AFFA və Bakı Kəndlər Futbol Federasiyasının birgə təşkilatçılığı ilə əfsanəvi futbolçu Anatoli Banişevskinin anadan olmasının 80 illik yubileyi münasibətilə xatirə turniri keçirilib.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, 14 yaşadək uşaqlar arasında təşkil olunan turnirdə Bakının kənd və qəsəbələrini təmsil edən 6 komanda mübarizə aparıb. Dalğa Məşq Mərkəzində baş tutan final qarşılaşmasında “Atəşgah”ı (Suraxanı) 4:0 hesabı ilə məğlub edən “Binə” komandası turnirin qalibi olub. “Atəşgah” isə ikinci yeri tutub.

Final matçından sonra mükafatlandırma mərasimi keçirilib. Qalib və mükafatçılar kubok, medal və diplomlarla təltif olunublar. Kubok qalib komandaya AFFA-nın Kütləvi Futbol Departamentinin rəhbəri, veteran futbolçu Fərrux İsmayılov və Bakı Kəndlər Futbol Federasiyasının prezidenti Vaqif Davudov tərəfindən təqdim edilib.

Qeyd edək ki, turnirin keçirilməsində əsas məqsəd Azərbaycan futbolunun parlaq simalarından olmuş mərhum Anatoli Banişevskinin xatirəsini yad etmək, eləcə də uşaqlar arasında futbolun kütləviliyini artırmaq və istedadlı futbolçuların üzə çıxarılmasına dəstək olmaqdı r.

Bitcoin remains pinned below $65,000 as random bouts of intense selling pressure persist, but one onchain indicator has stabilized, providing insight into when spot market demand may return.

Users placed more than $7 million betting on the outcome of the crypto sleuth's investigation, expected to be announced on Thursday.

Ether whale order sizes are shrinking, while a $2 billion short cluster near $2,000 frame a tightening liquidity scenario for ETH after a sixth week of red price action.

A 9.8% shareholder has doubled down on calls for Empery Digital to sell its BTC holdings, return capital to investors and remove its CEO and board.

The approval allows WisdomTree’s tokenized Treasury money market fund to trade and settle around the clock within the US regulatory framework.

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman has made headlines recently with his desire to play for the Boys in Blue for four more years before he retires.

But he’s not planning on taking things easy as he enters the final few years of a Hall of Fame career.

Freeman said for the 2026 season, he wants to play all 162 regular season games, and manager Dave Roberts told the media Tuesday he thinks that is exactly what might happen.

“I think he should prepare to play 162,” Roberts said. “I think most guys should, and you kind of adjust from there, but that’s the way he’s wired.”

Nagging Injuries Have Limited Freeman’s Production

When a reporter brought up Freeman’s relative dip in production over the past couple of seasons, Roberts jumped to his star’s defense, explaining that the 36-year-old Freeman was hindered by injuries, not age.

“I think he takes such good care of himself,” Roberts said. “I think that age is an easy one to point to, but I really believe that he’s been dinged up for two years. Right now, today, is as good as I’ve seen his swing over the course of a week sample, than I have in two years. He’s in a good spot physically, mechanically, if we can keep him healthy, I don’t see why he can’t have the year he expects and with that, with everything that he went through the past couple years, he was still very productive. That says a lot about, for me, [his] character.”

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Does Freeman Have Four More Years in Him?

Roberts also said that while Freeman is doing a good job of staying focused on the present season, he’s doing what he needs to in order to be able to fulfill his wish of four more seasons.

“With Freddie, the brain works, the care is there,” Roberts said. “The mechanics, it’s a sound swing, it’s a short swing. I think he can be productive for four more years for sure.”

That longevity would require a contract extension, as Freeman’s current deal is set to expire after next season.

LONDON (AP) — Organizers and teams competing in The Hundred said Tuesday that the cricket competition was “inclusive" and "open to all” after claims Indian-owned franchises could freeze out Pakistani players.

The England and Wales Cricket Board and all eight teams issued a joint statement after the BBC reported that Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds would not consider any Pakistani cricketers at The Hundred auction in March.

“The Hundred was established to reach new audiences, grow the game of cricket and ensure that everyone - regardless of their ethnicity, gender, faith, nationality or other - can feel they belong in our sport. This has been a guiding principle from the outset and remains at the heart of everything we do," the statement read.

It said teams were committed to “selection being based solely on cricketing performance, availability, and the needs of each team.”

The ECB said there were regulations to take “robust action” against discrimination.

“Players must not be excluded on the grounds of their nationality,” it said.

It was reported that the governing body sent an email to the eight teams on Sunday, warning them that action would be taken if there is any evidence of discrimination, including ignoring players based on nationality.

A total of 67 Pakistani players — 63 men and four women — have submitted themselves for next month’s auction.

Longstanding geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan have cast a shadow over cricket for many years.

___

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky trade plan might surprise many NHL fans originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Florida Panthers are going to have to do a lot of work to get back in position to defend their back-to-back Stanley Cup titles.

They may instead turn into sellers at the trade deadline, and if that happens, goalie Sergei Bobrovsky could go.

That probably surprises many hockey fans, because Bobrovsky has won all the big games for the Panthers.

MORE: Jack Hughes, not a miracle, just magic

Because of his contract, though, Daily Faceoff's Scott Maxwell lists Bobrovsky as a very logical candidate to be moved before the March 6 deadline.

"While you can never count out the Panthers, an eight-point gap is a lofty one to overcome at this stage of the season, especially when we don’t know the injury statuses of some of their players coming out of the Olympics," Maxwell writes. "... Bobrovsky may be a surprise on this list considering his legacy with the team, but he’s 37 and a pending UFA, so the Panthers should explore what he’s worth. Even with his struggles this season, Bobrovsky always flips the switch come playoff time and could be a valuable asset to a playoff team with short-term goaltending problems (Montreal? Vegas? Insurance behind Brandon Bussi for Carolina?), especially if the Panthers retain salary."

MORE: Team USA honors Johnny Gaudreau in special way after gold medal

The Panthers don't have a lot of high-profile selling options, so if they really want to recoup future assets at this deadline, Bobrovsky is the best candidate to make it happen.

This season, the two-time Vezina winner Bobrovsky has an 87.1 save percentage and 3.13 goals against average. Those are well below his career averages of 91.3% and 2.60 GAA.

Bobrovsky has been great in the Panthers' runs to the Stanley Cup each of the past two seasons. Another team could certainly see him as a player worth acquiring to try and make a push of their own.

More NHL news:

• Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs now forced to face tough reality
• Jack Hughes has forever changed his value
• Zach Werenski made 'the play before The Play'
• Connor Hellebuyck has changed his story forever
• Alex Ovechkin has shared an update on his retirement plans
• Evgeni Malkin gets big news on a possible future

Brett Veach's latest Chiefs quote should terrify the NFL originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

This offseason will look different for the Kansas City Chiefs for a variety of reasons, the main one being the franchise getting a head start on 2026 preparations.

With the Chiefs not making the playoffs in 2025, the work to build towards 2026 started in January, not February as they had become accustomed to over the years, having played in at least the AFC Championship game every year of Patrick Mahomes' starting career.

Now, the Chiefs are coming off a poor season, and the chance to truly reflect and look at what went wrong can take place. For general manager Brett Veach, he's delivered a quote that should scare the entire NFL as it pertains to 2026.

“The last three years, we were kind of just like in a maintenance stage, and now we’re trying to rebuild this thing again," Veach said. "I think for a GM and a personnel staff, that’s exciting.”

More:Chiefs' path back to 2026 relevancy dependent on 1 key position

Chiefs rebuilding into AFC's apex predator

With the Chiefs being in at least the AFC Championship game every season of Mahomes' starting career, the focus was always to make sure that level was maintained.

Now, after swinging and missing, the Chiefs are recalibrating, and what that could mean for the 2026 season should excite Chiefs Kingdom.

There is a desire to change things up on the field, and Veach is clearly excited about the direction the franchise is going.

The AFC kings had a down year in 2025, but if the other teams in the conference thought that it was the beginning of the new "norm," well, they couldn't be more wrong.

More NFL news:

• Bold prediction sees Bills execute incredible Super Bowl-winning plan
• Analyst tips Buccaneers to do unthinkable this offseason
• Saints' Cam Jordan gives huge vote of confidence for Tyler Shough as franchise leader
• Jaguars' Brian Thomas Jr. has perfect response to poor 2025 form
• Chiefs' two-time Super Bowl champion pays the price for horror season
• ESPN analyst proposes blockbuster Lions trade for $160 million superstar
• 1 Chiefs move could spell doom for AFC in 2026

Proposed trade idea sees Reds landing Angels offensive powerhouse originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

While the Chicago Cubs made a ton of headlines over the winter, the Cincinnati Reds are still a team that everyone should be paying attention to. 

Coming off a postseason appearance, the club is looking to do so again in 2026. The front office kept itself plenty busy, re-signing Emilio Pagan and acquiring JJ Bleday. 

However, the club's biggest splash over the offseason came when they acquired Eugenio Suarez. The two sides agreed on a one-year deal for him to return to Cincinnati. 

MORE: Eugenio Suarez returns to Cincinnati to reclaim his home run throne

Proposed trade ideas sees Reds landing Angels offensive powerhouse 

Suarez is coming off a monster season where he hit .228/.298/.526, tying a career high of 49 home runs while driving in 196 runs, and returning to Great American Ball Park should do wonders for him this season. 

Between him and Elly De La Cruz, fans should be pretty excited. But, if they really want to compete in the division, a trade or two couldn't hurt. 

Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter believes Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell could be the perfect fit for the Reds. 

"The Reds are low-key scary, as any team that has Chase Burns as a No. 5 starter is one that could be a problem in October. But if they really want to make a Cinderella run, more offense is needed. To this end, they could hope for 40-plus homers from Adell at Great American Ball Park. And while he isn't much of a defender in the outfield, there are few places where outfield defense matters less than Cincinnati."

Adell is coming off a season where he led the Halos offense with a career high 37 home runs. He could be a great addition to help Cincinnati's offense.

He could split his time between one of the corner outfield spots and DH, and the Reds would have full control over him for the next two seasons.

More MLB news:

• Royals linked to blocked Cubs star in potential blockbuster move
• Proposed trade sees Guardians land high-energy outfield upgrade from St. Louis
• MLB analyst makes the case for Jo Adell to repeat as Angels' power king
• The Pirates' home run crown could come down to three new faces
• Anticipating a crowded leaderboard for the Athletics' home run crown

One of the top in-state prospects in the 2027 class has reportedly locked in an official visit to Michigan State for late May.

Myles Smith of Farmington, Mich. has reportedly scheduled an official visit to Michigan State for the weekend of May 29, according to 247Sports recruiting insider Allen Trieu. He also has scheduled an official visit to Kentucky for June 12.

Smith is listed as a four-star edge rusher, with a recruiting rating of 92.53 in 247Sports' composite rating system. He ranks as the No. 4 player from Michigan and No. 21 edge rusher in the 2027 class. He is also listed as the No. 205 overall prospect in the class.

Michigan State is one of more than 20 schools to extend an offer to Smith, according to 247Sports. He also holds notable offers from Kentucky, California, Illinois, Indiana, Cincinnati, Missouri, Michigan, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Penn State, Purdue, Pitt, Rutgers, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Vanderbilt.

Smith has been a clear priority for the Spartans in the 2027 recruiting class so this is big news for Michigan State to lock in an official visit. By getting this official visit, it's clear the interest between Michigan State and Smith is mutual, which could go a long way in his recruitment.

First two officials are set for Farmington (Mich.) EDGE Myles Smith.

Michigan State (May 29th), Kentucky (June 12th).https://t.co/x01Fmrt155pic.twitter.com/jyM0ccLrFi

— Allen Trieu (@AllenTrieu) February 24, 2026

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.

This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Elite, in-state EDGE Myles Smith to reportedly visit MSU in May

New Orleans Saints fans eager to see Drew Brees be inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame shouldn't get their hopes up about seeing their team play a preseason game at the stadium named for their old owner. The first game of the NFL preseason is always played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in honor of the year's inaugural class, and on paper, the Saints have been seen as a natural fit. Beyond tying Brees a little closer to the team that he made famous (step off, Chargers fans) it's an opportunity for Kellen Moore and his coaching staff to start training camp a little sooner and spend more time developing their roster. When the NFL cut down the preseason from four games to just three, a lot of guys on the roster bubble lost out. This is their chance to put more plays on tape and help their evaluations.

However, the Times-Picayune's Jeff Duncan observed that the Saints already have a busy travel schedule this summer. New Orleans is expected to play two preseason road games (with a third exhibition game at home in the Caesars Superdome) and travel to California for another week of training camp, as they've done in recent years. Chartering flights for a 90-man roster, coaching staff, support personnel and front office executives isn't cheap. The logistics of moving all the equipment and supplies they need can be challenging. That's all true.

It's also true that the Saints have been giving their fans the short end of the stick in recent years. They're moving a second home game overseas in five years by going to France in 2026. They haven't put the same effort the Los Angeles Rams did in admitting fans to training camp practices at UC Irvine, which included a full month of practices in 2024 and a week of work last summer. For Saints fans in Ohio (and those making the trip from all around the NFL-watching world) their only other chance to see the team is on expensive out-of-market streaming packages. Even if it's backups like Spencer Rattler and Devin Neal in the huddle instead of Tyler Shough and Alvin Kamara, they deserve a chance to see their favorite team in person.

So it would be disappointing to see the Saints pass on the chance to play an exhibition game in front of their most faithful fans at an occasion honoring the greatest player in franchise history, and with a bronze statue of the late Benson watching on. But it wouldn't be surprising. Whatever ends up happening with the Hall of Fame game in August, let's hope the Saints are winning so many games in December and January that we've forgotten all about it.

This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints may not have time to honor Drew Brees at Hall of Fame game

For months now, we’ve been wondering just how much Weston McKennie’s form would be the tipping point in Juventus deciding to offer him a new contract just a few short months before his current deal expires. Week after week went by, with the waiting game of what would happen amidst rumors of other clubs circling and monitoring McKennie’s situation becoming the norm more than anything.

Even with that, McKennie shrugged off any real talk that he could leave Juve come the summertime, instead saying that he hoped to stay in Turin and that his agent was the one who was taking care of everything.

It looks like there’s no more reason to wonder. Or for those clubs not named Juventus to be lurking in the distance.

According to multiple reports out of Italy on Tuesday, Juventus and McKennie’s camp are close to finalizing a contract extension through 2030. It would give the American midfielder who has basically been in and out and then back into the Juventus squad for more than just a couple of years now the stability that he has so desired — and a much-deserved pay raise as he continues to be one of the Bianconeri’s best performers under yet another manager in Igor Tudor and now Luciano Spalletti so far this season.

McKennie will reportedly see his salary go up to €4 million with potential bonuses.

Juventus are expected to announce the new deal with the 27-year-old McKennie following this weekend’s crucial matchup with fourth-place Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.

Check back for more on this developing story.

Pro Football Focus continues to praise Buffalo Bills defensive end Greg Rousseau this offseaon.

PFF first named Rousseau one of the top-101 players from the entire 2025 NFL season. The Bills defender slotted in at the No. 64 overall position on that list.

Considering that, it should come as no surprise that Rousseau was also named one of football's top pass rusher by PFF as well.

In PFF's ranking of the best edge defenders in 2025, Rousseau cracked the top-10 position, despite only recording seven sacks last season. However, that number did lead the Bills.

Rousseau's 86.3 grade on Rousseau earned him the No. 8 position.

PFF's breakdown on Rousseau can be found below:

Greg Rousseau, Buffalo Bills (86.3)

Although Rousseau’s pass-rushing metrics don’t quite match up with others on this list, no edge defended the run at a higher level than him this season (85.1). The area of his game that was most improved this season was tackling, as he dropped his missed tackle rate from 21.2% in 2024 to 8.7% this season.

This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: PFF: Bills' Greg Rousseau named top-10 pass rusher in 2025

Chinese-American Winter Olympics star Eileen Gu is under fire once again, but this time it’s an NFL legend calling out the successful women’s skier.

