FIFA WORLD CUP

The Biggest Upset on the Biggest Stage

Paraguay advanced past Germany in a dramatic penalty shootout after a standout performance from two of its rising stars. Julio Enciso, the 22-year-old forward currently playing for Racing Strasbourg in France, opened the scoring in the first half. Widely regarded as one of Paraguay’s brightest talents, Enciso came through the ranks at Club Libertad before earning a move to Brighton in 2022 and continuing his development in Europe.

Goalkeeper Orlando Gill also played a decisive role in the victory. The shot-stopper made six saves during the match before denying two German penalties in the shootout to secure Paraguay’s place in the next round. Gill’s rise has been remarkable, having played for San Lorenzo of Paraguay in the country’s second division just three years ago before moving to San Lorenzo in Argentina in 2024, where he quickly established himself as one of the club’s standout performers.

SPONSORED BY TRACE

Your Player's Best Moments Deserve Better Than a Shaky Sideline Video

The parents who spend every weekend driving to tournaments and standing in the elements already know the truth: the moments that matter most are the ones that disappear the fastest. A first-touch goal. A defensive clearance that saved the game. The pass that nobody expected. Gone before you can even reach for your phone. Trace fixes that.

Through the Footy Access partnership, your team can claim a free AI camera — a $795 value — plus a complimentary PlayerFocus Pro subscription. The camera mounts on a 16-foot tripod, locks onto your player automatically, and tracks them across the full pitch in 4X zoom from first whistle to last. No camera operator. No editing session. A full highlight reel lands in your inbox before the drive home is over.

For players in the recruiting window, the value of that is hard to overstate. College coaches aren't watching full games. They need clips, and those clips need to look professional. Trace produces them for you. For coaches, PlayerFocus Analytics delivers heat maps, movement data, and performance tracking that used to exist only inside professional academies.

Here's how to claim yours in five minutes:

Step 1 — Go to traceup.com/partner/fa. This is the exclusive Footy Access partner page. Your free camera offer is already waiting there.

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Step 3 — Checkout at zero. The Pro subscription drops to $0. The free AI camera lease is automatically included. Add your shipping address and a payment method to lock in your kit.

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[Disclaimer: this offer is limited to one per team and is valid for the first person from each team who checks out.]

U.S. YOUTH SOCCER

Inter Miami’s Next-Gen Success Overseas

Inter Miami swept the MIC Football Tournament in Punta Cana this weekend, winning titles at both the U14 and U16 levels.

The U14s defeated Got FC in the final, with Roger Llaurado Jr. finishing as the tournament's top scorer. The U16s took down Atlético de Madrid in their final, capping a run that included one of the weekend's standout individual performances — goalkeeper Levi Williams made three crucial saves in the semifinal against Gremio and then stepped up to convert the game-winning penalty in the shootout.

Worth noting in the U14 setup: both Benjamín Suárez and Thiago Messi are part of this squad, sons of Luis Suárez and Lionel Messi respectively. The group isn't new to winning either, they previously claimed the Dreams Cup, also hosted by Inter Miami.

Two age groups. Two trophies. One weekend in the Dominican Republic.

ECNL National Playoffs Underway

The ECNL Boys are headed to San Diego for the pinnacle event of the 2025-26 season, the ECNL Boys Playoffs. A total of 344 teams from the U13-U18/19 age groups will compete at Surf Sports Park, where the U18/19 National Champion will be crowned, the U18/19 North American Cup will take place, and 20 teams from the U13-U17 age groups will earn spots at the ECNL Boys Finals in Richmond.

In the U18/19 division, 32 teams will compete for the National Championship. Winners of the Round of 32 advance to the Round of 16, while teams that lose their opening match move into the North American Cup bracket.

The U14-U17 age groups each feature 66 teams divided into 15 groups of four and two groups of three. Group winners advance to the Round of 16, with the two three-team group winners playing for the final spot. Teams then compete through knockout rounds to determine the four qualifiers from each age group for the ECNL Boys Finals.

The U13 age group includes 48 teams split into 12 groups of four. The 12 group winners and the four best second-place teams advance to the Round of 16, with four teams ultimately qualifying for the ECNL Boys Finals in Richmond.