Iraq vs Norway sees both sides kick off their World Cup campaigns, with three points on the line in Boston.

Genoa’s Leo Østigård starts from the bench, with Bologna’s Torbjørn Heggem taking his place in central defence alongside Ajer.

Torino right-back Marcus Holmgren Pedersen is also among the substitutes, while Sassuolo midfielder Kristian Thorstvedt and Cremonese’s Morten Thorsby, the most experienced Serie A player in the squad, are both named among the replacements.

Atletico Madrid’s Alexander Sorloth, heavily linked with Juventus this summer, starts on the right of the attack.

For Iraq, Como’s Ali Jassim, who spent last season on loan at Al-Najma in Saudi Arabia, is named among the starters, while Venezia’s Marko Farji starts on the bench.

Iraq vs Norway – World Cup 2026 – Official Lineups

Iraq XI (4-4-2): Hassan; H.Ali, Tahseen, Hashim, Doski; Jasim, Ismael, Al Ammari, Bayesh; Hussein, M.Ali.

Norway XI (4-3-3): Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Moller Wolfe; Odegaard, Berge, Aursnes; Sorloth, Haaland, Nusa.

Gabriele Gravina has pushed back against the prevailing narrative that Italian football is in terminal decline, insisting that judging the national game solely on World Cup qualification failures is both reductive and inaccurate.

Speaking at the presentation of Ivan Zazzaroni’s book in Rome, with quotes via gianlucadimarzio.com, the former FIGC president acknowledged the pain of a third consecutive World Cup absence but refused to accept the most damning verdicts being levelled at the Italian game.

“I don’t agree that Italian football has reached its lowest point,” he said. “Evaluating our football based on a single result is a mistake, we need to stop being hypocritical about this.”

Gravina points to youth success and Mancini era as evidence Italian football retains its foundations

Gravina pointed to the broader context that often goes unacknowledged in the post-Mondiale gloom.

“From 2018, with Mancini, Italy achieved 37 consecutive positive results and won the European Championship in 2021, these are extraordinary results,” he said.

“Before 2018 the youth national teams never reached finals. Today the Under-17s win the European Championship, as do the Under-19s.”

On the specific moments that proved costly in qualification, Gravina was equally candid. “Kean and Pio Esposito missed goals that could have been decisive and that is why we stayed out,” he said.

“But if they had scored? We would have reopened all the oratorios and magically solved every problem in Italian football.”

On the path forward, Gravina called for structural reform and greater investment, wishing incoming FIGC president Giovanni Malagò well, with one specific request.

“It is not possible that a reform gets blocked if 3% disagree,” he said. “It is anti-democratic and contrary to any sense of reasonableness. I did not manage to change it, I hope he does.”

Meta launched AI Mode in Facebook Search. AI Mode gives users AI-generated answers based on public content from Facebook Groups, Reels, and other Meta apps.

Instead of showing a standard list of search results, AI Mode uses Meta AI to answer questions directly within Facebook. Meta said responses are grounded in what people are publicly saying across its apps, including real experiences and recommendations.

AI answers in search. AI Mode supports both broad discovery and specific questions. Users can search or explore their Feed and receive responses from Meta AI within Facebook. This gives Facebook a new way to surface public social content.

• Groups and Reels could become part of how Meta answers questions about products, places, hobbies, and everyday advice.

Source selection is unclear. Meta said the feature delivers “real answers from real people.” But it didn’t explain how AI Mode selects which public posts, Groups, or Reels appear in responses. It also didn’t say whether brands, creators, or publishers will be able to see when their content is used.

Why we care. Facebook search is moving toward an AI answer experience built on public social content. That could change how people discover recommendations, local information, and brand-related conversations across Meta’s apps.

A familiar name. Obviously, Meta’s new AI Mode feature shares its name with Google’s AI Mode. Meta gets no points for creativity.

What Meta is saying. AI Mode is powered by Meta AI and Muse Spark. Meta didn’t explain how Muse Spark influences search ranking, source selection, or answer generation.

• The search update was part of a broader Facebook AI rollout that also included new creative tools for photos, videos, profile pictures, and Stories.

The announcement. New AI Tools to Help You Make Things Happen on Facebook

Microsoft is now officially releasing a preview of the new AI performance report within Bing Webmaster Tools that now includes Intents, Topics, Citation Share, and Compare. We saw Microsoft demo these features in late April but now it is actually starting to roll out to users.

As a reminder, Bing officially rolled out its AI performance report in February. Google didn’t roll out its AI reporting in Search Console until June, and it seemed forced.

What is new. “These new capabilities build on that foundation by helping publishers better understand why their content is being surfaced, which broader subject areas they are gaining visibility in, how their presence evolves relative to other cited sources, and how citation patterns change over time,” wrote Krishna Madhavan from Microsoft.

Intent: The new Intents feature in Bing Webmaster Tools now classifies the grounding queries in the AI Performance Report in broader categories, such as Informational, Commercial, Navigational, Learn and Solve, Research, Creation, Local, and more. This in a sense helps you understand the intent behind the prompt or query. “This helps publishers move beyond simply seeing which queries triggered citations and begin understanding the broader query context our systems associate with those citation appearances,” Krishna Madhavan wrote.

The example provided was that an e-commerce publisher may discover strong visibility in comparison-oriented or shopping-focused AI experiences, while an educational publisher may find that their content is frequently surfaced in research or learning-oriented interactions. These insights can help publishers better align content structure and depth with the types of experiences where AI systems are surfacing their content.

Topics: The Topics in the AI performance reports group related grounding queries into broader thematic clusters. AI systems reason across concepts and themes rather than isolated keywords, Microsoft explained. So by having topics, it will help publishers understand visibility in the same thematic structure that modern AI systems use to organize information.

So for example, queries such as “solar panels,” “solar energy efficiency,” and “residential solar installation,” for example, may all map into a broader topic cluster like Solar Energy.  “This creates a more natural way to analyze AI visibility. Content teams and publishers often think in terms of themes, editorial areas, and audience interests rather than isolated keywords. Topics help bridge that gap by turning grounding query data into a more thematic view of AI engagement,” Microsoft wrote.

One note, “during the preview phase, some labels may still be broad – especially for highly specialized or niche domains – but the system is already beginning to reveal meaningful thematic patterns,” Microsoft wrote.

Citations. Microsoft also added citation share, which shows how much of the citation space your site receives for a specific grounding query. Citation share is calculated as the percentage of citations attributed to your site out of all citations shown across all sites for that same grounding query. “This helps publishers understand not just whether they were cited, but how much visibility they received within the full set of cited sources for that query,” Microsoft explained.

Microsoft added these points:

• “This can provide a more directional view into how visibility is evolving over time. Publishers may begin to identify areas where their content has strong and growing representation in AI-generated experiences, as well as areas where visibility may be more fragmented across many sources.”
• “Importantly, Citation Share is designed as an observational metric – not a ranking system or a competitive scoreboard. It does not expose competitor domains, represent traffic share, or assign quality scores to content.”
• “AI citation ecosystems are inherently dynamic. Citation patterns can shift due to changes in user behavior, evolving models, freshness signals, partner refresh cycles, and broader changes across the web itself.”

Compare. With all of that, you can also compare the changes over time. The compare feature allows you to overlay a previous time period directly onto the current reporting view. 

“Compare is designed to help publishers observe changes over time. Citation activity can be influenced by many factors including evolving AI models, competing content, freshness signals, and shifts in user demand,” Microsoft wrote.

Here is what it looks like:

Why we care. While we still do not have click and click-through rate data, Microsoft keeps adding more and more to its AI performance reports.

I am hopful that one day we will get click data, but I am still not expecting to see that from Google or Microsoft any time soon.

Kylian Mbappe was convinced he had won a penalty in France’s 2026 World Cup opener against Senegal in New Jersey on Tuesday, only to be left flabbergasted as Australian referee Alireza Faghani gave a corner – and then changed his decision to a goal-kick after watching replays.

Mbappe dribbled into the box where Senegal’s Sadio Mane slid in to make a tackle. As Mane reached Mbappe, the France captain touched the ball away from his opponent and then collapsed in a heap under Mane’s challenge. Mbappe could only laugh as the referee waved away French appeals and awarded a corner.

• Follow France v Senegal – live!

Referee Faghani was sent to review the decision on his pitchside monitor by his VAR, and as he stepped back on to the pitch, French players and coaching staff began to celebrate. But instead of awarding a penalty, Faghani announced: “The attacker initiated the contact.”

To rub salt into French wounds, the corner was overturned after replays clearly showed that Mane made no contact with the ball.

Pundits were aghast at the decision. “That is just rubbish,” said Pat Nevin on BBC Sport. “Utter nonsense. No chance at all. How can he [Mbappe] have initiated the contact? The most nonsensical line I have ever heard.”

“I don’t get it,” added Alan Shearer. “You can see the lunge from Mane and his left leg catches Mbappe. How can Mbappe initiate contact if he is in front of him? It’s bizarre, it really is.”

“I can’t support the referee’s decision to be honest,” said Darren Cann, an assistant referee at the 2010 World Cup final. “For me it is a clear penalty. My phone has blown up with messages from several of the world’s best referees who also can’t understand why a penalty wasn’t given. For me it is very, very clear and I am extremely surprised he did not point to the spot after a correct VAR review.”

France were not complaining for long. Minutes later, Mbappe latched on to a cleverly disguised throughball by Michael Olise and turned home a first-time finish to put France into the lead. And substitute Bradley Barcola added a second to put the French two goals clear.

Since the FIFA World Cup draw in December, confidence that the U.S. Men’s National Team would sleepwalk through the group stage has been high amongst several team legends, including Landon Donovan, Alexi Lalas, and Mike Grella.

Each was more than comfortable in sharing their thoughts on the USMNT’s Group D opponents, Paraguay, Australia, and Türkiye, and it's safe to say their comments did not go down well in Australia.

Speaking directly after the draw on FOX Sports, Lalas commented, “I think if you believe in the soccer gods, you should be thanking them. I think this is not just a good group, this is a great group, and this is a group that you should expect this United States team under Mauricio Pochettino to win and go through. So thank you to the soccer gods.”

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Donovan went on to appear on The Colin Cowherd Podcast, where he said, “The other three teams in our group are significantly, quote-unquote, worse than we are.”

Meanwhile, Grella said on CBS Sports immediately after Australia was drawn into the USMNT’s group that the game would be a “lay-up” for Mauricio Pochettino’s side. He continued, “Take nothing away from the Socceroos, they’ve always been competitive and good, but they stumbled a little during qualifying and were not so impressive. This is an amazing first team to have for the U.S.”

Grella went on to comment, via FOX Sports Australia, “If we can’t beat them, we shouldn’t go to the World Cup. If USA can’t beat Australia in a football match, stay home.”

Such comments seemingly did not sit well with Australia boss Tony Popovic, who said, “Anyone that underestimates us will get a rude shock when it comes to those group games.

“We’re always deemed as the underdog or the team that will be fighting for the bottom spot, and we have an opportunity through our actions, our performances, and results to show that that can be different.

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“And that’s what’s exciting for us, and that’s the challenge that awaits.”

Donovan didn’t calm tensions when he called Popovic “smug,” commenting, “Thanks for coming, Aussies. And your smug coach, you can get back on the Qantas airplane and head back home pal.

“He just had this smugness about him. I can’t wait, I wish I was on the field, I want to play these guys.”

Since then, both the USMNT and Australia have won their World Cup openers, with Pochettino’s side taking down Paraguay 4-1, while Popovic’s team beat Türkiye 2-0.

The two sides are set to face off on Friday at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, with winger Tim Weah quizzed on the long-standing tension surrounding this game.

“All this talk is just nonsense to me,” the OL Marseille star said after rolling his eyes, via The Guardian. “When you look at the Australian team, they’re a young team that has a lot of fight, a lot of grit, and a lot of hunger, just like us.

“We respect them in the same way that we respect any other opponent. I think it’s going to be a lovely game. I don’t know what the media is trying to do, but we’re not really focused on that.”

Midfielder Tyler Adams mirrored Weah’s decision to distance himself from derogatory comments about the Socceroos, stating, “I don’t think any commentary helps anybody. It’s not going to be a layup. If anything, it’s going to be one of the most difficult games we play.”

Just Fontaine, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, Thierry Henry, Olivier Giroud.

France have had their fair share of brilliant attacking players over the years.

But none better - in goalscoring terms at least - than Kylian Mbappe after his goal in his country's World Cup opener against Senegal.

The Real Madrid forward has become France's joint record scorer, equalling Giroud in the record books with his 57th goal for Les Bleus, aged just 27.

"Congratulations Kylian," Giroud said on BBC One, working as a pundit for France's game against Senegal. "I'm happy for him. It's a great finish and we are level now, you need to score another one Kylian.

"It makes sense, it was expected. He will beat every single record - the number of caps and goals. I think he can easily reach 100 goals and maybe [beat] Miroslav Klose's World Cup record. He's delivered great performances in World Cups and big games."

Mbappe's 57 strikes came in just 99 games for France. Tuesday's goal also puts him on 13 in World Cups - just three behind Germany's Klose, who holds the record with 16.

"A lot of team-mates ask me about him," Giroud added. "For me it's just ambition and confidence.

"He knows where he wants to go, he is a leader and you could see from a young age he was very at ease. He was mature for his age. He is a good team-mate, he is an incredible talent and I think he is a proper leader on and off the pitch."

French football expert Julien Laurens believes Mbappe will become the greatest player in the country's history.

"There is still a lot more to come from him but if we are to stop it right now, Zinedine Zidane and Michel Platini certainly remain the top two French players of all time," said Laurens.

"After that it is Mbappe ahead of Thierry Henry, Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and others. Even the ones from the old generation like Raymond Kopa.

"It is not just for his goals, but his leadership now as captain on the field, winning the World Cup in 2018, scoring a hat-trick in the final in 2022.

"I predict him to be the number one by the end of his career. He has at least one more World Cup after this and the Euros to play in so he will probably become the greatest player we have ever had."

The numbers and the accolades

Having made his international debut in March 2017, it was not until Mbappe's fourth appearance for France that he scored his first goal in a 4-0 World Cup qualifier against the Netherlands.

Earlier in the day, Paris St-Germain agreed an initial season-long loan deal to sign the then-18-year-old striker from Monaco, with the option to buy for £165.7m.

The Parisians would, of course, activate their option to sign Mbappe - making him the most expensive teenager in the history of football in the process.

By the time Mbappe had completed his move to the French capital, he was already a national hero.

He had spearheaded France's run to World Cup glory in 2018, becoming the youngest French player to score at a World Cup and the second teenager - after Pele - to score in a World Cup final.

Finishing as the joint second-highest goalscorer in Russia, Mbappe was named the young player of the tournament in recognition of his performances.

By the time of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar he had established himself as France's talisman.

The then-23 year old became just the second player after England's Geoff Hurst to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final - despite losing to Lionel Messi's Argentina on penalties.

A project fulfilled

Mbappe and, significantly, his entire family, have always had it in their mind they wanted the striker to reach the top of the global game. And so 'Project Mbappe' was born.

"Kylian was just school and football," says childhood friend Rayan Viyanga in a BBC Sport documentary called Mbappe. "School, football, home."

He was born on the outskirts of Paris in the suburb of Bondy in 1998, just five months after France won the World Cup for the first time.

The family flat overlooked the AS Bondy football pitches, where his father Wilfried was a player turned coach.

"Kylian was already one step ahead of many other players at AS Bondy," Viyanga said. "He was advanced for his age group and wanted to play with the best. That was a strict rule of his, to play with the best."

Laurens added: "As a kid, he learned La Marseillaise at the age of three just to be ready to sing it when that first cap would come."

Mbappe - whose mother Fayza Lamari is a former professional handball player - pinned up pictures of idol Cristiano Ronaldo and watched old footage of Zidane, another Real Madrid superstar.

A bigger influence closer to home though was Jires Kembo Ekoko, his adopted brother, who was selected for the French Federation's national academy at Clairefontaine years before Mbappe himself went there. Ekoko went on to play for Rennes in Ligue 1.

Matt Spiro, an author and French football expert, told BBC Sport: "Kylian initially found it a bit difficult at Clairefontaine. He was there for two years and during the first year, he certainly wasn't the best in his group.

"Mbappe would play out on the wing and would quite frequently be in a sulky mood.

"He had a growth spurt, I think towards the end of his first year in Clairefontaine, and by the second year, he was really starting to look the business."

But his rapid rise was no surprise, after all even Nike had come calling with free boots, aged just 10.

The forward, tracked by Europe's biggest clubs from an early age, left his hometown of Paris for the glamour of Monaco at the age of 14.

He had spent time with Chelsea and Real Madrid but the Mbappe family were adamant that their son should stay in France during his teenage years.

Aged 16 years and 347 days, he became the youngest player in Monaco's history - beating the record set by Henry in 1994 - when he appeared as an 88th-minute substitute against Caen.

Three months later, he became the club's youngest scorer with his first senior goal against Troyes, beating another record previously set by Henry.

"When he broke through at Monaco, you could tell the talent was so unique," said Laurens. "We have had great youngsters and talent, but he has something a little bit different."

From an ego to a proper leader

Soon after his arrival at Monaco, Mbappe and his new team-mates were set an assignment to design a magazine cover with an image of themselves on the front.

The most logical design would be a sports magazine, or perhaps a national weekly magazine such as Paris Match. Mbappe's choice?

The internationally recognised Time Magazine.

And the headline he chose? El Maestro. The Master.

Only four years later, having led France to World Cup glory in Russia and joining Pele as only the second teenager to score in a World Cup final, those big dreams became a reality. His face appeared on the front of Time for real.

It was Mbappe's ability to see the bigger picture despite his tender years that helped coin the term 'Project Mbappe'.

The somewhat tongue-in-cheek concept, where children are given intense football coaching from an early age, exploded on social media following Mbappe's rapid rise.

Its popularity is testament to the plans put in place by Mbappe's family at a young age when they were aware of the precocious talent their son possessed.

In 2017, Mbappe became the most expensive teenager in the world when he turned down the lure of Real Madrid to join PSG. Real had to wait another seven years to get their man.

And with such hype, comes the inevitable ego.

"Ego is a necessary drive for success," former PSG performance director Martin Buccheit told BBC Sport. "But it's more about having a hand on the dial to control it.

"Kylian didn't always have the hand on the on the dial. But for sure the family, the mum and the parents were really behind him. And I could feel that maybe the parents had the volume in their hands."

Mbappe, who was made France captain by boss Didier Deschamps in 2023, but, still without a Champions League winners medal and yet to be awarded the Ballon d'Or, you get the feeling Project Mbappe has some way to run yet.

"He is a very self-centred guy, but once he got the armband he knew he had to be a proper leader," added Laurens.

"Not only for his goals and assists, but I would be very surprised if he ends his career without winning the Ballon d'Or and at least one Champions League.

"In terms of the trophy cabinet, his would be better and bigger than Zidane and Platini but everything else such as the goalscoring record will too."

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Nate Tice & Bill Barnwell dive into Brendan Sorsby’s value in the NFL supplemental draft before breaking down a few NFL trends that make them go “hmmm…”

The duo start with Brendan Sorsby planning to enter the supplemental draft, diving into Sorsby’s potential value, how he stacks up as a quarterback prospect, potential landing spots and more.

Next, Nate & Bill reveal 7 NFL trends from this offseason that could give us clues to where the NFL is headed in 2026. The duo cover changing under center and pass protection trends, whether the Los Angeles Rams will finally adopt a no-huddle offense, if the Los Angeles Chargers are about to figure out the run game and much more. Class is in session: this one’s for the football nerds.

(1:35) - 2026 World Cup thoughts

(7:45) - Brendan Sorsby’s value in the NFL supplemental draft

(30:45) - Offseason trends that make us go hmm: under center, Rams tempo, pass protection

(1:02:10) - Offseason trends that make us go hmm: run game investment, Chargers, mesh

(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube

Check out all episodes of Football 301 with Nate Tice and the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

France's Kylian Mbappe got on the score sheet in the 66th minute on Tuesday against Senegal, and it was pretty clear the Real Madrid star went into the match with a premeditated celebration.

Apparently, we can thank James Corden for that. No, really.

Corden has been teaming up with Fox's World Cup coverage this tournament as the host of After Hours — a Word Cup late-night show. And the show even included a car-ride interview with Mbappe along with a fashion show.

That was how we saw Corden's apparent influence play out in Tuesday's France-Senegal match at MetLife Stadium. When Mbappe gave France that 1-0 lead, he went with a flute celebration instead of his typical arms-crossed celly.

MAGIC MBAPPÉ 🇫🇷

He scores his first goal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup for France pic.twitter.com/HcLPFkkp4X

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 16, 2026

It was the same celebration that Mbappe rehearsed in his appearance on Corden's show.

Kylian Mbappé does the flute celebration he promised James Corden. 😂🪈 pic.twitter.com/g7KkEooVKi

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) June 16, 2026

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Did Kylian Mbappe really do a World Cup flute celebration for James Corden?

The UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House sent ripples through the worlds of sports and politics and culture, living up to the promise of a Rorschach test in which seemingly no two people saw the exact same thing. Now that the dust has settled, here's how the list of big winners and losers looks to this writer.

Winner: Justin Gaethje

This is a safe space so you can ahead and admit it: you didn't ever think Gaethje would get to call himself the one and only UFC lightweight champion.

There's no shame in being wrong about that. Since when do 37-year-old lightweights up and win the undisputed title after already having had that window of opportunity slammed on their heads twice before? It simply doesn't happen.

But we made a critical error in our assessment of Gaethje's late-career abilities. We forgot to take into account his unique ability to somehow, some way convince his opponents to engage in a Justin Gaethje kind of fight. You know the kind. Feet firmly planted. Haymakers whistling through the air. A battle of power and toughness and good ol' stubbornness. And you're simply not going to out-stubborn this anvil-headed mule. To finally win the title this way is a storybook ending for Gaethje — even though we all know it won't actually be the end.

Anadolu via Getty Images

Loser: Ilia Topuria

Remember that thing Muhammad Ali said about how it ain't bragging if it's true? Actually, maybe that was Will Rogers. Regardless, Topuria's first professional defeat was a good reminder that, when you don't back it up, all that confidence — the specific predictions and promises, the celebrations before the fight even happens — it just comes off as hubris.

Topuria made a series of tactical errors in this fight, and they seemed to all stem from the same core problem: he did not sufficiently respect Gaethje's abilities.

This might have been a necessary lesson for Topuria to learn, but he sure picked a hard way to learn it. To his credit, though, his post-fight reaction was a demonstration of class and humility worthy of a champion. Now let's see if he still feels like having a party the night before the next one.

Winner: The United States Marine Band

A lot of the aesthetic criticism of this event centered around one word: tacky. The way UFC’s giant "claw" structure loomed on the Washington, D.C. horizon in the days prior to the event was a little too reminiscent of a huckster carnival operation, which played right into concerns that this would be the most crass night ever seen on the White House lawn.

No single entity did more to dispel that worry than the Marine Band. They classed this thing up big time. We're talking solid pros in uniform, cranking out a vast array of fighter entrance music. The sheer range alone was impressive. The execution was absolutely flawless. It's easy to forget what live music can do for an MMA event, mostly because it's something the UFC rarely seems to even consider. Here, it could not have possibly worked better.

Chris Unger via Getty Images

Loser: Josh Hokit

It's hard to win the fight and still be one of the primary losers of the event, but Hokit managed to pull it off. His attempt at edgelord trolling even had Dana White and Donald Trump trying to find some distance from him.

Publicly embarrassing himself for the sake of the bit has been Hokit's thing from the start, and that's his choice to make. But here he managed to embarrass our whole sport.

In so many ways, this event came off much better than many of us expected it to. That could have been the whole story. Hokit ruined it by acting like a 13-year-old boy trying to get a rise out of people in the "Call of Duty" lobby. The fact that he beat Derrick Lewis first now feels like an afterthought.

Winner: Ciryl Gane

I don't know how he managed it. Eight months ago we were looking at him in the aftermath of the eye-poke disaster against Tom Aspinall and wondering how he'd managed to screw up yet another title shot so badly. Then somehow he gets right back in the big chair for his next fight and cashes in by throttling a two-division champ on a world stage. Did he land some shots to the back of the head once things got hectic in there? I mean, yeah, one or two. Does that help the public perception that he's a guy who'll bend the rules to their breaking point? No, it does not.

Still, Gane looked great in this fight and so we really shouldn't be discussing any other option besides a title unification fight with Aspinall. That bout has a built-in storyline now, which ought to make it way bigger than the first meeting. Here's hoping Gane doesn't screw it up a second time before we can get some actual resolution.

Loser: CBS

This could have been a huge event on network TV. Even if only part of it had aired for free, with the title fights held in reserve for Paramount+, that would have at least been somewhat supportive of the claim that this was a celebration of America, for Americans. At one point, the broadcast even referred to this event as a "gift" to the country. But it's not a gift if we have to pay for it.

Using UFC’s White House weekend solely as a driver of Paramount+ subscriptions rather than a showcase of the promotion’s product more generally seems short-sighted. Why not expose this thing to the largest possible audience in an effort to grow awareness and popularity of a brand you just locked down for the next seven years? Instead the focus was on wringing a few extra dollars out of a much smaller audience, while CBS aired reruns as fights broke out on the South Lawn. I realize Paramount feels like it has to make that UFC money back somehow, but you're not going to do it with one single event.