Former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason has become the latest critic of the Milan Cortina Games gold medalist after going on a viral rant Tuesday. The WFAN radio host questioned Gu for her “insufferable” behavior throughout the Olympics.

Eileen Gu controversially decided to represent China instead of the United States after a reported hefty payday. However, her Olympic interviews also rubbed American fans the wrong way throughout the Milan Cortina Games.

MORE: NHL star Jack Hughes bashes haters over Team USA White House visit

"She’s a very attractive woman and she’s extremely bright, she went to Stanford. But if you listen to her post participation interviews, she’s insufferable" – Boomer Esiason on Eileen Gu pic.twitter.com/wLZELJx383

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 24, 2026

Meanwhile, Esiason’s questionable remarks come after he surprisingly called Gu an “attractive woman” before bashing her for some of her other qualities.

“She’s a very attractive woman and she’s extremely bright, she went to Stanford,” Esiason said on the WFAN airwaves recently. “But if you listen to her post participation interviews, she’s insufferable”

Esiason hasn’t been the only vocal critic of Eileen Gu’s though in recent weeks. Former NBA star Enes Kanter bashed the Winter Olympics star for choosing China over the U.S. and even went as far as to call her a ‘traitor.’

MORE: USA figure skater Amber Glenn gives video tour of room at Olympic Village

Regardless of fans’ thoughts on the young skier’s choice of country, Gu certainly dazzled the Milan Cortina Games with her incredible talent. The 22 year old is fully expecting to be in the mix once again when the 2030 Olympic Games take place in the French Alps.

— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —

OLYMPICS: Final 2026 Winter Olympics medal count, standings

NFL: 4 blockbuster NFL trades we want to see before the 2026 draft

NFL DRAFT: 2026 NFL Scouting Combine day-to-day TV schedule, how to watch

MLB: MLB Power Rankings as 2026 Spring Training begins

NBA: Updated NBA Power Rankings as a new week begins

VIRAL: Watch Johnny Gaudreau’s children join Team USA hockey gold medal celebration

The post NFL legend calls out ‘insufferable’ Winter Olympics skier Eileen Gu appeared first on The Big Lead.

Why USA hockey is at the State of the Union for Donald Trump's address after Olympic gold medal win originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Both the United States' men's and women's ice hockey teams took home the gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics. 

To make the victories even better, both came in overtime, and both saw the USA win 2-1 over Team Canada, which is generally favored as being the best hockey team. 

It was an exciting win for the United States, and the men's team celebrated in their locker room after the big win. Videos have been released of their celebrations, including downing beers with FBI Director Kash Patel and a FaceTime with President Trump. During the FaceTime, Trump invited the men's team to attend his State of the Union address, and then added he guessed he should invite the women's team too.

The hockey wins came over the weekend, and both teams had to fly back from Italy amid a severe storm in the northeastern United States. The NHL season resumes on Wednesday, with the State of the Union address scheduled for the night of Tuesday, February 24. 

Here is more on whether or not the gold-medal-winning USA hockey teams are at the State of the Union address.

MORE: How Jack Hughes became national icon for Team USA

Is USA hockey at the State of the Union?

During the video showing the FaceTime with the President, the men's team accepted the invitation, but it didn't feel like a binding decision. It is more seen as the team riding high from the win and responding to the President's offer. Officials from both the White House and Team USA have not confirmed whether they will attend the address. 

The men's gold-medal-winning team is confirmed to be celebrating the victory in Miami, Florida on Monday night. Trump has invited them both to the State of the Union address on Tuesday, and to the White House on Wednesday to be honored, per The Athletic. 

With the address and the visit lining up with the NHL regular season restarting, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told The Athletic that "players can decide on an individual basis if they want to accept the invitation and then it'll be up to their individual teams whether or not to grant permission." 

The women's team declined the invitation. A spokesperson for the team said, "We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal–winning U.S. Women’s Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement...They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment."

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson pointed out that the logistics may be tough to get the men's hockey team to the State of the Union. "We’ve got to figure out logistics. There's no way to have special guests on the floor because it's a literal session of Congress and you know that's what's good about rules. But we're going to work and do what we can to accommodate. We certainly want to have them here for the celebration. It's quite a feat. The men's and women's hockey teams. We're trying to work out logistics to see if there's some way to perhaps get them into the gallery and the doors, wave and receive the applause that they're due. We're working on logistics."

Team USA's men's hockey team is en route to Washington D.C. ahead of the State of the Union address as of Tuesday afternoon.

The U.S. men’s hockey team is now en route to Washington, D.C., ahead of President Trump’s State of the Union tonight.

pic.twitter.com/pL4JmUv3Sn

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) February 24, 2026

MORE: Why Kash Patel was celebrating with Team USA

Which USA players are at the State of the Union?

Not every member of the gold medal winning team will be at the State of the Union address. Jake Guentzel is back in Tampa Bay and will not attend. Brock Nelson also flew back to Denver, Colorado with his family, and will not attend, instead choosing to get ready to play for the Avalanche against the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday. Kyle Connor, Jackson LaCombe and Jake Oettinger also opted not to attend. 

Here are the players confirmed to be attending the State of the Union.

• Jack Eichel
• Jack Sanderson
• Tage Thompson
• Jack Hughes
• Quinn Hughes
• Brady Tkachuk
• Matthew Tkachuk
• Auston Matthews
• Jeremy Swayman
• Vincent Trocheck
• Matt Boldy
• JT Miller
• Connor Hellebuyck
• Zach Werenski
• Dylan Larkin
• Noah Hanifin
• Jaccob Slavin
• Clayton Keller
• Charlie McAvoy
• Brock Faber

From Matthew Tkachuk’s IG story. Appears the team is on its way to the State of the Union pic.twitter.com/DhhYZwZQeT

— Evan Sporer (@ev_sporer) February 24, 2026

Team USA arrives at the White House!!! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Iv6XS5q6In

— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) February 24, 2026

Donald Trump calls Team USA

Trump reportedly called Team USA's men's team after they beat Team Canada. The call itself has become controversial on social media. In the call, Trump congratulated the men's team on their win and invited them to his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, even offering to send a military plane for them if that's what it took to get them to attend.

You can hear the genuine pride in Donald Trumps voice when he called the Team USA Hockey Team pic.twitter.com/ch6GbXShwh

— Harrison Krank (@HarrisonKrank) February 23, 2026

While doing so, he also says, "I have to tell you, we are going to have to bring the women's team too." Many took this as a lessening of the women's team gold-medal win also over Canada, and felt like he was considering them as an afterthought, as he added, "If I don't invite them, they will try to impeach me."

Matthew Tkachuk said after Trump's call that the president "just congratulated us," adding, "It's an honor to wear this jersey and represent the U.S." Tkachuk is a member of Trump's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition and has visited the White House twice to celebrate Stanley Cup championships with the Panthers.

MORE: Best quotes after Team USA's gold medal win

What time is the State of the Union?

• Date: Tuesday, February 24
• Time: 9 p.m. ET

President Trump's 2026 State of the Union address will take place on Tuesday, February 24. It is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. ET, and he is expected to discuss immigration enforcement, economic policies, and the United States' recent success at the 2026 Winter Games. 

MORE: Nathan MacKinnon says Canada was better team despite loss to USA

How to watch the State of the Union?

The State of the Union address can be watched in a variety of ways. It will air on all of the major networks like ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox as well as CNN and MSNBC.

The State of the Union address can also be streamed on YouTube, PBC, The White House website, C-Span's website. 

MLB Mock Trade suggest Yankees will trade for 25-year old star originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Yankees are always in the mix to make a deep postseason run with the many weapons they have accumulated over the years, such as Giancarlo Stanton, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Cody Bellinger, etc.

However, in an article from Bleacher Report proposing every trade each MLB team could make before opening day, it suggests that New York will pull the trigger on a trade for the young phenom shortstop, CJ Abrams, from the Washington Nationals, which might get the team over the hump.

Abrams, 25, has quickly become one of the top prospects in the league since entering the league in 2022, and has consistently improved over the last three seasons, including hitting around 20 home runs with a batting average of around .250.

Adding something like that to a Yankees team that already has a batting lineup that has no problem knocking balls out of the park makes them even more dangerous, as they are hoping to make it back to the World Series after losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Obviously, it is just an idea for now. Still, in a competitive division such as the AL East, which has produced the last two American League teams to reach the World Series (the Toronto Blue Jays last season), if New York can pull this off, it will undoubtedly make them the favorites to win another AL pennant.

Opening day is practically a month away, and the Yankees will open the season against the San Francisco Giants in a primetime matchup on March 25.

More MLB news:

• Team USA has a finalized WBC roster and an awesome lineup
• Dominican Republic WBC roster is loaded with stars
• An Edwin Diaz nightmare looms for the Mets
• Buster Posey will change Hall of Fame voting forever
• How Jose Ramirez is on pace to become Cleveland's Derek Jeter
• Yankees have signed a catcher from the country of Hungary

Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Kobie Turner has been a prolific sack artist since he entered the league. Since 2023, Turner has registered 24 sacks and 43 quarterback hits in 51 career games.

He's played a lot of quarterbacks in his career already, but Turner told Quentin Lake during a recent episode of the team's "Right on Q" podcast that he's almost rather play an elusive quarterback than one who gets the ball out fast.

"Sometimes, like, the fast ones or the elusive ones, you can kind of trap them in," Turner said. "Sometimes facing a quarterback that's going to get the ball out quick is worse cause the second you pop him in his face or whatever, now he's dirting it or he's throwing it to whatever receiver he knows he has a check down. ... Sometimes I'd rather play a guy who thinks he's shiftier than he really is. Then you can get him down."

Now, Turner agreed with Lake that he likes playing the "statues" — or the quarterbacks who stay in the pocket and aren't as mobile. However, Turner's assessment is all about opportunity. He'd rather play a quarterback that's more willing to dance around behind the line of scrimmage because it gives him more time to take him down, rather than quarterback who wants to get the ball out as quick as possible.

The problem with facing elusive quarterbacks, though, is that you run into the situation Turner noted earlier in the podcast with regard to Lamar Jackson. The Baltimore Ravens' star quarterback eluded Turner in a 2023 game and lofted up a touchdown that ultimately helped his team win. Another example reared its head in the 2025 playoffs, when Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams avoided Rams defenders before tossing up a game-tying touchdown on fourth down to set up overtime in the NFC divisional round.

Turner has the skills to sack any quarterback, but it's interesting to see his thought process when it comes to different types of passers he faces.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Kobie Turner explains why elusive QBs are sometimes easier to sack

Former NBA star Patrick Beverley will no longer face a felony assault charge connected to allegations made by his teenage sister late last year that he grabbed her by the neck and punched her in the eye during an altercation at their mother's home.

On Monday, a grand jury in the 240th District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas, returned a "no bill" —— meaning that insufficient evidence had been found — concerning the third-degree felony charge against Beverley of assault and impeding breath/circulation. District clerk Beverley McGrew Walker ordered that the complaint against the former player be dismissed.

On Monday, Beverley addressed the outcome in a statement Monday on social media.

"I am deeply grateful for all thoughts and prayers for the family," the former Lakers and Clippers player wrote. "We must continue to protect our children, especially our young girls. This ordeal has truly made our family stronger. Thank you for your continued support and prayers."

Read more:Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs pleads not guilty to felony strangulation charge

Beverley was arrested Nov. 14 after Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Deputy Miguel Ramirez responded to a possible family violence situation at a residence at around 3:50 a.m. According to his probable cause affidavit, Ramirez said Beverley's sister told him that her mother had called Beverley to come over after discovering that the girl had been out with her boyfriend without permission.

Beverley’s sister said her brother “grabbed her by her neck with both hands, and picked her up off the ground" and “squeezed her neck causing her to feel pain,” according to the affidavit. His sister felt like “she was losing oxygen and not able to breathe” for approximately 20 to 30 seconds, the affidavit stated, adding that she also said her brother slammed her body against the walls and punched her in the left eye.

Later that day, Beverley wrote on X, “Please don’t believe everything you see on the internet.”

He also indicated on social media that his sister was 15 and her boyfriend was 18.

Read more:Jaylen Brown rejects Beverly Hills' apology after cops shut down his private All-Star Weekend event

Letitia Quinones-Hollins, one of the attorneys representing Beverley, told The Times in an emailed statement Nov. 17 that the affidavit gives "only one side of the story — given at a time when emotions were high. As I’ve said before, we don’t believe that the description in that affidavit is accurate, nor is it complete. Patrick is not a violent man and was not violent that night."

Quinones-Hollins and fellow attorney Rusty Hardin told TMZ on Monday that they felt all along that Beverley "would be cleared of all charges."

"Patrick wants everyone to know that he would never do anything to harm his sister and that he is very grateful that the grand jury has recognized that with their no-bill," the attorneys said. "He is thankful for all who prayed for him and supported him during this time. He is glad that the process was allowed to work as it did and his hope is that with these charges behind him now, his name and reputation will be restored."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Nottingham Forest and Fenerbahçe face off this Thursday at the City Ground in UEFA Europa League.

In their last fixture, Nottingham Forest suffered a 0-1 reverse against Liverpool (Premier League 2025/26). In their last fixture, Fenerbahçe shared the spoils 1-1 with Kasimpasa (Turkey Super Lig 2025/26).

Unavailable

Nottingham Forest

• Willy Boly - Injury
• Chris Wood - Injury
• Matz Sels - Injury
• John Victor - Injury
• Nicolò Savona - Injury

Fenerbahçe

• Edson Álvarez - Ankle Surgery

Last starting XIs

Nottingham Forest ( vs Liverpool 2026-02-22): Stefan Ortega, Ola Aina, Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo, Neco Williams, Ibrahim Sangaré, Elliot Anderson, Omari Hutchinson, Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Igor Jesus

Fenerbahçe ( vs Kasimpasa 2026-02-23): Ederson Moraes, Nélson Semedo, Jayden Oosterwolde, Çaglar Söyüncü, Levent Mercan, Ismail Yuksek, Mattéo Guendouzi, Nene Dorgeles, Marco Asensio, Anthony Musaba, Anderson Talisca

Did you know...by playmaker stats

MANAGERS

• Vítor Pereira faced Domenico Tedesco on two occasions, recording a win and a loss.
• Domenico Tedesco faced Nottingham Forest on one occasion, recording a loss.
• Vítor Pereira faced Fenerbahçe on one occasion, recording a win.

TEAMS

• Away from home, the Fenerbahçe currently has one loss in the last 17 games.
• Away from home, the Fenerbahçe has scored in ten consecutive games.
• Away from home, the Fenerbahçe has gone 14 consecutive games without a loss.
• Away from home, the Fenerbahçe has two consecutive wins.
• The Fenerbahçe currently has three losses in the last 30 games.
• The Fenerbahçe has gone five consecutive games conceding goals.
• The Fenerbahçe has gone two consecutive games without a win.
• At home, Nottingham Forest currently has one loss in the last five games.
• At home, Nottingham Forest currently has one win in the last seven games.
• At home, Nottingham Forest has gone three consecutive games without a win.

HEAD TO HEAD

• Nottingham Forest and Fenerbahçe have faced each other once before, with Nottingham Forest having the advantage: one win
• In the Europa League, a match was held between the two teams, with a victory for Nottingham Forest.

Manchester United have reportedly made a major decision regarding Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White ahead of the summer transfer window.

Midfield hunt

Having spent the bulk of last summer’s budget on bolstering the attacking department, United are expected to prioritise other areas of the pitch, with midfield being the top item on the agenda.

Casemiro is set to leave United at the end of the season upon the expiry of his contract, while there is also uncertainty over the futures of Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes.

Ugarte has struggled to make an impact at Old Trafford since joining the club from Paris Saint-Germain and it seems patience with him is wearing thin. Meanwhile, Fernandes is eager to compete for football’s most prestigious honours while at the peak of his career, leading to speculation that he may consider his options when the window commences.

United continue to be linked with a host of midfielders including Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace), Carlos Baleba (Brighton and Hove Albion) and Sandro Tonali (Newcastle).

