with coach Julian Nagelsmann resigning and Jurgen Klopp expected to take over. High tech ball costs Croatia The words “connected ball technology” will likely haunt Luka Modric and Croatia for years to come. The high-tech soccer ball fitted with “advanced sensors” used at this World Cup cost Croatia a dramatic late equalizer against Portugal in the round of 32. Josko Gvardiol thought he'd scored in added time to make it 2-2, but the goal was ruled offside after VAR review because the in-ball sensors picked up the slightest of touches from Croatia's Igor Mantanovic in the buildup that was undetectable to the naked eye or even video replays. FIFA said the in-ball sensors, which capture data 500 times per second, were so finely tuned to be “capable of determining any slight contact ... allowing officials an unprecedented level of data to make fast, accurate decisions.” Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić, who has since stepped down, was not impressed. “All these decisions take the joy out of football,” he said. Egypt heartbroken against Argentina It was shaping up to be one of the great World Cup upsets. Egypt led 2-0 against defending champion Argentina in the round of 16 and might have been 3-0 up if not for VAR. With the score at 1-0 in the second half, Egypt's Mostafa Zico finished off a sweeping attack. But wild celebrations were cut short when a foul on Argentina's Lisandro Martinez earlier in the move was confirmed on video review and the goal was disallowed. Argentina staged a spectacular late comeback to win 3-2. Egypt coach Hossam Hassan launched a furious tirade. "We have suffered injustice,” he said. The Egyptian soccer federation went further. “Several key incidents raised serious concerns and left profound questions about the consistency and fairness of decisions that directly influenced the course of the game,” it said. Questions were raised about the amount time between the foul on Martinez, which happened deep in Egypt's half, and the goal at the other end of the field. FIFA referees chief Collina responded to criticism to say there was "no defined limit regarding either the distance from goal or the amount of time between the incident and the goal.” “Nobody can question the integrity of the FIFA World Cup match officials,” he added. A double blow for Norway against England The high tech sensor was called into action again as England beat Norway 2-1 in the quarterfinals. Norway's players and staff were adamant the ball hit a cable that suspends overhead cameras in the buildup to Jude Bellingham's equalizing goal in the first half. If it had, play would have been stopped. But FIFA insisted there was no contact, saying the sensor “showed no peak in the ‘heartbeat of the ball’ when in the air, and therefore no evidence that the ball touched the overhead wire.” Norway also had a goal disallowed when the score was 1-1 after VAR spotted a foul by Erling Haaland on England's Elliot Anderson. The infringement came before the corner was taken and, under new rules to try to limit fouls by attacking teams during corner routines, VAR is allowed to intervene regarding incidents that happen even before the ball is kicked.

It's a World Cup semifinal lineup for the ages. Four previous champions and the four top-ranking teams in the world. Five of the six top scorers, one GOAT and one of the bitterest rivalries in soccer. Argentina, Spain, France and England went into the tournament as the top four in FIFA’s rankings and are two wins away from being crowned champion of the world again. It's just too close to call either semifinal matchup: France will play Spain in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday and England will face Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday. Not since 1990 has the final four of a World Cup been made up entirely of previous winners. England and Argentina were involved then, although they didn't play each other. Then, like now, Argentina was the defending champion — after beating West Germany in the 1986 final in Mexico — and went on to lose to West Germany in the 1990 final. And this year could also see a repeat final from 2022 if France and Argentina both advance. England vs. Argentina: A bitter rivalry Argentina must overcome England in a match that resumes a fierce rivalry that goes beyond the soccer field, with tensions also relating to the 1982 conflict over the Falklands Islands. On the field there have been numerous flashpoints between the teams on the World Cup stage. Argentina captain Antonio Rattin, whose death was announced on Saturday, was sent off in a bad-tempered quarterfinal match against winner England in 1966. England manager Alf Ramsey tried to stop his players from swapping shirts with their opponents after a 1-0 victory. Roll the clock forward 20 years and in 1986 Diego Maradona's infamous “Hand of God” goal helped Argentina to a 2-1 win against England in the quarterfinals on the way to lifting the trophy. David Beckham was sent off in 1998 for kicking out at Argentina midfielder Diego Simeone, who was predictably criticized by the English media for his reaction to what appeared to be light contact. Argentina won the round of 16 match on penalties. Beckham got his revenge four years later by scoring a penalty in a 1-0 win that contributed to Argentina being eliminated at the group stage. France vs. Spain: A quick chance for French revenge France and Spain meet again in the semifinals of a major tournament, just two years since going head-to-head at the European Championship. Spain won 2-1 with a then-16-year-old Lamine Yamal on the score sheet and went on to lift the Euros by beating England in the final. Kylian Mbappé's powers were diminished in that tournament after sustaining a broken nose, while emerging stars like Michael Olise and Désiré Doué were yet to break through. Two years on and France is widely regarded to have been the most impressive team of this World Cup with a dizzying array of attacking talent and the joint leading scorer in Mbappé ahead of the semifinal on France's Bastille Day. In contrast Spain had to contend with injuries to Yamal and fellow winger Nico Williams coming into the tournament and has relied on late goals from substitute Mikel Merino to edge past Portugal and Belgium in the last two rounds. The nations have met on a number of occasions at the World Cup or Euros. France beat Spain in the final of Euro 84. The race for the Golden Boot It has become a thrilling competition within the tournament as many of the world's most lethal finishers have all turned up in peak form. Erling Haaland may be out of the race, but five of the six top scorers are still standing and others could yet force their way into the race for the Golden Boot. Mbappé and Lionel Messi lead the way with eight goals each. Haaland has seven, but he cannot add to that number after Norway was eliminated by England in the quarterfinals. Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane have six each, while Ousmane Dembélé is on five. Mikel Oyarzabal has four goals, so could yet challenge if Spain overcomes France in the semifinals. There's also the contest for the all-time top scorer at World Cups overall with Messi on 21 goals and Mbappé on 20. That man Messi He is already considered by many to be the greatest of all time — the GOAT — and his performances at what is likely his last World Cup, aged 39, have only strengthened that argument. This will be Messi's first ever game against England. If Messi can lead Argentina to the title, he would surpass the great Maradona by winning two World Cups for his country. Argentina would also become the first back-to-back champion since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Soccer great Pelé was part of those Brazil teams and also went on to win a third World Cup in 1970.