Winner: UFC production team

We shouldn't be surprised anymore, but it turns out that when you task the UFC live event production crew with pulling off something entirely new and expensive and special, they crush it every time.

That's how it was with the Sphere event, and that's how it was again here at the White House. The visuals were stunning and the setup was a feat of fight sports engineering. Feels like a shame to go straight back to the UFC's Apex facility after that. Clearly, these people can do a lot more when you give them the chance.

Pool via Getty Images

Loser: Alex Pereira

He gets credit for being willing to accept big challenges in an effort to make UFC history. But Gane had his number even before the questionable strikes, so it's not the best look to be running around now trying to blame referee Herb Dean for his loss. Add to that some concerning domestic violence allegations that surfaced just prior to this event and the overall impression is of an ex-champion who's getting harder to cheer for.

Winner: Sean O'Malley

This always had the feel of a fight that was made with the goal of helping him shine in the spotlight, but you can't say "Suga" didn't do his part. Dropping Aiemann Zahabi and then posing with the walk-off salute (which also convinced the referee to step in, perhaps just a tad early) made for a memorable moment. He's still hanging around in title contender territory just by being one of the only guys in the 135-pound division with some genuine star-power.

Loser: Michael Chandler

This is getting tough to watch. The former Bellator champion went from what should have been a career-defining fight to being a punching bag for the young up-and-comers.

He never got his Conor McGregor payday, and at this point it looks like he never will. Hanging around into his forties just to keep being the B-side in various squash matches is a tough way to make a living.

Ed Mulholland via Getty Images

Winner: Diego Lopes

Something about this guy. He occasionally needs to lose for a little bit just to remind himself that it's better to win in the end. There may still be a ceiling for him at featherweight, at least as long as Alexander Volkanovski is the champion, but he's a guaranteed good time in most other fights. Plus, the UFC is always better when there's some crowd-pleasing contender rocking a weird mullet.

Loser: AI history lessons

We were told that the vignettes between fights would "tell the story of America." What we got was AI slop that showed, among other things, Lewis and Clark and Sacagawea (apparently it was a three-person expedition) walking blindly into a stream while staring at what appeared to be a blank map. It wasn't exactly a Ken Burns doc, is what I'm saying.

It also added nothing and had no real cohesive narrative. These AI vignettes seemed like they were written using the AI overview version of American history.

If you can't do any better than that, maybe don't bother.

Winner: Bo Nickal

OK, so the UFC matchmakers had an objective in mind here. The Nickal hype train got briefly derailed by that loss to Reiner de Ridder, and since then he's been getting the same steady diet of just-happy-to-be-here opponents that he saw prior to that setback. This can't go on forever, but Nickal did show off some solid skills in his one-sided shellacking of Kyle Daukaus. Now let's see him try it against someone capable of fighting back.

Former FSU outfielder Addie Delong is headed home. She committed to and signed with the Ohio State Buckeyes on Tuesday, announcing the news on social media.

She spent two seasons at FSU and will reportedly have three seasons of eligibility after appearing in just one game in 2026 before suffering a season-ending injury. She played in 55 games as a true freshman in 2025, hitting .333 in 30 at-bats with one double, one triple, and two RBI. She stole six bases and was expected to have a bigger role in 2026 before her injury.

DeLong is ranked as the No. 33 overall player and No. 8 outfielder in the transfer portal by Softball America. She is from Mechanicsburg, Ohio, and was a four-star recruit in the 2024 recruiting class when she signed with FSU.

She is one of four FSU players to enter the transfer portal this offseason, and the first to find her new home. All-American infielders Isa Torres and Jaysoni Beachum are among the top players in the portal, with pitcher Mimi Gooden also looking for her next school after redshirting.

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This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: FSU Softball: Addie DeLong transfers to Ohio State

So a lot has happened in the last month, at least in terms of Gopher football recruiting.

And by “a lot,” I mean 15 commitments.

So I’ve got some catching up to do. Please bear with me!

Get to know Drake Buthe

Height: 6’5”
Weight: 260

Power 4 Scholarship Offers: UCF

247 Sports Composite Rating: .8500

Scouting Report

Buthe pairs a Big Ten-ready frame with high-level wrestling credentials, underscoring his leverage, balance, and toughness in the trenches. He is a hard-nosed and disciplined offensive lineman who plays with composure and solid mobility for his size. Buthe has exceptional flexibility and movement skills for a bigger body, along with a solid technical and mental base built from playing both sides of the ball. Like most high school linemen, his main developmental need is adding good mass to reach a 300-plus-pound playing weight while refining his technique for competition at the next level, particularly hand usage and consistency in pass protection.

Hudl Highlights

Two in, two out.

After signing star UFL wide receiver Hakeem Butler and cornerback/returner Sean Fresch, the Denver Broncos waived cornerback Paul Manning and receiver Michael Woods to make room on the 91-man offseason roster. Manning was cut with an injury settlement and Woods was designated as waived/injured.

Butler (6-5, 242 pounds) is a one-time All-XFL receiver, two-time All-UFL receiver and a two-time UFL Offensive Player of the Year. The 30-year-old receiver spent time with five NFL teams before landing in Denver, but he is yet to record a catch in a regular-season game in the NFL.

Butler had two stints with CFL teams, and he was arguably the best receiver in spring football while playing for the St. Louis Battlehawks, who played in the XFL when he first joined the team in 2023. In four spring seasons with the Battlehawks, Butler totaled 138 receptions for 2,192 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Broncos roster moves

1. Signed WR Hakeem Butler
2. Cut WR Michael Woods
3. Signed CB Sean Fresch
4. Cut CB Paul Manning

Butler now joins a Broncos receiver room that is poised to feature Courtland Sutton, Jaylen Waddle, Pat Bryant, Marvin Mims and Troy Franklin this season. Fresch joins a secondary that includes Pat Surtain, Riley Moss, Ja’Quan McMillian, Jahdae Barron and Kris Abrams-Draine.

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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Denver Broncos news: Team made 4 roster moves on Tuesday

Prior to tonight’s game against the Reds, the team designated infielder Vidal Bruján for assignment and added Zack Short, whom they claimed off waivers yesterday, to the major league roster. The team also added Kodai Senga back to the roster to make the start tonight, and optioned Jonathan Pintaro to Triple-A.

Bruján had just one hit in 11 at-bats for the club during his tenure, slashing .091/.167/.091 in nine games. Despite Francisco Lindor’s injury, which could have opened the door to more playing time for a club with few options at shortstop, he didn’t see the field much and was ineffective when he did. The team will instead opt to give Short a chance. Short performed marginally better than Bruján this season, collecting six hits in 36 at-bats for the Tigers before being DFAed. He hit .167/.304/.222 for Detroit this season.

The club also activated Senga off the IL to make the start tonight. Pintaro, who came in yesterday in relief of Tobias Myers, served as the corresponding roster move. The right-hander ate valuable innings in last night’s defeat, hurling 3 2/3 innings and allowing two earned runs on three hits. He struck out four and did not walk a batter. On the season, he’s allowed three earned runs in 10 1/3 innings for New York. Senga, meanwhile, will look to get his season back on track after struggling before his injury. In five starts, he posted a 9.00 ERA.

Carl Froch has heard enough of the rantings and ravings of John Fury, who has once again challenged Froch to fight, something that — as Froch notes — has been going on for some time.

The 61-year-old Fury has escalated the conversation recently, attached to his son Tommy’s Misfits Boxing fight with Eddie Hall this past weekend. John raised the question of fighting Froch at the post-fight press conference with promoter Kalle Sauerland, and video was circulated of Fury in one of his trademark rages, punching walls and shout about Froch in the backstage area.

Froch has responded, saying he’s ready to fight, if Fury doesn’t “vanish” as he did when previously offered the bout.

“Listen up, and listen closely, because I want you to get this into your thick f—ing skull,” Froch said in a video posted online.

“This has been going on for too long. I saw you punching the wall the other day. Walls don’t hit back. You’re a f—ing bully; starting on Carl Frampton, starting on Steve Bunce, you headbutted the smallest man in the room at the Usyk press conference.

“I’m ready to fight. You called it on, I’m answering. I’m ready for you. Sign the f—ing contract or shut the f— up.”

The absolute most likely thing is none of this goes anywhere. John Fury has barked loudly around the fights of his sons for many years now, calling out various people to fight, and never actually has any sort of fight with these people, sanctioned or exhibition or otherwise. It seems mainly for attention — and love him, hate him, whatever, he is an interesting guy who’s lived a colorful life and he has a great voice, so with cameras on him, it’s easy for him to get attention.

A bit more of Froch’s response to Fury’s recent comments and antics:

On the earlier negotiations for Froch vs John Fury

“He got offered, what was it, ₤1.5 million. He said he’s not arsed about the money, he wants to fight for charity, and then he priced himself out asking for ₤2.5 million. I’d already agreed it; I said to Kalle Sauerland, the promoter, and Mams Taylor of Misfits (Boxing), ‘I’ll fight him. This guy’s a big bully. If I have to put him in his place, and I have to be the one to shut his mouth, I’ll do it!’

“Almost everything was pretty much agreed on my side. It went back to John Fury and he’d vanished. He disappeared. He calls everybody else a s—house, and he vanished.”

On John Fury’s recent comments

“He was saying I could shove (my world title belts) where the sun don’t shine. World titles — I mean, come on, when he boxed pro, he spent more time with his ass on the canvas than on his feet. He was absolutely f—ing useless. He’s giving me stick about world titles.

“Then he got personal as well, saying I’m an embarrassment to Nottingham, and he was on about when I go home to my kids, I can’t look them in the eye. Some sort of nonsense talk. It’s pathetic and ridiculous and absolutely stupid.

“Then at the post-fight press conference for that s—show [Tommy Fury vs Eddie Hall], he stuck it on Kalle Sauerland, he said, ‘Kalle, can you make this fight? Can you make this fight with me and Carl Froch?’

“But we’ve been here before, haven’t we? We’ve been here four or five months ago. I’m ready, I’m ready to fight. I ain’t got a problem with putting a bully in his place. But it got serious because … [Sauerland] said [he] can do the fight, no problem, and [John] hasn’t priced himself out — not yet, anyway. It looks like he’s being serious. So there’s a chance that this fight might actually get made, if John doesn’t vanish like he did last time.”

Celtic have made their first move. Reports from Italy, via Glasgow World, claim the Parkhead club are testing the waters for Kieron Bowie, just months after the striker moved to Hellas Verona for £6 million. Preliminary contact is already underway with the Serie A side. Well, Serie B now. Verona crashed out of the top flight last season, finishing second bottom.

Celtic eye Kieron Bowie in bold return to Scotland

That relegation changes everything.

Bowie signed a long-term contract until 2030 when he left Hibernian in January. But second-tier football means financial pain, and Verona need cash. The 23-year-old Kirkcaldy-born forward scored four goals in 14 games over there. It is a decent return for a team playing on a sinking ship. Before his Italian adventure, Bowie hit nine for Hibs and earned two Scotland caps. His journey started at Raith Rovers before a move to Fulham and productive loans at Northampton Town. Hibs then bought him for £700,000 in 2024, banking a club-record fee when they sold him. Now, Celtic could sign him for around £3.5 million. It is a massive discount.

Is this the Celtic profile O’Neill needs?

BERGAMO, ITALY – MARCH 22: Kieron Bowie of Hellas Verona in action during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Hellas Verona FC at Gewiss Stadium on March 22, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)

Does he actually fit? Not completely.

Martin O’Neill wants a specific profile. He has been vocal about needing a physical target man to bully defenders, something this squad completely lacked last term. Frank McAvennie said it best: O’Neill loves big, strong players who can rough up opposition centre-backs. Bowie has a height of 6ft 2in. The frame is there. The playing style, however, is totally different. He is a runner, not a battering ram. He likes chasing space and playing off the shoulder. He will not hold the ball up with his back to goal against a packed low-block in a tense Champions League qualifier.

Look at the current squad. It is bare bones. Junior Adamu and Tomas Cvancara are both back in the Bundesliga after terrible loan spells. Kelechi Iheanacho’s contract situation is a mess. Daizen Maeda looks set to leave this summer.

At £3.5 million, Bowie represents a low-risk option. He knows the league. But the Champions League demands more than just SPFL experience. Muscle injuries also ruined chunks of his 2024–25 season. Still, the deal makes sense if Celtic view him as a squad option rather than the main man. Sign him alongside a true heavyweight striker, and the logic becomes clear.

Coming off one of the most exhilarating fights to kick off the summer, Alex Pereira has broken his silence following his loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House.

As Pereira attempted to become the first fighter in UFC history to win gold in three different weight classes, Gane put a halt to those aspirations in the second round of the co-main event, defeating the former middle and lightweight champion by TKO.

While after the loss, Alex Pereira seemed to still be in good spirits, telling Dana White through interpreter, “If I hadn’t taken a risk every time I fought, I wouldn’t be where I am today…We’re going to sit down and look at it, the same way I lost at middleweight.”

On Tuesday morning, Pereira decided to break his silence on the fight and describe to fans via social media how wrong it went with referee Herb Dean’s officiating.

MORE: UFC boss Dana White condemns Josh Hokit’s Michelle Obama insult

“It was a lucky jab, and he took advantage,” said Pereira. “That was the opportunity of a lifetime for him. This guy has a long history of it. Dirty shots, punches to the back of the head.”

The Brazilian fighter certainly has a case when calling out Gane for illegal shots, as former UFC Heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has also labeled Gane a “cheater” after their fight was deemed a no-contest following a poke to Aspinall’s eye, leaving the fighter blinded for weeks.

Sean O’Malley, who was also on the UFC Freedom 250 card, spoke to the media regarding the shots Pereira took to the back of the head, explaining that the Brazilian spoke to referee Herb Dean before the fight about Gane’s elbow strikes.

“You know what’s funny, in the rules meeting when Pereira was talking to the ref, they were having the translator go over the back of the head.” said O’Malley.

It was an interesting insight to receive from the bantamweight fighter, as Pereira also called out Herb Dean’s officiating in his social media video.

“He shouldn’t have been reffing that fight, a guy like that should be punished,” Pereia said as he ripped into Dean.

Photos of the fighter’s head were also taken and shared on his social media following his video, which has now gone viral in the MMA world.

While no response from Gane or Dean has been admitted yet, this will be an ongoing story for fans to keep up with as plans for a rematch could potentially unfold.

In the history books.

On the scoresheet against Senegal this Tuesday evening, Kylian Mbappé scored his 57th goal for the France national team.

Nine years after his very first cap with Les Bleus, Mbappé has matched Olivier Giroud and his 57 goals at the top of the all-time scoring charts for the France national team!

The latter had moved ahead of Thierry Henry during the 2022 World Cup.

One more goal and Kylian Mbappé will become the sole all-time top scorer in the history of the national team...

📊 The top 5 all-time scorers in Les Bleus history

1) Kylian Mbappé - 57 goals

2) Olivier Giroud - 57 goals

3) Thierry Henry - 52 goals

4) Antoine Griezmann - 44 goals

5) Michel Platini - 41 goals

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Kylian Mbappé scored his 13th World Cup goal on Tuesday, one more than Pelé, to move the France forward into a tie for the fourth most in tournament history.

Mbappé scored in the 66th minute of France’s World Cup opener against Senegal after having several good scoring chances denied earlier, including in the second half, by goalkeeper Édouard Mendy. His 57th goal for the national team also equals Olivier Giroud's French record.

Playing in his third World Cup, the 27-year-old Mbappé matched Argentina's Lionel Messi and France's Just Fontaine. Mbappé is a goal away from tying Germany's Gerd Müller and two behind Brazil's Ronaldo. Germany’s Miroslav Klose has the record with 16 World Cup goals.

Mbappé helped France win the World Cup in 2018 and reach the final in 2022, when he was awarded the Silver Ball as the second-best player. Joined up front by Désiré Doué and reigning Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, France went in as the co-favorite along with Spain.

The goal came after Mbappé had little trouble finding room between Senegal defenders several times in the first 14 or so minutes. He was sloppy with the ball for much of the rest of the first half before he and his teammates started to mesh.

Mbappé scored 25 goals this past season with Real Madrid.

___

AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos kicked off their mandatory minicamp Tuesday with a notable attendee — quarterback Bo Nix — and a notable absentee — Jonathon Cooper.

Nix returned to practice, albeit on a limited basis, for the first time since breaking his right ankle late in overtime of the Broncos' divisional playoff win over the Buffalo Bills in January.

Asked if he thinks he'll be full-go by training camp in late July, Nix laughed, suggesting, he could have been full-go Tuesday if the team had let him.

Coach Sean Payton said he has no doubts Nix will be the same mobile quarterback he was before undergoing ankle surgery in January and a clean-up procedure this spring. Nix concurred, saying his ankle is like new and so maybe he'll be even more elusive in the pocket.

Meanwhile, the Broncos are having Cooper stay away from the three-day minicamp that closes their offseason program ahead of training camp after the veteran linebacker was arrested twice in one week on domestic violence charges.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

So a lot has happened in the last month, at least in terms of Gopher football recruiting.

And by “a lot,” I mean 15 commitments.

So I’ve got some catching up to do. Please bear with me!

Get to know Kevin Ferrygood

Height: 6’2”
Weight: 185

Power 4 Scholarship Offers: Oklahoma State and TCU

247 Sports Composite Rating: .8600

Scouting Report

Ferrygood had a breakout junior season with 51 receptions for 863 yards and seven receiving touchdowns. He pairs a big frame with good body control, reliable hands, and the ability to separate, make defenders miss and finish plays, giving him legitimate downfield and intermediate playmaking ability. His catch radius, ball tracking and timing at the catch point, and speed and agility in space are his most eye-catching traits. But he still has room to grow by continuing to refine his route running (especially against press and complex coverages), adding strength and mass to better win through contact, and expanding his release package and versatility so he can line up in multiple spots and create separation with more nuance rather than relying primarily on his size and natural athleticism.

Hudl Highlights

Giants putting Willy Adames on market could give Red Sox their missing offensive star originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Currently, the Boston Red Sox are 29-40 and 5.5 games behind the final spot in the AL Wild Card. While it is certainly doable to get back into the playoff race, they need to address their biggest issue: their pitiful offense. 

If the Sox can get a good bat by the deadline, they may be able to turn this chaotically bad season around. Luckily, it seems the San Francisco Giants are putting up multiple stars for sale, and if Boston doesn’t want a reunion with Rafael Devers, getting his teammate Willy Adames might be a good play.

Adames has struggled this season

© Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

This season, Adames has struggled even more than he did last year. At least last season, he hit 30 home runs. 

This season, he’s slashing .229/.274/.418/.692 with 18 doubles, 11 home runs, and 29 RBI in 70 games. It certainly doesn’t help that Oracle Park, San Francisco’s home, is a notoriously pitcher-friendly park. 

Adames’ bat would fair well in Fenway

© Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

However, his bat could see a revival in a hitter-friendly park like Fenway. The Sox have pursued him in the past, and now that he’s available again, they might want him. 

He’s a righty hitter that likes to pull, making him a prime candidate to abuse the Green Monster. Adames hit his prime with the Milwaukee Brewers, and he was a scary batter to face in Fenway. In six games, he slashed .320 with eight hits and four RBI in six games.

While it is a small sample size, it shows he could be the hitter Boston needs right now.

Boston could get him on a discount

© Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Thanks to his couple slow seasons with San Francisco, the Red Sox may be able to get the Giants to eat some of his $31 million per year contract. 

Adames would slot in well at shortstop, and Marcelo Mayer could go back to second base. However, the Sox would have to figure out what to do with Trevor Story. He is nearing his return to the MLB roster, but he has been a very poor hitter for Boston all season.

While this might not be a move the Sox make, it’s one they need to consider. Hopefully, they get the ball rolling on something soon, to turn this season around.

MORE MLB NEWS

Red Sox may have chance to bring Rafael Devers back after Giants put him on trade block

Connelly Early’s struggles could put his Red Sox future under the microscope sooner than expected

Red Sox cannot afford to trade Willson Contreras after his shocking offensive resurgence

K’Lavon Chaisson signed a one-year deal with the New England Patriots last spring, joining a squad that finished 4-13 and dead last in the AFC East. That’s not where they ended up in 2025.  

The Patriots went from worst-to-first during a remarkable transformation that spurned a playoff run all the way the Super Bowl.  

It was a learning experience for Chaisson, who had largely played on bad teams. The veteran edge rusher and former first-round NFL draft pick took note of what worked for New England and why, now bringing that knowledge to the Washington Commanders.  

Chaisson joined the burgundy and gold on a one-year, $11 millliion contract following a breakout year with the Patriots. He had a breakout year in New England, hitting career highhs with 7.5 sacks, 18 quarterback hits and two forced fumbles. He kept it rolling in the postseason, with three more sacks and 10 QB hits.  

He was brought to Washington to ignite a pass rush that had fallen on hard times. Chaisson believes he can make a profound impact on that effort and the overall defense, and will bring:  

“Relentless motor. Excitement. Knowledge. IQ. A sense of urgency,” Chaisson told on-site reporters after Tuesday’s mandatory minicamp practice. “Getting a chance to be part of the big dance last year and knowing the attention to detail that it requires to make it there and to accomplish that goal.” 

While many current Commanders reached the conference title game in 2024, Chaisson brings his unique perspective on how to turn things around in a hurry. That’s what the Commanders are looking to do after a 5-12 disappointment last season.  

There are subtle things happening even at this early stage that can help achieve lofty goals. And it starts with the little things.  

“We had that run, for sure, but we were able to capitalize on mistakes and home in on the small details and focus,” Chaisson said. “That’s all it’s going to be for us to focus on the little things and don’t get bored by the routine. That’s something that we want to apply to our defense, being the same week in and week out, regardless of the results. I’m sure a lot of great things will happen if we do that.” 

Chaisson can already see some similarities with this Commanders group and what he went through in New England.  

“The excitement, the attention to detail, the urgency of the voluntary workouts, being here when you don’t have to be here,” Chaisson said. “There’s a ‘want to’ here. We’re focused on one goal, to be playing in February. You can see it throughout the building and on the field. Guys are staying late after practice. They’re staying (locked in) in the meeting rooms and in the weight room getting extra work. They’re all good signs that lead to great things.” 

Just days before the Denver Broncos were scheduled to move into their new training facility, there's heartbreaking news from the construction site.

"At approximately 8:20 p.m. on June 15, Arapahoe County sheriff’s deputies responded to a medical emergency at the construction site of the new @Broncos Training Facility," the Arapahoe Sheriff's Office tweeted on Tuesday. "A construction worker was found unresponsive by co-workers in a confined ceiling area."

Fire rescue workers "used tools to gain access to the worker," the Arapahoe Sheriff's Office continued. "Despite rescue efforts, the man was pronounced deceased at the scene. The cause and manner of death remain under investigation by the Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office."

Death Investigation at Construction Site of New Denver Broncos Training Facility

At approximately 8:20 p.m. on June 15, Arapahoe County sheriff’s deputies responded to a medical emergency at the construction site of the new @Broncos Training Facility, located at 13409 E. Broncos… pic.twitter.com/5FpCM3x5Vf

— Arapahoe Sheriff (@ArapahoeSO) June 16, 2026

The Broncos released the following statement, via the Denver Post's Parker Gabriel: “The Denver Broncos are heartbroken to learn a subcontractor working on our new training center passed away Monday while on-site. We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the individual’s family, coworkers and friends during this difficult time."

Turner Construction told the Denver Post that work at the site has been suspended during the investigation. “This is a heartbreaking loss for the worker's family, loved ones, friends, colleagues, and all those impacted by this tragedy," the company said in a statement.

Before the tragedy, the Broncos were scheduled to move into the new facility this week.

Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.

This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL news: Construction worker dies at Broncos' new training facility

He now has thirteen goals and ties Giroud as France’s all-time top scorer.

World Cups are his backyard, and today, in France’s opener, Mbappé did not miss his date with goal. The France and Real Madrid star scored, and this is no ordinary goal.

He now has thirteen World Cup goals, surpassing Pelé and drawing level with Messi, just three goals shy of Klose’s all-time record — but watch out, because this goal means even more.

Mbappé has drawn level with Giroud as France’s all-time top scorer with 57 goals. A mark he will surpass, and who knows, maybe even today.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

The 96th edition of the MLB All-Star Game is right around the corner, and the league’s biggest stars as well as some surprise candidates are making their final pushes toward earning invitations to Philadelphia next month. Not only do we have nearly three months of performance to inform which players warrant a roster spot, but we also have our first round of fan voting results showing which players are in the mix to start on July 14 at Citizens Bank Park. 

Our latest power rankings look at players on each team who could be first-time All-Stars this year. These are often some of the best stories during All-Star week, whether they are ascendent young talents appearing in their first of many Midsummer Classics or veterans finally getting their first invite later in their careers. There won’t be room for all of them on the leagues’ stacked rosters, but here are some names to look for as potential first-timers.