There have been suggestions that the Red Devils could look to make more than one addition in the middle of the park.

Now, the Daily Mail report that United have stormed into the race for Gibbs-White.

Huge Gibbs-White update

The newspaper reveals that United have joined the race for Gibbs-White, who is attracting plenty of interest as Forest flirt with the prospect of relegation from the Premier League.

However, United are at a disadvantage in the race for both Gibbs-White and Anderson, and the Daily Mail have explained why.

“Confidential understands United’s new pay scale may hinder their efforts to persuade either player to turn down bigger offers from other clubs and move to Old Trafford in the summer.”

“United have been trying to drive down their wage bill, but it could leave them at a severe disadvantage in the chase for Gibbs-White and Anderson – even more so with Manchester City understood to be tracking both Forest players as well.”

“Earning in excess of £100m by qualifying for the Champions League would have a big impact on United’s ability to offer big money for transfer targets in the summer, but the club are still committed to moving high earners off the books.”

It’s understood that Gibbs-White has a release clause, which was inserted in the contract he signed last year after Tottenham Hotspur failed with a bid to snap him up.

Gibbs-White currently earns around £150,000-a-week, which is similar to what the club pays last summer’s signings Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko.

City, who would not think twice about their wage structure, are expected to be among the favourites for Gibbs-White and Anderson.

Feature image Clive Brunskill via Getty Images

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Against all odds and common sense, Fiorentina’s suddenly one of the form teams in Serie A, with only 3 teams performing better over the past 3 games. Add in a big win over Jagellonia Białystok in the Conference League knockout round last week and there’s hope that the Viola have turned a corner in this accursed season. Following an ugly win over Pisa in the Tuscan derby, the guys now welcome Jaga to Tuscany.

The match will be played on Thursday, 26 February 2026, at 17:45 GMT/12:45 PM EST, at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in beautiful Firenze. The forecast calls for a glorious day, actually: sunny, warm (17° C/55° F), with nary a cloud nor a gust of wind. The conditions are about as perfect for an enjoyable Thursday evening as you could ask for. Unfortunately, only about 7000 fans are expected for what is, on paper, a dead rubber

Three things to watch for

1. Early wobbles

3-0 feels like a pretty secure scoreline. For most clubs in the knockout rounds of a European competition, it would be. Fiorentina, of course, is not most teams in the knockout rounds of a European competition. Let me paint you a picture of disaster: Paolo Vanoli fields his backups again, the team comes out complacent due to its lead, Jaga takes advantage and grabs an early goal, the nerves start setting in, Jaga grabs a second before halftime, the momentum tangibly shifts, and just like that it’s a life or death struggle.

It’s not just my natural pessimism with the brush here. Jaga’s going to come out with something to prove and, perhaps more importantly, Adrian Siemieniec (whose name we know just fine, thanks) will get 2 of his most important players back from suspension. Captain Taras Romanczuk is the midfield lynchpin, a calming presence who excels at winning the ball and moving it on. Striker Afimico Pululu is a pressing dynamo whose athleticism, motor, and predatory instincts have resulted in 15 total goals this season. Jaga’s still top of the Ekstraklasa and won’t give up because of a bad 45 minutes in the first leg. If Fiorentina comes out playing softly, the Poles will pounce.

2. Cleanup on Aisle Defense

One of the ways to prevent an early wobble is to not do anything stupid at the back, which has been a nearly impossible task for Fiorentina this year. The defenders have been prone to inexplicable mistakes all year, whether those are bad passes, blown marking assignments, or a lack of force. Especially against a team that’s going to go all-out in pressing them early on, keeping it tight and not shooting their own toes off is of critical importance. If that sounds like advice from your Sunday league captain, well, yeah. Getting the basics right has been a struggle.

On the plus side, there should be plenty of experience out there. Dodô’s suspended for the Udinese game so will probably get a run here to save Niccolò Fortini for Monday. Robin Gosens is smart, experienced, and offers vocal leadership as well as a presence in both boxes. The real question is in central defense. I’d guess Pietro Comuzzo will start next Luca Ranieri; the former captain’s rediscovered his form of late but the Ginger Prince has fallen off and his technical limitations mean he’ll be the primary target for Jaga’s pressing. Hopefully his experienced colleagues can settle him down and let his natural ability carry him through.

3. The Little-Faces connection

Roberto Piccoli and Jacopo Fazzini are among the most disappointing players on the roster. Both arrived in the summer for significant fees and both were expected to start but have mostly disappointed and now find themselves as backups. Both have absorbed a lot of criticism from fans about their limitations. Piccoli’s struggles on the ball and in front of goal, as well as his €25 million price tag, have seen him labeled a bust. Fazzini didn’t come in with quite as heavy a burden of expectation but his infuriating inability to connect with his teammates is a real problem.

They’ll both start in this one and, beyond playing well, they need to play well together. In the first leg, I counted 5 chances Fazzini had to play a forward ball to Piccoli that he either ignored or whiffed. I’ll give you a basketball analogy: you have to reward your center for their hard work and that means getting them the occasional touch outside the flow of the offense to ensure they remain engaged in all phases. Piccoli works hard but if he’s not getting the ball, he’s prone to sulking. If Fazzini’s not a goal threat (0 goals on 12 shots this season), he needs to offer something beyond dribbling down dead ends. Forging a connection with Piccoli would improve both players’ outlook quite a bit.

Possible lineups

Ted’s Memorial Blind Guess Department

The bookies lean very heavily towards Fiorentina for obvious reasons. That 0-3 is, after all, quite persuasive. However, I think that ignores some of the context at play: would it shock anyone if Vanoli decided the best course of action was to dig in and weather the storm and this one ended up as a 1-2 defeat or something like that? Jagiellonia wants some measure of revenge and has 2 of its best players back. With the hosts likely to conserve energy ahead of a huge Serie A game on Monday and safe in their first leg margin of victory, the door is open for some silliness.

Nevertheless, I’ll take Fiorentina to see out a businesslike 2-1 win. Jaga will come out swinging, applying a level of pressure that catches the Viola unprepared and even gets them a goal that sets the teeth on edge a bit; I’ll say Pululu’s the scorer but it could be anyone at a set piece. The visitors will continue to pour forward but that, by necessity, requires leaving a lot of gaps, gaps that Fiorentina will eventually take advantage of. Once Piccoli equalizes, the visitors’ aggression will turn to desperation and Giovanni Fabbian will grab the second to put it to bed. That aggression I’m expecting from Jaga, by the way, could lead to an ill-tempered match with a fair number of cards.

Forza Viola!

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Our NBA player prop projections are back for tonight's prime-time matchup, and the model has spotlighted a few plays that really pop.

We ran the numbers, lined our projections up against the market, and locked in on the spots with genuine value.

For these Knicks vs. Cavaliers predictions, it’s not guesswork — it’s all driven by the data.

If you’re building your betting card, these are the NBA picks the model likes most for Tuesday, February 24.

Knicks vs Cavaliers computer picks for February 24

Knicks	Cavaliers
Towns u19.5 points  -112	Mitchell u27.5 points  -112
Hart o4.5 assists -155	Harden o2.5 3-pointers +135
Brunson o2.5 3-pointers -112	Allen o8.5 rebounds -112

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Knicks computer picks

Karl-Anthony Towns Under 19.5 points (-112)

Projection: 18.9 points

Compared to last year's 23.8 mark, Karl-Anthony Towns' points per game have dipped to 19.6.

The New York Knicks have played at the fifth-lowest up-tempo pace in the league over the last 15 games. 

Whereas the Cleveland Cavaliers have played at the 10th-lowest up-tempo pace in the NBA over the last five games, which ought to reduce possessions for the Knicks.

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Josh Hart Over 4.5 assists (-155)

Projection: 4.6 assists

Josh Hart has a strong path to clearing 4.5 assists because he’s not just a wing who spots up. He pushes the ball in transition, initiates sets in the halfcourt, and thrives as a connector who keeps the offense flowing. When the ball swings, he’s often the guy making the extra pass that leads directly to a bucket.

Another big factor working in his favor is New York’s dominance on the offensive glass. The Knicks are the NBA's fourth-ranked offensive rebounding team, which creates second-chance possessions and extended plays.

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Jalen Brunson Over 2.5 3-pointers (-112)

Projection: 2.7 3-pointers

This game against the Cavaliers sets up nicely for threes since opposing starting point guards have attempted the second-highest rate of triples in the NBA this season (41.4%) against them.

That kind of defensive tendency gives an elite guard like Jalen Brunson plenty of room to capitalize.

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---

Cavaliers computer picks

Donovan Mitchell Under 27.5 points (-112)

Projection: 26.5 points

Donovan Mitchell has hit the Under 27.5 points in six of his last 10 games, and the trend makes sense when you look at how he’s been used and the defensive matchups he’s faced.

Over this stretch, Mitchell has seen more balanced scoring roles, with teammates stepping up offensively and defenses collapsing on him in key spots, limiting his efficiency and high-volume scoring opportunities.

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James Harden Over 2.5 3-pointers (+135)

Projection: 2.6 3-pointers

James Harden has been scorching from deep lately, hitting the Over 2.5 made 3-pointers in six of his last 10 games.

Tonight, the conditions are ideal for Harden to keep that hot streak alive.

The Knicks have struggled to contain elite perimeter scorers this season, often leaving shooters open in catch-and-shoot situations and giving up extra possessions through their defensive schemes.

Combine that with Harden’s ability to create his own shot or pull defenders out of the paint, and he has multiple paths to knock down three or more from beyond the arc.

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Jarrett Allen Over 8.5 rebounds (-112)

Projection: 9.2 rebounds

Jarrett Allen has been a rebounding machine, hitting the Over 8.5 rebounds in nine of his last 10 games.

He’s consistently active on both ends of the floor, using his size, timing, and positioning to snatch boards over smaller or slower opponents. Allen’s ability to read the ball off the rim and box out effectively gives him multiple chances to control the glass, and his motor ensures he’s always around the action.

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How to watch Knicks vs Cavaliers tonight

Location	Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Date	Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Tip-off	7:00 p.m. ET
TV	Peacock

Not intended for use in MA.
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The Georgia Bulldogs have the fifth-most players of any college football program invited to the 2026 NFL combine. Georgia's 10 combine invitations is down from the 14 UGA players that were invited to the 2025 NFL combine.

The combine will be at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, from Feb. 23 to March 2 with on-field drills being from Thursday, Feb. 26 to Sunday, March 1. A trio of Georgia receivers in Zachariah Branch, Dillon Bell and Colbie Young will all be interesting to watch at the combine.

Combine participants can run the 40-yard dash, bench press, participate in on-field drills, interview with NFL teams, undergo medical tests and more. The combine is one of the top NFL draft preparation events and carries a fair amount of weight for most NFL teams. However, not every player participates in every drill. Players tend to selectively choose which drills they'll participate in to elevate their draft stock.

Georgia's pro day, which is typically held in March, will be much more important for the six Bulldogs that failed to receive combine invitations. The 2026 NFL draft will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from April 23-25.

The 10 Georgia players invited to the 2026 NFL combine

• Linebacker CJ Allen
• Wide receiver Zachariah Branch
• Defensive lineman Christen Miller
• Offensive tackle Monroe Freeling
• Tight end Oscar Delp
• Wide receiver Dillon Bell
• Offensive guard Micah Morris
• Cornerback Daylen Everette
• Punter Brett Thorson
• Wide receiver Colbie Young

Follow UGA Wire on Instagram or Threads for more Georgia football coverage!

This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: The 10 Georgia Bulldogs invited to the 2026 NFL combine

Nick Sirianni doesn't rule out an A.J. Brown trade for Eagles originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni stopped short of guaranteeing that star wide receiver A.J. Brown will be back with the team next season.

Brown’s future in Philly has been a consistent source of speculation, and while Sirianni made it clear that he wants to continue to coach Brown, he can’t make any promises regarding what the front office will decide to do.

"Will A.J. be here next season? I think we're still in a spot, like, I can't guarantee how anything is going to play out into next season. I'm thinking I'm going to be the coach next season, but you can't guarantee anything past tomorrow," Sirianni said, via ESPN.

"… Yeah, my expectation is he wants to be here. And obviously you want good players like that in your building. … As Howie [Roseman] said, it's hard to get good players in this league. A.J.'s a great player and A.J. is a good teammate and A.J. is a good person. Does he want to be here? Yes. Do I want him to be here? Yes."

More: Saquon Barkley provides encouraging update about Eagles' new offense under Sean Mannion

That quote from Roseman referenced by Sirianni was from last month after the Eagles were defeated by the San Francisco 49ers in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.

“It’s hard to find great players in the NFL and A.J.’s a great player," Roseman said at the time in response to a question about the Eagles potentially looking to trade Brown.

"I think from my perspective that’s what we’re going out and looking for, when we go out in free agency and the Draft, is trying to find great players who love football and he’s that guy. So that would be my answer.”

Allow us to read between the lines here for a minute. Basically, it sounds like the Eagles like Brown and would be happy to have him back in the fold next season under new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion. 

But, that doesn't mean that a trade involving the star receiver is completely off of the table. If an intriguing enough offer comes along, perhaps the Eagles would indeed pull the trigger. 

More Philadelphia Eagles news: 

• Lane Johnson makes final decision regarding his future with Philadelphia Eagles
• Philadelphia Eagles predicted to retain key contributor in free agency
• Eagles urged to avoid former Pro Bowl cornerback in free agency 
  
  

Read the original on HuffPost

Sabres urged to trade for one of these 4 centers before NHL deadline originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Buffalo Sabres are on the verge of ending their drought.

The Sabres have missed the NHL playoffs in 14 consecutive seasons. This appears to be the campaign when they can change that.

Coming out of the Olympic break, the Sabres are in possession of a playoff position in the Eastern Conference. If they can just maintain the status quo down the stretch, the drought will be over.

To really achieve that, though, they might want to make an addition. They could use another center.

MORE: Jack Hughes, not a miracle, just magic

Daily Faceoff's Scott Maxwell lists four possible targets in the middle:

• Blake Coleman
• Ryan O'Reilly
• Steven Stamkos
• Jared McCann

"The Sabres are poised to make the playoffs for the first time in 15 years, and it feels like everything is finally clicking for this roster," Maxwell writes. "On one hand, they will want to try to add to this team to build on their depth and improve their chances of making the postseason. But on the other hand, they don’t have any glaring weaknesses, and they may not want to disrupt the chemistry of the team when they’re finally firing on all cylinders. They could make a short-term buy for a middle-six veteran who doesn’t break the bank, shoot for a high-upside long-term options, or even just add along the edges while keeping Tuch as an own rental."

MORE: Team USA honors Johnny Gaudreau in special way after gold medal

As he mentions there at the end, the other thing to watch is what happens with Alex Tuch.

If the Sabres were scuffling, Tuch would be an obvious sell candidate in the final year of his contract. With them thriving, though, they might owe it to the rest of the team to keep Tuch.

There'll definitely be movement involving Buffalo between now and the March 6 NHL trade deadline, so stay tuned.

More NHL news:

• Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs now forced to face tough reality
• Jack Hughes has forever changed his value
• Zach Werenski made 'the play before The Play'
• Connor Hellebuyck has changed his story forever
• Alex Ovechkin has shared an update on his retirement plans
• Evgeni Malkin gets big news on a possible future

Braves urged to trade for Twins' 3.42 ERA All-Star righty due to injury trouble originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Atlanta Braves are entering the 2026 season with hopes of returning to the postseason after two years off due to various injuries, bad luck, and regressing play.

There is optimism for 2026, but the Braves have already been dealt some tough injury news with He-Seong Kim's hand issue, which will cause him to miss 4-5 months. But the most pressing issue is the injuries to the rotation.

Amid some early injury trouble, the Braves are urged by Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer to go out and trade for a 3.42 ERA All-Star from the Minnesota Twins in Joe Ryan, to address the rotation need.