Julian Alvarez scored a stunning long-range goal in the 112th minute as defending champions Argentina defeated Switzerland 3-1 after extra time to book a place in the World Cup semifinals on Saturday. Lautaro Martinez added another goal in the closing seconds of extra time, giving Argentina a more comfortable-looking victory than the closely contested match suggested. Argentina will now face England in the semifinals on Wednesday in Atlanta after the Three Lions defeated Norway 2-1 earlier in the day. Argentina, Switzerland level 1-1 after 90 minutes in World Cup quarterfinal Messi's run of scoring in nine consecutive World Cup matches came to an end, although his bid for a second World Cup title remains alive. The match turned on a controversial decision after Switzerland's equaliser. Argentina's Leandro Paredes was initially shown a yellow card for a challenge on Breel Embolo, but video review found Embolo had been falling before contact. Since Embolo had already received a yellow card earlier, the booking was transferred to him under the World Cup's "mistaken identity" protocol, resulting in a red card and leaving Switzerland to play the remainder of the match with 10 men.

Argentina and Switzerland remained deadlocked at 1-1 after 90 minutes in their FIFA World Cup quarterfinal on Saturday, sending the match into extra time as the Swiss were reduced to 10 men following the late dismissal of Breel Embolo. Defending champions Argentina took the lead in the 10th minute when Alexis Mac Allister headed home from a Lionel Messi corner. Switzerland drew level in the second half through Dan Ndoye, keeping alive their hopes of reaching a World Cup semifinal for the first time. The winners of the match will face England in the semifinals on Wednesday in Atlanta. England secured their place with a 2-1 victory over Norway earlier on Saturday. Shortly after Switzerland equalised, Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes was initially shown a yellow card for a challenge on Embolo. However, video replays indicated that Embolo had already been falling before any contact was made. After a review, officials determined that Embolo, who had already been booked earlier in the match, should instead receive the caution, resulting in his second yellow card and a red card. Switzerland were therefore forced to play the remainder of the match with 10 players. It marked the second time at this World Cup that a yellow card decision was corrected under the tournament's "mistaken identity" protocol, which allows the video assistant referee (VAR) to intervene when the wrong player is shown a yellow or red card.

Lamine Yamal thinks France should be afraid of Spain with the European giants headed to a World Cup semifinal showdown on Tuesday. “I believe if France has to fear anyone, it should be us, in my opinion," the teenage sensation told broadcast reporters after Spain beat Belgium 2-1 on Friday to secure its first semifinal berth since 2010. "We were the ones who knocked them out before.” Spain beat France in the 2024 European Championship semifinals and again in Nations League play last year. Yamal became the youngest player to score in the continental competition. The powerhouses meet again at the home stadium of the Dallas Cowboys next week for a spot in the final. “We don’t fear anyone,” said Yamal, who was named the man of the match against Belgium. "It’s clear that we are two great teams, world-class national teams, and for me they are one of the best. We’ll see what happens.” Spain advanced on a winning goal by substitute Mikel Merino in the 88th minute of the quarterfinals at SoFi Stadium. La Roja conceded its only goal of the entire World Cup late in the first half against Belgium, while France has piled up 16 goals in its six World Cup matches. France has made the past two World Cup finals, winning it all in 2018. Spain has made only one World Cup final in its history, but the current team is unbeaten in 37 consecutive competitive matches since March 2023 — a stretch that also includes a loss on penalties to Portugal in the Nations League final last year. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has been asked by the international media about this potential showdown with France throughout the tournament, but particularly since the start of the knockout rounds two weeks ago. He has been uniformly complimentary of Les Bleus while echoing his own players' confidence. “Let me be clear: We are not finished,” de la Fuente said. “We are pleased to be in the semifinals, but we want more. ... We are capable of winning this game, and not just now, but I would have said this a few weeks ago as well." Yamal, who turns 19 on Monday, has only one goal and no assists while putting 10 shots on target in his first World Cup, but his playmaking and activity down the right side of Spain's attack have been noticeable in almost every match. He started the sequence that led to Spain's first goal against Belgium in a two-man game with Pedro Porro, eventually leading to Fabián Ruiz's rebound goal off Dani Olmo's shot. Yamal said his modest statistics don't bother him, noting that he also scored only one goal (with four assists) while Spain won the European Championship two years ago. Although Spain needed a late goal from Merino to win for the second straight match, Yamal believes his team is ready for the challenge of the World Cup's dominant team so far. Yamal cited Spain's acumen in ball possession — a stat they've repeatedly dominated during this World Cup — as a way to take France out of its preferred style of play. “I think we were much better, (than Belgium)," Yamal said. "It seems like we’re playing very beautiful football, but in reality, there isn’t a team that plays against us on equal footing. Everyone drops back, and that makes it more difficult. Nobody has gone toe-to-toe with us. But in the end, we secured the win.”