Jump to a team by clicking on the links below:

• AL East: Yankees | Rays | Blue Jays | Orioles | Red Sox

• AL Central: White Sox | Guardians | Twins | Tigers | Royals

• AL West: Mariners | Athletics | Rangers | Astros | Angels

• NL East: Braves | Phillies | Nationals | Marlins | Mets

• NL Central: Brewers | Cardinals | Cubs | Pirates | Reds

• NL West: Dodgers | Padres | Diamondbacks | Giants | Rockies

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (46-27)

If you were told before the season that a Dodger would be the leading vote-getter among all National League outfielders in the first round of All-Star fan voting, that wouldn’t be a surprise. But you’d probably assume it was marquee free-agent addition Kyle Tucker (an All-Star the past four seasons) or beloved slugger Teoscar Hernandez, right? Nope! It’s 25-year-old Andy Pages, and deservingly so. Even if the outsized vote totals are partially a product of his team’s enormous and enthusiastic fan base, Pages would be a worthy inclusion on the All-Star roster. He leads the NL with 56 RBI and ranks 13th among NL position players in fWAR. 

2. Atlanta Braves (46-25)

Even with some missed time due to injury, Drake Baldwin’s outstanding play should earn him his first All-Star invite, and surely not his last. But most intriguing for Atlanta will be whether this is the year Raisel Iglesias finally gets the nod, as the 36-year-old right-hander has never been named an All-Star, despite remarkable consistency in the closer role for multiple teams over the past decade. There are only so many reliever spots available, so Iglesias could fall short again, but his continued excellence (14 saves, 1.16 ERA, 30.4% strikeout rate) on one of baseball’s best teams should not go overlooked.

3. Milwaukee Brewers (43-26)

Brice Turang — a Platinum Glove winner and a member of Team USA but not yet an All-Star — is the best bet to join super-ace Jacob Misiorowski in Philadelphia, and that would be well-deserved considering his ongoing offensive breakout. Among surprise first-half stars, 30-year-old Jake Bauers (his 148 wRC+ ranks seventh among NL hitters) has mashed his way into serious All-Star consideration, thougha crowded NL first-base crop (Matt Olson, Freddie Freeman, Bryce Harper) makes his inclusion less certain.

4. New York Yankees (43-27)

With his rib injury likely preventing Aaron Judge from participating in his eighth All-Star Game, Ben Rice and Cam Schlittler should snag the spotlight as the Yankees’ representatives. Two tremendous, homegrown player-development stories, Rice and Schlittler have been co-headlining this Yankees campaign all season, and the All-Star Game might be a precursor to their respective pushes for some even more exclusive hardware: MVP and Cy Young.

5. Tampa Bay Rays (41-28)

The most likely first-timer on this Rays roster is 35-year-old right-hander Nick Martinez, whose 2.60 ERA ranks third-lowest among qualified AL starting pitchers. Martinez’s underwhelming underlying peripherals don’t reflect that of one of the league’s best arms, but Tampa Bay still has to be thrilled with what he has provided as a free-agent addition to the rotation. 

6. Philadelphia Phillies (39-33)

He hasn’t been an elite reliever for nearly as long as Iglesias, but it’s strange to think that Jhoan Duran also has yet to make an All-Star team, considering how dominant he has been since debuting in 2022. Whether that changes this year remains to be seen, but a near certain first-timer representing the All-Star hosts will be outfielder Brandon Marsh. In fact, Marsh’s terrific season at the plate (133 wRC+) plus the hometown bump in fan voting could make him a starter for the NL.

7. Chicago White Sox (38-32)

Chicago’s lone representative last season was right-hander Shane Smith, a Rule 5 pick who became a reliable rotation option. Smith is a great story, but his selection was reflective of the complete lack of other compelling options to choose from. How times have changed. This season’s upstart White Sox roster boasts several All-Star candidates, all of whom would be first-timers: rookie sensation Munetaka Murakami, breakout bat Miguel Vargas and emergent ace Davis Martin would be worthy inclusions.

8. Cleveland Guardians (39-33)

A slow start and recent hamate injury will prevent face of the franchise José Ramírez from making his sixth consecutive All-Star appearance (and eighth overall), so look for a pitcher to represent the Guardians. Closer Cade Smith is MLB’s current saves leader with 23 and trails only Mason Miller among relievers in fWAR; he’s a virtual lock. Right-hander Gavin Williams is another first-time All-Star candidate, as his 28.7% strikeout rate ranks third among AL starting pitchers, behind only Reid Detmers (more on him later) and Jacob deGrom. 

9. Seattle Mariners (37-36)

Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, George Kirby and Luis Castillo have all been All-Stars before; could it be Emerson Hancock’s turn? Or even Bryce Miller’s? Hancock has tailed off a bit since a brilliant first month, but he ranks among the top 15 qualified AL starting pitchers in innings pitched (79 ⅔), ERA (3.28), WHIP (1.01) and K-minus-BB% (18.5%). Miller has pitched only 35 innings, but he has been dominant in that abbreviated sample: 1.54 ERA, 0.714 WHIP, 28.8% strikeout rate.

Bruno Rouby/Yahoo Sports

10. St. Louis Cardinals (39-31)

His impressive rookie year as a 21-year-old in 2023 suggested an eventual All-Star appearance was in the cards for Jordan Walker, but his immense struggles the past two seasons clouded that projection. But Walker has gotten back on track in a big way in his fourth major-league season, enjoying a slugging surge that has him at or near the top of the NL leaderboards in homers (18), RBI (56) and OPS (.903). His enormous raw power (99th-percentile average exit velocity, 100th-percentile bat speed) also makes him a strong candidate for this year’s Home Run Derby.

11. Chicago Cubs (38-35)

With Nico Hoernerfalling off hard after an excellent April, we might need to look elsewhere in the Cubs’ lineup for a possible first-time All-Star, and Michael Busch and Seiya Suzuki appear to be the strongest candidates. Suzuki was one of the biggest All-Star snubs last year, but his production has been more good than great this season, so he’d have to heat up over the next few weeks to warrant consideration. Busch’s production is also down from where it was a year ago, but his .381 OBP ranks seventh among NL hitters.

12. San Diego Padres (37-34)

The Padres’ maddeningly meek offensive output does not offer many All-Star candidates of any genre, let alone first-timers, though Gavin Sheets would be a cool inclusion, considering his career trajectory. On the mound, Michael King has been rock-solid yet nothing special. Things are trending toward Mason Miller rolling solo in Philly.

13. Washington Nationals (38-35)

Don’t count on Washington garnering All-Stars beyond the fantastic duo of James Wood and CJ Abrams. But the Nationals aren’t a two-man show. They’ve benefitted from promising steps forward from catcher Keibert Ruiz and instant impact from fresh faces Curtis Mead and Foster Griffin. Any of them being named an All-Star for the first time is unlikely as things stand, but their contributions have been crucial to Washington’s unexpected competitiveness. 

14. Arizona Diamondbacks (37-35)

Eduardo Rodriguez has carried the momentum from his strong showing for World Baseball Classic champion Venezuela into an impressive first half with Arizona. There has been some good luck involved — he has one of the largest gaps between his ERA (2.55) and xERA (4.83) of any starting pitcher — but the results have been great, and the D-backs are 10-4 across Rodriguez’s 14 starts. Of note: Among active pitchers, only Carlos Carrasco has thrown more innings without making an All-Star Game than Rodriguez.

15. Pittsburgh Pirates (36-37)

Not far behind ace Paul Skenes on the pitching fWAR leaderboard is 26-year-old right-hander Braxton Ashcraft, who is quietly enjoying one of the bigger breakouts of 2026. At the same time, this is a continuation of what Ashcraft did in a swingman role as a rookie last season: Among 126 pitchers who have thrown at least 150 innings since the start of 2025, Ashcraft’s 3.03 ERA ranks 15th, tied with Jacob deGrom. Pretty good!

16. Athletics (36-36)

Two no-brainers here. Shea Langeliers is miles ahead among American League catchers in the fan voting and has been arguably the best-hitting backstop in MLB this season. And Nick Kurtz picked up right where he left off after a historic rookie season and just enjoyed a superboost to his statistics by playing six games in Las Vegas — not that he needed help. He might not get the starting nod like Langeliers, but Kurtz will absolutely be on the All-Star roster for the first time in Philadelphia, where he grew up going to games.

17. Texas Rangers (35-37)

No active major leaguer has accumulated more baseball-reference WAR in his career without making an All-Star appearance than Brandon Nimmo, who has been solid in his first year as a Ranger, though probably not quite good enough to remove that distinction from his résumé. Instead, keep an eye on lefty closer Jacob Latz, whose .115 batting average against and 0.60 WHIP are both the lowest marks among MLB relievers.

18. Toronto Blue Jays (34-38)

Dylan Cease exemplifies the flukey nature of All-Star selections, as the right-hander has two top-four Cy Young finishes and a seven-year free agent contract but no Midsummer Classic on his résumé just yet. That should change in the coming weeks, as Cease has made a wonderful first impression in Toronto, with a 2.91 ERA across 68 innings and an AL-leading 103 strikeouts. On track to join Cease in Philadelphia as a first-time All-Star: Ernie Clement, the leading vote-getter among AL second basemen.

19. Miami Marlins (36-37)

Take your pick: Otto Lopez, leading MLB in hits (97) and batting average (.339) while providing steady defense at shortstop, or right-hander Max Meyer, who has yet to take a loss through 15 starts and is floating on the periphery of the spectacularly loaded NL Cy Young race. Both are huge reasons this young Fish team has surged in June, and both deserve to be in Philadelphia.

20. Cincinnati Reds (34-37)

In the category of uber-talented youngsters who could make their first of many All-Star appearances, right-hander Chase Burns — currently fourth among NL starters in fWAR, behind Misiorowski, Cristopher Sánchez and Skenes — fits the bill. But how about JJ Bleday? The former fourth overall pick didn’t crack the Reds’ Opening Day roster but has been an impact bat since being recalled from Triple-A. Since April 26, Bleday’s 155 wRC+ ranks ninth among qualified NL hitters.

21. Baltimore Orioles (34-39)

It has been a bizarre first year in Baltimore for outfielder Taylor Ward, but it might be good enough to earn him his first All-Star invite. Ward has started all 73 games while batting first or second for the Orioles and has hit only three home runs, yet his 16 doubles rank fourth in the AL and his .404 OBP ranks third behind only Kurtz and Yordan Alvarez.

22. New York Mets (32-40)

It’s slim pickings here. Rookie Nolan McLean came out of the gate hot and could still pitch his way into the All-Star mix, but his ERA has ballooned to a pedestrian 4.01, and the competition among NL starters is stiff. Mets fans can at least look forward to Juan Soto making his first All-Star Game as a Met (and fifth overall) after being snubbed a year ago. 

23. Minnesota Twins (34-40)

A hamate injury has sidelined him since mid-May, but Ryan Jeffers was raking to a ridiculous degree (163 wRC+) over the first six weeks and could have been well on his way to his first All-Star Game. Depending on when he returns, he could be an interesting name to monitor at the trade deadline before he hits the free-agent market as the top catcher available.

24. Houston Astros (33-41)

Among active position players, only Randal Grichuk has hit more career home runs (218) than Christian Walker (192) without ever being named to the All-Star Game. The Astros might not get any additional All-Stars beyond MVP candidate Yordan Alvarez, but Walker’s resurgence (121 wRC+) after a lackluster first season (99 wRC+) in Houston warrants consideration. His 52 RBI are third in the AL behind Kurtz and Alvarez.

25. Detroit Tigers (30-42)

He doesn’t have the same support in the fan vote, but catcher Dillon Dingler nearly matches Langeliers in most offensive categories and is much better on defense, hence his sizable lead atop the fWAR leaderboard (3.2 to Langeliers’ 2.4). Amid a difficult season for Detroit, Dingler’s breakout from stellar starting catcher to all-around star has been a welcome silver lining. 

26. Boston Red Sox (29-40)

By far the most likely Red Sox All-Stars are veterans who have been there before: Willson Contreras and Aroldis Chapman. But Ceddanne Rafaela has taken a big step forward with the bat (116 wRC+), a notable development in tandem with his exquisite glovework, which remains elite (+10 Outs Above Average, second among center fielders behind only Pete Crow-Armstrong).

27. San Francisco Giants (29-43)

Count Willy Adamesas another one of the most accomplished active position players who has never made an All-Star Game, and his middling production won’t be altering that status this summer. Jung-Hoo Lee is the potential first-timer to watch, as his advanced hit tool has finally started to translate to the highest level in his third major-league season. Lee’s five three-hit games are the most in MLB, with only three other hitters (Crow-Armstrong, Dingler, Ward) having three such performances. 

28. Kansas City Royals (29-44)

Does this dismal Royals club deserve any additional All-Stars beyond expected AL starting shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.? No. But sophomore slugger Jac Caglianone has made some encouraging progress (118 wRC+) after a difficult rookie season (46 wRC+) and would be welcome as a dark-horse invite to the Home Run Derby. 

29. Los Angeles Angels (29-44)

The All-Star headline in Anaheim is that Mike Trout is in good position to make his 12th All-Star Game, joining the 38 others in MLB history who were invited to a dozen or more Midsummer Classics. The leading first-time All-Star candidates are a pair of pitchers. José Soriano was unbelievable through six starts (0.24 ERA across 37 ⅔ innings) but has been more inconsistent in the nine outings since (4.74 ERA across 49 ⅓ innings), while Reid Detmers has gotten better as the season as progressed and currently ranks third in fWAR among AL starting pitchers, behind Schlittler and Martin. 

30. Colorado Rockies (27-46)

In all likelihood, catcher Hunter Goodman (20 HR, 122 wRC+) will head to the All-Star Game as the lone Rockies representative for the second year in a row. But how cool would it be if Mickey Moniak — 10 years removed from being selected first overall by the Phillies — returned to Philadelphia as a first-time All-Star? His .607 slugging percentage (third among hitters with at least 150 plate appearances, behind Alvarez and Rice) is eye-catching, but an ankle injury has limited him to just 43 games, and he remains on the injured list, so this scenario might be a bit too fanciful.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger made a living out of beating the Baltimore Ravens for nearly two decades.

In his career, the two-time Super Bowl champion went 17-10 against the Ravens, including a 2-1 record in the playoffs, one of which came in the 2008-09 AFC Championship Game. And on the latest episode of his podcast, Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, the future Hall of Fame quarterback said that he believes the Ravens’ best days are behind them.

“I think they’re falling apart,” Roethlisberger said. “I don’t think they’re the same team.”

Roethlisberger took it a step further to say that he doesn’t believe that Baltimore’s championship window is open anymore.

“[I] feel like their window closed,” Roethlisberger said. “To me, losing Harbaugh, King Henry’s a year older, his body’s taking a beating. What was going on with Lamar last year? He just didn’t seem like the Lamar that we’ve been used to seeing.”

The Ravens missed the postseason in 2025 after the Steelers defeated them in the final game of the regular season, an instant classic that saw Aaron Rodgers throw the game-winning touchdown to Calvin Austin and Ravens kicker Tyler Loop miss the potential game-winner to clinch the division for Pittsburgh.

Additionally, the Ravens are a mere 3-5 in playoff games in which Lamar Jackson starts. While they are oft-mentioned as Super Bowl contenders, their play never seems to back those claims up in January.

The Steelers and Ravens will once again face one another twice in the final month of the season, with the two matchups taking place in Week 15 and 18, respectively.

Let us know what you think in the comments. Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!

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So a lot has happened in the last month, at least in terms of Gopher football recruiting.

And by “a lot,” I mean 15 commitments.

So I’ve got some catching up to do. Please bear with me!

Get to know Maxwell Miles

Height: 6’2”
Weight: 190

Power 4 Scholarship Offers: Cal, Michigan, Vanderbilt, and Wake Forest

247 Sports Composite Rating: .8800

Scouting Report

Miles recorded 77 total tackles, six tackles for loss, six interceptions, and 10 pass breakups last season. He possesses plus ball skills and the ability to close space quickly and arrive with physicality, giving him clear upside as a middle‑of‑the‑field playmaker who can take the right angles and finish in space. Miles’ instincts, tackling, and versatility to make him an ideal fit for the types of safeties Minnesota has developed under Danny Collins. With that said, he will need to continue to refine his man‑coverage technique against more polished route runners, add functional strength to handle Big Ten traffic in the box, and sharpen his eye discipline so he can consistently trust his keys instead of relying purely on athleticism as the speed of the game increases.

Hudl Highlights

Kylian Mbappé is just 27 years old.

But the French superstar is embarking on his third World Cup, and his latest run at glory begins later today as France takes on Senegal. And when they do, Mbappé’s prodigious track record has the forward on the cusp of several records on the sport’s biggest stage.

Here is every national and international record Mbappé can break at this year’s World Cup.

Update: With this goal against Senegal, Mbappé has now moved up in several of these categories:

French national records Mbappé can break at the 2026 World Cup

Mbappé is on the verge of breaking several national records at the 2026 World Cup.

French National Team record goals

Mbappé enters the 2026 World Cup just one goal behind Olivier Giroud for the French National Team:

• Olivier Giroud: 57 Goals
• Kylian Mbappé: 57 Goals
• Thierry Henry: 51 Goals
• Antoine Griezmann: 44 Goals
• Michel Platini: 41 Goals

With just one goal, Mbappé would match Giroud atop the French record books, and a pair of goals would put Mbappé at the top of the list.

Update: Mbappé’s goal against Senegal pulled him level with Giroud with 57 goals for the French National Team.

French National Team World Cup goals

In addition to becoming France’s all-time leading goal scorer, Mbappé can become the nation’s top goal scorer in World Cup matches this year. Just Fontaine currently holds that mark, as the French legend scored a stunning 13 goals in just six matches at the 1958 World Cup, a record that still stands for goals in a single tournament.

Here is where Mbappé stands on that list:

• Just Fontaine: 13 Goals
• Kylian Mbappé: 13 Goals
• Thierry Henry: 6 Goals
• Zinedine Zidane: 5 Goals
• Michel Platini: 5 Goals
• Olivier Giroud: 5 Goals

Update: Mbappé’ goal against Senegal pulled him level with Fontaine with 13 World Cup goals for France.

International records Mbappé can break at the 2026 World Cup

In addition to the French records Mbappé can break at the 2026 World Cup, he can also break some international records at the 2026 World Cup, or even add to one that he already holds.

All-Time World Cup Goals

With another standout run of play, Mbappé could become the all-time leading goal scorer in World Cup history.

Currently, that record is held by Miroslav Klose from Germany, who tops the list with 16 goals. Klose is followed by Ronaldo (15), Gerd Müller (14), and Lionel Messi, who is chasing that mark as well as he enters play with 13 World Cup goals on his legendary resume.

Here is where Mbappé stands on that list:

• Miroslav Klose: 16 Goals
• Ronaldo: 15 Goals
• Gerd Müller: 14 Goals
• Just Fontaine: 13 Goals
• Lionel Messi: 13 Goals
• Kylian Mbappé: 13 Goals
• Pelé: 12 Goals

Update: With his goal against Senegal, Mbappé now has 13 World Cup goals, putting him level with Just Fontaine and Lionel Messi.

All-Time World Cup Finals Goals

This is one record Mbappé already holds.

He could theoretically add to it this year.

Mbappé scored one goal in the 2018 World Cup Finals, when France defeated Croatia 4-2. He scored three more goals during the 2022 Finals, when France lost to Messi and Argentina on penalties.

Here is the list of all-time goal scorers in the World Cup Finals:

• Kylian Mbappé: 4 Goals
• Geoff Hurst: 3 Goals
• Vavá: 3 Goals
• Pelé: 3 Goals
• Zinedine Zidane: 3 Goals
• Gino Colaussi: 2 Goals
• Silvio Piola: 2 Goals
• Helmut Rahn: 2 Goals
• Mario Kempes: 2 Goals
• Paul Breitner: 2 Goals
• Ronaldo: 2 Goals
• Lionel Messi: 2 Goals

Golden Boot

In the history of the World Cup, no player has won the Golden Boot twice.

Mbappé could change that this year.

The French star won the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup, thanks to the eight goals he scored in France’s run to the Finals. But if he were to win the Golden Boot at the 2026 World Cup, he would become the first player in the over 90-year history of the World Cup to secure that honor twice.

Most goals in World Cup history: List of all-time top scorers in FIFA men's soccer tournament originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

At one time or another, most of the greatest goalscorers of all time have brought their abilities to bear at the FIFA World Cup.

The 2026 tournament in North America will once again bring Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to the biggest stage, perhaps for the final time.

Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane are other leading superstars with superb international records, but the World Cup's leading scorer charts are also a place where a cult hero can sit comfortably.

As Messi and Ronaldo contest their record sixth tournaments, where do they and other giants of the game sit in the list of all-time top scorers at the World Cup?

MORE:Ranking the 11 greatest FIFA World Cup tournaments by an individual player

Who is the all-time top scorer in World Cup history?

Germany striker Miroslav Klose is the leading scorer in World Cup history, with 16 goals across four tournaments.

Die Mannschaft have had more celebrated strikers, such as Gerd Muller and Jurgen Klinsmann, who also feature on this list. Former Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich and Lazio striker Klose was never considered among the leading strikers in the world during a long and distinguished playing career.

But he proved to be a major tournament specialist, beginning with a hat-trick on his tournament debut against Saudi Arabia in 2002 and signing off with World Cup glory in 2014, having netted his 16th and final tournament goal in Germany's 7-1 semifinal rout of hosts Brazil.

List of all-time top scorers at the World Cup

* denotes player playing at 2026 World Cup

It took Klose past Brazilian great Ronaldo, whose brace to down Germany in the 2002 final was part of a 15-goal haul.

After Muller in third are Just Fontaine and Lionel Messi, who took contrasting routes to 13 goals. France's Fontaine scored all of his at one World Cup in 1958. Even considering this year's expanded format, his single-tournament scoring record is likely to be preserved for posterity.

Messi took five tournaments to reach 13 goals and across 26 matches, and his goals-per-game ratio of 0.5 is the joint-lowest of anyone on the list alongside Poland's Grzegorz Lato (10 in 20 across three tournaments). 

After finally scaling his remaining career mountain to lift the trophy in 2022, Messi is back for more in 2026 and is likely to climb higher up the rankings.

He could even surpass Klose, something that will definitely be on Kylian Mbappe's mind after his 2022 final hat-trick took him on to 12 career World Cup goals, level with Pele in two fewer tournament appearances. The opening goal in France's first Group I match against Senegal took Mbappe above Pele and level with Messi.

How many World Cup goals has Cristiano Ronaldo scored?

Despite being the all-time leading international scorer, with an astonishing 143 heading into the 2026 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo only has eight goals to his name across five World Cups. The same number as Argentina icon Diego Maradona.

Ronaldo will hope to break into the leading bunch and hit double figures as Portugal look to go deep in North America.

England captain Harry Kane and Brazil's Neymar also have eight apiece and could finish the 2026 tournament among the all-time leaders.

Phillies get great news on Trea Turner amid wrist injury scare originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Philadelphia Phillies, during their Monday night win over the Miami Marlins, got a bit of a concerning injury scare with Trea Turner.

He was hit on the wrist by a pitch and was clearly not 100% afterwards. And when he wasn't in the Phillies lineup for Tuesday, there were some big questions about whether he would miss a lot of time or not.

However, as The Athletic's Matt Gelb reports, Don Mattingly revealed some very encouraging news on Turner, that his wrist injury scare was only that, a scare, and it's not seeming like a long-term issue.

Phillies get good news on Trea Turner amid wrist injury

"Trea Turner (wrist) should be back in the lineup Wednesday, Don Mattingly said," Gelb reports Tuesday afternoon.

While Turner isn't in the lineup against the Marlins on Tuesday night - which features Brandon Marsh in the leadoff spot, Kyle Schwarber playing designated hitter, and Edmundo Sosa in Turner's spot - this report from Gelb is some great news.

This injury for Turner easily could've been a much more concerning issue, as it could've broken a bone and forced him to miss a significant chunk of time.

MORE: Phillies extending Cristopher Sanchez to his $107 million deal was genius

But this report makes it clear that the Phillies dodged a bullet, and Turner's injury isn't as severe as it was feared it could be.

Turner, who has a .216 batting average with seven homers, 21 RBIs, and a .594 OPS this season, dodged a major injury and is seemingly only going to miss one game.

While this injury is still one to monitor once he's back in the lineup, for now, it's a sigh of relief for the Phillies, as they didn't lose another key player as they did with Adolis Garcia a week ago.

More MLB news:

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IRVINE, Calif. (AP) — Although the cheers are still ringing in the Americans' ears after their impressive World Cup-opening victory, this U.S. team says it's prepared for the physical and mental challenges of the weeks ahead — including what's likely to be a physical meeting with Australia on Friday.

Midfielder Sebastian Berhalter gives credit for this tenacity to coach Mauricio Pochettino, who has taken over a team that repeatedly flopped on the international stage and infused it with a stronger mentality grounded in a few core beliefs.

“I think one is that we’re American. We don’t take s—-,” Berhalter said Tuesday.

“I think that’s something that (Pochettino) really put in,” Berhalter continued. “Even though he’s Argentinian, he has that mindset of, like, ‘Look, this is what we do, and this is who we are, and this is what America is about.’ So I think he just, you know, even from an outside perspective, he showed us Americans what we’re about. He really drilled that into us, and I think that’s something that has helped us this last cycle.”