Braves urged to acquire Joe Ryan to address rotation trouble

"For the Rangers, Ryan is a want more than a need. For the braves, it's the other way around," Rymer writes. "Chris Sale is 36 years old, and after him in their rotation is nothing but a series of question marks. That's the result of offseason inactivity clashing with early injury trouble."

The Braves' rotation has Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, and, normally, Spencer Schwellenbach, AJ Smith-Shawver, and Hurston Waldrep. But those last three are all hurt, leaving the Braves with some big questions in the rotation.

Reynaldo Lopez, Grant Holmes, and Bryce Elder make up the rest of the healthy rotation at the start of Spring Training. The Braves need another starter.

More: Twins get devastating injury news on Pablo Lopez

Ryan is a 29-year-old right-handed starter who's coming off a 3.42 ERA All-Star season for the Twins in 2025. He is under club control through 2027 and is a clear top trade target.

But, unfortunately for the Braves, he's dealing with some lower back inflammation, and while it might not be serious, he could return by Opening Day. For a team dealing with injury issues, trading for an injured starter might not be the best idea.

Atlanta needs to add to their rotation in some way this spring, and making a splash trade for Ryan, as Rymer is urging, would be an interesting move. A rotation with Sale, Ryan, Strider, and the others as depth options is a World Series-caliber rotation.

More MLB news:

• MLB Hot Stove tracker: Live updates on news, rumors, signings and trades for 2025 free agency
• Yankees' Jazz Chisholm reveals his 9-figure contract asking price
• Cubs' Alex Bregman makes assertive no-trade clause Red Sox statement
• German Marquez takes shot at Rockies after signing with team that 'wants to win'
• Mets fans should be concerned with Bo Bichette after fielding struggles go viral
• Giants get great news on top prospect Carson Whisenhunt with huge velocity increase
• Phillies' Jhoan Duran teases new pitch, but won't reveal what it is

Paul Archuleta via Getty Images

Maybe it’s some kind of post-Valentine’s rebuttal, but it’s been a time of cutthroat betrayals in the fight business. Last week Zuffa Boxing snatched away Conor Benn from his longtime caretaker Eddie Hearn in what struck many fans as an act of outright disloyalty, even as cooler minds called it “business.” What rubbed people the wrong way was that Hearn stuck with Benn through thick and thin, while Benn stuck with Hearn through thick.

Then of course, Ronda Rousey, one of the key figures in the UFC’s ultimate success, returned fire on Dana White and company by signing up to fight Gina Carano for Most Valuable Production’s first foray into MMA. That fight will stream this May on Netflix, a juggernaut of such immense proportion in the streaming business that it makes Paramount+ dine at the kid’s table.

Rousey going head-to-head with Dana White? Netflix versus Paramount+? MVP taking on the UFC? Just a few weeks before the UFC White House card?

See, now we’re talking.

It took a village, but we’ve arrived in a real-life pro-wrestling moment in combat sports where the storylines become just as big as the players. It just happens that turncoats are in fashion this winter, and they’re stitched with highly-sustainable drama.

And if there’s one thing that stands out as we kick into a rivalry we never suspected is that Ronda and Dana know each other very well. So well, in fact, that they understand exactly which blows can be felt. Back in the day, when Rousey was breaking the UFC through on global media platforms that would never deign to peek in on the goings-on in the Octagon, Dana sung Rousey’s praises louder than Beyonce ever could.

“I’m a huge Ronda Rousey fan,” he said a thousand different ways. “She’s extremely talented. What I like most about her is she’s mean and nasty.”

Hell yes, she is. The 39-year-old Rousey had been in talks with the UFC about doing the Carano fight, but it couldn’t be worked out. She was jilted enough to toss a match over her shoulder on the bridge that delivered her to transcendent status in the fight game, perhaps understanding that it can fully be rebuilt at a later date (this is all business, after all). But right now, in a fortified fit of fancy, Rousey doesn’t want to just have a one-off mega-fight with the 43-year-old Carano.

She said she wants to kick up a war with the UFC.

“It’s a dream fight and a superfight and everything,” she to her MVP business partner Nakisa Bidarian on the first episode of "MVP Uncut." “But I feel like the story behind it is not just this fight, but a lot of it is MVP vs. UFC. And that’s where I’m going to f***ing go really had in the trenches. “Because they’re suffering from a lack of competition…”

Here Bidarian, an ex-exec of the UFC who founded MVP with Jake Paul, got so tickled that he let out a giggle. It was all music to his ears, and Rousey broke into some serious easy-listening jazz after that.

“They can’t just make a class-action lawsuit every couple of years at the cost of doing business. And so, I’m really trying to help Dana out,” she continued. “And if anyone has been groomed to be his apprentice, it’s been me. I think I’d be the most favorite adversary he’s ever had.”

Mean. Nasty. And if you watched Rousey circa 2013, she’s the same “do nothing b****” she so famously professed to be. This was the Rousey that everyone fell in love with. This was the one who wouldn’t be denied, who wouldn’t stand for second place.

It’s not like they thawed Rousey out of a cryopreserved chamber, but she has raged back to life as if the intervening years don’t exist. Gone, with an overnight shake of the Etch-a-Sketch, is the Ronda who disappeared at the first sign of adversity. Many MMA fans got off the Rousey train after the way she handled herself upon losing to Holly Holm at UFC 193 in 2015. Rousey hid her face from the public and proceeded to sulk for a full year. It didn’t help that she avoided media ahead of her next (and last) fight with Amanda Nunes at UFC 207.

To this day she’s never admitted going about things the wrong way with her fan base after the losses. Instead, she blamed fans and media for turning on her. All those hard feelings remain intact, and it’s a definitive subplot as she makes her return to cage-fighting. Reinvention, it should be reminded, is forever possible in fighting, especially in the age of scattered attention.

What gives it the WWE drama is that, through it all, Dana has stood by Rousey as a guardian to her legacy. She was inducted into the UFC’s Hall of Fame in 2018. Whenever he talks about the success of the UFC, he always comes around to Rousey. She can do no wrong in his eyes, and he’s doted on her through the years even as many winced at her behavior.

“She’s f***ing fascinating,” Dana said at one point. “She’s the greatest athlete I’ve ever worked with on every level. Everybody talks about how I’m always Ronda this and Ronda that. It’s hard not to be Ronda this and Ronda that when you deal with her.”

Ethan Miller via Getty Images

He dealt with her recently, alright, and he didn’t work out a deal for her to fight Carano. Dana had to have known what was coming next. Perhaps that’s why he wished her well when asked about it in Houston after the UFC’s latest event this past Saturday.

“Her and I have been talking about this since last year,” he said, as fatherly as he could muster. “It just didn’t work out, and I’m happy for her. Listen, me and Gina are in a really good place we weren’t at at one point, and I’m happy for both of them.”

We’ll see how it shakes out. But the Ronda that he was so protective of during the delicate years is back. She wants to see MVP give the UFC a dose of its own medicine. The attitude is the same, but — and maybe this something she picked up from her venture in pro-wrestling — her faction has changed. Now she’s running with Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian and Netflix. This is an anti-UFC collective if there ever was one.

It's business, it’s business. Just like when Dana and Nick Kahn signed Conor Benn from out from Eddie Hearn’s grasp for eight digits for a single fight, it’s just business. The difference is that it’s also personal, and right now not everyone is minding their own business.

“Look,” Bidarian told Rousey in that same clip, “if [MVP] gets that co-main done, and I’m hoping we get that co-main done, it’s going to be an unbelievable one-two punch, you know?”

History has told us that the UFC will absorb the shots just fine, but these are storylines to keep an eye on.

Genk and Dinamo Zagreb go head-to-head at Luminus Arena this Thursday in the UEFA Europa League.

Last time out, Genk slipped to a 0-3 defeat against Standard Liège (Jupiler Pro League 2025/26). Last time out, Dinamo Zagreb triumphed 0-4 against NK Varazdin (Prva HNL 2025/26).

The last meeting between the two teams ended with Genk winning 3-1.

Unavailable

Genk

Dinamo Zagreb

Last starting XIs

Genk ( vs Standard Liège 2026-02-22): Tobias Lawal, Zakaria El Ouahdi, Mujaid Sadick, Matte Smets, Joris Kayembe, Konstantinos Karetsas, Daan Heymans, Bryan Heynen, Jarne Steuckers, Aaron Bibout, Junya Ito

Dinamo Zagreb ( vs NK Varazdin 2026-02-22): Dominik Livakovic, Moris Valincic, Niko Galesic, Scott McKenna, Bruno Goda, Gabriel Vidović, Josip Misic, Miha Zajc, Monsef Bakrar, Dion Beljo, Arber Hoxha

Did you know...by playmaker stats

MANAGERS

• Nicky Hayen faced Mario Kovacevic on one occasion, recording a victory.
• Mario Kovacevic faced Genk on one occasion, recording a loss.
• Nicky Hayen faced Dinamo Zagreb on one occasion, recording a victory.

TEAMS

• Away from home, Dinamo Zagreb currently has one loss in the last six matches.
• Away from home, Dinamo Zagreb has gone two consecutive matches without losing.
• Dinamo Zagreb currently has two losses in the last ten matches.
• Dinamo Zagreb currently has one draw in the last 11 matches.
• Dinamo Zagreb has been scoring in three consecutive matches.
• Genk currently has one loss in the last eight matches.
• Genk has been conceding goals in three consecutive matches.

HEAD TO HEAD

• Genk and Dinamo Zagreb have faced each other three times, there is no advantage between Genk and Dinamo Zagreb: one victory for each team in three matches.
• At Luminus Arena, Dinamo Zagreb has an advantage in the clashes against Genk: one victory in one match.
• In the Europa League, three matches were played between the two teams, with Genk winning one, one draw, and one victory for Dinamo Zagreb.

Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, journalist Pete O’Rourke claimed that Manchester United have identified Aston Villa midfielder Amadou Onana. O’Rourke said,

“We know the central midfield position is going to be a priority for Man United this summer.

“Casemiro is leaving at the end of season. There’s doubts over Ugarte’s future as well.

“So look, they’re going to need strengthening in that midfield position.

“Onana is a player that they’ve had previous interest in. So I think it’s one of those where he probably still remains on the list, but he’s probably not at the top of it.”

Onana’s Impressive Form In English Football

Onana is having a solid campaign at the West Midlands club as he has put in a string of impressive displays for them at the centre of the park. The 24-year-old has scored two goals in 25 matches for Aston Villa this season across multiple competitions.

The Belgian talent has proven his worth as a reliable performer in the Premier League, so it makes sense for the Red Devils to move in for him next summer.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 11: Amadou Onana of Aston Villa celebrates victory in front of the fans after the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion at Villa Park on February 11, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

His current contract at Villa Park will expire in the summer of 2029. Hence, it won’t be easy for the Red Devils to sign him on the cheap later this year.

Will Onana Be A Good Signing For Manchester United Boss Michael Carrick?

Onana loves a tackle and can time his challenges well to secure the ball back for his team inside his half. He doesn’t mind clearing his lines when required and is a good passer of the ball as well.

The Belgian sensation is primarily a holding midfielder but can also function as a box-to-box midfielder if required. He has got a wealth of experience in the Premier League and is well-equipped to make a smooth transition to life at Man United.

Onana would add more energy and dynamism to Michael Carrick’s midfield. He is good enough to challenge for a regular first-team spot at Old Trafford.

At 24, Onana has got his peak years ahead of him, which makes him a decent signing for the Red Devils to pursue this summer. He might even help the Mancunian club compete across all fronts in the coming years. Therefore, Carrick should focus on getting a deal done for Onana soon.

Liverpool linked again with Zeki Celik

That’s why Zeki Celik is such an intriguing transfer link. The 29-year-old Roma star is out of contract in 2026 - with no sign of a new deal in the Italian capital on the horizon.

The Turkey international can play as a conventional right-back but is also adept at tucking in as a right-sided centre-back and also plays as a right-sided midfielder ahead of a back three.

He could be a Swiss Army Knife of sorts for Arne Slot and Richard Hughes should they choose to pursue their reported interest.

Celik was reported last week to have sealed an agreement to join Juventus in the off-season - which would have put him out of Liverpool’s reach.

But his agent Fazil Ozdemir has put an end to speculation that his client will move to the Turin giants. And that should come as a massive boost to the Premier League champions.

No Juve move for Zeki Celik

“Rumors that Zeki has reached an agreement with a club are inaccurate,” a statement picked up by Calcio Mercato says.

“He currently plays for a major club, and it's natural for major teams in Italy and England to show interest in a player competing at this level and for his name to be associated with those clubs.

“His contract with Roma expires at the end of the season; however, he has great respect for the club. At this stage, he is not focusing on contractual or transfer issues.

“His full attention and commitment are focused on supporting Roma in achieving its objectives. We believe all other matters will be addressed and resolved in due course, in a professional and respectful manner.”

The English link could naturally be assumed to be Liverpool. Celik would be a no-cost option and given he currently makes around £43k per week at Roma he wouldn’t break the bank in terms of wages either.

The Atlanta Braves took on the Detroit Tigers today in North Port, FL. With it being a home game for the Braves we saw mostly starters in the lineup and the debut Reynaldo López after his long injury absence.

The game started off strong for the Braves both offensively and on the pitching side of things. It is important to note that the Tigers only had approximately three to four starting caliber players in their lineup, but López looked solid in his two innings of work.

López only saw eight batters. He was not perfect, but he got the job done. He surrendered a single in the first inning to Kevin McGonigle and in the second inning he walked Zach McKinstry in the second, but he also secured two strikeouts along the way. One thing to keep an eye on is that while he was pitching two stolen bases happened. Grant Holmes came in to take over and also pitched two innings. He saw the minimum number of batters with six. He did give up a walk, but the damage was mitigated by inducing a double play.

Joey Wentz came in to pitch the fifth and it did not start well. He walked the first two hitter and gave up a single right after that. Luckily for Wentz he got bailed out with an outfield assist on that single, but a run scored. Wentz then settled down for the most part for the rest of his two-inning outing. He ultimately had three strikeouts, one HBP, two walks, one single, and one ER.

Owen Murphy broke the trend of two-inning outings for Braves pitchers today and finished up the game for his third inning of work by pitching ninth. He held his own with one hit and four strikeouts. His only blemish was giving up a bases empty double. He also had an ABS win as a pitch was overturned for a strikeout.

The bats for the Braves started the game hot. They scored three runs in the first inning thanks to a single from Olson, Riley reaching on an error, Albies hitting a double to score two, and then Yastrzemski continuing his hot spring with a double of his own. It should also be noted that Acuña walked, but when he tried to steal third, he was thrown out. This could be a good sign that Acuña is being aggressive on the base paths after taking a step back the past few seasons due to injuries.

The offense was relatively quiet until the fifth, but new Braves addition Mauricio Dubón reached on a single and ultimately score when Matt Olson hit a two-run bomb to make the score 5-1 at that time.

After the fifth the Braves brought in most of their subs. Prized SS prospect John Gil did come in game as well, but he pinch hit for Profar in the seventh and walked and eventually scored. The subs did not slow down with the bats at all, ultimately scoring three runs after the fifth inning to total eight total runs for the Braves today.

The Braves will take on the Pirates tomorrow at the same time and same place where the Pirates will send their ace Paul Skenes against the Braves’ Bryce Elder who is fighting for a rotation spot.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — With Aaron Rodgers undecided on whether to return for a 22nd season in the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers are anticipating quicker clarity about their quarterback situation this time.

General manager Omar Khan said he doesn't have a deadline in mind for determining if the team will need to look elsewhere. Though Rodgers put off retirement last year to play for coach Mike Tomlin, the hiring of Mike McCarthy as Tomlin's successor has increased the chance of Rodgers returning because of the 13 seasons he played for McCarthy with the Green Bay Packers.

“He knows how we feel, and we know how he feels about us,” Khan said at the league's scouting combine in Indianapolis. “There's a mutual respect there.”

After being released by the New York Jets, Rodgers had serious talks with the Minnesota Vikings before they decided to move ahead with J.J. McCarthy last year. Rodgers ultimately waited until June to join the Steelers. They won the AFC North with a 10-7 record but lost their seventh straight playoff game since the 2016 season.

