Wednesday Morning Sports Update

Keeping you up to date on soccer and rugby.

SOCCER

France underlined their World Cup credentials by securing safe passage to the Round of 16 last night.

Kylian Mbappe scored twice, as the 2018 winners beat Sweden 3-0 in New Jersey to set up a meeting with Paraguay on Saturday.

Erling Haaland fired home from close range to give Norway a 2-1 win over Cote d'Ivoire in Dallas.

They can reach a first-ever World Cup quarter-final if they get the better of Brazil on Sunday.

Tournament co-hosts Mexico are through, after a 2-0 win over 10-man Ecuador at the Azteca Stadium.

They'll face either England or DR Congo, who go head-to-head in Atlanta this evening.

Kick-off is at 5 o'clock.

In tonight's other games, Belgium take on Senegal in Seattle from 9pm, while the USA face Bosnia-Herzegovina in San Francisco at 1am.

Ronald Koeman has resigned as Netherlands manager following their exit from the World Cup.

The Dutch lost on penalties to Morocco in the last 32 of the tournament in the early hours of yesterday.

It's the end of Koeman's second spell in charge of his national team.

He returned three years ago after being in the role from 2018 to 2020.

Tottenham are due to smashed their transfer record after agreeing a deal to sign West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes.

The fee for the Portugal international is believed to be around 85 million pounds.

Spurs' current most expensive player is Dominic Solanke, who cost the Premier League club 65 million in 2024.

RUGBY

The draws for the pool stages of next season's Investec Champions Cup and Challenge Cup will take place in Dublin later today.

Leinster are among the top seeds following their URC triumph, while Munster and Connacht are also in the hat for the top-tier competition.

Ulster will be among the teams for the Challenge Cup, having missed out on a top-eight finish in the URC.