That mentality was partly forged last October when the U.S. faced Australia in what turned into a scrappy 2-1 friendly victory in Colorado. Pochettino lambasted his team at halftime, imploring the players to stand up for themselves after the Socceroos delivered physical tackles and punishing play while U.S. midfielder Christian Pulisic left with an injury.

“Watching that game last year, you could see they were up for it,” said Berhalter, whose father, Gregg, coached the U.S. team before Pochettino. “They were putting in challenges, and I think that’s one of the reasons Mauricio had that halftime rant, and said, ‘These guys can’t kick us around.’ I think he was right.”

The players heard their coach's pleas, and they responded with an increased physicality in a game that ended with a combined 19 fouls and two yellow cards.

The Americans have largely kept it up since then, playing with a confidence and assertiveness that manifested throughout their 4-1 victory over Paraguay last Friday in Inglewood, California. Although they haven't racked up a string of impressive victories since Pochettino took over, the team's improvements in temperament and tactics have been obvious, and the World Cup could be the place where everything blossoms.

“That game in Colorado was fun,” winger Tim Weah said with a grin. “That experience was fun. It was aggressive. I think from that game, we’ve changed a lot. We’ve gotten a bit more aggressive as well.”

Pulisic's health is again a concern for the Americans after he was forced to work out on his own for the second straight training session Tuesday because of the calf injury that limited him to the first half against Paraguay. The team described its playmaking attacker as “day to day” for Friday's match in Seattle.

Even if Pulisic is limited again, the Americans believe they can go toe-to-toe with Australia again. Berhalter could play an important role after he made his World Cup debut by replacing Pulisic for the second half against Paraguay.

“It’s going to be a physical game, but a fun game, and we’re excited,” Berhalter said. "(The Socceroos) are going to fight. We like teams that have that brotherhood, you know? We like teams that you can see they’re hungry, they want to fight.”

___

AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has shared his lofty World Cup ambitions ahead of Portugal’s opener against DR Congo on Wednesday.

Historical aspirations

Portugal are among the favourites to go all the way at this summer’s World Cup on North American soil.

The Selecao have never won the FIFA World Cup. Their finest performance came in 1966, when they finished third. Eusébio inspired a golden generation to the semi-finals on English soil, where they fell to the hosts before recovering to beat the Soviet Union in the third-place play-off.

Portugal’s most recent World Cup outing, in 2022, came to a halt in the quarter-finals, with Morocco proving to be their undoing.

Fernandes spoke to FIFA in an interview, “The dream is to be world champions. The key is to focus on what we can do to change the fact that Portugal have never won it and become the first side to bring the coveted World Cup back home.”

“We feel good about that. It’s positive for us and it shows there’s confidence in our overall quality and in the calibre of the players representing Portugal right now.”

“We know that we’re a very strong group. We genuinely believe we can have a great World Cup.”

He added, “It fills me with confidence when I look around and see an incredible team willing to do whatever it takes at any moment. It’s not about helping me, but helping everyone reach our final objective.”

Ronaldo factor

Now 41, Cristiano Ronaldo remains Portugal’s figurehead. Fernandes has no doubt that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will be decisive in his sixth World Cup.

“It’s a huge privilege for us to have Cristiano as a compatriot, a team-mate and a player who can take us closer to winning the World Cup.”

“I think we can always learn from him. He’s shown his resilience throughout his career. He has that winning mentality, he is never satisfied with what he’s achieved, and he always strives for more. Those are all such positive qualities we’ve taken from his career.”

“The fact he’s managed to play for 20 years shows that all of that was, and still is, necessary to perform at the highest level for so long. Those factors go hand in hand with the talent he’s shown over the years. More than anything, I hope he can replicate that with us at the World Cup, helping us as he’s always done, scoring more goals and taking us closer to our objective.”

Portugal’s meeting with DR Congo in Houston kicks off at 6 pm.

Featured image Lars Baron via Getty Images

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Iraq vs Norway sees both sides kick off their World Cup campaigns, with three points on the line in Boston.

Genoa’s Leo Østigård starts from the bench, with Bologna’s Torbjørn Heggem taking his place in central defence alongside Ajer.

Torino right-back Marcus Holmgren Pedersen is also among the substitutes, while Sassuolo midfielder Kristian Thorstvedt and Cremonese’s Morten Thorsby, the most experienced Serie A player in the squad, are both named among the replacements.

Atletico Madrid’s Alexander Sorloth, heavily linked with Juventus this summer, starts on the right of the attack.

For Iraq, Como’s Ali Jassim, who spent last season on loan at Al-Najma in Saudi Arabia, is named among the starters, while Venezia’s Marko Farji starts on the bench.

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 16: General view inside Boston Stadium before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between Iraq vs Norway on June 16, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

Iraq vs Norway – World Cup 2026 – Official Lineups

Iraq XI (4-4-2): Hassan; H.Ali, Tahseen, Hashim, Doski; Jasim, Ismael, Al Ammari, Bayesh; Hussein, M.Ali.

Norway XI (4-3-3): Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Moller Wolfe; Odegaard, Berge, Aursnes; Sorloth, Haaland, Nusa.

Liverpool are set for imminent talks. A €30m agreement has taken a major step forward.

Liverpool haven't done much business in the transfer window so far, though it's very early days. The Reds will likely wait for the World Cup to finish before doing most of their work, though there is still some to be done beforehand.

One thing on the agenda is the future of Curtis Jones. The Scouser is expected to leave the club this summer as he enters the final year of his contract.

Inter are heavily interested, much as they were back in January. Tuttosport claims that deal will move forward shortly, too, as the Italians should have the money necessary to pay Liverpool's €30m asking price.

They've only offered around €20m thus far but will sell Davide Frattesi to Nottingham Forest. That will free up what they need to offer more for Jones.

Now, we completely disagree with the plan to sell Jones. A year under Andoni Iraola could see his value skyrocket, for one, but he's also one of the few homegrown players in the squad.

Liverpool appear to disagree completely. A deal with Inter looks imminent.

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Curtis Jones: Situation Summary

Liverpool Career and Performance

As of 16 June 2026, Curtis Jones is a 25-year-old central midfielder for Liverpool FC. The academy graduate has continued to establish himself as a trusted, tactically versatile component of the club's midfield engine room. During the 2025/26 campaign, Jones registered 34 appearances across all competitions, contributing three goals and four assists. His exceptional press-resistance, energy, and mature ball retention were key assets in helping the Reds navigate a gruelling domestic season. Having now surpassed 150 senior appearances for his boyhood club, he remains under contract at Anfield until 30 June 2027.

International Status and World Cup Involvement

Jones is a highly capped England youth international who has previously hovered on the fringes of the senior national squad setup. However, he was not selected by manager Thomas Tuchel for the final 26-man England squad currently competing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, allowing him a full summer rest ahead of pre-season.

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — After an injury scare Brooks Koepka says he is good to go. Over the weekend Koepka experienced a mysterious ailment at the RBC Canadian Open. Entering the third round just two shots back of the lead, Koepke felt pain in his arm and hand and found himself unable to grip a club during warm-ups. He had a trainer follow him throughout his day and ultimately got treatment mid-round en route to a two-over 72, dropping him 25 spots down the board. The following day he withdrew from the tournament, citing pain.

In itself the injury news would be disconcerting, amplified by the fact that this week is the U.S. Open, at the site of his title defense in 2018, no less. Despite the injury, Koepka is at Shinnecock Hills and intends to tee it up. “It’s getting better day by day. I would say yesterday was pretty much how it was Sunday, but today there was quite a bit of improvement,” Koepka said. “I don't think I would have gone out and played if it wasn't.

“I think it's just the ulnar nerve, just flared up a little bit. I don't know what I did. I know I came back Friday. Didn't go to the gym on Friday. We came back, and it was probably about 8:00. We were watching a show, and I just kept playing with my wrist, and it just felt like it was very weak and kind of a tingly feeling as if you kind of hit your funny bone. That's kind of how it felt in my ring finger and pinkie finger.” Koepka said the symptoms and pain were worrisome enough to get a scan on his neck, but the results were encouraging. Still, until Tuesday he struggled to swing. “It's literally just my ring finger and pinkie finger were just kind of -- and the transition coming down, they would come off. It felt like they were coming off the golf club, but they were just very weak,” Koepka explained. “Then as soon as impact would come with the turf interaction, it felt like it was fully off. “So excited to be able to hold a golf club again.” Koepka will go off at 8:14 a.m. Thursday with defending U.S. Open champ J.J. Spaun and amateur Mason Howell.

George Burhenn

*Note: Name links to official Purdue Bio.

Bio

Position: Tight End

Height: 6’5”

Weight:  245

Hometown: McCordsville, Indiana

High School: Mount Vernon High School

Recruiting Class: 2023

Eligibility Remaining: 2 seasons

High School Recruiting Rankings: Rating 3*(86) – National Rank: 852 – Position Rank: 48

High School

• Football
  • Senior Season Stats – Receptions: 38 – Yards: 784 – Touchdowns: 9
  • Won a state championship as a junior at Mt. Vernon
• Track
  • State champion 110-meter hurdles
  • Third place in 300-meter hurdles

High School Highlights

College Career

2025 Season –

• Appeared in the first four games before being injured and redshirting.
• Caught 9 passes for 94 yards.
• Academic All-Big Ten

2026 – Season Outlook

Starter – Tight End

Thoughts

Burhenn will be given every opportunity to make a difference on the field this year. The starting tight end role is his without a doubt. He’s appeared in a total of 19 games over three seasons for the Boilermakers. He was poised to play a bigger role last year before injury took him out. Shutting him down early last season should allow for him to be in top shape coming into this season where, again, his role will be greatly expanded from seasons past.

Blue Jays tumble down the rankings after a tough start to June originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Toronto Blue Jays are an interesting team this year. Fans have seen this team play really good baseball and really bad baseball at different points this season. 

They dug themselves a bit of a hole earlier in the season, but were really moving well toward the end of May. The offense was hitting the ball all over the place, and the pitching staff was looking the part. 

However, once we got into June, things started to change for the worse. When pitching has been on, the offense hasn't, and vice-versa, which has led to a 5-7 record this month. 

MORE: Blue Jays $10.75 million Gold Glover might be trade chip if 2026 season falls apart

Blue Jays tumble down the rankings after a tough start to June

To the Blue Jays' credit, they faced off against two solid teams last week. They had a three-game series during the week against the surging Philadelphia Phillies and then a three-game weekend series against the AL East-leading New York Yankees. 

And it was the same story for both of these series. Toronto could only muster one win in each, losing both 1-2.

With this, Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter has pushed them down the rankings from No. 15 last week to No. 19 this week. 

"The Blue Jays were playing well at the end of May, but that momentum has not carried over to June with a 5-7 record and minus-15 run differential to start the month. After missing two starts with a hamstring strain, Dylan Cease returned to the mound on Tuesday with six innings of three-hit, one-run, 11-strikeout ball."

Despite the losing week, fans were excited to see Dylan Cease make his return to the mound after hitting the IL with a left hamstring strain. Now with their ace back and ready for business, they can string together wins and try to close the gap in the AL East. 

More MLB news:

• Orioles slide down the power rankings after a challenging week
• Big wins against top-ranked opponents fuel a rapid White Sox rise
• Marlins' hot streak continues as they make massive climb up the rankings
• Pitching woes lead to the Pirates' massive slide in latest power rankings

Ahead of a summer break, George Pickens is back with the Dallas Cowboys. And the Pro Bowl wide receiver plans on forging ahead with the team once players and staff reconvene as well.

After reporting to the Cowboys' mandatory minicamp, Pickens said on June 16 that he would be a full participant in training camp as well as the regular season, nixing any lingering notion of a holdout.

Pickens sat out the voluntary portion of the offseason after the Cowboys revealed they would not negotiate a long-term extension with him, preferring instead to keep him on the franchise tag. Upon meeting with the media, Pickens told reporters that he abstained from those workouts at the recommendation of his agent.

With preparations for the season set to ramp up in late July, Pickens confirmed he would be back in full action at training camp.

"What's important to me is winning," Pickens told reporters, per The Athletic. "Like I said from the beginning, I always wanna bring a Super Bowl to a group of guys that never had that feeling. That's really the most important part to me."

Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said prior to practice that Pickens would go through walkthrough and individual drills but remain out of the team session as he acclimated.

"Really great visits with George," Schottenheimer said. "Fired up to have him back, he's fired up to be here."

Pickens enjoyed a career year in his first season with Dallas, posting personal bests of 93 catches, 1,429 receiving yards and nine touchdown catches. He is set to play on a fully guaranteed franchise tender worth $27.3 million.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will George Pickens hold out? Cowboys WR makes his training camp decision

Conor McGregor isn’t just coming back to fight in July; he already knows when his next fight will be, too.

Next month, McGregor returns to the cage after a five-year layoff, taking on Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. But McGregor’s return is not just a one-and-done. “Notorious” revealed to Yahoo! Sports on Tuesday that after UFC 329, he will have one fight left on his UFC deal, and he already has a date for that fight.

“Right now, I am contracted, and I have both dates,” McGregor said. “I have both dates for my fight. I have July 11 — when would you think they would put me back in? April, 2027! It’s almost a year later! That’s ridiculous to me!”

When asked why the plan was for such a long layoff, again, McGregor simply stated it’s “the way the contract was done.” And it’s obvious that, if he had his druthers, McGregor would have two fights in 2026.

“I don’t care who the opponent is. Give it to me at the end of the year,” McGregor said. “July, end of year. Boom. Let’s go to a new deal. And then f*cking April. How many weeks in a year? 50-f*cking-2. So 52 fights, a fight a week. I want to get going here, and I hope to get going. Please, God, I fancy it. I fancy my ability to do it.”

But while McGregor may want to “get going,” it may not be in the UFC. The former two-division champion said he intended to test out free agency at the conclusion of his contract unless the promotion offered him an “unbelievable deal,” though he maintained that he’d like to stay with the UFC if possible.

“I’m happy, to an extent,” McGregor said. “There’s a lot more there. I hope it’s with the UFC. I hope we come to something. I hope I get honored even more. I’m going to prove even more so what I’m about.

“It wasn’t that difficult [to come to these terms],” McGregor added. “We met in the middle. Was it what my worth is? Probably not. Was it what they wanted to offer, or what they offered? Definitely not. We met in the middle. I’m a fair operator. So that’s how I operate. I love the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and I’d love to continue. Let’s see how it goes.”

For now, though, McGregor has enough to concern himself with. “Notorious” is fighting for the first time in five years, and he intends to put on a show next month, and then worry about the rest of it.

“I have July 11,” McGregor said. “It’s only around the corner. That’s positivity, happiness. I don’t want to go too much into all of that. I’ve got the fight, I’ve got the date, I feel great. Bring it on, baby. ‘The Mac’ is back! And I’m going to put on a show in this fight! This is a martial arts delight, this bout. This is a fan-favorite, iconic bout.”

Miami Heat fans have made it very public that they want Giannis Antetokounmpo on their roster. In fact, Heat supporters have been asking for Pat Riley to make a move for the Bucks’ superstar for over two years now. 

There is one name most involved in the conversation regarding a potential Giannis-to-Miami move: Tyler Herro. However, Miami making a move for Antetokounmpo could leave the roster in a dire situation, all due to one metric: spacing.

The Heat’s Perimeter Struggles

The Heat have not seen the most success from beyond the arc in recent years. That changed, though, in the second half of the 2025-26 NBA season. With Tyler Herro, Norman Powell, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. leading the charge from beyond the perimeter, Miami finally looked to find some luck there. 

That same problem was seen early on in the 2025-26 season. The team was not constantly finding the best looks due to Herro’s injury, which kept him out for the first 17 games.    

With that said, the Heat have made some key improvements over the past few years that have led to their perimeter shooting becoming significantly better. 

Miami Has Made Spacing Improvements

Herro has always been an elite shooter, constantly in the conversation for best in the league. He made a big impact from beyond the arc in the 2025-26 season and even won this year’s NBA Three-Point Contest. After taking charge as the team’s top scorer, an improvement from beyond the arc has been visible.

The Powell trade has quietly become one of Miami’s best moves in recent years. The 33-year-old guard was moved to Miami for a small price of Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson, two exchangeable pieces.

In return, the Heat saw Powell have the best season of his career. For the first time ever, Powell found himself as an NBA All-Star. On top of that, he drastically improved Miami’s perimeter shooting, becoming the most consistent three-point shooter among the starters. 

Sophomore sensation Kel’el Ware also had a breakout year, including from three-point range. Ware significantly improved his three-point percentage from 31.5% to 39.5% from year one to year two, while taking more shots. 

Bam Adebayo has always created spacing concerns for Miami, but Ware’s shooting ability makes him the perfect fit alongside him. 

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Should the Heat Try to Trade for Giannis?

With that said, it wouldn’t be fair not to point out the positives that Antetokounmpo would bring to Miami. Adding him to this current Heat roster would give them arguably the most dominant frontcourt in the NBA. 

However, the offensive output they’d provide in the paint won’t outweigh the output they’d be taking away from the perimeter. A pairing between the two would limit Miami’s spacing even more than it did during the Butler era. It’s fair to say that neither star has found their footing from beyond the arc.

Moving Ware back to the bench after his breakout year would simply be a bad long-term move. Not only did he show All-Star potential, but he was also able to stretch the floor, helping solve one of Miami’s biggest issues.

Simply put, moving Herro in a package would be the wrong move. It would create more problems than it solves, and would reverse the spacing improvements Miami has spent years building.

Although many Heat fans might not want to admit it, Herro and Ware in the starting five is a better fit for Miami’s current roster than trading for Antetokounmpo would be. 

Unless the Heat are immediately able to fix spacing concerns, a blockbuster move for Antetokounmpo would create many flaws for Miami.

The post The Heat Should Not Trade Tyler Herro for Giannis Antetokounmpo appeared first on The Lead.

So a lot has happened in the last month, at least in terms of Gopher football recruiting.

And by “a lot,” I mean 15 commitments.

So I’ve got some catching up to do. Please bear with me!

Get to know Dylan Mota

Height: 6’7”
Weight: 270

Power 4 Scholarship Offers: Boston College, Cincinnati, Indiana, Kansas, Kansas State, North Carolina, Northwestern, and UCF

247 Sports Composite Rating: .8700

Scouting Report

Mota is a high-upside offensive tackle prospect with prototypical length and promising movement skills, though he’ll need to add functional strength, refine his pass protection technique, and be more consistent in his pad level and hand placement at the next level. He has the ideal frame and length for an offensive tackle, flashes physicality in the run game, and has demonstrated he can be a road-grading right tackle by overwhelming high school competition at the point of attack when he plays with proper leverage. Once he gets to Minnesota, adding lower-body strength and core power will be essential to his development, as will playing with more consistent pad level and knee bend and cleaning up hand timing and independent hand usage in pass sets.

Hudl Highlights

A former Georgia Bulldog running back could be getting another shot in the NFL as Zamir White is working out with the Dallas Cowboys, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. The 26-year-old halfback is still a free agent after the Las Vegas Raiders let him hit free agency.

White ran for 736 yards and two touchdowns on 198 carries through four seasons with the Raiders. That's only 3.7 yards per attempt, and after a 2023 season where he earned 451 yards and a touchdown on 104 attempts, he saw his role diminish in Las Vegas.

In 2024, White was supposed to take over the starting job with incumbent starter Josh Jacobs signing a four-year, $48 million deal with the Green Bay Packers. However, he wasn't able to claim the starting role in 2024. He only earned 183 yards and a touchdown on 65 attempts, with injuries limiting him to eight games.

The Raiders drafted standout running back and Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 pick in the 2025 NFL draft, and Jeanty immediately took over as the starting running back. They then drafted Arkansas running back Mike Washington Jr. in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL draft. He will likely replace White's role as the secondary back behind Jeanty.

The Miami Dolphins worked out White in late May, but decided to sign Carlos Washington Jr. instead. However, landing with the Cowboys would give him a decent situation and role. Javonte Williams is probably the starter, but White could compete with fifth-rounder Jaydon Blue, Malik Davis, and Phil Mafah.

Before his time in the NFL, White was one of Georgia's best power backs in recent memory. Through three seasons in a Bulldog uniform, he earned 2,043 yards and 25 touchdowns on 382 carries. He led all Georgia running backs in yards in 2020 (779) and 2021 (856), and he was a big help in Georgia winning the 2021 national championship.

Follow UGA Wire on Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) or Threads for more Georgia football coverage! 

This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Former Georgia running back Zamir White works out with Cowboys

Apple is working on iOS 27, but this doesn’t mean that work on the current iOS 26 version has stopped. In fact, iOS 26.5 came out a month ago, which was followed by 26.5.1 to fix a charging issue. Now there is iOS 26.6 on the way too. Currently, Apple is seeding the second developer beta for iOS 26.6 (build number 23G5043d), iPadOS (23G5043d), watchOS (23U5040d) and macOS (25G5043d). The release notes don’t mention any new features, so this appears to be just a round of polish. iOS 26.6 developer beta 1 included a security upgrade for Apple Maps. Also, it added a warning in the Contacts...

Luna Abyss is a fast-paced bullet-hell first-person shooter that arrived on PC and consoles this past May 21, 2026. I reviewed it for Wccftech, giving it an 8/10, praising its level design and art style. It wasn't perfect, but no game is, and the team behind it had more than shown their talent for making good games. Now, just weeks after Luna Abyss' launch, that entire team has been laid off, Kwalee Labs chief executive officer Hollie Emery revealed. First spotted by Game Informer, Emery revealed the news on their personal LinkedIn page, which doesn't offer a reason for the […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/luna-abyss-studio-kwalee-labs-entire-team-laid-off/

In a possible development that is almost guaranteed to raise a lot of hackles in Washington, Microsoft is considering the use of a self-hosted version of DeepSeek's V4 model for Copilot Cowork, as OpenAI and Anthropic appear determined to price themselves out of the market. Soaring token costs are driving enterprise customers away from OpenAI and Anthropic and right into the lap of China's DeepSeek For the benefit of those who might not be aware, a token is the smallest unit of data that an AI model processes, and is typically around 4-character long. A model's context window or working […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/microsoft-risks-trumps-ire-by-abandoning-the-costly-openai-and-anthropic-models-for-china-based-deepseeks-v4-model-for-enterprise-workloads/

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Boston Stadium is locked for a massive Group I clash, as Erling Haaland‘s Norway makes its 2026 World Cup debut against a resilient Iraq side to officially wrap up Matchday 1 for the group.

This match marks a historic milestone for the Norwegians, who are making their first World Cup appearance in 28 years. In their comeback, Manchester City’s striker Erling Haaland is expected to feature in starting XI, leading his team’s offense.

Haaland enters soccer biggest stage as the focal point of Stale Solbakken’s attacking blueprint. The clinical 25-year-old is already Norway’s all-time leading goalscorer, racking up an astonishing 55 goals in just 50 international appearances across all competitions.

On the flip side, Iraq is orchestrating an incredible comeback of their own. The Lions of Mesopotamia are back on the World Cup stage for the first time in 40 years, with their lone previous appearance dating back to Mexico 1986. The underdogs will look to play party poopers, aiming to stifle Norway’s star-studded attack and escape their return to the world stage with at least a point.

Norway projected lineup

Norway rolls into Boston with a clean bill of health and zero major roster headaches. While there were some concerns regarding Martin Ødegaard’s fitness after a grueling Premier League finish, both the captain and manager Solbakken have completely dismissed any physical setbacks.

Norway’s projected lineup to face Iraq: Orjan Nyland; Julian Ryerson, Kristoffer Ajer, Torbjorn Heggem, David Moller Wolfe; Oscar Bobb, Martin Odegaard, Sander Berge, Antonio Nusa; Alexander Sorloth, Erling Haaland.

Iraq’s projected lineup

Iraq‘s coaching staff faces a tactical hurdle ahead of their tournament opener. Manager Graham Arnold will have to navigate the tournament without left-back Ahmed Yahya, who suffered a muscular injury during their 1-1 friendly draw against Spain in the final pre-tournament warm-up.

Iraq’s projected lineup to face Norway: Jalal Hassan; Merchas Doski, Zaid Tahseen, Hussein Ali, Rebin Sulaka; Ali Jassim, Amir Al-Ammari, Ibrahim Bayesh, Zidane Iqbal; Aymen Hussein, Ali Al-Hamadi.

Iraq will be heading to its second World Cup in history, interestingly, its first in 40 years and the second ever in North America. The Lions of Mesopotamia secured their ticket to the tournament through the FIFA playoff round and were drawn into what is far from the tournament’s strongest group based on FIFA rankings.

According to the latest FIFA ranking before the tournament, Iraq sits in 57th place with 1,446.28 points. While the nation boasts a record four Arab Cup trophies, more than any other country, it sits well below its career-high ranking of 39th, which it achieved in 2004.

Drawn into Group I, widely considered the Group of Death, Iraq faces a steep challenge as the lowest-ranked team in the pool. France leads the group at 2nd in the world rankings with 1,862.11 points, followed by Senegal at 15th with 1,692.66 points, and Norway at 31st with 1,557.44 points.