“I think the circumstances are a little different, but just conversations that we had, I think neither side wants to have this drag on like we did last year,” Khan said.

The Steelers remain high on their 2025 sixth-round draft pick, Will Howard, who spent most of his rookie season on injured reserve.

“We’re all searching for the next franchise player, the guy who’s going to be our quarterback for the next 10 or 15 years. It might be Will. We don’t know. We’re excited to work with Will,” Khan said.

___

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

Mets urged to trade 27 home run hitter for Brett Baty reason originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

First baseman/third baseman Mark Vientos may have limited opportunities with the New York Mets during the 2026 season. 

Just two seasons ago, Vientos hit 27 home runs and recorded a .837 OPS, a career high. Last year's results at the plate were not nearly as solid, however, as he connected for just 17 homers and a .702 OPS in 10 more appearances than the previous season. 

Funny enough, Vientos' strikeout percentage dropped nearly five points, going from 29.7 to 24.8. New York plans to use free agent signees Jorge Polanco at first and Bo Bichette at third.

Former top prospect Brett Baty is also in the mix at the hot corner. Will this lead to a change of scenery for Vientos? 

Mets could trade Vientos to a contender 

With Polanco and Bichette added to the Mets' heart of the order, Vientos may have a better opportunity at playing time with another club. 

"Speaking of best arguments against trades, the Mets may yet have a need for Vientos. He's primarily a third baseman and first baseman, and they have two starters (Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco) who are new to those positions," Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer wrote Tuesday. 

In what is just their second season ever in the Champions League, Qarabağ have broke new ground for Azerbaijan football. 

Tonight, they've made more history but not the kind any side would want. 

The minnows won their first ever game in the competition against Benfica and then beat Copenhagen and Eintracht Frankfurt too.

A point at home against Chelsea was also claimed as they amazingly qualified for the knockout playoff round. 

However, they have been routed almost from minute one of the first leg of their tie with Newcastle, conceding eight goals in less than three halfs of football. 

Coupled with the 21 they conceded in eight league phases game, it sees Qarabağ break the record for most goals conceded in a single season of the competition. 

In fairness to them, it is their 10th game and they've done better than anyone could have expected haven't they?

NFL Free agency officially gets underway on March 11, so the Eagles don’t have a ton of time to bring back and re-sign some important players from their 2025 roster. One of those pending free agents is edge rusher Jaelan Phillips.

Phillips was a trade acquisition by the Eagles from the Dolphins just ahead of the deadline. He was instantly impactful, and seemed to blend seamlessly with the rest of the defense. He’s considered a top five free agent by some rankings, which means his asking price is going up, and while he’s continued to express his appreciation for the opportunity Philadelphia gave him last season, he is looking for the best situation for him and his growing family.

Howie Roseman spoke to reporters ahead of the NFL Combine and talked about Phillips as a player and what he was able to see from the linebacker during his time in Philly.

“Unbelievable worker, unbelievable leader, incredibly talented player who cares desperately about winning.”

The Eagles GM went on to explain that spending a third round pick for Phillips doesn’t really factor in to how they’ll handle the next move. Howie quipped that he would trade a third round pick for a playoff game any day, and the move was worth it for the one season regardless of whether he comes back.

“From my perspective, that gave us a shot on the arm. The defense obviously played really well throughout the course of the season and took another step when [Jaelan Phillips] was here. And we understood, and we understood the risk of that. We also understood why the Dolphins were doing it, you know, and getting the third round pick now. But, you know, for us, we understood also, here’s the worst case situation, you know, which is he’s going to be a free agent. If he leaves a free agent, you would have to not sign somebody to get the comp pick for next year, understanding that. And also, the hardest part about free agency is understanding who the player is, because you don’t live with that person and getting the chance to be with him and see who he was, obviously, to us, is even more additive.”

Roseman was asked if Phillips’ medical history would factor into their decision to try and retain the linebacker, and he said that when evaluating any player, they always factor in medical, level of play, age, and scheme fit. All of those things are part of the decision making regardless of any one player’s specific history.

Ohio State’s 2026 corner room is one of the most interesting position groups on the roster because it combines proven production, NFL level upside, and just enough volatility to make the ceiling question real.

At the top, the Buckeyes have the pieces to be elite.

Jermaine Mathews Jr. returns as the steady veteran presence after a highly productive 2025 season in which he posted 26 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 3 pass breakups, numbers that reflect both ball production and week to week reliability on the outside.

Devin Sanchez, meanwhile, came through the normal true freshman learning curve, and took his lumps, but still flashed big time talent, finishing with 15 tackles, and 2 pass breakups of his own. For a first-year corner in a high leverage role, that is a strong foundation, and it is exactly why expectations are climbing so quickly around him.

The most important part of this room is that the top two corners bring very different kinds of value.

Mathews gives Ohio State experience, toughness, and a corner who already understands how to survive and produce in major games. His 2025 stat line backs up what the tape shows. He was around the ball constantly and played with much better consistency than many corners ever reach in college.

Sanchez is the upside play, but not in a hypothetical way anymore. He already showed the flashes last season. The next step is turning those flashes into steadier snap to snap play. If he does that, Ohio State suddenly has the kind of outside duo that changes how defenses can call games.

That is where the ceiling conversation starts. If Mathews plays like the veteran he was last season and can even take another jump and improve, and Sanchez makes the expected second year jump, Ohio State can line up with two corners who can survive on islands and let the rest of the defense get aggressive.

Additionally, Earl Little Jr. adds another layer to that ceiling, even if his role is expected to be more nickel oriented. He arrives with real experience after starting 11 games at Florida State in 2025 and leading the Seminoles with 76 tackles and 4 interceptions, which is high level production for any defensive back. He gives Ohio State another adult in the room and another player who has already handled major college snaps.

That matters because modern defenses are really playing three starting corners. If Little settles into the nickel the way many expect, Ohio State is not just replacing snaps. It is building a more stable coverage structure around Mathews and Sanchez.

Instead of asking the outside corners to solve everything, the Buckeyes can spread responsibility across three experienced options and be more flexible in man and zone looks alike.

Behind that top group is where the projection starts, but it is a very intriguing projection.

Cameron Calhoun brings transfer experience and should be in the early rotation conversation right away. Dominick Kelly is one of the more interesting long term bets in the room, a young transfer with SEC development and real upside if Tim Walton gets him rolling. Jay Timmons gives the room another high ceiling talent, and Jordan Thomas and Miles Lockhart remain part of that next wave of players Ohio State needs to keep developing.

That group is why the room’s ceiling is so high. Ohio State does not need all of them to hit immediately. It just needs one or two of those younger options to become trustworthy rotation pieces behind the top three. If that happens, this goes from a good corner room to a true strength.

The one caution is depth certainty. The top of the room looks strong. The next layer looks promising. But until those rotational names prove it on Saturdays, the unit is still a little top heavy. That does not lower the ceiling, it just sharpens the path to reaching it.

Ohio State can absolutely have one of the better cornerback groups in the country next season. For that to happen, Mathews has to stay the tone setter, Sanchez has to make the sophomore jump everyone expects, and the rotation has to produce at least one or two real answers.

If those things happen, this will not just be a solid room. It will be one of the reasons Ohio State’s defense can carry championship expectations.

The United States men's hockey team has been the source of some controversy this week involving their celebratory phone call with President Donald Trump after winning the gold.

As members of the U.S. men's team attend Tuesday's State of the Union, you may hear about it. What happened, exactly? Well, the moment in question came after the team won the gold on Sunday over Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina.

FBI director Kash Patel joined in the locker room after the gold win to celebrate with the team. President Trump reached out to the hockey team via Patel's phone to congratulate them on the victory and invite them to the State of the Union address and White House.

During the conversation, Trump made a wisecrack that the White House is "going to have to bring the women's team," which elicited a mix of cheers and laughs from the men's team.

Trump followed that up with his thought on what would happen if he didn't invite the gold-winning U.S. women's team: "I do believe I probably would be impeached, okay?" Some laughter followed that comment.

View this post on Instagram

Since that video went viral, some have felt that some members of men's team failed to uphold their women counterparts, who went just as far as they did in the Winter Olympics, by laughing at Trump's comments.

U.S. men's hockey standouts like Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes have responded to the video, offering praise for the women's team.

Trump has not yet responded to his viral comments, but he could during his State of the Union address.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: The U.S. men's hockey call with President Trump controversy, explained

The Detroit Lions are headed abroad in 2026.

For the first time since 2015, the Lions are part of the NFL's International Games. Detroit is officially headed to Germany for the 2026 NFL Munich game, presented by DKB. It's one of a record nine international games in 2026 across four continents, seven countries and eight stadiums. It will be played at the FC Bayern Munich Stadium as part of a multiyear commitment to playing games in the city in 2026 and 2028.

The Lions' opponent, game date and kickoff time won't be announced until the entire NFL schedule is revealed in the spring.

See you soon, Deutschland! pic.twitter.com/NyCMrLyrq3

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) February 24, 2026

"We are thrilled to be playing internationally and specifically in Munich for the 2026 season," Lions president and CEO Rod Wood said in a statement. "As an organization, we have invested greatly in the German market and are excited to play in front of our passionate German fans."

For more Lions coverage, follow us on X, @TheLionsWire, and give our Facebook page a like. Follow Josh on X, @JoshOnLions

This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Detroit Lions set for Munich game in NFL international series

Vicente Luque is moving on up.

Up to middleweight the longtime UFC welterweight staple goes as he aligns for a matchup vs. surging promotional returnee Kyle Daukaus. The bout takes place April 10 at Kaseya Center in Miami. The promotion announced the matchup Tuesday after it was first reported by Home of Fight.

Luque (23-12-1 MMA, 16-8 UFC) heads to middleweight after 24 promotional appearances at welterweight. A member of the organization since 2015, Luque quickly established himself as an upper-echelon fighter. However, coming off back-to-back losses and with a 2-5 record in his most recent seven outings, he looks to breathe new life into his career at a fresh weight class.

Daukaus (17-4 MMA, 4-4 UFC) finds himself surging in his second UFC stint. He went 2-4 in one no contest in the UFC from June 2020 to December 2022. After his departure from the promotion, Daukaus returned to CFFC where he went 3-0 in title fights with three finishes.

He returned to the UFC in August and finished Michel Pereira with strikes in 43 seconds. He followed that up with another quick finish in November when his signature D'Arce choke did the trick against Gerald Meerschaert in 50 seconds.

The updated UFC 327 lineup includes:

• Champion Joshua Van vs. Tatsuro Taira – for flyweight title
• Curtis Blaydes vs. Josh Hokit
• Dominick Reyes vs. Johnny Walker
• Loopy Godinez vs. Tatiana Suarez
• Paulo Costa vs. Azamat Murzakanov
• Nate Landwehr vs. Cub Swanson
• Kyle Daukaus vs. Vicente Luque
• Randy Brown vs. Kevin Holland

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 327 adds Vicente Luque middleweight debut

The LPGA's HSBC Women's World Championship has long been a star-studded affair. From its long list of decorated champions inside the ropes to memorable photo calls and swanky parties, like those held at the iconic Raffles Hotel or, more recently, at Marina Bay Sands, the famous hotel in Singapore with the ship on top.

This year's field features nine of the top 10 players in the world, including LPGA Hall of Famer Lydia Ko, the defending champion, and Jeeno Thitikul, the top-ranked player who won last week on home soil in Thailand.

Players in the 72-hole no-cut event will play for a $3 million purse at Sentosa Golf Club.

On Tuesday night, the stars posed for pictures at Marina Bay Sands during the annual welcome reception.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: LPGA stars ready for HSBC Women's World Championship

The Montreal Canadiens play their first game following the Olympic break on Feb. 26 against the New York Islanders. The Habs are undoubtedly in a good spot at this point of the season, as they have a 32-17-8 record and are second in the Atlantic Division standings with 72 points.

There are several reasons why the Canadiens are one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference this season, and forward Oliver Kapanen is undoubtedly one of them. After posting two assists in his first 18 career NHL games last season, Kapanen has broken out in a big way this campaign for the Canadiens and has cemented himself as a key part of their forward group in the process. 

In 57 games so far this season with the Canadiens, Kapanen has recorded 18 goals, 13 assists, 31 points, and a plus-5 rating. Kapanen is currently tied with Anaheim Ducks forward Beckett Sennecke for the most goals among all NHL rookies. He is also fourth in points out of all NHL rookies, so he has undoubtedly been one of the top rookies in the NHL this season.

With all of this, there is no question that Kapanen has been having an impressive breakout year for the Canadiens. The young forward should only get better as he continues to gain experience, and it will be fascinating to see how he finishes off the season from here. 

WTGL has just received a huge boost after it was confirmed that Michelle Wie West will be playing in the competition.

WTGL will mirror the men’s TGL, which features PGA Tour players competing in a hybrid of real-life and virtual golf.

The likes of co-founders Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have taken part in the innovative venture, which will soon launch a women’s version.

WTGL will get underway in Winter 2026/27, with legendary figure Wie West now confirmed as one of its participants.

WTGL made far more compelling by Michelle Wie West confirmation

Golf fans would not have expected an upcoming WTGL appearance from Wie West, who retired from professional golf in 2023.

Her glittering career included the 2014 US Women’s Open title, with the American boasting five LPGA Tour wins overall.

She also has five United States Solheim Cup team appearances to her name, and is a current investor in TGL side Los Angeles Golf Club.

Who will Michelle Wie West be joined by in WTGL?

Wie West is the latest in a long line of female stars already confirmed for WTGL, which will take place at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

The custom-built venue is currently hosting the second season of TGL, and will soon welcome the biggest stars of the women’s game.

World number one Jeeno Thitikul has already been confirmed, along with world number three Charley Hull.

Also announced are three-time major champion Lydia Ko and two-time major champion Brooke Henderson, along with fellow high-profile players Lexi Thompson, Rose Zhang and Lottie Woad.

The high-quality field may just have helped persuade Wie West to come out of retirement to play in WTGL, which is certain to attract more star names before it gets underway.

She clinched her one and only major championship win at the iconic Pinehurst No. 2 course over a decade ago, edging out fellow American Stacy Lewis by two shots.

READ MORE:Jack Nicklaus’ thoughts on Michelle Wie West playing in PGA Tour events, as she signs with WTGL

Celta de Vigo and PAOK face off this Thursday at the Municipal de Balaídos in UEFA Europa League.

In their last game, Celta de Vigo won 2-0 against Mallorca (La Liga 2025/26). In their last fixture, PAOK shared the spoils 1-1 with Larissa (Greek League 2025/26).

The last meeting between the two teams ended with Celta de Vigo winning 2-1.

Unavailable

Celta de Vigo

PAOK

• Dejan Lovren - Inner Ligament Injury
• Luka Ivanusec - Toe Injury
• Dimitrios Kottas - Unknown Injury

Last starting XIs

Celta de Vigo ( vs Mallorca 2026-02-22): Ionut Radu, Javi Rodríguez, Joseph Aidoo, Marcos Alonso, Javier Rueda, Matías Vecino, Miguel Román, Hugo Álvarez, Fer López, Ferrán Jutglà, Pablo Durán

PAOK ( vs Larissa 2026-02-22): Jiri Pavlenka, Jorge Sánchez, Tomasz Kedziora, Ioannis Michailidis, Baba Rahman, Andrija Zivkovic, Christos Zafeiris, Magomed Ozdoev, Dimitrios Chatsidis, Taison, Giorgos Giakoumakis

Did you know...by playmaker stats

MANAGERS

• Claudio Giráldez faced Razvan Lucescu on two occasions, recording only victories.
• Razvan Lucescu faced Celta de Vigo on two occasions, recording only defeats.
• Claudio Giráldez faced PAOK on two occasions, recording only victories.