Erling Haaland has been one of the biggest stars of the FIFA World Cup — not only for his goal-scoring ability but also for the online personality that has turned him into a social media sensation. The Norwegian striker, who stands 6 feet 5 inches tall, has scored seven goals in four World Cup matches heading into Norway's quarterfinal against England on Saturday. While his performances on the pitch have earned praise, his playful social media presence has attracted a new generation of fans, including many who had little interest in football before. Known for his powerful style of play, Haaland has also gained attention online for his light-hearted posts, humorous selfies and interactions with fans. His flowing blond hair, colourful hair ties and quirky sense of humour have inspired countless memes across social media platforms. Fans often describe him as both a fearsome striker and an unexpectedly soft-hearted personality. Many affectionately refer to him as a "babygirl" — an internet term used for male celebrities who appear kind, funny or emotionally expressive despite their tough public image. The contrast between Haaland's commanding presence on the field and his relaxed personality off it has helped make him one of football's most talked-about figures. Sarah Wilson, a baseball content creator from New York who only recently began following football, said Haaland quickly became her favourite player. In a viral video, the 31-year-old joked that she "cannot fathom being such a pretty Norwegian princess and also being one of the best strikers in all of football." Wilson believes Haaland's popularity comes from combining world-class talent with a personality that feels relatable to younger audiences. "He is incredibly talented, but then you see him using Snapchat filters and joking online like many people his age," she told The Associated Press. "You end up thinking, 'He's hilarious. Now he's my favourite player.'" Haaland has embraced his growing online fame by sharing humorous Instagram selfies, posting YouTube videos and interacting with fans through Snapchat. After scoring twice to eliminate Brazil from the World Cup, he posted a smiling locker-room selfie with the caption, "Well well well." He has also jokingly responded to memes comparing his hairstyle to a green onion and encouraged fans to search his name on Google after a special Viking-themed animation appeared in search results. Speaking at Norway's team news conference on Thursday, Haaland said he has enjoyed the warm support from fans in the United States. "I like the Americans. I think they are funny," he said. "The World Cup here has been amazing." Experts say Haaland's popularity reflects how modern athletes are increasingly becoming global entertainment figures through social media. Jeffrey Kassing, a professor at Arizona State University who studies athletes' use of social media, said players now have much greater control over how they present themselves to the public than in previous generations. In the past, fans mainly saw athletes through interviews or press conferences. Today, players can communicate directly with millions of followers, allowing supporters to feel a closer personal connection. That one-sided emotional connection, known as a parasocial relationship, is common among sports fans, according to Gayle Stever, a professor at Empire State University who has studied celebrity-fan relationships for decades. She said most of these relationships are healthy, although a small number of fans can become overly attached. Australian sports management student Skyla Clarke said social media has also exposed footballers to harsh criticism and online abuse after poor performances. Haaland has previously described AI-generated images and videos of players as "a bit scary." Still, he said the attention surrounding Norway and its traditions is a positive sign. "Usually if it's like that, it means that you're doing something right," Haaland said. Haaland is not the only footballer to inspire devoted online communities. Croatian midfielder Luka Modrić has also attracted widespread affection from fans, particularly after Croatia's exit from what was expected to be his final international tournament. Ahead of Norway's quarterfinal against England, many fans have also focused on Haaland's close friendship with England midfielder Jude Bellingham, his former club teammate. Social media users have created videos and edits celebrating their friendship, further adding to Haaland's growing online popularity. Among Haaland's newest supporters is Nulara Ratwatté, a 19-year-old art student at the University of Melbourne, whose videos about the striker have gone viral. Although she admits she knew little about football before the World Cup, she now follows Norway closely. Describing Haaland as "a big, friendly giant," Ratwatté said: "Truly, from the bottom of my heart, I love him."