Despite facing obstacles traveling to North America due to airspace closures from regional tensions, Iraq secured their World Cup berth with a 2-1 playoff victory in March. Before the tournament, the Lions of Mesopotamia drew 1-1 with Spain but suffered a 2-0 loss to Venezuela.

Iraq’s World Cup record is sparse. The nation’s only previous appearance came in Mexico in 1986, when they were grouped with the host nation, Belgium, and Paraguay. They failed to win a match, scoring just one goal while conceding four. Forty years later, Iraq returns to North America seeking their first World Cup point, and first victory.

Iraq’s Fixtures in the 2026 World Cup

Grouped with France, Senegal, and Norway, Iraq enters as the tournament’s least-favored team in Group I, with the primary objective of earning their first World Cup points. Iraq opens against Norway on June 16, faces France on June 22, and closes group play against Senegal on June 26.

Austria returns to the global stage for the first time since 1998, carrying significant momentum into the tournament. As fans review the FIFA World Cup 2026 teams, the Austrian national squad stands out following a complete transformation under head coach Ralf Rangnick.

His high-intensity system turned the team into a formidable opponent, raising expectations for their North American campaign. Drawn into Group J alongside reigning champion Argentina, Algeria, and Jordan, Austria faces a challenging but manageable path to the knockout rounds.

This World Cup 2026 team preview breaks down the Austria tactical analysis, Austria key players, and group-stage outlook as they prepare to test their aggressive pressing style against the best international soccer teams 2026 has to offer.

Team profile

How Austria play

The Austria formation and tactical identity revolve entirely around aggressive, high-intensity pressing. Coach Rangnick has successfully implemented his trademark system, requiring players to immediately hunt the ball upon losing possession rather than retreating into a defensive block.

This relentless approach allows Austria to dominate the ball and dictate the tempo. During their qualification campaign, the team averaged over 64% possession and registered 18 tackles per match, highlighting their disruptive presence off the ball.

Winning the ball high up the field also serves as Austria’s primary creative outlet. By forcing turnovers in dangerous areas, players like Christoph Baumgartner and Marcel Sabitzer can quickly transition into the final third to generate high-quality scoring chances.

However, this demanding style of play presents specific challenges. Maintaining such a frantic pace requires elite physical conditioning, and the intense North American summer heat could test the roster’s stamina.

If Austria can manage their energy levels effectively, their cohesive pressing system makes them a difficult matchup for any opponent in the tournament.

Ralf Rangnick: The coach behind Austria

Ralf Rangnick took charge of the Austrian national team in May 2022 and quickly revitalized the squad. The veteran German Austria coach arrived following a brief stint as interim boss at Manchester United and a highly successful tenure building the soccer operations at RB Leipzig.

Widely recognized as a pioneer of the modern high-pressing game, Rangnick has successfully translated his club-level philosophy to the international stage. His players have fully embraced this demanding system, resulting in an entertaining and effective brand of soccer.

While this is his first venture into international management, Rangnick has earned widespread praise from supporters for elevating the program’s standards.

His tactical conviction and clear leadership style will be central to Austria’s ability to navigate the challenges of a major global tournament.

Key player: Christoph Baumgartner

Baumgartner is the vital creative link in Austria’s aggressive tactical setup. The attacking midfielder enters the tournament following a stellar club campaign with RB Leipzig, where he consistently delivered crucial goals and assists.

Baumgartner excels at finding pockets of space between the opposition’s midfield and defensive lines. His intelligent movement and precise link-up play frequently create wide isolation opportunities for teammates like Sabitzer and Patrick Wimmer.

Equally important is his work rate without the ball. Having developed within systems modeled on Rangnick’s philosophy throughout his club career, Baumgartner executes the team’s pressing triggers flawlessly.

If Baumgartner suffers an injury, Austria would lose their most dynamic central creator, forcing the team to rely more heavily on wide areas and set pieces to generate offense.

Austria’s road to the 2026 World Cup

Austria secured direct qualification by finishing top of their European qualifying group, edging out Bosnia by two points. The team delivered a dominant campaign, suffering just one defeat across eight matches while accumulating 19 points.

They started brilliantly with five consecutive victories before facing some late pressure. Qualification was ultimately secured in dramatic fashion when Michael Gregoritsch scored a crucial 77th-minute equalizer to earn a 1-1 draw against Bosnia in the final fixture.

The squad showcased remarkable defensive stability, conceding only four goals throughout the entire cycle. This resilient qualification run proved that Austria has the consistency and defensive structure necessary to compete on the global stage.

Austria’s 2026 World Cup group stage outlook

Austria faces a balanced test in Group J, where they will compete alongside Argentina, Algeria, and Jordan. Securing a top-two finish to advance to the knockout rounds is the clear objective for Rangnick’s squad.

The opening match against Jordan presents the most favorable matchup, offering a vital opportunity to secure three points early. However, the true test arrives against reigning champion Argentina, a game that will fully challenge Austria’s defensive organization.

The decisive fixture will likely be their clash with Algeria. While the North African side possesses quality, Austria’s high-intensity system should give them the edge in a tightly contested battle for qualification.

Readers looking to follow every match involving the national team can also check our complete Austria TV schedule for the latest broadcast and streaming information.

Austria 2026 World Cup squad

Final word on Austria

Austria enters the tournament as a highly organized and dangerous team capable of challenging elite opponents. Their relentless pressing system provides a distinct tactical advantage that few international squads can easily counter.

The primary concern remains whether the players can sustain such extreme physical demands in the North American summer heat. If they manage their stamina effectively, Austria possesses the quality and coaching structure required to comfortably advance from the group stage and potentially disrupt the knockout rounds.

As Portugal prepares for another ambitious World Cup campaign, a major development involving Cristiano Ronaldo and head coach Roberto Martinez has emerged behind the scenes. With the tournament already underway and expectations rising around one of the strongest squads in international soccer, fresh reports suggest a significant decision regarding the future of the man leading the Selecao.

The timing of the reports has naturally generated attention. Portugal enters the competition among the favorites to challenge for the trophy, while Ronaldo embarks on what is his sixth World Cup appearance, hoping to finally add the one major honor that has eluded both him and his country.

Portugal arrives at the 2026 World Cup carrying enormous expectations. Drawn into Group K alongside DR Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia, the national team possesses the quality and depth required to make a deep run into the tournament.

The squad combines experienced leaders with players at the peak of their careers. Alongside Ronaldo, figures such as Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Leao, Bernardo Silva, Vitinha, Joao Neves, Ruben Dias, and Nuno Mendes provide Portugal with strength across every area of the pitch.

According to FIFA records, Portugal secured qualification impressively, finishing top of its qualifying group and booking a seventh consecutive World Cup appearance. A memorable 9-1 victory over Armenia highlighted the depth available to Martinez, especially considering Ronaldo was absent through suspension.

Martinez built strong foundation

When Martinez replaced Fernando Santos in January 2023, he inherited one of the most talented generations in Portuguese soccer history. His task was to modernize the team while maintaining the competitiveness that had delivered success in recent years.

The Spaniard quickly made an impact. Portugal completed a perfect UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, winning all ten matches and showcasing an attacking style that many supporters had long wanted to see.

Although the team was eliminated by France in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, Martinez responded by guiding Portugal to the UEFA Nations League title in 2025. The victory over Spain in the final gave him his first major trophy with the national team and strengthened his belief in his project.

The major decision revealed

While Portugal remains focused on World Cup success, reports from multiple outlets suggest that Martinez has already made an important decision regarding his future.

According to talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook and several international reports, Roberto Martinez has decided not to renew his contract with Portugal and is expected to leave after the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup, regardless of the team’s performance.

The contract was originally signed to cover the entire cycle leading to the World Cup. Reports indicate that Martinez views the tournament as the natural conclusion of that chapter. “Roberto Martínez will leave the Portugal national team after the World Cup, regardless of how they perform. He has already decided not to renew his contract”, Crook said.

If confirmed officially, the decision would bring an end to a tenure that began in early 2023 and was designed around delivering success at Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup.

What it means for Ronaldo and Portugal

The revelation adds another layer of intrigue to Portugal’s World Cup campaign.

For Ronaldo, who remains the face of Portuguese soccer despite turning 41, the tournament already carries enormous significance. The prospect of competing under a coach who may be overseeing his final matches with the national team creates an additional storyline surrounding the squad.

At the same time, Portugal remains focused on immediate objectives. The players have consistently emphasized the collective goal of winning the country’s first-ever World Cup rather than discussing long-term coaching decisions.

Martinez has repeatedly highlighted the depth of the squad, pointing to the importance of balancing established stars with emerging talents. The qualification campaign demonstrated that Portugal can succeed even when key names are unavailable.

Jordan arrives at the 2026 tournament as a debutant, stepping onto the global stage after a transformative run in Asian competition. Long considered a mid-tier side, the team recently secured its place among the FIFA World Cup 2026 teams by finishing second in its AFC qualifying group.

Expectations are grounded, as Jordan faces a demanding group-stage draw against the elite international soccer teams 2026 will bring to North America. However, a disciplined defensive structure and quick attacking transitions offer a clear blueprint for competitiveness.

This World Cup 2026 team preview explores how head coach Jamal Sellami has reshaped the squad, breaks down their tactical approach, and highlights the impact of star forward Mousa Al-Tamari.

Team profile

How Jordan play

A comprehensive Jordan tactical analysis begins with their disciplined defensive structure. The team typically utilizes a 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-3 Jordan formation, relying heavily on wing-backs to provide width and transition speed.

Against superior opposition in North America, they will likely sit in a compact low block, prioritizing defensive stability over possession. When the opportunity arises, Jordan excels at springing forward in quick attacking transitions. The system is designed to funnel the ball out wide, bypassing midfield congestion and utilizing the flanks to stretch opponents.

This counter-attacking approach relies heavily on the pace and decision-making of their forward line, particularly Al-Tamari, Yazan Al-Naimat, and Ali Olwan. While this defensive resilience makes them difficult to break down, the lack of elite depth could leave them vulnerable against technically gifted sides.

Opponents will likely target the spaces behind their wing-backs during transitions. Ultimately, executing this counter-attacking blueprint with precision will dictate whether Jordan can remain competitive throughout the tournament.

Jamal Sellami: The coach behind Jordan

Sellami took over as the Jordan coach in 2024 and immediately guided the nation to its first-ever qualification for the global tournament. The Moroccan tactician replaced Hussein Ammouta just before the critical third round of AFC qualifying, seamlessly maintaining the team’s momentum.

Before moving to the dugout, Sellami enjoyed a successful playing career, earning 38 international caps for Morocco and competing at the 1998 tournament in France. He then spent 13 years managing in his home country, developing a reputation for building organized, resilient teams.

His leadership has instilled a clear identity within the squad, balancing defensive solidity with sharp offensive transitions. Sellami’s ability to organize his side against superior talent will be the defining factor in how Jordan handles the pressure of their debut campaign.

Key player: Mousa Al-Tamari

When discussing Jordan key players, Mousa Al-Tamari stands alone as the focal point of the national team. The Rennes forward is the only member of the squad currently competing in one of Europe’s top five leagues, making his top-flight experience invaluable for a roster stepping into unfamiliar territory.

Operating primarily as an inverted winger, Al-Tamari provides the creative spark and finishing touch necessary for Sellami’s counter-attacking system to function. He has netted 24 goals in 91 appearances for his country, including seven crucial strikes during the recent qualification cycle.

His ability to progress the ball through the attacking thirds makes him a constant threat in transition. If Al-Tamari were to miss time, Jordan would lose its primary attacking outlet, severely limiting their ability to relieve defensive pressure against elite opponents.

Jordan’s road to the 2026 World Cup

Jordan secured their historic ticket to North America by finishing second in Group B during the third round of AFC qualifying. They navigated a challenging group that included South Korea, Iraq, Oman, Palestine, and Kuwait, ultimately edging Iraq by a single point to claim direct qualification.

The campaign highlighted their ability to grind out results in difficult environments. Jordan went unbeaten away from home, conceding just five goals across eight road matches. At the other end of the pitch, the attacking trio of Mousa Al-Tamari, Yazan Al-Naimat, and Ali Olwan accounted for over 70% of the team’s total goals.

This resilient qualification run proved that Jordan can execute a disciplined game plan, a trait they must replicate to survive this summer.

Jordan’s 2026 World Cup group stage outlook

Jordan faces a monumental challenge after being drawn into Group J alongside Argentina, Austria, and Algeria. As debutants, they enter the group stage as significant underdogs against three nations with extensive international pedigrees.

To have any hope of advancing, Jordan must frustrate their technically superior rivals and keep scorelines tight, potentially capitalizing if Argentina rests players in the final group match.

Jordan squad for 2026 World Cup

Final word on Jordan

Jordan enters the tournament as a clear outsider, facing a steep learning curve against some of the globe’s premier talent. Their organized defensive block and the transitional threat of Mousa Al-Tamari provide a foundation to compete, but a lack of top-flight experience across the roster remains a significant hurdle.

Navigating Group J will likely prove too demanding for a squad untested against elite South American and European competition. For this developing program, delivering competitive performances and securing their first-ever point on this stage would mark a highly successful debut.

The wait is finally over for the reigning world champion as Argentina prepares to begin its 2026 World Cup journey with a Group J clash against Algeria in Kansas City. With Lionel Messi once again at the center of attention, the South American giant enters the tournament carrying the weight of history and the ambition of defending the crown won in Qatar four years ago.

Argentina arrives in North America as one of the favorites to lift the trophy once again, while Algeria returns to the World Cup determined to prove it belongs among the global elite. The opening match could shape the direction of Group J, which also features Austria and Jordan, making a positive start crucial for both national teams.

La Albiceleste is attempting to become only the third nation ever to win back-to-back World Cups, joining Italy and Brazil in one of soccer’s most exclusive clubs. Lionel Scaloni’s side earned its place in the tournament after finishing first in CONMEBOL qualifying for the first time since 2014. A dominant campaign included a memorable 4-1 victory over Brazil and saw Argentina collect 38 points from 18 matches.

The world champion has also carried excellent form into the tournament. Seven consecutive victories in friendlies produced 21 goals while only one was conceded, reinforcing the belief that Scaloni’s squad remains one of the strongest in international soccer.

Despite those achievements, Argentina knows better than most that World Cup openers can be dangerous. The shocking defeat to Saudi Arabia in the opening match of the 2022 tournament remains fresh in the minds of many players.

Algeria arrives with confidence

Algeria returns to the World Cup for the first time since 2014 after an impressive qualification campaign under Vladimir Petkovic. The Fennec Foxes topped their CAF qualifying group and finished among Africa’s highest-scoring teams. Their attacking strength was led by Mohammed Amoura, who scored 10 goals during qualification and was directly involved in 58 percent of Algeria’s total goals.

Recent performances have also boosted confidence. Algeria defeated both the Netherlands and Bolivia in the build-up to the tournament and has conceded only twice across its last six matches. While Algeria has reached the knockout rounds only once in its World Cup history, the squad believes it can challenge for another historic run.

Experienced figures such as Riyad Mahrez, Ismaël Bennacer, Amine Gouiri, and Amoura provide plenty of quality throughout the team. Petkovic’s side will likely rely on defensive discipline and quick transitions as it attempts to frustrate one of the tournament favorites.

Will Lionel Messi play?

The biggest question surrounding Argentina’s opener has been whether Messi will be available after recently managing a hamstring issue. The answer appears to be yes. Messi is expected to start against Algeria and make his 200th international appearance for Argentina.

The Inter Miami forward is also set to become the first player in soccer history to participate in six different World Cups. Messi enters the tournament with 13 World Cup goals and eight assists, while his influence on Argentina’s recent success remains enormous. During the 2022 triumph, he scored or assisted 10 of Argentina’s 15 goals.

His record against Algeria also offers encouraging memories. The only previous meeting between the two nations came in 2007 when Argentina won 4-3, with Messi scoring the first international brace of his career.

Argentina vs Algeria: Projected lineups

Argentina projected XI (4-4-2): Emiliano Martinez; Molina, Otamendi, Lisandro Martinez, Medina; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister, Almada; Messi, Lautaro Martinez.

Algeria projected XI (4-2-3-1): Zidane; Belghali, Mandi, Chergui, Ait-Nouri; Bentaleb, Boudaoui; Mahrez, Maza, Amoura; Gouiri.

The reigning champions Argentina arrive in North America looking to accomplish a feat not seen since 1962: defending their global crown.

Argentina enters the 2026 World Cup as a resilient, battle-tested squad. Under head coach Lionel Scaloni, the South American giants have transformed from a team carrying the weight of historical expectations into a ruthless winning machine.

While Lionel Messi remains the focal point, the Argentina 2026 World Cup squad boasts impressive depth and tactical flexibility. Expectations are sky-high following their dominant qualifying campaign.

This World Cup 2026 team preview breaks down the tactical approach, coaching philosophy, and overall squad depth that could define their title defense.

Team profile

How Argentina play

Our Argentina tactical analysis reveals a fluid side that adapts seamlessly to the opponent. The Argentina formation frequently shifts between a 4-3-3 and a 4-4-2, depending on the game state.
In possession, the team relies on a compact, highly technical midfield to control the tempo. Argentina key players like Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández, and Rodrigo De Paul dictate the rhythm, allowing Messi the freedom to drift into dangerous pockets of space.

Defensively, the squad is exceptionally disciplined. During their recent qualifying campaign, they restricted opponents to an average of just 6.56 shots per match. That defensive solidity resulted in just 10 goals conceded across 18 games.

When transitioning into the attack, La Albiceleste utilizes the pace of Julián Alvarez and the finishing instincts of Lautaro Martínez. Their ability to strike quickly on the counter makes them dangerous against high-pressing teams. However, coach Scaloni does not usually play them together.

This balanced tactical approach ensures the team remains difficult to break down while possessing the firepower to punish any mistakes.

Lionel Scaloni: The coach behind Argentina

Lionel Scaloni took charge of the national team in 2018 under heavy skepticism due to his lack of senior coaching experience. Since then, he has orchestrated one of the most successful eras in the country’s soccer history.

The former right-back guided his nation to three major international trophies, ending a 28-year drought. His leadership style is grounded in emotional intelligence and pragmatism.

Rather than forcing players into a rigid system, the Argentina coach builds his setup around the squad’s strengths. He has successfully fostered a relaxed, unified locker room, removing the intense pressure that previously hindered the team.

Scaloni’s ability to manage egos and adapt his strategy mid-game will be crucial for navigating the challenges of the 2026 tournament.

Key player: Lionel Messi

Messi remains the heartbeat of the national team. Now operating primarily as a playmaker, the Inter Miami star continues to dictate the flow of the game in the final third.

Despite stepping away from European club soccer, the veteran forward has maintained exceptional form. He tallied eight goals and three assists during the South American qualifiers, proving his decisive edge remains intact.

Entering the tournament with 117 international goals in 199 appearances, his experience and composure are irreplaceable. The team’s tactical setup is explicitly designed to maximize his creative output.

If Messi suffers an injury, Scaloni would be forced to adjust his approach, either by replacing the captain with Nicolás Paz in a similar role or by tweaking the system to accommodate both Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez in the starting lineup.

Argentina’s road to the 2026 World Cup

The reigning champions dominated the South American qualifiers, finishing at the top of the 10-team standings with 38 points. They recorded 12 wins, two draws, and four losses over the 18-round campaign.

La Albiceleste boasted the highest-scoring attack in the region, netting 31 goals. Lionel Messi led the way with eight tallies, while goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez secured 10 clean sheets.

The standout moment of the cycle came during a historic 1-0 away victory against Brazil on November 21, 2023, followed by a 4-1 home win over the same rival on March 25, 2025.

Their commanding qualification run proved that the squad remains hungry and fully prepared for the upcoming global tournament.

Argentina’s 2026 World Cup group stage outlook

Drawn into Group J, Argentina faces a highly favorable path to the knockout rounds. They will compete against Algeria, Austria, and Jordan in the opening stage.

Securing the top spot in the group is the clear expectation for Scaloni’s men. Dropping points in these early fixtures would be a significant surprise given their recent form.

Readers looking to follow every match involving La Albiceleste can also check our complete Argentina TV schedule for the latest broadcast and streaming information.

Argentina squad for 2026 World Cup

Final word on Argentina

When evaluating FIFA World Cup 2026 teams, Argentina arrives in North America as one of the most complete international soccer teams 2026 has to offer. Their tactical balance and winning mentality make them a formidable opponent for any nation.

The squad’s defensive solidity provides a reliable foundation for deep tournament runs. However, an aging core roster, particularly their reliance on a 38-year-old captain, could test their physical endurance in the later stages.

A deep run to the semifinals is the minimum expectation for this storied program. If the younger generation steps up, a successful title defense is entirely within reach.

While Christian Pulisic is focused on helping the United States at the 2026 World Cup, major developments have unfolded back in Italy. Milan has made one of the most significant coaching decisions of the summer by appointing Ruben Amorim as the club’s new head coach, creating fresh intrigue around the future direction of the Rossoneri and the role key players could have under the Portuguese tactician.

The announcement arrives at a pivotal moment for Milan. After a disappointing end to the season, the club opted for sweeping changes behind the scenes, and Amorim now finds himself entrusted with restoring one of European soccer’s most historic institutions to the top level.

Milan’s decision comes after a turbulent campaign that ended in frustration. Despite spending much of the Serie A season competing near the top of the table, a poor run during the closing weeks saw the club slip to fifth place and miss out on qualification for the UEFA Champions League.

That collapse prompted significant changes throughout the organization. Massimiliano Allegri was dismissed, while several senior executives also departed as ownership deemed the season an unacceptable failure. The club’s American ownership group, RedBird Capital Partners, quickly identified Amorim as the coach capable of leading the next chapter.

Amorim’s road back to the top

The move to Milan represents a significant opportunity for Amorim.

Before his brief and difficult spell at Manchester United, the Portuguese coach had established himself as one of Europe’s brightest managerial talents through his work at Sporting Lisbon. During his time in Lisbon, he built a reputation for developing young players, implementing a modern tactical system, and delivering major trophies.

His tenure in England, however, failed to meet expectations. After being dismissed midway through the season, questions emerged about whether his reputation would recover. Milan believes the answer is yes.

The Rossoneri are convinced that the coach who transformed Sporting remains one of Europe’s most promising tactical minds. At just 41 years old, Amorim now receives an opportunity to rebuild his standing on one of soccer’s biggest stages.

How it could impact Christian Pulisic

The most intriguing aspect of the appointment concerns what it could mean for Pulisic once his World Cup campaign concludes. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Amorim’s preferred tactical systems, particularly his 3-4-2-1 formation, appear ideally suited to many of Pulisic’s strengths. 

,Rather than operating strictly as a traditional winger, the American thrives when given freedom to drift into central areas, combine between the lines, and attack spaces behind defenders.

,According to tactical analysis from the Italian outlet, the Portuguese coach favors two attacking midfielders playing behind a central striker. Those roles require creativity, movement, intelligence, and pressing intensity. Pulisic checks every box.

Reports in Italy have even suggested that an attacking midfield pairing featuring Pulisic and Christopher Nkunku could fit naturally within Amorim’s preferred structure, thanks to their ability to operate in half-spaces and influence games between defensive lines. For the USMNT star, the coaching change may offer an opportunity to become even more influential than he was under previous management.

The 2026 World Cup has already produced one of its most remarkable individual stories, and it comes at a moment when James Rodriguez is preparing for a huge showdown against Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal. While Colombia focuses on its next challenge, Germany forward Deniz Undav has unexpectedly entered the spotlight after a stunning performance that altered a long-standing piece of World Cup history.

Undav’s impact has quickly become one of the tournament’s most talked-about moments. The German international came off the bench and delivered a display that immediately drew comparisons with one of the greatest substitute appearances ever seen at a World Cup, a benchmark previously associated with James Rodriguez for more than a decade.

Germany began its World Cup campaign decisively, defeating Curacao 7-1 in Houston. While the scoreline itself underlined Germany’s attacking strength, the performance that captured attention came from a player who was not even in the starting lineup.

Introduced in the 64th minute, Undav transformed the contest almost instantly. The striker scored once and supplied two assists, helping Germany finish the match in dominant style and showcasing why many believe he deserves a bigger role as the tournament progresses.

His contribution was so significant that discussions immediately began about whether the DFB-Team coach Julian Nagelsmann should consider promoting him into the starting XI.

The record James Rodriguez held since 2014

The significance of Undav’s achievement becomes even clearer when viewed through a historical lens. For years, James Rodriguez’s memorable substitute appearance against Japan at the 2014 World Cup stood alone in the record books.

During that match, the Colombian star delivered one of the most effective cameos in tournament history, producing a goal and two assists after coming off the bench. Now, Undav has joined that exclusive company.

According to statistical records dating back to 1966, only two players have managed to score one goal and provide two assists as a substitute in a World Cup match: James Rodriguez in 2014 and Deniz Undav in 2026. That is the record that James Rodriguez has now seen matched before Colombia’s crucial encounter with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.

What does it mean ahead of Colombia vs Portugal?

For James Rodriguez, the timing of Undav’s achievement is intriguing. As Colombia prepares to face Portugal in one of the most anticipated fixtures of the tournament, attention will naturally focus on the battle between Rodriguez’s creativity and Cristiano Ronaldo’s pursuit of another World Cup milestone.