TEAMS

• Away, PAOK currently has one defeat in the last six games.
• Away, PAOK comes from two consecutive games without winning.
• Away, PAOK comes from three consecutive games without losing.
• PAOK currently has four defeats in the last 30 games.
• PAOK comes from three consecutive games without winning.
• At home, Celta de Vigo currently has one defeat in the last six games.
• At home, Celta de Vigo currently has one draw in the last 11 games.
• At home, Celta de Vigo comes from seven consecutive games scoring goals.
• Celta de Vigo currently has two defeats in the last 14 games.
• Celta de Vigo comes from four consecutive games scoring goals.
• Celta de Vigo comes from three consecutive games without losing.
• Celta de Vigo comes from two consecutive victories.

HEAD TO HEAD

• Celta de Vigo and PAOK have faced each other twice, with Celta de Vigo having the advantage: two victories
• At the Municipal de Balaídos, Celta de Vigo has an advantage in the clashes against PAOK: one victory in one match.
• In the Europa League, there were two matches between the two teams, with two victories for Celta de Vigo.

Indianapolis, IN — The Indianapolis Colts have been at an advantage thanks to strong tackle play this decade, with a brief transitional period at left tackle that otherwise found its footing rather quickly. On the opposite side of the line, however, has been locked down by longtime Colt Braden Smith.

Initially scoffed at by draft analysts for making the move from guard to tackle, the short-armed offensive lineman has been a mainstay in Indianapolis due to his consistency from snap to whistle over the years. The kicker with Smith is that he’s been unable to finish back-to-back seasons since his second and third years in the league.

Playing up to standard has hardly been the concern; it’s the recently established dwindling dependability.

This is the third installment of an article series that covers each of the Indianapolis Colts’ top free agents, offering a case for their retention, a case against it, and a final verdict.

In Favor Of

In short, Braden Smith is a warrior. From battling physical injuries on the field to dealing with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder off the field, Smith has never been one to back down from a fight — even when the tough gets going.

Despite ending the season on injured reserve, Smith’s 13 starts featured 26 pressures and 1 sack allowed across 471 pass-blocking reps. Known as a mauler in the run game, it’s difficult to quantify his influence in this area, though, as of recent — the past three seasons — Smith’s run-block rate sits in the 82nd percentile.

Braden Smith’s injury concerns are nothing to scoff at, but at least he recognizes his shortcomings and has been willing to work with the front office to adjust his salary accordingly.

The Case Against

As previously touched on, Braden Smith’s reliability (or lack thereof) has been his biggest detractor as of late. He has ended four of the last five seasons on injured reserve, proving that even despite strong play, it’s hard to commit to a player who more than likely will re-injure at some point in the season, if not down the stretch in the most important part of the calendar.

Smith’s play has dipped a bit on top of the injuries, though the latter far outweighs the former in impact. The 30-year-old is set to play his ninth season in the NFL.

The Verdict

It’s hard to suggest whether they should or shouldn’t retain Braden Smith, given how similar both outcomes project to be.

On one hand, the veteran leadership and dependable play are enough to keep him around for the immediate future. On the other hand, Smith’s durability concerns, a required modest payday, and his replacement — second-year tackle Jalen Travis — waiting in the wings, combine for an easy break from the organization.

Ultimately, retaining Smith on a cheaper, 1-year deal would be beneficial if the organization can financially swing it. Although you almost anticipate losing Smith for some portion of the season, if not the final stretch, allowing Jalen Travis the opportunity to be the team’s swing tackle would do wonders for not only his progression both now and down the road, but also for the rest of the offensive line.

The right side of the Colts’ offensive line, including the center spot, would consist of three 24 to 25-year-olds with two combined years of starting experience. The succession plans at center and right guard have gone according to plan thus far, so using that same methodology for Travis checks out. The worry is that adding a first-time starter to the group may do more harm than good, especially considering there’d be no swing backup to confidently remedy any mid-season setbacks.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. released his latest mock draft, and the San Francisco 49ers invested in the offensive line for the first time in the first round since Mike McGlinchey.

It’s something we can expect to be popular in every mock draft cycle, but it’s 49ers offensive line coach Chris Foerster who is on record saying that he tells Kyle Shanahan to draft the guys who score touchdowns in early rounds. Will this year be any different?

Maybe. Kiper mocked a player to the Niners who does not seem like their type on paper:

Kadyn Proctor, OT/G, Alabama

Proctor’s tape is all over the place. The highs are really, really good. The lows raise a lot of questions. But in the right situation, he could become a standout tackle in the NFL. And there might not be a better situation than learning behind one of the best to ever do it in San Francisco. Trent Williams will be 38 by Week 1, and he’s entering the final year of his contract. So, Proctor could develop in Year 1 while kicking inside to guard and/or playing a swing tackle role before perhaps taking over for Williams in 2027. He has 40 career starts — all at left tackle — and is reliable in pass protection. This would be an upside pick for GM John Lynch.

Proctor is listed at 6’7″, 366 pounds. The 49ers ask their lineman to run and execute blocks on the move and in space. That does not seem like something a player of Proctor’s size would excel at. However, Bruce Feldman’s annual Freak List had Proctor listed with a 32-inch vertical jump. For reference, Trent Williams had a 34.5-inch vertical jump, which is in the 97th percentile. Proctor also had an 815-pound squat, 535-pound bench press, and a 405-pound power clean. That is a powerful human being.

Proctor wasn’t always 366. He was 400 pounds as a freshman. The concern would be Proctor regaining that weight as a pro now that he’s not being monitored as closely. That weight fluctuation could lead to inconsistencies in his play, especially his sets as a pass protector.

But we are talking about a player with the ideal frame, athleticism, and one who looks dominant when he’s engaged. Those dominant stretches don’t always last, and there is enough tape out there to be concerned, which is why he might be available when the 49ers are on the clock.

Proctor was the No. 1 offensive tackle out of his high school class and will be 21 in June. The pedigree is there. Concerns about handling speed and whether he can maintain his weight are valid, but it’s impossible to ignore his power and how he clears running lanes with ease. Plus, for a player as big as Proctor, the range is where it needs to be.

Proctor was exclusively a left tackle in college. He could play left guard next to Trent Williams, giving the Niners a talent boost they desperately need at the position.

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At a recent joint oversight hearing on Guam’s tourism and airport operations, lawmakers grilled officials from the Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) regarding the slow rollout of the $10 million airline incentives program designed to boost tourism. With $7.5 million already received by the GVB, officials have committed significant funds, yet the program’s implementation has faced delays, raising questions about its effectiveness.

The airline incentives program was approved by lawmakers months ago in an effort to recover the tourism industry, which has struggled since the pandemic. Vice Speaker Tony Ada and Senator Jesse Lujan questioned why more funds had not been spent, despite promises made during the budget session in October 2025 that this funding was crucial for the recovery of Guam’s tourism sector.

Ada expressed that they had been told the $10 million would be essential for airline incentives. He pointed out that, as of February 2026, with March approaching, there was still a remaining balance of $7.4 million, questioning what had caused the delay.

GVB’s Spending Breakdown: A Slow Start

GVB General Manager Régine Biscoe Lee and GVB financial controller Rudd Gudmalin explained that out of the $7.5 million received so far, only $62,000 had been spent, primarily for the Philippine market. However, GVB had already committed a total of $9 million for the Korean and Japanese markets, with $5 million earmarked for Korea and $4 million for Japan.

Despite the commitments made, the amount spent had been relatively low, which led lawmakers to press GVB officials for an explanation. Senator Lujan questioned why the funds hadn’t been fully deployed, emphasizing that the underutilization of the funds could negatively impact Guam’s fragile tourism industry.

Nadine Leon Guerrero, GVB Director of Global Marketing, clarified that GVB has already committed funds to the airline incentives, but the funds haven’t yet been fully invoiced for some flights, explaining part of the delay. She added that Philippine Airlines had received an incentive, though specific details on the amount of the incentive were not disclosed.

Biscoe Lee stated that they were not disclosing the exact amounts at that time, as they wanted to maintain their negotiating power and ensure they were securing the best deal for Guam.

Tourism Challenges: Not Back to 2019 Levels

Lawmakers also questioned GVB officials about the slow recovery of tourism, which still lags behind pre-pandemic levels. In 2019, Guam welcomed 1.6 million visitors, but that number dropped significantly after the pandemic. The lack of sufficient flights and ongoing structural reductions in fleet capacity have made it challenging to return to those levels.

Senator Ada asked why tourism had not returned to the levels of success seen in 2019.

GVB General Manager Régine Biscoe Lee responded by stating that one of the primary obstacles is the reduced number of available airline seats. “In 2019, we had about 38,000 to 40,000 international seats per week. In 2026, we only have 22,000 to 25,000 seats per week,” she said, comparing it to buses transporting tourists.

“In 2019, there were 40 buses arriving each week. In 2026, there are only 24 buses,” Biscoe Lee explained. This reduction in available flights, she said, is due to a decrease in fleet capacity after the pandemic, and many airlines have prioritized higher-yield routes.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has noted a “structural reduction in fleet capacity”, with wide-body aircraft—key to long-haul Pacific routes—being retired. According to Biscoe Lee, even large markets like Hawaii have struggled to restore flights to Japan, further limiting Guam’s ability to attract visitors.

Airline Incentives Still Key to Future Growth

Despite these challenges, GVB Board Chairman George Chiu emphasized that airline incentives remained crucial to the island’s tourism recovery. He explained that their goal was to return to the peak levels they had previously reached, referring to the 750,000 airline seats arriving from Tokyo in 2019.

He expressed concern that with the current number of flights from Japan and Korea, it would be difficult for Guam to hit its targets for visitor numbers. Airline incentives, he said, are necessary to increase the number of seats available and boost tourism numbers.

Tourism Numbers and Projections for 2026

GVB Director of Tourism Research Christian Valencia provided some optimism by sharing the latest tourism arrival numbers for fiscal year 2026. From October 2025 to January 2026, Guam saw 297,800 visitors, a 22.97% increase over the same period in fiscal year 2025. While this is a positive trend, Valencia pointed out that 2025 had a difficult start, particularly due to issues in the Korean market, such as the Jeju Air crash and martial law declarations in South Korea.

Valencia mentioned that fiscal year 2025 had a rocky start, with visitor numbers being 3.3% lower than those of fiscal year 2024. However, he expressed optimism about the island’s recovery, pointing out that the first four months of fiscal year 2026 showed a 9.7% increase compared to fiscal 2024. He added that the goal remained to reach 1 million visitors by the end of fiscal year 2026.

GVB’s Future Plans: The Road to Recovery

Despite the challenges, GVB is hopeful for the future. Biscoe Lee stated that GVB is continuing efforts to bring back tourism jobs by the end of the fiscal year, aiming to provide more opportunities for locals in the tourism industry.

As GVB retools its efforts and adjusts its strategies, officials are hopeful that with continued airline incentives, tourism will reach its pre-pandemic levels once again.

The Ski-Doo brand has continued its legacy in snowmobile racing with endurance and skill at the 2026 Iron Dog, the longest and most demanding snowmobile race in the world. Tyler Aklestad and Nick Olstad achieved Iron Dog Champion status, winning the race with great accuracy. Teammates Zack Weisz and Thomas Davis secured 2nd place, resulting in a dominant 1-2 finish for Ski-Doo.

Ski-Doo’s triumph showcases the brand’s commitment to the best world-class machines, but it also shows the resilience and talent of its racers. The Iron Dog, which takes place every year in Alaska, is a race that requires extreme toughness from the snowmobiles and the racers. This year’s race was not all based on speed, but rather endurance and the ability to overcome extreme conditions.

Ski-Doo never wavers, even in the daunting Iron Dog

The 2026 Iron Dog Race truly faced the elements, testing all participants with the Iron Dog’s freezing temperatures and harsh wilderness. The Aklestad and Olstad victory, who crossed the finish line with an MXZ X-RS 600R E-TEC, showed how effective the Ski-Doo snowmobile model is. These racers had no special, race-only models that other competitors used. The competitors’ MXZ X-RS models that Skidoos produced were the models that everyone could buy. Ski-Doo MXZ X-RS 600R E-TECs are the same machines that anyone can buy. The race is a testament to how their elaborate snowmobile’s design and racing tech is the product of their racing and driver/vehicle interface, and arabsah racing outward formation response and outcross product.

Aklestad said, even though the terrain was daunting, every machine was great and even credited Ski-Doo himself. Aklestad and Olstad’s victory was an acknowledgment of all the great teamwork in preparing for the most legendary race with all its elements. The range of the Ski-Doo team is inspiring and with all the factors of the elements, it gives them a rational and optimistic response for preparing next year’s elements.

Ski-Doo’s Continued Snocross Success in Salamanca

Celebration of Ski-Doo’s success in Iron Dog was international, but the brand’s racers continue to do well in other big racing activities. Ski-Doo racers maintained their consistent success in Snocross in Salamanca, New York. Rookie phenom Crayden Dillon, fresh off a runner-up finish on Friday, came back with a blazing hot performance on Saturday, racing to a clear nine-second win.

A legend in Snocross, Jordan Lebel, continued to demonstrate his prowess. Lebel, who started further down the pack, rose with his classic fire from eighth to third, making it to the podium in third. Ski-Doo racers Dillon and Lebel’s success further illustrates the brand’s powerful snowmobiles and Ski-Doo’s dominance in the highlight of the sport.

The Spirit of Ski-Doo Racing

The brand’s commitment to innovation and its sustained support of athletes exemplifies Ski-Doo’s commitment to racer success. Ski-Doo continues to lead the competition, and its racers are redefining what it means to be a snowmobile racer.

Ski-Doo’s success doesn’t just come from Alaska and New York race tracks. It runs through the veins of Jordan Lebel, Crayden Dillon, and Theo Poirier, who, time and time again, prove their worth in the ISOC Pro class. These athletes and Ski-Doo sleds are a dominant force in snowmobile racing.

Looking Ahead: The 2027 Season

The 2026 victories are just a glimpse of what the 2027 season holds. The 2027 MXZ X-RS 600RR E-TEC, with the new Rotax 600RR E-TEC engine, is already in Ski-Doo’s forecast of dominant snowmobiling years. The racers are excited to take the new sleds out, and Ski-Doo is excited for what new snowmobiles will bring to racing.

The Iron Dog victory in 2026 and the ongoing success in Snocross give evidence of both the impressive power of Ski-Doo’s machines and the ability of the athletes who race them. The race to the peaks of snowmobile racing continues, and Ski-Doo’s legacy grows stronger with every race.

The Legacy Continues

Ski-Doo’s success in the 2026 Iron Dog and in Snocross is not only success for the brand but success for the essence of the sport. The Ski-Doo brand legacy is the spirit of racing. Commitment to the essence of racing, the culture of performance, and the spirit of snowmobiling guides the brand. It is the essence of snowmobiling that drives and pushes Ski-Doo. The upcoming year is filled with even tougher trials and triumphs that Ski-Doo is prepared for.

Ski-Doo’s commitment to world-class engineering focused on the rider experience has set the brand apart from the competition in the powersports industry. With passionate athletes, advanced technology, and the dedication of the brand’s loyal consumer base, Ski-Doo will continue to lead the charge in snowmobile racing.

Journey Beyond secures SeaLink’s tourism portfolio from Kelsian Group, integrating Sydney Harbour, Whitsundays, and K’gari operations to create seamless multi-modal journeys across Australia’s iconic landscapes. This strategic expansion merges rail expeditions with ferry services, island resorts, and river cruises, positioning the combined entity as a dominant force in experiential tourism. The deal promises exponential growth in connected travel packages, channeling domestic and international visitors through integrated bookings that amplify tourism spends from city harbors to remote reefs.

By linking existing Ghan and Indian Pacific rail journeys with coastal ferries, the acquisition fosters hybrid itineraries that extend guest dwell times. Sydney Harbour‘s iconic cruises now pair effortlessly with Outback adventures, elevating tourism sophistication nationwide.

Sydney Harbour Cruises Anchor Urban Tourism

Sydney Harbour gains elevated prominence through Captain Cook Cruises integration, where high-speed catamarans and tall ship sails supercharge tourism during Vivid festivals and New Year’s Eve spectacles. Circular Quay departures connect seamlessly with Journey Beyond’s rail network, enabling Overland to Opera House transitions for international fly-cruise packages. Taronga Zoo ferries and private charters diversify offerings, projecting 25% tourism uplifts in harbor-front hotels.