Yet while Rodriguez remains one of the most celebrated players in Colombian soccer history, Undav’s performance has ensured that a record long associated exclusively with the Colombian captain now belongs to a much smaller shared club.

That does little to diminish Rodriguez’s legacy. His performances at the 2014 World Cup remain among the tournament’s defining stories, and his influence continues to shape Colombia’s hopes in 2026. Still, Undav’s extraordinary night in Houston has guaranteed his place in World Cup history.

Another high-stakes matchday at the 2026 FIFA World Cup delivered massive headlines, tactical battles, and an unexpected managerial shakeup. On the latest edition of Rabona TV’s World Cup Daily Recap, the tournament action shifted into high gear with heavyweights failing to secure expected victories.

Listen to the full analysis on Spotify to catch up on all the goals and storylines.

The headline story centered around Group H, where tournament favorites Spain were left completely frustrated by Cabo Verde. A heroic performance from 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha secured a historic clean sheet for the African debutants, keeping the star-studded Spanish frontline quiet for a full 90 minutes.

The drama continued in the next fixture as Belgium were held to a tight draw by a sharp Egyptian side led by Mohamed Salah. Egypt put together an impressive tactical display and looked entirely value for a win, though they couldn’t find the elusive second goal to close out the match.

Meanwhile, Uruguay overcame a remarkably sluggish start against Saudi Arabia before finding their standard rhythm in the second half. The South American squad pushed hard for a victory, but a stellar goalkeeping display from Saudi custodian Mohammed Al-Owais prevented a comfortable margin of defeat.

The daily wrap-up concludes with a look at New Zealand, who played some highly impressive, attractive football during their tactical clash against Asian giants Iran. The show also reviews the shocking breaking news of a World Cup manager getting sacked remarkably early into the tournament sequence.

You can stream the full breakdown right now. Check out the Rabona TV Daily Recap on Spotify to ensure you stay fully up to date with the latest tactical analysis, highlights, and unexpected results shaking up the group stages.

Galatasaray'ın transfer listesinde yer alan Can Uzun hakkında teknik direktör Okan Buruk'tan açıklama geldi.

Transfer hazırlıklarına başlayan Galatasaray'ın adı son zamanlarda milli futbolcu Can Uzun ile anılıyordu. Teknik direktör Okan Buruk katıldığı Kafa Sports programında transfere dair açıklama yaptı.

Okan Buruk'un açıklamaları şöyle:

Can Uzun'u beğeniyor musunuz?

-Can Uzun'u beğeniyorum tabii, çok iyi oyuncu. Geçen senesi çok iyi geçmedi aslında, beklentinin bir tık altında kaldı. Ufak tefek sakatlıkları oldu. Bize karşı da oynadı. Çok beğendiğim bir oyuncu. Dediğim gibi hem forvet oynayabiliyor hem forvet arkası.. Çok zorladığınızda kanatta bile kullabilirsiniz.

-Can Uzun'u alıyor musunuz?

-Birçok oyuncu var listemizde ama henüz kulübüyle bir girişimimiz olmadı şu ana kadar. Dünya Kupası sonrasına kalıyor her şey. Dünya Kupası transferi biraz engelleyen bir şey. Dünya Kupası bitene kadar sakin geçecek transfer dönemi.

A Milli Kadın Voleybol Takımı Başantrenörü Daniele Santarelli, 2026 FIVB Milletler Ligi'nin (VNL) Ankara etabı hakkında açıklamalarda bulundu.

A Milli Kadın Voleybol Takımı Başantrenörü Daniele Santarelli, 2026 FIVB Milletler Ligi'nin (VNL) Ankara etabında her maçı kazanmaya çalışacaklarını söyledi.

Ankara'da 17-21 Haziran tarihlerinde düzenlenecek VNL'in 2. etabında mücadele edecek ay-yıldızlı ekipte başantrenör Santarelli ve orta oyuncu Berka Buse Özden, Ankara Spor Salonu'ndaki antrenman öncesi AA muhabirine açıklamalarda bulundu.

Başantrenör Santarelli, takımın durumunun ilk etaptan farklı olduğuna dikkati çekerek "Hedefimiz her maçı kazanmak. Bazı etapların daha kolay, bazılarının daha zor olabileceğini biliyoruz. Şimdi evimizde oynuyoruz. Takımın durumu ilk etap sonundan biraz farklı. İlk etapta birçok genç oyuncuyu kadromuza kattık. Bu bizim için milli takımın geleceği için oyuncuların sağlığı için gerçekten çok önemliydi. Şimdi oyuncular iyi durumda, mükemmel durumda değiller ama bu normal. Hedefimiz her galibiyeti yakalamaya çalışmak. Bunun kolay olmadığını biliyoruz ama evimizde oynuyoruz ve her şey mümkün." dedi.

Başkentteki ilk maçlarını Belçika ile oynayacaklarını, kendisi için de en önemli karşılaşmanın şu anda bu olduğunu dile getiren Santarelli, "Öncelikle adım adım düşünmemiz gerekiyor. İlk maçı Belçika ile oynayacağız. Benim için en önemli maç ilk maç. Belçika'dan sonra diğer takımı düşünmeye başlayacağız. Her takım çok iyi becerilere sahip. Takımların çok iyi detayları var. Bizim de kendi güçlü yönlerimize odaklanmamız ve onların güçlü yönlerini azaltmaya çalışmamız gerekiyor. Örneğin Çin gibi kesinlikle daha komple takımlar var ve bu son maç olacak. Şimdi Çin'i düşünmek istemiyorum. Şimdi hedefim Belçika." diye konuştu.

Ankara'daki taraftar desteğinin kendilerini motive ettiğini anlatan 45 yaşındaki başantrenör, "Burada oynamayı dört gözle bekliyorum. Arenanın tamamen dolu, tıklım tıklım dolu olacağından eminim. Bu nedenle önemli olacak. Evimizde oynadığımız için taraftarların bize çok yardımcı olacağını biliyorum. Biletlerin çok kısa sürede tükendiğini düşünüyorum ve bu bizim için çok özel bir durum. Voleybol Türkiye'de çok önemli, milli takımla burada maç oynamak da çok güzel." ifadelerini kullandı.

"Daha güçlü bir ekibe sahibiz"

Milli voleybolcu Berka Buse Özden ise Brezilya'daki ilk etabın kendileri için güzel geçtiğini anlattı.

Berka Buse, "Elimizden geleni yaptık. İkinci etapta ablalarımız da aramıza katıldı. Daha güçlü bir ekibe sahibiz. Dörtte dört yapmak istiyoruz. Elimizden geleni yapacağız. Şu anda enerjimiz yüksek." dedi.

Güçlü takımlarla karşılaşacaklarını dile getiren Berka Buse, "Herkesi maça bekliyoruz. Geçen sene İstanbul'da inanılmaz bir atmosfer vardı. Ben Ankara'nın da bundan aşağı kalır bir yanı olacağını düşünmüyorum. Umarım güzel seyircimiz önünde güzel galibiyetler alırız." diyerek sözlerini tamamladı.

Mayıs ayında spor basınını sallayan ve UEFA'nın Fenerbahçe'ye 10-15 milyon Euro arasında bir finansal ceza keseceği yönündeki iddialarda takvim şaştı. "Haziran'ın ilk haftasında resmiyet kazanacak" denilen dosyadan günlerdir çıt çıkmaması, camiada "Karar ertelendi mi" sorularını beraberinde getirdi. İddialara göre Nyon cephesindeki bu gizemli sessizliğin perde arkasında çok daha farklı bir süreç var.

Mayıs ayında sabah akşam konuşulan UEFA'nın Fenerbahçe'ye "harcama limiti aşımı" gerekçesiyle 10 ila 15 milyon Euro arasında rekor bir ceza keseceği yönündeki iddialar konusunda derin bir sessizlik yaşanıyor. Bazı sosyal medya hesaplarının "Haziran ayının ilk haftasında resmiyet kazanacak, her şey bitti" diyerek takvim bile verdiği kritik sürenin üzerinden günler geçti.

Nyon’dan tek bir resmi açıklama dahi gelmedi. Bu durum, sarı-lacivertli camiada "UEFA bu cezayı unuttu mu, yoksa karar kapalı kapılar ardında ertelendi mi?" sorularının yüksek sesle sorulmasına yol açtı.

Medyada yaratılan "Haziran başı" beklentisinin boşa çıkmasının arkasında, aslında futbol bürokrasisinin ve kulübün kendi idari takviminin yattığı belirtiliyor.

Bilindiği üzere Fenerbahçe, geçtiğimiz dönemde mali kongre süreçlerinde yaşanan yaklaşık bir aylık idari rötar nedeniyle, kasaya girmesi planlanan sıcak parayı UEFA'nın bütçe denetleme takvimine tam zamanında yetiştirememiş ve bu durum radara takılmıştı.

Ancak haziran ayının hemen başında kulüpte yaşanan başkanlık seçimi atmosferi, yönetim geçiş süreçleri ve UEFA Kulüp Finansal Kontrol Kurulu (CFCB) ile yürütülen savunma trafiğinin, takvimin esnemesinde doğrudan rol oynadığı tahmin ediliyor.

Madalyonun UEFA tarafına bakıldığında ise ortada yapısal bir "unutulma" veya kayırma durumunun olmadığı, aksine kurumun kendi rutin işleyişinin sürdüğü görülüyor.

UEFA'nın finansal sürdürülebilirlik ve denk bütçe ihlallerine yönelik dosyaları tek tek ve anlık olarak açıklama gibi bir usulü bulunmuyor.

Nyon yönetimi, Avrupa liglerinin tamamlanmasının ardından tüm kulüplerin dosyalarını topluca karara bağlamayı ve bu doğrultuda yapılan "Yapılandırma Anlaşmalarını" büyük bir paket halinde duyurmayı tercih ediyor.

Peki bu gizemli sessizlik ne zaman bozulacak? Futbol finansı uzmanlarına ve UEFA’nın geçmiş yıllardaki karar takvimine bakıldığında, gözlerin çevrileceği asıl dönemin Temmuz ayı olabileceği konuşuluyor.

Şampiyonlar Ligi eleme kuralarının çekildiği ve yeni sezonun resmi olarak başladığı bu süreçte UEFA, cezai yaptırımları toplu bir bültenle ilan edebilir.

Dolayısıyla Fenerbahçe taraftarının merakla beklediği bu dosyanın akıbeti, temmuz başındaki bütçe raporlarıyla birlikte ya bir idari para cezası olarak ya da yeni bir mali anlaşma modeliyle resmiyet kazanmış olabilir.

İngiltere Milli Takımı'nda sakatlanan Livramento yerine Chalobah Dünya Kupası kadrosuna dahil edildi.

2026 FIFA Dünya Kupası'nda İngiltere Milli Takımı'nda sakatlanan Tino Livramento yerine Trevoh Chalobah kadroya dahil edildi.

FIFA'nın açıklamasında, "Livramento, pazar günü antrenmanda yaşadığı baldır sakatlığı nedeniyle Dünya Kupası kadrosundan çıkarıldı." denildi.

Açıklamada, sol bek Livramento'nun yerine kadroda defans oyuncusu Trevoh Chalobah'ın olacağı bilgisi verildi.

İngiltere, L Grubu ilk maçında yarın Hırvatistan ile karşılaşacak.

Galatasaray'ın kritik transfer zirvesine bu kez Abdullah Kavukçu da katıldı... 3. toplantı sonrasında yönetim için kriz iddiaları "şimdilik" rafa kalktı! Okan Buruk'un Kavukçu ısrarı üzerine Başkan Dursun Özbek son noktayı koydu: Bizimle devam edecek. Finansal disiplinden taviz vermeyecek olan sarı-kırmızılılar, yeni sezonda "sat-al" formülüyle hareket edecek.

Galatasaray’da yeni sezonun transfer planlaması tüm hızıyla sürerken transfer gündeminde hareketli saatler yaşanıyor. Son olarak Oktay Ercan’ın evinde gerçekleştirilen kritik transfer zirvesinden sonra bugün üçüncü bir görüşme daha oldu. Daha önce ilk iki görüşmenin dışında kalan Abdullah Kavukçu da bugünkü toplantıda yer aldı. Kavukçu’nun masada yer alması, yönetim içi kriz söylentilerine son noktayı koydu.

Teknik direktör Okan Buruk’un süreçteki ısrarcı tavrı bu katılımda büyük rol oynadı. Başarılı çalıştırıcının, Başkan Dursun Özbek’e doğrudan "Ben Abdullah Kavukçu ile çalışmak istiyorum" diyerek net bir duruş sergilediği öğrenildi. Başkan Özbek de Buruk’a destek vererek, "Bir yere gittiği yok, bizimle devam edecek" yanıtıyla Florya’daki tüm soru işaretlerini giderdi.

Kadro mühendisliği için düğmeye basılsa da Başkan Özbek’in masadaki önceliği tamamen finansal disiplin. "Ayağımı yorganıma göre uzatmak istiyorum" diyen Özbek; kulübün öncelikli olarak mevcut maaşları zamanında ödemesini, sıcak para akışının aksamamasını ve bütçenin kesinlikle aşılmamasını şart koştu.

Sarı-kırmızılıların bu yaz uygulayacağı transfer stratejisi tamamen "bekle-gör ve sat-al" formülüne dayanacak. Resmi adımlar atılmadan önce teklif alan oyuncuların durumunu görmek isteyen Özbek, "Şimdilik sakin kalalım, fotoğrafı görelim ve bunlara göre plan yapalım" diyerek aceleci ve mali risk içeren hamlelerin önünü kapattı.

Fenerbahçe transfer gündemini meşgul eden Serhou Guirassy iddiaları boşa çıktı! Sarı-lacivertlilerin, golcü oyuncu ve menajerliğini yapan kardeşi Karamba ile bugün masaya oturacağı öne sürülürken, ikilinin imza için İstanbul'a değil, hayır kurumlarının elçisi olarak memleketleri Gine'ye uçtuğu ortaya çıktı. Üstelik Alman basınına konuşan Guirassy, Dortmund'un "Sarı Duvar"ı önünde gol atmanın kendisine adrenalin patlaması yaşattığını belirterek ayrılık iddialarına son noktayı koydu.

Fenerbahçe transfer gündeminin "başrol oyuncusu" Serhou Guirassy iddialarının ardındaki sis perdesi kalkıyor. Sarı-lacivertlilerin, golcü oyuncu ve aynı zamanda menajerliğini yürüten kardeşi Karamba ile bugün bir araya geleceği yönündeki söylentiler, son gelişmelerle birlikte boşa çıkmış durumda.

Ortaya atılan bu iddiaların altının tamamen boş olduğu, oyuncunun güncel rotası ve yaptığı son açıklamalarla net bir şekilde gözler önüne serildi. İşin aslı, Guirassy’nin transfer görüşmeleri için İstanbul’a gelmek ya da Almanya'da kalmak bir yana, Avrupa’da bile olmadığı anlaşıldı.

Yıldız forvet, menajerliğini yapan kardeşi Karamba ile birlikte Pazartesi günü memleketi Gine’ye uçtu. Başkent Conakry’deki havalimanında halkın yoğun sevgi gösterileri ve sıcak bir atmosferle karşılanan Guirassy’nin bu seyahatinin arkasında tamamen milli ve sosyal sorumluluk projeleri yer alıyor.

Gine’nin Dünya Kupası vizesi alamamasının ardından ülkesine moral vermeye giden golcü oyuncu, Gine Futbol Federasyonu’na resmi bir ziyaret gerçekleştirdi.

Ülkesinde sadece bir futbolcu olarak değil, aynı zamanda hayır kurumlarının elçisi olarak da bulunan Guirassy, tamamen sosyal sorumluluk görevlerine ve yardım faaliyetlerine odaklanmış durumda.

Guirassy’nin kariyer planlamasında Dortmund’dan ayrılmak gibi bir düşüncesinin olmadığı, bizzat kendi sözleriyle tescillendi. DFL’nin resmi "Bundesliga" dergisine kapsamlı bir röportaj veren Guirassy, Alman devine olan aidiyetini ve hayranlığını gizlemedi. Dortmund’da mutlu olduğunu açıkça belirten oyuncunun açıklamaları, transfer iddialarını tamamen taca attı.

Sarı-siyahlı formaya ve kulübe bağlılığını coşkulu sözlerle dile getiren Guirassy, röportajında şu ifadeleri kullandı:

- Dortmund dünyanın en iyi taraftar kitlelerinden birine sahip. Güney tribününün, yani 'Sarı Duvar'ın önünde gol atmak, bir BVB oyuncusu olarak her zaman çok duygusal bir şeydir. Burada gol atmak size gerçek bir adrenalin patlaması yaşatır.

Bu net mesajlar, Fenerbahçe ile anılan oyuncunun Dortmund’daki geleceğine ne denli konsantre olduğunu ve transfer iddialarının gerçeklerden ne kadar uzak olduğunu kanıtlar nitelikte.

Dinamo Kiev formasıyla geride kalan sezonda devleşen 21 yaşındaki sol stoper Taras Mykhavko için nefes kesen bir yarış başladı. Oyuncunun transferi için 10 milyon euroyu gözden çıkaran Benfica'nın, rotasını daha deneyimli isimlere çevirerek geri adım atması üzerine Trabzonspor'un gözleri parladı. Marsilya'nın da yakından takip ettiği genç yıldızı elinden kaçırmak istemeyen Karadeniz Fırtınası, Benfica'nın çekimser kalmasını fırsat bilerek kolları sıvadı.

Yeni sezon öncesi savunma hattını güçlendirmek için transfer çalışmalarını hızlandıran Trabzonspor, rotasını Ukrayna’ya çevirdi. Bordo-mavililer, Dinamo Kiev formasıyla sergilediği performansla dikkatleri üzerine çeken ve Ukrayna futbolunun gelecek vaat eden en parlak yeteneklerinden biri olarak gösterilen 21 yaşındaki stoper Taras Mykhavko'yu gündemine aldı.

Yakın zamanda Ukrayna Milli Takımı’nda da ilk kez sahne alan genç savunmacı için Trabzonspor, Avrupa’nın dev kulüpleriyle çetin bir transfer yarışına girmiş durumda. Karadeniz Fırtınası’nın bu transferdeki en ciddi rakipleri ise Portekiz ekibi Benfica ve Fransa devi Marsilya.

Ukrayna basınından sızan bilgilere göre, oyuncunun bonservis değeri 10 milyon euro civarında seyrediyor. Özellikle Benfica'nın bu rakama yakın bir teklif hazırlığında olduğu belirtilse de, Portekiz kulübünün transfer stratejisinde daha deneyimli isimlere öncelik vermesi, Trabzonspor’un bu yarışta elini güçlendiren ve iştahını kabartan en önemli faktörlerin başında geliyor.

Dinamo Kiev altyapısından yetişen ve kulübüyle üçüncü sezonunu geride bırakan Mykhavko, geride kalan sezonda sergilediği istikrarlı ve skorer grafikle dikkat çekiyor.

Genç yaşına rağmen takımıyla tam 39 resmi maça çıkan 21 yaşındaki stoper, savunmadaki başarısının yanı sıra hücumda da takımına büyük katkı sağladı ve tam 6 kez fileleri havalandırdı. Hem sol ayaklı olması hem de modern stoper özelliklerini barındırması, Trabzonspor teknik heyetinin bu transfere tam not vermesini sağlıyor.

Benfica’nın savunma hattındaki António Silva ve Tomás Araújo gibi isimlerin yanına daha tecrübeli bir stoper arayışında olması nedeniyle Mykhavko planlarını askıya alabileceği konuşuluyor.

Marsilya’nın da devrede ancak mali açıdan sıkıntıda. Bu yüzden Trabzonspor, doğru zamanlama ve cazip bir projeyle genç yıldızı ikna ederek savunmanın merkezini uzun yıllar güvence altına almayı hedefliyor.

Rusya Premier Lig ekiplerinden Zenit, son zamanlarda adı sıklıkla Galatasaray ile anılan Jhon Duran ile yolların ayrıldığını açıkladı.

Gelecek sezonun transfer çalışmalarına başlayan Galatasaray'ın adı son zamanlarda Fenerbahçe'nin eski golcüsü Jhon Duran ile anılıyordu. Duran cephesinde önemli bir gelişme yaşandı.

Rusya Premier Lig ekibi Zenit St. Petersburg, 22 yaşındaki futbolcu ile yolların ayrıldığını resmen açıkladı.

Kulüpten yapılan resmi açıklamada, Zenit ile Suudi Arabistan temsilcisi Al-Nassr arasındaki kiralık sözleşmenin sona erdiği belirtildi. Açıklamada, "Zenit, forvet oyuncusuna hem futbol kariyerinde hem de saha dışında başarılar diliyor" ifadelerine yer verildi.

İtalya Serie A'nın yeni ekiplerinden Venezia, Gaziantep FK forması giyen 22 yaşındaki orta saha oyuncusu Kacper Kozlowski'nin peşinde olduğu iddia edildi.

Süper Lig ekiplerinden Gaziantep FK'da forma giyen orta saha oyuncusu Kacper Kozlowski için sürpriz bir iddia ortaya atıldı.

Di Marzio'nun aktardığına göre, İtalya Serie A'nın yeni ekiplerinden Venezia, Gaziantep FK forması giyen 22 yaşındaki orta saha oyuncusu Kacper Kozlowski'yi transfer listesine aldı.

Geçtiğimiz sezonu Gaziantep FK'da geçiren Kozlowski, Süper Lig'de 31 maçta forma giyerken 6 gol ve 3 asistlik katkı sağladı. Türkiye Kupası'nda ise 3 maçta 3 asist üreten genç futbolcu, sezonu toplam 34 maçta 6 gol ve 6 asistle tamamladı.

Portuqaliyalı futbol mütəxəssisi Ruben Amorim İtaliya A Seriyasında mübarizə aparan “Milan”ın baş məşqçisi təyin olunub.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə Milan təmsilçisinin mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb.

Klubun rəsmi bəyanatında gənc mütəxəssisin fəaliyyəti yüksək qiymətləndirilib:

“Biz illərdir Rubeni izləyirik. Onun “Sportinq”dəki işi bizdə böyük təəssürat yaratmaqla yanaşı, axtardığımız oyun üslubunu da özündə əks etdirir. O, yeni Avropa nəslinin ən hazırlıqlı və yenilikçi məşqçilərindən biridir”.

Amorim “Milan”ın “sükanı arxası”nda bu yay postundan ayrılmış Massimiliano Alleqrini əvəz edib. İtaliyalı mütəxəssisin istefasına “Milan”ın 2025/2026-cı illər mövsümündə göstərdiyi zəif nəticələr səbəb olub. Belə ki, komanda ölkə çempionatında beşinci yeri tutub və UEFA Çempionlar Liqasına vəsiqə qazana bilməyib.

Alleqri 2025-ci ilin may ayında “Milan”ın baş məşqçisi vəzifəsinə təyin olunmuşdu. 58 yaşlı mütəxəssisin bu klubla müddəti 2027-ci ilin 30 iyununa qədər nəzərdə tutulmuş müqaviləsi var idi.

Massimiliano Alleqri 2010-2014-cü illərdə də “Milan”ı çalışdırıb. O, 2010/2011-ci illər mövsümündə “Milan”ı İtaliya çempionu edibsə, 2011/2012 mövsümündə bu kluba İtaliya Super Kubokunu qazandırıb.

Alleqri daha öncə “Yuventus”, SPAL, “Qrosseto”, “Sassuolo”, “Kalyari” kimi komandaları da çalışdırıb. Onun yeni mövsümdən “Napoli”yə rəhbərlik edəcəyi barədə xəbərlər dolaşır.

Ruben Amorim isə son olaraq İngiltərə təmsilçisi “Mançsester Yunayted”ə rəhbərlik edib. O, 2024-cü ilin noyabr ayında “qırmızı şeytanlar”ın baş məşqçisi təyin olunsa da, bu ilin yanvarında istefaya göndərilmişdi. Amorim sözügedən komandanı bütövlükdə 63 oyuna çıxarıb, 25 qələbə, 15 heç-heçə və 23 məğlubiyyət görüb.

Amorim məşqçiliyə 2018/2019-cu illər mövsümündə “Kaza Piya” klubunda başlayıb. Bundan sonra gənc portuqal mütəxəssis “Braqa”nın “B” komandasını, ardınca isə əsas komandasını çalışdırıb. 2020-ci ilin mart ayında isə Amorim “Sportinq”in sükanı arxasına keçib.

Amorim rəhbərliyi müddətində “şirlər”ə 2 dəfə Portuqaliya Premyer Liqasını (2020/2021, 2023/2024), 2 dəfə Portuqaliya Liqa Kuboku (2020/2021, 2021/2022) və Portuqaliya Super Kubokunu (2021/2022) qazandırıb. Həmçinin Amorim “Braqa” ilə Portuqaliya Liqa Kubokunun (2019/2020) qalibi olub.

Azərbaycanı Avropa Konfrans Liqasında təmsil edəcək “Neftçi”nin 2026/2027-ci illər mövsümü üçün hazırlıq planı müəyyənləşib.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə paytaxt klubunun mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb.

Komanda iki mərhələdən ibarət təlim-məşq toplanışının birinci mərhələsini iyunun 20-dən 28-nə qədər Bakıda – klubun özünə məxsus futbol mərkəzində keçəcək.

Toplanışın ikinci mərhələsi iyunun 29-dan iyulun 14-nə qədər Sloveniyanın Moravske Toplitse şəhərində reallaşacaq. “Hotel Livada Prestige”də məskunlaşacaq “ağ-qaralar” bu mərhələ ərzində 4 yoxlama görüşü keçirməyi planlaşdırır. Oyunlar 2, 6, 10 və 13 iyul tarixlərində baş tutacaq. İyulun 2-dəki matçda rəqib Serbiya “Partizan”ı olacaq.

Yoxlama görüşlərinin başlanma saatı və digər rəqiblər haqda daha sonra məlumat veriləcək.

Qeyd edək ki, “Neftçi” Avropa Konfrans Liqasında mübarizəyə 2-ci təsnifat mərhələsindən start verəcək. “Ağ-qaralar”ın bu mərhələdəki rəqibi isə sabah baş tutacaq püşkatmadan sonra müəyyənləşəcək.

“Sumqayıt” Futbol Akademiyasının direktoru, almaniyalı mütəxəssis Hakan Sünal Azərbaycan klubu ilə yollarını ayırıb.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə “Sumqayıt”ın mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb.

Mütəxəssislə növbəti mövsüm üçün əməkdaşlıq barəsində razılaşma əldə olunmayıb. Bu üzdən də tərəflər vidalaşmalı olublar.

Xatırladaq ki, Hakan Sünal 2019-cu ildən “Sumqayıt” Futbol Akademiyasına rəhbərlik edirdi. Tərəflər arasındakı mövcud anlaşma bu ayın sonunda başa çatacaq.

“Qarabağ”ın baş məşqçisi Qurban Qurbanov Avropa Liqasının 1-ci təsnifat mərhələsinin püşkatmasının nəticəsini dəyərləndirib.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, Avropa Liqasının 1-ci təsnifat mərhələsinin bu gün keçirilmiş püşkatmasında “Qarabağ”ın da rəqibi müəyyənləşib.

Ağdam təmsilçisi bu mərhələdə İslandiyanın “Vestri” komandası ilə üz-üzə gələcək.

Qurban Qurbanov sözügedən komanda ilə görüşlər barədə bunları söyləyib:

“Həddindən artıq ciddi olmalıyıq. Çünki komandamız hələ optimal formada deyil. Heyətimizdə zədəli futbolçular da var. Eyni zamanda transfer çalışmalarını davam etdiririk. Doğrudur, seleksiya işlərində müəyyən çətinliklərlə üzləşirik. Ancaq yenə də heyəti komplektləşdirmək üçün əlimizdən gələni edirik. İlk növbədə qısa müddətdə formaya düşməliyik. Bunun üçün də yaxşı hazırlıq keçmək lazımdır.

Futbol son vaxtlar o qədər dəyişilib ki, heç kimin potensialını öncədən dəqiq bilmək olmur. “Vestri” barədə ilkin təəssüratlarımız var, müəyyən qədər maraqlanmışıq. Heyətlərində kifayət qədər dəyişiklik olub. İlk matça qədər geniş məlumat topalayacaq və ciddi hazırlaşacağıq. Son olaraq, UEFA Çempionlar Liqasında ölkəmizi təmsil edəcək “Sabah”a, Konfrans Liqasında mübarizə aparacaq “Zirə” və “Neftçi”yə uğurlar arzulayırıq”.

“Real”ın futbolçusu Alvaro Karreras karyerasını İngiltərədə davam etdirə bilər.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, “Çelsi” cinah müdafiəçisini transfer etmək istəyir. Bu barədə İspaniya mətbuatı məlumat yayıb. London klubu Alvaro üçün danışıqlara başlayacaq.

Karreras 2025-ci ilin yayında “Benfika”dan “Real”a keçib. O, başa çatan mövsümdə 28 oyunda 2 qol vurub, 3 məhsuldar ötürmə edib.

“Sumqayıt” Futbol Akademiyasının direktoru, almaniyalı mütəxəssis Hakan Sünalla növbəti mövsüm üçün əməkdaşlıq barəsində razılaşma əldə olunmayıb.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə klubun mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb.

Bu gün klub rəhbərliyi ilə təcrübəli mütəxəssis arasında baş tutan görüşdə ona “Sumqayıt”a göstərdiyi xidmətlərə görə təşəkkür edilib, gələcək karyerasında uğurlar arzulanıb.

Qeyd edək ki, 2019-cu ildən “Sumqayıt” Futbol Akademiyasına rəhbərlik edən Hakan Sünalla mövcud anlaşma bu ayın sonunda başa çatacaq.

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Earlier this week, we asked you whether Ruben Amorim was the right choice to take over as Milan head coach.

With his appointment now officially confirmed, the results make for interesting reading.

A clear majority of the 418 voters were unconvinced.

Oliver Glasner, fresh from winning the Conference League with Crystal Palace, was the preferred alternative with 38% of the vote, while a further 30% backed a different candidate and 8% wanted Mauricio Pochettino.

Just 3% would have chosen Arne Slot and only 21% of voters felt Amorim was the right man for the job.

Is Amorim the right man for Milan?

It is a fascinating snapshot of the mood among the Milan-watching community, and one that Amorim will now have the chance to prove wrong.

One user expressed their doubts over the Portuguese coach but that they prefer it to an ‘old recycled Italian coach,’ while another dreamed of a move for former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

His record at Sporting and his reputation as one of Europe’s most exciting young coaches suggest the doubters may yet be won over. The next question is whether he can do it without Champions League football.

What do you think – have Milan made the right call? Let us know in the comments.

Milan have confirmed the appointment of Ruben Amorim as head coach, announcing the move on their website.

The former Manchester United and Sporting coach joins the Rossoneri following Massimiliano Allegri’s departure, after the veteran coach failed to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Allegri is off to join Napoli, whilst Amorim takes over in Lombardy, on a reported 2-year deal until 2028.

After Man Utd difficulties, Amorim hoping to lead Milan rebuild

Following his dismissal from the Red Devils at the start of this year, the Portuguese coach will be hoping to help rebuild at a Rossoneri who have been inconsistent in recent seasons.

He is a proven coach, having demonstrated his abilities in his native Portugal, and his 3-4-2-1 formation could suit Serie A well.

On their website, Milan highlight that ‘throughout his career, Amorim has developed a modern dominant tactical approach with clear player profiles and strong organizational design that develops young players and maximizes their potential.’

‘AC Milan extends a warm welcome to Rúben and his staff,’ the statement concludes.

Arsenal have reportedly agreed personal terms with Manu Koné and are pushing to complete a deal with Roma before the end of the month, with the French midfielder identified as Mikel Arteta’s primary midfield target this summer.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, via CalcioMercato, Koné, currently on World Cup duty with France, is understood to strongly favour a move to the Premier League, preferring Arsenal to both Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan, who had tracked him extensively last season.

The reigning English champions and Champions League finalists represent exactly the kind of challenge the Frenchman is seeking, though his entourage are in no rush to force a resolution while the World Cup is ongoing.

Roma weigh Koné sale as UEFA deadline forces hand ahead of Greenwood pursuit

Roma need to generate significant capital gains before June 30 to satisfy their UEFA settlement agreement, and with Borussia Dortmund and Aston Villa making only tentative moves for Matias Soulé without submitting formal offers, the Koné route is becoming increasingly attractive as a solution.

Roma are asking €50 million for the midfielder, which would generate a profit of approximately €38 million given his residual book value of around €12 million.

Gasperini is prepared to sanction the sale, with the funds earmarked to pursue Mason Greenwood and potentially Crysencio Summerville.

Ismael Koné of Sassuolo has been identified as the ideal midfield replacement should the deal go through.

Chelsea have decided to sell Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid, and they are plotting a move for Lewis Hall as his replacement.

The 21-year-old left Chelsea to join Newcastle United in 2023, and he has been a key player for them. Chelsea are hoping to bring him back to the club.

According to Sports Boom, they are now plotting an ambitious move to bring the player back, and it remains to be seen whether they can convince Newcastle. The Magpies will not want to sell the 21-year-old easily. He has been a key player for them.

Meanwhile, Manchester United are also monitoring his situation. It will be interesting to see how the situation develops.

Chelsea needs to properly replace Cucurella, and signing one of the best young fullbacks in the Premier League would be a wise decision. The decision to sell Hall to Newcastle was a mistake, and Chelsea are looking to rectify it. The young defender has a long-term contract with Newcastle, and they will have to pay a premium in order to convince the Magpies.

Manchester United are also looking for a younger alternative to Luke Shaw, and they have the resources to pay a premium. It will be interesting to see which of the two clubs can get the deal done.

Hall could be attracted to the idea of joining some of the biggest clubs in the country. Manchester United will be able to offer him Champions League football next season, and that could give them an edge in the transfer race. Chelsea have no European football on offer, but Hall could be tempted to return to his club, and he might feel that he has unfinished business at the club.

The post Chelsea want ex-player back but Man United could scupper their plans appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Arsenal are interested in signing Manu Kone from AS Roma.

The Frenchman has done quite well for the Italian club, and he could prove to be an excellent addition for Arsenal. They need more quality in the middle of the park, and the 25-year-old international could be an upgrade on Christian Norgaard.

As per reports via GOAL, Kone has already agreed personal terms with the Premier League champions, but the asking price could be a problem. Roma will demand €50 million for the midfielder. It remains to be seen whether Arsenal is prepared to pay.

There is no doubt they have the financial resources to get the deal done, but the asking price is quite high, and they also need to improve other areas of the squad.

The Premier League champions will look to dominate English football in the coming season and hope to win the UEFA Champions League as well. They need to add more quality in the final third. Signing a reliable striker and adding more quality on the flanks will be a priority for them this summer. A central midfielder would help them improve further, but spending €50 million on Kone seems unlikely.

It remains to be seen how the situation develops. Roma will have to be reasonable with their demands this summer. Meanwhile, the player is clearly keen on the move and has already agreed personal terms with the London club. It will be interesting to see if he decides to force a move in the coming weeks.

Joining a club like Arsenal would be a major step up for him, allowing him to compete at the highest level and fight for major trophies. He is at the peak of his career, and this is the right time for him to move to the Premier League.

The post Arsenal handed major boost as sought-after €50m star says yes to transfer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Christ Inao Oulai has been linked with the move away from Turkish outfit Trabzonspor, and Chelsea are interested in signing the player.

According to a report from SportsBoom, the 20-year-old is also a target for Premier League outfit Chelsea. The player is valued at €50 million, and it will be interesting to see if Chelsea or Barcelona is prepared to make a move for the midfielder.

Oulai is a talented player with a bright future, and he could develop into a key player for Chelsea or Barcelona. There is no doubt that he could justify the investment in the long-term. However, the asking price is quite unreasonable right now. The Ivory Coast international has yet to consistently prove himself at the highest level. Trabzonspor will need to be reasonable in their demands for the move to go through.

Chelsea needs more physicality and control in the middle of the park, and the 20-year-old could be a solid acquisition. He is a deep-lying playmaker who will help control the tempo of the game and provide defensive support as well.

Similarly, Barcelona could use more depth in the midfield; they will be hoping to push for the Champions League trophy this season, and a deeper squad will help them.

On the other hand, Chelsea have failed to secure European football for next season, and they need to plug the gaps to bounce back strongly. Signing the 20-year-old midfielder could prove to be a solid long-term investment for them. If they can groom him properly over the next few seasons, he could develop into a star for them.

The post Chelsea and Barcelona set for transfer battle over highly rated €50m midfielder appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United during the summer transfer window.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, the Premier League side will only sanction his departure if an offer exceeds £100 million. The 26-year-old has been outstanding for Newcastle, and there is no doubt that he would be a superb addition to Tottenham.

They need more quality in the middle of the park. Tonali could be an upgrade on Joao Palhinha. The Portuguese international did an impressive job on loan at Tottenham last season, but the club has not signed him permanently yet. It seems that they are looking to bring in a younger alternative with more quality.

Tonali is excellent with the ball at his feet, and he will help control the tempo of the game. He will protect the defensive unit and win the ball back for his side as well.

However, paying over £100 million for the defensive midfielder seems unlikely. Tottenham need to improve multiple areas of the squad, and Newcastle will have to be reasonable with their demands in order for the move to go through.

Tottenham have agreed on a £52 million deal to sign Jan Paul van Hecke to improve the defensive unit, and signing a defensive midfielder could take them to another level.

Meanwhile, Tonali is clearly open to an exit this summer. The report claims he would prefer to return to Italy, but he is unlikely to turn down a move to Tottenham if a concrete proposal is on the table.

It remains to be seen how the situation develops.

Tottenham finished 17th in the league table last season, and they will look to bounce back strongly. Signing quality players would be a step in the right direction.

The post Tottenham plotting statement move for £100m star after agreeing Van Hecke deal appeared first on CaughtOffside.

• England chasing 119 to win
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• Ireland take 17 off final over to battle up to 118-9
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• Women's T20 World Cup, Group 2

Women's T20 World Cup: England slip to 35-3 in chase of 119 to beat Ireland

You know that suit that John Tortorella left behind at the hotel in Raleigh last week? He can go back and claim it any time he wants. Because time is a commodity he now has plenty of.

The fiery 67-year-old who helped turn the Vegas Golden Knights’ season around and guided the team on its long Stanley Cup Playoff run only to fall two games short of defeating the Carolina Hurricanes, will not return to the bench at T-Mobile Arena this fall. The team announced Tuesday it is partying ways with Torts and is moving on to what will be the fifth head coach for the team’s 10th anniversary season come October.

The smart money is on Ryan Craig, the current head coach of the AHL Henderson Silver Knights, who has been with the team since its inception and was an assistant on Bruce Cassidy’s Stanley Cup-winning staff in 2023. He’s a good guy, a smart hockey person and has put in his time as both an assistant at the NHL level and as a head coach in the AHL. Many of the players know him, especially the younger ones like Braeden Bowman, Kaedan Korczak, and others who played for Craig in Henderson. He’s ready to take over in Vegas.

Torts? This was likely a short-term solution from the outset. General manager Kelly McCrimmon will tell you that when he speaks on the matter Wednesday morning at City National Arena.  Torterella was willing to leave the comfort of the ESPN studio to get back behind the bench because that’s what coaches do. Look no further than Cassidy, who has said publicly that he wants to get back to work. And now that the Golden Knights’ season is over, perhaps he’ll be free to pursue that opportunity, perhaps in Toronto where the Maple Leafs are still searching for Craig Berube’s replacement.

And while Tortorella performed admirably in an interim role when he took over with eight games remaining, going 7-0-1 and taking Vegas to the Stanley Cup Final, perhaps it has opened the door for yet another chance down the road. He’s coached six different NHL teams — Tampa Bay, Columbus, the Rangers, Vancouver, Philadelphia and Vegas — so someone might be willing to bring him on board in the hopes he can do for them what he did for the Golden Knights, which was revive and breathe new life into a team that had stagnated.

He deserves full marks for what he did. The majority of the players loved playing for him and said so Tuesday on locker room cleanout day at City National Arena.

“It’s a tough situation for a coach to come in with that little time left,” said defenseman Noah Hanifin. “Just the way he was able to get us back on the right track fast and give us a chance was pretty impressive.”

Goaltender Carter Hart, who played the entire playoffs in the Vegas net and who had played for Tortorella when they were together in Philadelphia, said: “He keeps things black and white. He’s a super honest man and coach and I think as a player that’s all you can ask for is complete honesty and transparency.”

Tortorella always said he was able to coach a group like this successfully because they were experienced, had been through the wars of a Stanley Cup playoff run and that it was a good room with strong leadership and high character. He referred to himself as more of a guidance counselor while coaching the Knights, a term which most found somewhat amusing. But the reality is he didn’t have to be the bad guy, the angry guy to get his team’s attention. Just a lot of trust and belief in their abilities to play to their potential.

Of course, you can’t change who you are and that was true with Tortorella when it came to his dealings with those who didn’t play for him. His media availabilities were a cross between comical and cringe worthiness, sometimes lasting for less than a minute, sometimes not at all, as was the case when the Knights eliminated Anaheim and he was a no-show at the postgame news conference.

That cost him $100,000 and perhaps contributed to the team being dinged a second-round draft pick by the NHL for repeated violations of the league’s media policies.

Personally, I got along with Torts about as well as someone in my position could. He answered virtually every question I asked, be it about a player’s performance, team strategy or about hockey in general. Was he as engaging as Cassidy, Pete DeBoer or even Gerard Gallant? No. But I never expected him to be. I just tried to be prepared, keep my questions simple and not expect a lot in return, so when Tortorella did give a lengthy response, it felt like a win.

Some of my colleagues who cover the team weren’t as fortunate. They were treated to the full Torts experience, which isn’t pleasant. That meant short, curt answers leaving them little to work with.

But we all knew that going in. And had he stayed on in Vegas, at some point, things would’ve boiled over and the Knights would have once again been looking for yet another coach. So the decision by the team to move on from Tortorella now is the right one.

If Craig is indeed the successor, I’m excited for him and for what he can do as an NHL head coach. At some point, every coach needs to get an opportunity to show that they’re capable or incapable of coaching at the game’s highest level.

I think back to when Glen Gulutzan was coaching the Las Vegas Wranglers in the ECHL and how he eventually got to be an NHL head coach in Dallas and how happy I was for him. The guy had paid his dues and even after being let go by the Stars and later, Calgary, he’s back running the bench in Dallas.

So here’s hoping Craig gets that same opportunity. As for Tortorella, there’s probably going to be an opportunity for him to stay in coaching. He showed he can still do it, and he deserves to get behind someone’s bench, warts and all.

As for that suit he left behind in Raleigh, he should donate it to some worthy charity or organization. Or put it up for sale on eBay. It might fetch a pretty good price.

Cameron Norrie was beaten by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina at Queen's in the Briton's first singles match since suffering a rib injury in May.

Norrie has often been the last Briton standing at Grand Slams but had to retire injured from his first-round French Open match with the problem last month.

He returned to the court in the men's doubles at Queen's on Monday, where he and Australian partner Alex de Minaur lost 6-4 7-5 to India's Yuki Bhambri and Michael Venus of New Zealand.

On Tuesday, the British number one started strongly against world number 22 Davidovich Fokina but ultimately faded to a 7-6 (8-6) 6-2 loss.

Norrie went an early break up against the Spaniard but Davidovich Fokina responded straight away, before holding firm in the tie-break.

Despite finding himself on the floor at several points as he dived and slid around the court, Davidovich Fokina broke Norrie's serve twice on his way to closing out victory.

Norrie is one of five Britons to have direct entry into the Wimbledon main draw and will be seeded when the tournament begins on Monday, 29 June.

• Moutet swears seven times in live BBC interview
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Earlier, Arthur Fery won an all-British battle in emphatic style, beating Toby Samuel 6-0 6-2.

The pair are good friends, having reached the junior doubles semi-finals at Wimbledon together in 2019, and both received Wimbledon main-draw wildcards on Tuesday.

"It's never easy playing someone you know and I was happy with how I handled that," Fery said.

Third seed and French Open semi-finalist Jakub Mensik suffered a surprise 5-7 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-5) loss to veteran French man Adrian Mannarino.

In Halle, French Open champion Alexander Zverev survived a second-set wobble in his first match since his Paris triumph, beating Czech Vit Kopriva 6-3 4-6 6-2 to reach the second round.

Defending champion Alexander Bublik was shocked 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 by Italy's Mattia Bellucci, while Andrey Rublev fell 6-3 6-2 to Poland's Hubert Hurkacz.

• Williams sisters receive Wimbledon doubles wildcard
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The Tartan Army's wonderful takeover of Boston has been the story of the World Cup so far, but on the field it was Cape Verde's stunning draw against European champions Spain that sent shockwaves through the tournament.

In their debut match at the World Cup, the Africans – ranked 67 in the world and with a population of less than 500,000 people – put in a heroic defensive display to thwart a star-studded Spanish side tipped by many to become world champions for a second time.

Scotland know if they can mirror Cape Verde's result and take a point from Friday's Group C meeting with Morocco at the Boston Stadium, they will be all but guaranteed a passage into the knockout stages for the very first time at a major tournament.

So what lessons can the Scots take from Cape Verde's remarkable display?

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• Ask pundits McCann & Crichton your World Cup questions

'Defend like lions'

Grant Hanley and Jack Hendry showed up well in Scotland's opening game, both making vital interventions as Haiti came on strong in search of an equaliser after John McGinn's strike.

Whether head coach Steve Clarke retains that centre-back pairing or reintroduces the fit again Scott McKenna – he could switch to a back five and play them all – the entire Scottish defensive unit will need to show the ferocious desire to protect their goal that Cape Verde did so impressively against the Spanish.

"One of the big things Cape Verde work at, and the manager has talked about it, is the culture of the country itself and making sure that everybody buys into that. If you do that, everyone will work for each other," said former Scotland winger Pat Nevin after covering the match at Atlanta Stadium for BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Boy, what a sight of players working for each other we saw. They spent the vast majority of the game on their own 18-yard line, not all of it, and when they broke, they were brave and they broke in numbers.

"To do that and keep that level of concentration, you don't do that if you're a bunch of individuals, you only do that if you're a group, if you're a team, if you believe in each other. And it shone through.

"I watched Sidny Cabral start the game and thought, 'oh, my goodness, there's a disaster waiting to happen' because of the way he was tackling - but he got every one of them right.

"You look at Diney Borges, again, he looked like he was a kitten at the start of the game. By the end of the game, he was a lion."

Former Scotland defender Willie Miller was similarly impressed with Cape Verde's defensive discipline and highlighted the concentration levels to shut Spain down, something Scotland will undoubtedly have to display against the attacking threats of Morocco.

"Cape Verde had the 4-5-1 formation, they defended deep, they closed the opposition down very quickly," said Miller, who played at the at the 1982 and 1986 World Cups.

"Sometimes you have to have a little bit of good fortune. The goalkeeper was in such good form as well and didn't look like he was going to lose anything but it's a long time to go with that formation.

"You tend to get mentally fatigued when you're doing most of your work without the ball and I think that could have been a problem - but it wasn't a problem for Cape Verde.

"They had organisation, the team spirit, the shape, a goalkeeper in fine form, restricting any space between your defence, midfield and forwards, and then just had that belief that they could get it over the line and get the draw. That's what we need against Morocco."

Retain an attacking threat

While defensive organisation and resilience was the foundation of Cape Verde's performance, they still managed to retain some semblance of attacking threat on the counter-attack, especially late in the game, to relieve some of the pressure at the back.

They might even have snatched a famous victory, with defender Borges going close with a late header and a couple of late counters threatening to catch Spain out as they poured forward looking for a winner.

Scotland will need to give the Moroccan back-line something to think about if they are to avoid a dangerous pattern of being pinned in on the edge of their own box.

Former Scotland winger Neil McCann believes the presence of Ben Gannon-Doak, a standout performer against Haiti, will be crucial in getting the Scots up the pitch.

"Ben Gannon-Doak is obviously a very big weapon for Scotland in terms of how he eliminates people in the wide area," McCann said.

"He's shown in his Scotland career already that he can play off the left, off the right, and standing people up and just going past them like they're not there.

"The one thing I want to see him work on is his final ball. Getting past people generally isn't a problem. It's what you do once you're in that position.

"It doesn't matter who he's playing against, whether it's [Denmark's Patrick] Dorgu, whether it's Achraf Hakimi against Morocco, I still think he'll create chances."

• World Cup fixtures and group standings
• How to watch the World Cup on the BBC
• Everything you need to know about the World Cup

IRVINE, Calif. (AP) — Christian Pulisic worked out on his own again Tuesday during the U.S. team's World Cup practice session while he rehabilitates his calf injury.

A team spokesman described Pulisic as “day to day” after his second straight day doing individual workouts while his teammates practiced at the U.S. training base in Orange County. The Americans' next game is against Australia in Seattle on Friday.

Pulisic was limited to one half of action in the Americans' World Cup-opening 4-1 victory over Paraguay last Friday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

The AC Milan forward was stellar in the first match of his second World Cup. He recorded an assist on Folarin Balogun's first goal, and he caused an own-goal by Paraguay with his playmaking from relentless runs down the left side of the U.S. attack.

Pulisic was kicked in the back of his left calf during training last week, and he was removed from the win over Paraguay at halftime when he felt stiffness. The U.S. was already ahead 3-0 after its highest-scoring half in a World Cup match.

Coach Mauricio Pochettino described the decision to shorten Pulisic's appearance as precautionary.

“I’m hoping I’ll be fine the next few days," Pulisic said after the match. "Just the back of my leg, sort of my calf area. I’m staying positive. I don’t think it’s anything.”

After traveling to Seattle, the Americans return to Inglewood on June 25 to conclude group play against Turkey.

___

AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup

Only one week remains until the 2026 NBA draft. That means expect a ramp-up in news and rumors surrounding this year's class. Especially with the league finally in the infancy stages of the offseason. The Oklahoma City Thunder finished shy of going back-to-back, but have some serious draft capital to spend.