This urban-coastal synergy diverts airport traffic into extended city stays, sustaining tourism revenues through bundled accommodation and dining. Sydney Harbour‘s UNESCO-endorsed skyline becomes the gateway to national adventures, captivating first-time Australian explorers.

Whitsundays Reef Expeditions Propel Marine Tourism

Whitsundays operations encompass Heart Reef flights, Whitehaven Beach ferries, and Hill Inlet sand sails, revolutionizing Great Barrier Reef tourism with rail-to-reef connectivity from Brisbane’s Spirit of Queensland. SeaLink’s fast cats link Airlie Beach to Daydream and Hamilton Islands, fostering multi-island hopping that maximizes marine park levies. Snorkel platforms and glass-bottom boats sustain eco-tourism, drawing families for immersive coral encounters.

Acquisition synergies introduce luxury lodge extensions at Daydream, prolonging tourism beyond day trips. Whitsundays‘ turquoise lagoons position as the experiential hub linking continental rail with Pacific paradises, boosting regional airlift demands.

K’gari Fraser Island Ferries Drive Adventure Tourism

K’gari (Fraser Island) welcomes Kingfisher Bay Resort and Beach Resort under unified management, where 4WD ferries from Hervey Bay unlock UNESCO World Heritage tourism across seventy-mile beaches and ancient rainforests. Lake McKenzie swims and Champagne Pools cliff jumps integrate with inland rail journeys, creating epic Overland-to-Ocean packages. Vehicle barges sustain self-drive tourism, while guided walks preserve delicate sand ecosystems.

Resort expansions enhance glamping and eco-villa capacity, projecting occupancy surges from integrated bookings. K’gari‘s dingo safaris and shipwreck dives emerge as must-do extensions, elevating Queensland’s wilderness tourism profile.

Bruny Island Tasmania Enriches Foodie Tourism

Bruny Island ferries from Kettering connect Hobart’s waterfront with artisanal cheese trails, oyster farms, and penguin rookeries, igniting culinary tourism paired with Tasmanian rail explorations. SeaLink’s RoRo vessels enable bike-loading for self-guided gastronomy circuits, sustaining farmgate economies through direct visitor flows. Lighthouse climbs and neck-shots tastings diversify beyond Hobart day-trippers.

This acquisition fosters winter truffle hunts and summer berry festivals, extending tourism seasons island-wide. Bruny Island‘s pristine produce positions Tasmania as the seamless southern finale to mainland journeys.

Perth Swan River Sightseeing Boosts City Tourism

Perth and Swan River cruises via SeaLink catamarans showcase Rottnest Island quokka selfies and Fremantle maritime heritage, supercharging Western Australia’s tourism gateway with Indian Pacific rail connections. Elizabeth Quay departures align with sunset wine cruises, channeling east-coast arrivals into extended city breaks. Aquarium of Western Australia integrations add family appeal, projecting harbor hotel booms.

River-to-reef packages link Swan Valley vineyards with Ningaloo fly-ins, creating continental-spanning tourism narratives. Perth‘s isolation transforms into connectivity advantage under unified operations.

Darwin Tiwi Islands Expand Top End Tourism

Darwin harbor cruises and Tiwi Islands ferries unlock Aboriginal cultural immersions, where SeaLink catamarans ferry visitors to Bathurst Island’s Pukumani poles and Melville’s sacred sites. Mindil Beach markets sync with sunset sails, fostering evening tourism that sustains monsoon-season revenues. Ghan passengers disembark directly into Top End extensions, maximizing overland-to-ocean transitions.

Cultural protocols preserve authenticity, drawing respectful tourism demographics. Darwin‘s tropical pulse integrates seamlessly with national rail, elevating Northern Territory’s experiential share.

Murray Princess Cruises Revive River Tourism

Murray River’s Murray Princess paddlewheelers offer three to seven night outback cruises from Mannum, blending wine regions with mallee scrub expeditions under Journey Beyond’s stewardship. SeaLink’s existing operations enhance with rail feeders from Adelaide, creating loop itineraries that immerse in river red gum forests and historic ports. Houseboat synergies expand self-skipper fleets, diversifying pace options.

This acquisition sustains drought-resilient tourism, positioning South Australia’s Murraylands as the gentle inland counterpart to coastal adventures. Paddle steamer heritage captivates history enthusiasts year-round.

Adelaide Sightseeing Strengthens Capital Tourism

Adelaide city tours via SeaLink coaches connect airport transfers with Barossa Valley day trips, serving as the nexus between Ghan arrivals and SeaLink ferries. Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens loops and Adelaide Oval roof climbs integrate with river cruises, fostering compact capital tourism that punches above urban size. Festival programming aligns with national rail schedules, maximizing convention overflows.

Acquisition creates seamless airport-to-adventure pipelines, boosting tourism multipliers across Fleurieu Peninsula wineries. Adelaide emerges as the experiential crossroads linking rail, road, and river.

Integrated Packages Revolutionize Tourism Flows

Unified booking platforms enable “Journey Complete” packages spanning Sydney ferries to K’gari 4WDs, pioneering multi-modal tourism that captures fifteen percent higher spends per guest. Rail-to-reef transitions eliminate single-operator silos, streamlining logistics from The Ghan to Whitsundays cats. Dynamic pricing syncs capacities across fleets, optimizing national load factors.

This vertical integration empowers advisors with one-stop shopping, projecting industry consolidation waves. Tourism evolves from fragmented legs to narrative arcs, captivating modern multi-experience seekers.

Economic Impacts Accelerate Regional Tourism

Acquisitions inject capital into fleet modernizations, sustaining over two thousand jobs across ferry crews, resort staff, and tour guides. Regional airports gain scheduled lift from guaranteed transfers, spurring air tourism expansions. Tax revenues fund pier upgrades and eco-initiatives, fortifying infrastructure against climate shifts.

Small suppliers benefit from centralized procurement, stabilizing rural economies. Tourism boards forecast dollar three hundred million incremental GDP from connected journeys.

Sustainability Commitments Enhance Eco-Tourism

SeaLink’s low-emission catamarans complement Journey Beyond’s carbon-offset rail, advancing hybrid tourism with reef-safe operations at Whitsundays and K’gari. Solar-powered resorts and electric tour boats reduce coastal footprints, attracting green-certified travelers. Marine park partnerships fund coral restoration, preserving assets amid warming seas.

Acquisition mandates elevate ESG standards nationwide, positioning Australia as sustainable tourism leader. Guests engage via carbon calculators, deepening eco-stewardship.

Digital Innovation Drives Tourism Discoverability

Journey Beyond’s app integrates SeaLink reservations with live vessel tracking, revolutionizing tourism planning through real-time availability across rail, ferry, and lodge inventories. AI-curated itineraries suggest Whitsundays extensions post-Ghan, boosting upsell conversions. VR previews immerse users in Sydney Harbour sails before booking.

This tech stack captures millennial/gen-Z tourism, generating user content that amplifies organic reach. Unified loyalty programs reward multi-journey explorers, locking in lifetime value.

Global Marketing Elevates Australian Tourism

International campaigns target US and UK markets with “Rail to Reef” narratives, leveraging SeaLink’s coastal icons to sell national packages. Partnership synergies with Qantas and Virgin Australia embed transfers, easing inbound tourism. Trade shows showcase integrated demos, simplifying advisor sales.

Acquisition vaults Journey Beyond into top-tier experiential operators, rivaling international peers. Sydney Harbour‘s glamour headlines global brochures, funneling aspirational tourism.

Future Expansions Cement Tourism Dominance

Pending regulatory nods pave 2026 launches of cross-portfolio festivals, from Sydney seafood trails to Whitsundays rail-reef races, uniting brands under experiential banners. Fleet electrification roadmaps and resort sustainability upgrades position for net-zero tourism. K’gari expansions hint at eco-luxury glamping precincts.

This blueprint redefines Australian tourism, blending heritage operators into modern multi-modals that captivate generations across Sydney Harbour, Whitsundays, K’gari, and beyond.

Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) has been hit with severe disruptions today, as travelers face substantial delays and cancellations. With a reported total of 22 delays and 23 cancellations, the chaos is significantly impacting passengers’ travel plans. The airline industry, especially in this busy travel hub, is feeling the brunt of the disruptions, affecting a range of airlines, from Endeavor Air to Southwest Airlines. While the operational setbacks create frustration for passengers, the broader economic impact, particularly on tourism, also requires consideration.

Passenger Impact
The flight delays and cancellations at Jacksonville International have affected hundreds of passengers across various airlines. Among the most disrupted carriers are Endeavor Air and JetBlue, with Endeavor experiencing 72% of its flights canceled and 18% delayed, while JetBlue canceled 75% of its flights, though they had no reported delays. Other airlines such as Republic, United, and Delta also had significant cancellations or delays, with Republic seeing 33% of its flights canceled.

In total, several airlines, including American Airlines, SkyWest, and Southwest, have faced substantial delays. However, their overall impact is more contained in terms of cancellations. SkyWest, for example, experienced a total of 100% cancellations for its flights but reported no delays, while Southwest had a relatively lower percentage of cancellations but a notable delay percentage of 9%.

Affected Airlines, Airports, and Cities
The airlines most affected by these disruptions include:

• Endeavor Air (DAL): 72% of flights canceled, 18% delayed.
• JetBlue: 75% cancellations, no delays.
• Republic Airways: 33% cancellations, no delays.
• United Airlines: 9% cancellations, 9% delays.
• Delta Airlines: 7% cancellations, 15% delays.
• American Airlines: 2% cancellations, 21% delays.
• Breeze Airways: 0% cancellations, 40% delays.
• SkyWest Airlines: 0% cancellations, 100% delays.
• Southwest Airlines: 0% cancellations, 9% delays.

The cancellation and delay figures primarily stem from Jacksonville International Airport’s flights, which connect the airport to numerous cities across the U.S. Airlines like Endeavor Air and JetBlue primarily serve popular destinations, impacting passengers traveling to various cities. Passengers attempting to connect from these cities may experience knock-on effects, creating a ripple impact that stretches to other airports in the region.

Impact on Tourism
The travel disruptions have a broader impact on Jacksonville’s tourism industry. With significant flight delays and cancellations, both leisure and business travelers are facing challenges. Jacksonville is a popular destination for tourists exploring Florida’s culture, beaches, and attractions. Disruptions at the airport could affect their ability to visit key sites such as the Jacksonville Zoo, Riverwalk, and local beaches, which could result in lost revenue for local businesses dependent on tourism. Additionally, tourists arriving for events like festivals or conventions may have to reconsider their plans, leading to a temporary slowdown in the tourism sector.

Many visitors planning to spend time in Jacksonville for work or leisure may be stranded or face lengthy delays, meaning accommodations, dining, and transportation services could see increased demand in the immediate area. However, with reduced visitors coming in, hotels and car rental services might face cancellations, leading to lost business.

The ripple effect on the local economy could extend beyond tourism, as business travelers may miss important meetings, causing a decrease in business-related travel, which typically supports local services and restaurants.

Conclusion
Jacksonville International Airport has their own unique challenges, but these issues only amplify how susceptible the airline industry is to operational disruptions. In the last few days extensive cancellations and airline companies unable to meet demand have affected hundreds of passengers. Beside the already frantic airport, the ongoing issues are negatively impacting the local economy and tourism. The operational disruptions at the airport will also close tourist attractions in Jacksonville adding to the importance of providing services to support the public.

Travelers should avoid further issues by checking their flight statuses before heading to the airport. This situation is highlighting the relativity of the aviation industry, efficient airport operations, and the operational challenges they deal with.

Source: Flightaware and Affected Airports

Canada has officially approved the latest Gulfstream business jets, opening a new chapter for global travellers seeking speed, comfort, and flexibility. These state-of-the-art aircraft, designed for long-range journeys, now have clearance to operate in Canadian airspace. This approval is a milestone in aviation, ensuring travellers can reach destinations across Canada and beyond without the limitations of commercial schedules. With these jets, private flights to remote regions, scenic tourist spots, and luxury resorts are now possible, enhancing both business and leisure travel.

Expanding Horizons for International Tourists

With the approval of Gulfstream business jets, international tourists gain new opportunities to explore Canada. Private jets offer direct routes from global cities, reducing travel time and making distant attractions more accessible. Destinations like the Canadian Rockies, Nova Scotia’s coastal towns, and northern wilderness lodges become reachable for short trips or extended stays. This approval transforms travel itineraries, offering flexibility for those who want to combine adventure, culture, and relaxation without relying solely on commercial airlines.

Private Jets Unlock Remote Destinations

One of the most significant benefits of Canada approving Gulfstream business jets is access to previously hard-to-reach locations. Smaller airports, regional airfields, and private terminals can now accommodate these jets, allowing tourists to explore off-the-beaten-path destinations. Luxury travellers can schedule trips to secluded lakes, national parks, and charming rural towns, bypassing crowded hubs. This approval makes it easier to create bespoke travel experiences tailored to individual preferences, combining comfort with discovery.

Combining Business and Leisure Seamlessly

Canada’s decision also impacts business travellers who wish to incorporate leisure into their trips. Long-distance flights in Gulfstream jets allow executives to attend meetings and continue their journeys to vacation spots with minimal disruption. The approval makes it possible to enjoy a seamless transition between business and leisure travel, encouraging professionals to explore cultural sites, natural wonders, and urban attractions during the same journey. This new flexibility is a game-changer for global travel planners.

Boosting Regional Tourism and Economy

The certification of Gulfstream jets in Canada is expected to benefit the tourism industry. Regional airports, luxury lodges, and high-end resorts stand to gain from increased private jet traffic. Tour operators can design bespoke itineraries for small groups or families, including sightseeing, culinary tours, and adventure experiences. By enabling smoother access to remote and popular destinations alike, this approval strengthens local tourism economies and encourages a more diversified travel offering throughout Canada.

Enhancing Safety and Compliance for Travellers

Approval by Canada’s aviation authorities guarantees that Gulfstream jets meet strict safety and operational standards. Travellers can fly with confidence, knowing these aircraft comply with rigorous technical regulations. This ensures passenger safety and reliable service across all Canadian routes. For tourists prioritising both comfort and safety, this development provides assurance that private aviation remains a secure option for exploring Canada’s diverse landscapes.

Redefining the Travel Experience

For luxury and adventure travellers alike, the approval of Gulfstream business jets redefines how journeys are planned. Tourists can now design highly customised itineraries, incorporating multiple destinations, outdoor excursions, and cultural experiences in one trip. This level of flexibility allows visitors to enjoy Canada’s beauty and attractions at their own pace, while reducing the stress of commercial flight schedules. The ability to reach remote areas and scenic locations enriches the overall travel experience, making trips more immersive and memorable.

Future Prospects for International Travel

The approval of these jets signals Canada’s commitment to modernising its aviation landscape and welcoming global travellers. It encourages international tourism, increases accessibility to less-travelled regions, and highlights Canada as a hub for luxury and bespoke travel. For tourists worldwide, this development means quicker, safer, and more enjoyable journeys. Canada’s skies are now open to a new era of travel, blending efficiency, comfort, and adventure.

Conclusion: Canada Opens Doors to New Travel Possibilities

The approval of Gulfstream business jets in Canada is more than a regulatory milestone; it is a transformative moment for global travel. From luxury escapes and remote adventures to business-leisure combinations, travellers now have unprecedented access to Canada’s rich landscapes and vibrant cities. With enhanced safety, flexibility, and convenience, this approval sets the stage for a new era of premium travel, making Canada an even more compelling destination for tourists across the world.

Nashville International Airport (BNA) reported 42 cancellations and 39 delays today, as a powerful blizzard placed millions under alert across the US Northeast. The most affected airlines include Republic (17 cancellations, 2 delays), Southwest (9 cancellations, 19 delays), Endeavor Air (7 cancellations, 2 delays), and JetBlue (4 cancellations). Other major carriers including American Airlines (2 cancellations, 1 delay), United (2 cancellations, 2 delays), and Delta Air Lines (1 cancellation) also faced operational disruption.
Flights connecting Nashville with John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Boston Logan International Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport saw significant impact. States of emergency were declared in New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and others, triggering travel restrictions that rippled into Tennessee and beyond.