For the Thunder, they continue to enjoy the best of both worlds — contending for a Larry O'Brien trophy and doing their homework for a lottery addition. They will enter the 2026 NBA draft with three draft picks — No. 12 via the LA Clippers; No. 17 via the Philadelphia 76ers; and No. 37 via the Dallas Mavericks.

One prospect the Thunder have reportedly met with in a predraft workout is Iowa's Bennett Stirtz, per college reporter Elliot Clough. He played in two collegiate seasons from 2024-26. He spent his first year at Drake before transferring to the Hawkeyes. He averaged 19.8 points on 47.7% shooting, 4.4 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 37 games this past season. He shot 35.8% from 3 on 6.9 attempts.

The 22-year-old is a 6-foot-4, 190-pound guard. Most NBA mock drafts have him going in the lottery range. Which means the Thunder would likely need to take him at the No. 12 spot. Little chance he falls all the way down to No. 17.

The 2026 NBA draft will take place from June 23-24. The Thunder will look to add more young talent to their roster to keep their contending window open as long as possible around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams.

A full list of the Thunder's 2026 NBA draft workout tracker can be found here.

NEW:

Bennett Stirtz tells me he will be attending the NBA Draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York next Tuesday. Coach Ben McCollum will join Stirtz and his family in the green room.

So far, Stirtz has worked out with the following teams:
Charlotte Hornets
Chicago…

— Eliot Clough (@EliotClough) June 16, 2026

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Report: Iowa's Bennett Stirtz had predraft workout with OKC Thunder

GM Nolan Teasley has been hard at work. Any leader needs a good ecosystem of support. Minnesota’s top executive has therefore been working to fortify his helpers.

Check out the update from Ben Goessling of The Star Tribune for what’s taking place in Minnesota’s front office. The update: “The #Vikings are hiring former Bears GM Ryan Pace as a football advisor for new GM Nolan Teasley, and they’re adding Seahawks scout Azzaam Kapadia as assistant director of pro scouting.”

GM Nolan Teasley Brings More Talent to Twin Cities

Plenty of chatter is circulating online about the news. After all, Pace used to be the GM for the Bears, so people are noticing.

Ian Rapoport of The NFL Network offered his two cents: “The #Vikings will get valuable experience from Ryan Pace, the former #Bears GM. And Kapadia was another key cog in the #Seahawks machine, having most recently served as a pro scout in 2025.”

— READ MORE: Vikings O-Lineman Gaining Ground for Job Opening —
— READ MORE: Is that Vikings Rumor Finally Going to Turn into a Deal? —

With Kapadia, Thor Nystrom passes along some good insight. Minnesota hired a worker: “He’s a film junky — described as curious, and no-stone-left-unturned thorough. Clearly respected by Teasley/Kirchner, the Nos. 2/3 in Seattle’s FO during his brief tenure.”

Scouting is a grind of a profession. Nobody will find success in this area of football unless there’s a willingness to spend a ton of time chewing up game film. Kapadia has found a way to stand out among a group of people known for their dedication.

On Pace, there are at least a few things to know.

For starters, he failed as the Chicago Bears’ GM. His overall record on the job finished off at 48-65. Twice did Pace’s Bears venture into the playoffs; twice did Pace’s Bears get bounced in the Wild Card Round. Chicago only surpassed .500 a single time when Pace was in charge.

Don’t be surprised if Bears fans in your friend group don’t have kind things to say about Pace. Quite possibly, he’s best known for drafting Mitchell Trubisky at No. 2 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. Patrick Mahomes went at No. 10. Missing on Christian McCaffrey, chosen at No. 8 in the same draft, also stings.

Under GM Nolan Teasley, the Vikings have been making moves in the front office. Several people have been shown the door and still others have been hired. Before too long, the leadership group will be in place, allowed to move forward into the 2026 regular season.

Training camp gets going soon enough.

“I really don’t pay too much attention on that, you know, because I can’t really control it,” Kasparas Jakucionis of the trade speculation, some of which has come with his name attached. “So I’m just trying to focus on what I do on the court, off the court, trying to get better.” For now, it’s been about working out at Kaseya Center and continuing to stand as a potential face of the Heat’s future, which included a Tuesday appearance at the team’s youth camp at Slam Miami.

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “I really don’t pay too much attention on that, you …

Instead worrying about speculation, he has focused on his game. “Like paint decisions,” he said of figuring the best ways to play in traffic. “Obviously the weight room, trying to put some more weight, more strength.”

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Instead worrying about speculation, he has focused on …

Business Decision with Mike Vorkunov: Skechers said Knicks finals star OG Anunoby has a signature shoe coming. "It’s too early to share specific details," Skechers president Michael Greenberg said in a statement, "but we do have a signature shoe in the works." OG filed a trademark request with the US Patent Office for a logo this year

bsky.app

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Skechers said Knicks finals star OG Anunoby has a …

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton finally got his first win with the Scuderia, more than a season after his debut, and afterward he broke down what led to his breakthrough.

Hamilton got a ton of fanfare for his move to the biggest team in the sport, resulting in high expectations and the hope that he could break the team’s title drought.

Ferrari has been the but of everyone’s joke over procedures and decisions that have cost the team wins and success over the years, while Hamilton has been known for his consistency.

However, his time with the Italian teams got off to a horrible start, with the 2025 season being awful for the British driver.

As the disappointing races piled on top of each other, Hamilton started to spiral on and off the track, seemingly getting to the point of quitting.

However, he underwent a total reset over the offseason, coming totally refreshed, and he has started to show the mettle that made him a seven-time champion.

How did Hamilton reset himself mentally?

“Well, I mean, I’m only human. So, you know, there’s moments where I see the stuff and for sure there’s moments where I allowed it to get to me and penetrate deeply. But, you know, then I went through a sequence of unplugging from that matrix,” Hamilton said after his win in Barcelona.

“I mentioned it last year, I spent lots of time with family, lots of time with friends, real people that know me, that have never doubted me, have stuck to and by me my whole life.

“And then I just went on the mission from Christmas Day. The training that I put in was harder than I’ve ever experienced, to keep myself in good shape, because I think at the beginning of last year I got injured here, actually, and carried that for months.

“And [one thing] that I know is to never second-guess yourself, never doubt yourself. You’ve got to continue to believe in yourself at the core. And those are the things that I’ve managed to re-implement into my mentality.”

Summer is here, sort of, and it is everyone’s favorite time of the year, scouting time. Every year, we do Summer Scouting to preview college football for Vikings fans, but also give them an idea of names to follow and watch in the fall as needs pop up for Minnesota. 

Are we going to write about quarterbacks? Offensive tackles? Edge rushers? You know it, but why? Because other NFL teams will draft them, just as they will draft every other position. It all matters whether these players end up on the Vikings, the Bears, or the Steelers. We write these so Vikings fans can be the most informed fans. 

So if you are still with us, enjoy our latest Summer Scouting report as we prepare you for the Fall.

Film

• Pittsburgh
• Miami (FL)

Background Info

• Listed at 6-4/300
• 3-Star Recruit according to 247 Sports
• Played Basketball in high school
• Army All-American in high school
• First team all-region for three consecutive years
• Volunteered to coach at youth camps during his high school career
• Dad played at Youngstown State
• Freshman All-American in 2024

Notable career stats heading into 2026

• Played in 27 Games
• 746 Run Blocking Snaps
• 785 Pass Blocking Snaps
• 5 Sacks Allowed
• Called for 10 Penalties on 1,531 Snaps

Notable numbers from PFF heading into 2026

• 70.9 Career Run Blocking Grade
• 58 Career Pass Blocking Grade
• 42 Pressures Allowed
• 5.4% Pressure Rate

Strengths

• Strength to have success at tackle, should do well moving inside
• Sound technically, doesn’t commit a ton of penalties
• Does well in pass protection
• Works with a good base to anchor
• Keeps his balance through bull rushers

Player Summary

Anthonie Knapp is making the move from tackle to guard for Notre Dame in 2026. He showcased some promise at the tackle spot as he handled bull rushers well with his ability to remain balanced and anchor. The move inside will help him handle speed, but it will also allow him to showcase his strength better in the run game, working up the middle. He has a chance to be a riser at his new position, but for now, we remain on the passive side of the evaluation. 

This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: 2027 NFL Draft Summer Scouting Report on Notre Dame's Anthonie Knapp

Eighty-one days until Texas kicks the 2026 season off against Texas State and it’s time for another hot take. This time, it’s about the havoc the Texas defense will create under Will Muschamp. Led by Colin Simons, I believe this defense will create more sacks than they ever have during the Sarkisian era and anyone in the country this season. 

Texas had 41 sacks a year ago and 46 the high mark during the Sarkisian era. The top mark in college football since 2020 is 55 sacks by Boise State in 2024 and Oklahoma State in 2021. Last season, Miami led the way with 50 sacks on the season, so that seems to be a fair mark for Texas to strive for. How will they get there is the bigger question. There are a number of players that will get in on the action but No. 11 will have to lead the way. 

Colin Simmons is the type of game wrecking edge rusher who could go #1 overall in 2027 pic.twitter.com/4U9fULjJfi

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) November 7, 2025

Colin Simmons finished last season with 12 sacks, while also dropping into coverage more than other elite edge rushers. I expect that number to elevate up to nearly 15 sacks this season because of Muschamp’s attacking mentality. Beyond him, I believe you need five players to combine for 20 sacks. I would tab Lance Jackson(2 last year), Rasheem Biles(4.5), Brad Spence(3), Ty’Anthony Smith(2) and Zina Umeozulu(2) to be those guys. Then it’s the supporting cast, between the IDL, secondary and depth LBs, to combine for 15 sacks.  I believe players like Justus Terry, Bo Mascoe and Tyler Atkinson can help make that happen.

#Texas pass rush had its best day of the season vs. Oklahoma, a few notables:

Colin Simmons
• 2.5 sacks
• 4 pressures

Brad Spence
• 6 pressures
• 1 sack
• 2 TFL
• All in 16 pass rush snaps

Lance Jackson
• 4 pressures
• 1 sack
• 2 QB hurries
• All in 8 pass rush snaps

— CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_OTF) October 12, 2025

This is a lofty mark and Texas can have a very successful, top-tier pass rush without hitting this mark. Despite that, I believe this group with Colin Simmons leading the way can do damage. Muschamp is going to allow the players to attack more consistently and it will lead to remarkable results. Whether it’s 48, 50 or 55, I believe this 2026 Texas pass rush will be etched in Longhorns and college football history. 

Tomorrow, I want to get into Colin Simmons and why his energy needs to infect the rest of the roster. While he has a tendency to create headlines, the confidence and “nastiness” is something the rest of the Texas defense and team can learn, because they won’t win a National Championship without that.

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Countdown to Kickoff: Texas pass rush will top the country in sacks

"In Germany, you worry about tactics, injuries, and your next opponent. Here, you also have to think about what might be hiding in the grass."

Germany captain Joshua Kimmich is just one player to be concerned about the presence of venomous snakes at the World Cup.

Players from Germany, Switzerland and Norway have voiced their concerns at the potential of a head-to-head meeting with local wildlife.

Kimmich and his team-mates reportedly came up against a copperhead, a venomous snake commonly found in North Carolina, at their base camp in Winston-Salem, while the Swiss marked a certain area in their San Diego camp as a "snake area" before the tournament.

Kimmich said: "We saw a snake yesterday, we were told it was venomous. If you get bitten, you have to go to the hospital.

"I don't think you'll die, but it's certainly dangerous. I have the feeling that if you step on a snake like that, it can end badly.

"That's why we're trying to keep our distance from animals here. I have respect for the people here. In Germany, I have the feeling there aren't so many dangerous animals."

Germany, who have won four World Cups, is home to seven species of snake, of which two are venomous.

"Once you hear what kind of snake it is and what can happen if you're bitten, it stops being funny very quickly," Kimmich added.

"We're here trying to prepare for the biggest tournament in football, and suddenly players are looking at the ground before every step they take."

Norway are also based in North Carolina, with the city of Greensboro's official website noting that copperheads are "very common" in the area.

The news did not exactly delight Norway captain Kristian Thorstvedt.

"I'm not happy at all to hear that," Thorstvedt said when told about the local wildlife.

• Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor game
• World Cup fixtures and group standings
• How to watch the World Cup on the BBC
• Everything you need to know about the World Cup

The third major championship of 2026 kicks off Thursday with the 126^th  U.S. Open. America’s National Championship tees off this year at Shinnecock Hills in New York on Long Island.

Last year, JJ Spaun clutched up on the 71^st and 72^nd holes to claim his first U.S. Open title and first major victory. He returns looking to become the second player since 1990 to retain the U.S. Open trophy in consecutive years.

Here are 10 major storylines to follow this week at the U.S. Open.

Can Scottie Scheffler make history?

This Sunday is not only Father’s Day, but it is also Scottie Scheffler’s 30^th birthday. Scheffler, who became a father two years ago, can also complete the career grand slam with a victory. Scheffler won the PGA Championship and the Open Championship last year before winning The Masters in 2022 and 2024. He would become the seventh player to complete the career grand and first since Rory McIlroy clinched it last year at The Masters.

Rory McIlroy looks to continue major success

Speaking of McIlroy, he is looking for his second U.S. Open title and first since 2011. A win would also give McIlroy one Claret Jug away from completing a second career grand slam. McIlroy finished as the U.S. Open runner-up in 2023 and 2024 before placing T19 last year at Oakmont. Last year’s top 20 finish ended a streak of five consecutive top 10 finishes at the U.S. Open. Now entering Shinnecock Hills, he is looking to make the cut after not making the weekend in 2018. So far this season, McIlroy has a runner-up finish at The Genesis Invitational and a T7 at the PGA Championship last month.

Also read: Tiger Woods Calls America the ‘Greatest Country on Earth’ in Emotional Memorial Day Message Honoring Dad

Can Xander Schauffele’s U.S. Open success take him one step further?

For how difficult the U.S. Open courses are set up year after year, Xander Schauffele has been able to overcome each course but without hoisting the trophy. Since his U.S. Open debut in 2017, he has finished no worse than 14^th, which includes six top 10 finishes in his first seven starts. Coming off a T12 finish last year, Schauffele’s average U.S. Open finish is 7.7, which leads the current field. Only Brooks Koepka comes close to Schauffele at 14.6. It also includes a sixth-place finish in 2018 at Shinnecock Hills. Although his game has changed since 2018, the results have stayed the same as Schauffele can win and be one Green Jacket away from the career Grand Slam.

2026 U.S. Open longshots

Like last year with Spaun and last month with Aaron Rai at the PGA Championship, anyone in the field can win a major championship with a good week. The conditions are in place. Spaun was the only man in the field to shoot under par last year at Oakmont. The key for any longshot winner will first take high numbers before the weather can play any factor, which the wind and undulation will be a pivotal factor.   

Related: US Open 2025: 10 winners and losers, including J.J. Spaun winning America’s National Championship

Cinderellas to watch

The journey of a long shot to win the U.S. Open is a little more straightforward compared to the first two majors of the year. One of the tools is the way players qualify for the U.S. Open. The U.S. Open, which is run by the United States Golf Association (USGA) holds qualifying stages. As a result, nearly half the field (44%) had to go through qualifying to make the third major of 2026. At the different spectrum of ages in this field, 17-year-old Miles Russell and 44-year-old J.B. Holmes are both competing this week. Both had to go through playing 36 holes in one day to qualify.

Adam Scott to reach milestone marker

When Thursday comes along, Adam Scott will accomplish what only one player has done in major championship history. Scott, 45, will reach 100 consecutive major championship starts and will join four-time U.S. Open champion Jack Nicklaus, who started a record 146 straight majors from 1962 to 1998. After Scott, the next closest active player is Jordan Spieth at 52 straight major starts. Scott’s consecutive major streak began at the 2001 Open Championship.

Course history

Shinnecock Hills is one of the USGA’s five founding clubs and is hosting its sixth U.S. Open. This year marks the first time the U.S. Open returns to Shinnecock Hills since 2018, when Brooks Koepka won at 1-over par. Located on the east end of Long Island, N.Y., Shinnecock Hills also hosted the U.S. Open in 1896, 1995, 1986, and 1896. William Flynn designed the current layout of the course in 1931, and it incorporates prevailing winds and natural angles.   

Notable Groups at the U.S. Open

Here is a look at the notable pairings for the first two days of the U.S. Open. (All times ET; a denotes amateur)

• 7:30 a.m. (Thu.) | 1:25 p.m. (Fri.): Brooks Koepka, Cameron Young, Chris Gotterup
• 7:52 a.m. | 1:47 p.m.: Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Aberg, Tommy Fleetwood
• 8: 03 a.m. | 1:58 p.m.: Harris English, Adam Scott, Nick Taylor
• 8:14 a.m. | 2:09 p.m.: Mason Howell (a), Scottie Scheffler, JJ Spaun
• 1:14 p.m. | 7:19 a.m.: Aaron Rai, Collin Morikawa, Jason Day
• 1:25 p.m. | 7:30 a.m.: Bryson DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland, Matt Fitzpatrick
• 1:36 p.m. | 7:41 a.m.: Dustin Johnson, Wyndham Clark, Gary Woodland  
• 1:47 p.m. | 7:52 a.m.: Justin Thomas, Hideki Matsuyama, Xander Schauffele
• 2:09 p.m. | 8:14 a.m.: Justin Rose, Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm

How to Watch the 2026 U.S. Open

Here is the broadcast information for this week’s major tournament at Shinnecock Hills. (All times ET)

• Thu.: 6:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. (USA Network), 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. (Peacock and NBCSN)
• Fri.: 6:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (Peacock and NBCSN), 1:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. NBC and Peacock)
• Sat.: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (USA Network), 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. (NBC and Peacock)
• Sun.: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. (USA Network), 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. (NBC and Peacock)  

My 2026 U.S. Open championship pick

I am going to pick Tommy Fleetwood to win the 2026 U.S. Open. Fleetwood, who finished as the runner-up at the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, is coming off a T4 at the Memorial and a T11 last week at the RBC Canadian Open. Although he has not contended at a major championship this year, Fleetwood is one of those players who are part of that upper echelon who have not won a major championship. Since 2019, six players have claimed their first major victory at a U.S. Open

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McLaren have appealed against the decision to reinstate Pierre Gasly’s podium finish at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Alpine driver Gasly was demoted from third to seventh after the race on June 7 when he was given two separate five-second time penalties for speeding in the pit lane.

The Frenchman’s position was restored after Alpine requested a right of review.

In rescinding his punishments, Formula One timekeepers acknowledged there had been an issue in how the pit lane speeds were measured.

However, four other drivers, including McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, had already served time penalties for the same offence earlier in the race.

In appealing to the sport’s governing body, the FIA, McLaren said in a statement this raised “important questions concerning sporting fairness, regulatory consistency and the integrity of competition”.

The statement added: “Throughout the Monaco Grand Prix weekend – and in every event – all teams operated according to the regulations and established standard practices for what concerns the speed limit in the pit lane as they were applied at the time.

“Competitors adjusted their procedures accordingly and, where required, accepted and served penalties imposed under those regulations.

“In our view, the subsequent removal of penalties creates a situation in which some competitors are disadvantaged by having acted in accordance with the rules and the stewards’ decisions.

“Such an outcome risks creating sporting inequity and undermining confidence in the consistent application of the FIA sporting regulations.”

McLaren – whose leading driver in the race, Piastri, finished fifth – said their appeal was not “directed at any competitor” but was made from a desire to see regulations “applied consistently, transparently and fairly to all participants”.

Kraken's Bobby McMann gets $21.2 million contract update after Maple Leafs trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Seattle Kraken traded for Bobby McMann with aspirations of making noise in the playoffs, but that didn't happen.

They only had a chance to get McMann because he was on an expiring contract, making him expendable to the struggling Toronto Maple Leafs. Now, though, that means that McMann is a free agent.

He'll be one of the more intriguing players available. It's not a great forward pool in free agency, for starters.

McMann is also a bit of a late bloomer who has shown he certainly belongs in a solid NHL role on the wing.

What will that be worth? Probably a pretty good payday.

MORE: Mitch Marner can't quite escape the haters

Bobby McMann contract projection

McMann could earn more than $5 million per year on a new deal.

The Athletic's Chris Johnston projects him for a four-year deal at $5.3 million per year, which is $21.2 million in total value.

There had been some speculation before the trade that McMann could even return to the Maple Leafs, although Toronto has a ton of priorities, and maybe less need for McMann with the presumed draft pick of Gavin McKenna.

Still, someone will be getting a good player, and McMann will be getting a good payday.

"McMann is staring down the biggest payday of his professional career after scoring 29 goals in a season split between the Kraken and the Toronto Maple Leafs — the fourth-highest total among potential free agents this summer," Johnston writes. "A big body who skates well, McMann drives the net hard and plays a power game. He’s also unafraid to take the body and get in on the forecheck, and he has authored a great story of perseverance — going undrafted before working his way up from the ECHL. His biggest asset is an explosive shot release."

From undrafted to a big deal -- it's a cool story no matter where McMann signs his contract.

More NHL news:

• Jack Eichel turned into Ben Simmons
• Frederik Andersen heading toward an unceremonious exit
• Cale Makar is about to become a lot more expensive
• Sabres have reached the Alex Tuch pivot point
• Sidney Crosby trade plans did a 180 for the Penguins

The Vegas Golden Knights are looking for a new coach after their Stanley Cup run, saying John Tortorella isn't returning.

The Golden Knights are a win-now team, evidenced by them firing Bruce Cassidy with eight games left in the regular season and hiring Tortorella. The move worked as Tortorella turned around the slumping team, won the Pacific Division and three rounds of the playoffs before Vegas lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Final.

One of the bigger available names, Peter Laviolette, was hired by the Los Angeles Kings. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers are far along in their coaching searches, which could take more names out of circulation. Craig Berube is available, but would a reunion with Mitch Marner be a good thing?

Here are potential candidates for the Golden Knights' coach opening:

Ryan Craig, Henderson Silver Knights coach

He's the coach of the Golden Knights' American Hockey affiliate and was an assistant coach on Vegas' 2023 championship team, so he'll be familiar to players. He got Henderson to the second round of the AHL playoffs this year. It seems as some point, he will get the job.

Hire from within

John Stevens and Dominique Ducharme are former NHL head coaches. Stevens was an assistant coach for the 2012 and 2014 champion Kings and the 2023 Golden Knights. Ducharme led the Montreal Canadiens to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, getting past the Golden Knights along the way.

Jay Woodcroft, Anaheim Ducks assistant coach

Woodcroft worked with star players on the Edmonton Oilers in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and the Golden Knights have plenty of stars. Edmonton reached the conference finals in his first season in 2021-22 and had 50 wins in his second season. He was fired after a slow start in this third season.

Patrick Roy, former New York Islanders coach

He's a big name who had success in junior hockey. But he might not be a good fit because he has never advanced out of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Islanders replaced him with four games left in the regular season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: John Tortorella out: Golden Knights coaching candidates

The application to volunteer for another global competition opens up days after the final 2026 World Cup game in Los Angeles.

Volunteer applications for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles open up on Tuesday, July 14. The application is for “games-time volunteering,” with tasks that could include assisting guests and athletes or more specialized roles like medical and translation services, according to LA28.

The application period coincides with another opportunity for fans to score tickets to the games.

Volunteer roles fall into the following categories, according to LA28, with more information about the roles to come on July 14:

• Ceremonies
• Communications
• Driving
• Experience
• Medical
• Operations
• Sport
• Technology
• Volunteer eligibility

While you can indicate your preferred volunteer role categories, know that your top choices aren’t guaranteed, said LA28.

Am I eligible to volunteer at the LA Olympics?

People who meet the following criteria can apply to volunteer, according to LA28:

• 18 years old or older at the time of applying
• Be proficient in English, reading and writing
• Be available for a minimum of 10 nonconsecutive shifts during the 2028 Olympic Games period (March-August 2028) or Paralympic Games period (August-September 2028). Shifts are approximately eight hours.
• Be present at one of these locations during the above periods: Greater Los Angeles, Oklahoma City, New York City, Columbus, Nashville, St. Louis, San Jose and San Diego

According to LA28, you don’t need to be a U.S. citizen or a California resident to volunteer. Keep in mind that volunteering is unpaid, and travel or lodging expenses aren’t covered, said LA28.

How to apply to volunteer for LA Olympics

Visit la28.org to sign up for updates about volunteer applications. You’ll be invited to an in-person assessment in Los Angeles if selected from the initial application pool, according to LA28. A virtual experience will be available if you are selected but you’re not in Los Angeles, said LA28. If you’re selected, you’ll be notified via email.

Can I get tickets for the LA Olympics?

Visit la28.org to register for next ticket draw for the Olympic Games. The registration window closes July 22, and those who’ve previously registered for the first ticket draw but weren’t selected for a time slot will be automatically entered into this upcoming draw. You’ll be notified Aug. 6-7 if you’ve been given a time slot to purchase tickets.

Tickets for the Paralympic Games will be available for purchase in 2027.

When is the next Olympics?

The Olympic Games are July 14-30, 2028. The Paralympic Games are Aug. 15-27, 2028.

Paris Barraza is a reporter covering Los Angeles and Southern California for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at pbarraza@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: See eligibility, rules for volunteering at LA Olympics 2028