• Update today: Nashville recorded 42 cancellations and 39 delays amid Northeast blizzard conditions.
• Millions remain under winter alerts, including a rare blizzard warning in New York City.
• Republic Airlines recorded the highest cancellations, while Southwest reported the most delays.
• Flights linking Nashville with New York and Boston were heavily disrupted.
• States of emergency across multiple Northeast states triggered travel restrictions.
• Major U.S. carriers including American, United, Delta, and JetBlue were affected.

Airlines Most Affected by Flight Cancellations and Delays

Republic Airways

Republic reported 17 cancellations and 2 delays, the highest number of cancellations among all airlines operating through Nashville today. The carrier’s regional network linking Tennessee with the Northeast experienced severe interruption.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest recorded 9 cancellations and 19 delays, the highest delay volume of the day. Its extensive domestic network across the United States contributed to widespread schedule adjustments.

Endeavor Air

Endeavor Air saw 7 cancellations and 2 delays, reflecting operational strain on regional routes connecting Nashville with major East Coast cities.

JetBlue Airways

JetBlue posted 4 cancellations with no reported delays, reflecting concentrated cancellations rather than rolling schedule disruptions, particularly on Northeast-bound flights.

American Airlines

American Airlines experienced 2 cancellations and 1 delay, impacting service to major hubs including New York and Washington.

United Airlines

United reported 2 cancellations and 2 delays, primarily affecting connections to key northeastern and Midwestern cities.

What can affected passengers do?

• Check airline apps and official websites for real-time flight status updates.
• Rebook flights immediately through airline customer service or digital platforms.
• Monitor airport advisories and state travel restrictions.
• Allow extra time for airport processing due to weather-related staffing constraints.
• Consider alternative airports if travel to the Northeast is urgent.
• Retain receipts for expenses related to delays or cancellations.
• Review airline compensation and rebooking policies.

Overview of Flight Disruptions

The winter storm system impacting the Northeastern United States has created cascading disruptions across major aviation corridors. With New York City under its first blizzard warning in nine years, flights between Nashville and key airports such as John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Boston Logan International Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport faced substantial cancellations.

Airlines most affected include Republic Airways, Southwest Airlines, Endeavor Air, JetBlue Airways, American Airlines, and United Airlines. Delta Air Lines and Spirit Airlines also experienced isolated cancellations and delays.

Cities including New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Nashville were repeatedly impacted as emergency declarations in New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut triggered travel restrictions. The weather system has disrupted air traffic flows not only within the United States but also affected connecting passengers traveling between the U.S. and international destinations.

As millions remain under winter alerts and blizzard warnings, operational recovery will depend on improving weather conditions across the Northeast corridor, one of the busiest aviation regions in the country.

Source: Different airports and FlightAware

As Spring Break 2026 nears, Florida continues to lead domestic travel searches, with destinations like Key West, Destin, and Orlando capturing the most attention for their sunny beaches, lively nightlife, and wide range of attractions. The state’s accessibility, diverse resorts, and entertainment options make it the go-to choice for millions of Americans seeking a mix of relaxation and adventure. On the international front, Mexico stands out, with Cancún and Puerto Vallarta topping searches for their warm weather, vibrant culture, and affordable beach resorts. Greece and Iceland also draw significant interest, appealing to travelers looking for scenic landscapes, historic landmarks, and unique experiences abroad.

A recent nationwide analysis of Google search trends, covering January 2025 through January 2026, shows that Americans are concentrating their spring break plans on these popular hotspots. While Florida dominates domestic searches, Mexico remains the international favorite, with Cancún leading globally, reflecting a clear pattern of preference for destinations that offer both convenience and memorable experiences.

Mexico Leads International Searches

International travel searches indicate that Mexico remains the top choice for spring breakers. Cancún ranks as the most-searched destination in 13 US states, the highest for any overseas location included in the analysis. Its consistent popularity is likely fueled by a combination of tropical beaches, vibrant nightlife, and extensive resort options catering to a variety of travelers.

Following Cancún, Greece claims the top spot in eight states, offering picturesque islands, historical sites, and Mediterranean charm that appeal to both adventure-seeking students and families. Belize also ranks prominently, securing the first position in five states, thanks to its mix of natural beauty, barrier reefs, and eco-tourism opportunities. Puerto Vallarta, another Mexican destination, leads searches in four states, highlighting the continued allure of Mexico’s Pacific coast. Iceland and Peru round out the list, each taking the top international spot in three states, reflecting growing interest in unique cultural and adventure experiences abroad.

The data indicates a trend toward destinations that combine accessibility with distinctive cultural, recreational, and natural attractions. Countries offering scenic beaches, historical exploration, and outdoor activities appear to resonate most with American travelers planning their spring escapes.

Florida Dominates Domestic Interest

Domestically, Florida continues to command spring break attention. Key West tops the list in 17 states plus Washington, D.C., totaling 18 state-level wins. Destin, Florida, follows closely, leading in 15 states. Together, these two destinations account for 33 of the 51 total domestic top spots, demonstrating a concentrated preference for Florida’s sunny beaches, recreational options, and entertainment amenities.

Where multiple in-state destinations compete, the study identifies a clear leader. In Florida, Orlando surpasses other options due to its combination of family-friendly theme parks, attractions, and nightlife. Texas travelers favor Galveston over South Padre Island and Port Aransas, while South Carolina shows a strong preference for Myrtle Beach over Hilton Head Island. Alabama’s Gulf Shores ranks above Orange Beach, reflecting the popularity of accessible beaches with extensive amenities.

The findings underscore the enduring appeal of destinations offering a balance of leisure, entertainment, and accessibility. Florida’s dominance highlights how a mix of beach culture, nightlife, and varied accommodation options continues to draw domestic travelers year after year.

Trends Shaping Spring Break Travel

The analysis of search patterns reveals several key trends shaping 2026 spring break planning. Travelers are gravitating toward destinations that provide both relaxation and adventure, from sun-soaked beaches to culturally rich locales. Domestic searches emphasize ease of travel, short flight times, and family-friendly options, while international searches highlight exotic destinations that combine natural beauty with unique cultural experiences.

Budget considerations, resort availability, and the popularity of curated experiences—such as eco-tours, water sports, and historical sightseeing—also appear to influence search behavior. Florida’s strong presence in domestic searches suggests that well-known beach destinations remain reliable favorites, while Mexico’s international appeal indicates that travelers are seeking a blend of affordability and immersive experiences abroad.

Top International Spring Break Destinations for 2026

• Cancún, Mexico
• Greece
• Belize
• Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
• Iceland

Top Domestic Spring Break Destinations for 2026

• Key West, Florida
• Destin, Florida
• South Padre Island, Texas
• Lake Havasu, Arizona
• Panama City Beach, Florida

Florida remains the top domestic choice for Spring Break 2026, with Key West, Destin, and Orlando leading searches thanks to their beaches, resorts, and attractions, while Mexico, Greece, and Iceland rank highest internationally as travelers seek sun, culture, and adventure.

Overall, the findings highlight a concentrated but diverse pattern of spring break planning. Florida and select international locations continue to dominate US travelers’ searches, reflecting preferences for sun, sand, cultural immersion, and accessible entertainment. As spring break 2026 approaches, these destinations are set to welcome large numbers of Americans seeking memorable experiences across both domestic and international locales.

Montenegro is a compact European destination that manages to pack an extraordinary variety of experiences into a small space. From the soaring peaks and deep canyons of its national parks to the charm of its historic towns, the shimmering waters of the Adriatic, and quiet stretches of sandy beaches, the country offers something for every type of traveler. Its unique combination of unspoiled nature, rich cultural heritage, and well-developed tourism infrastructure allows visitors to explore adventure, relaxation, and history all in one trip, making Montenegro a truly versatile and unforgettable destination.

Tourism has become a cornerstone of Montenegro’s economy. Drawing roughly 2.5 million visitors each year, the country achieves remarkable visitor numbers for its size, with tourism accounting for nearly a quarter of GDP. The emphasis on quality travel ensures that guests are offered authentic experiences and well-developed infrastructure rather than crowded resorts or overstretched attractions.

Upscale Stays and Better Connections

International hotel groups are increasingly drawn to Montenegro’s coastline. From Hilton and Hyatt to Melia, Radisson, and Iberostar, luxury and boutique hotels are setting up in prime locations like Porto Montenegro and the Bay of Kotor. In total, the country has around 500 hotels, a mix of five-star resorts and boutique options designed for travelers who value personalized service and distinctive experiences.

Air travel has expanded to meet growing demand. Montenegro’s two international airports, Tivat and Podgorica, offer more than 130 direct connections to major European cities, with airlines continuously adding routes. Visitors from Western Europe, the United States, China, and Israel are arriving in greater numbers, taking advantage of the improved accessibility. Summer flights from hubs like Madrid and Barcelona make the country even easier to reach.

A Cultural Crossroads

Montenegro occupies a unique spot at the junction of East and West, sharing borders with Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Albania, and Kosovo. Its location has left a rich cultural tapestry, visible in architecture, cuisine, and local traditions. Its compact geography allows for dramatic contrasts in a single day: one can hike in the northern mountains in the morning, and swim in the Adriatic by the afternoon.

The country is home to five national parks. Durmitor National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers jagged peaks, glacial lakes, and dense forests that attract hikers and outdoor enthusiasts from across Europe. Nearby, the Tara Canyon—the world’s second-longest—provides rafting opportunities amid breathtaking scenery. Religious and historic sites, including the 17th-century Ostrog Monastery built into a sheer cliff, add layers of spiritual and cultural interest, blending seamlessly with the natural environment.

Coastal Highlights

Montenegro’s coastline is the main magnet for international visitors. Stretching almost 300 kilometres along the Adriatic, it features a mix of lively resort towns and secluded beaches. Budva, with its 2,500-year history, is known as the Saint-Tropez of the Balkans, offering nightlife, luxury yachts, and sun-soaked beaches. Ulcinj, at the southern tip, boasts Velika Plaza, a sandy stretch exceeding 13 kilometres, one of Europe’s longest beaches. Along the coast, centuries-old fortresses crown hillsides, providing sweeping views of the sea below.

Historic towns enrich Montenegro’s cultural landscape. Cetinje, the former royal capital, offers a glimpse into the country’s monarchy and heritage, while Kotor, a medieval walled city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, charms visitors with its cobbled streets and dramatic bay setting. Kotor is famously home to hundreds of cats, protected by local laws, and even has a Cat Museum. The Bay of Kotor, stretching 30 kilometres inland, is a postcard of mountains meeting the Adriatic, a rare combination of natural beauty and history.

Authentic Experiences in a Modern Destination

Montenegro appeals to travelers seeking authenticity and sustainability. The country balances luxury travel with genuine cultural experiences, offering everything from boutique accommodations to adventure tourism in its mountains and rivers. Its natural beauty, historic towns, and scenic coastlines combine with an approachable size that allows visitors to experience multiple landscapes and activities in a single trip.

Using the euro, Montenegro aligns itself with European markets, while its status as an EU candidate positions it for further growth. With careful planning and a focus on quality, Montenegro is moving from a hidden gem to a fully recognized European destination. Its rugged mountains, glistening coastline, and historic towns create a mix of adventure, relaxation, and culture that few countries of its size can match.

Montenegro offers a diverse journey where breathtaking national parks, vibrant historic towns, sparkling bays, and secluded beaches come together, providing unforgettable experiences for every type of traveler.

Montenegro proves that big experiences can come in small packages, offering travelers a destination where natural beauty, history, and luxury coexist seamlessly.

Ras Al Khaimah is set to welcome a new icon of Arabian Gulf luxury as Wynn Al Marjan Island joins the esteemed Legend Collection of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, ahead of its Spring 2027 opening. For residents and travellers who have watched the emirate’s skyline and reputation rise over the last decade, this announcement feels like a validation of Ras Al Khaimah’s ambitions to compete with the world’s top beach and city destinations in ultra‑luxury hospitality.

Strategically located less than 50 miles from Dubai International Airport on the man‑made Al Marjan Island, the USD 5.1 billion integrated resort is being positioned as one of the most ambitious hospitality developments in the Middle East. Its inclusion in Preferred’s top‑tier portfolio reinforces Ras Al Khaimah’s status as a serious player in the global luxury travel market.

Legend Collection seal boosts destination visibility

Preferred Hotels & Resorts describes the Legend Collection as its ultimate portfolio of exceptional properties in the world’s most remarkable destinations, recognised for exquisite accommodations, intuitive service, renowned dining, and exceptional spas. Wynn Al Marjan Island now joins a line‑up that already includes some of Wynn Resorts’ flagship properties in Las Vegas, Macau, and Boston, creating powerful cross‑marketing potential for Ras Al Khaimah among loyal high‑end travellers.

Executives at Preferred Hotels & Resorts indicated that welcoming Wynn Al Marjan Island under the Legend banner showcases the brand’s ambition and innovation in the UAE, while deepening its global partnership with Wynn Resorts. They suggested that the resort will help set new benchmarks for ultra‑luxury, experience‑led hospitality in the country and wider region.

For Ras Al Khaimah’s visitor economy, this affiliation translates into prime visibility on a global distribution and loyalty platform frequented by discerning travellers and travel advisors, likely driving higher‑spend stays and longer lengths of visit.

An integrated resort designed to anchor tourism growth

Wynn Al Marjan Island has been conceived as a stylish, sophisticated resort, rising around 70 storeys and reaching approximately 352 metres, with all 1,530 guest rooms and suites offering panoramic Arabian Gulf views. The upper floors will host Enclave, a boutique hotel‑within‑a‑hotel concept with 313 suites designed for heightened privacy, elevated service, and exclusivity, exactly the type of product that can attract ultra‑high‑net‑worth visitors and VIP events to Ras Al Khaimah.

The resort’s amenity mix reads like a blueprint for destination development: 22 restaurants and lounges, a vibrant beach club, a state‑of‑the‑art theatre, a five‑star spa with salon and fitness facilities, and a luxury shopping parterre featuring curated designer boutiques. Multiple pools with private bungalows and cabanas, a 420‑metre stretch of white‑sand beach, and a 98‑berth deep‑water marina are expected to appeal to both leisure visitors and yacht‑borne guests, supporting higher‑value coastal tourism for the emirate.

Crucially for the local meetings and events segment, Coral Court, a dedicated events and celebrations centre, has been purpose‑built for weddings, social occasions, and large‑scale gatherings. Industry observers note that such infrastructure can significantly increase Ras Al Khaimah’s share of destination weddings, incentive groups, and multi‑day celebrations, amplifying year‑round demand for hotels, venues, decorators, caterers, and specialised DMCs.

Tourism impact: jobs, supply chains, and new source markets

The scale and positioning of Wynn Al Marjan Island are expected to have a multiplier effect on Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism value chain. A resort of this magnitude requires a sizeable workforce across front‑of‑house, culinary, entertainment, marine, spa, and retail operations, opening up substantial employment and skills‑development opportunities for residents.

Local suppliers are likely to benefit from increased demand for premium F&B products, technical services, event production, and transport solutions, encouraging the growth of specialised SMEs in the emirate. With Wynn’s strong brand recognition in North America and Asia, and Preferred’s global network of travel advisors and loyal guests, Ras Al Khaimah can expect to see an uptick in international arrivals from high‑yield source markets that may previously have focused on Dubai or Abu Dhabi alone.

Travel trade insiders suggest that the integrated resort’s entertainment offering, retail mix, and marina facilities could help reposition Ras Al Khaimah as a complementary stay to longer UAE itineraries, encouraging twin‑centre holidays that combine urban and beach escapes. This shift would support higher average daily rates and visitor spending across the emirate’s broader hotel portfolio.

A new chapter for Ras Al Khaimah’s visitors

Ras Al Khaimah now introduces its new entry point for visitors to experience the nation. The Wynn Al Marjan Island at Ras Al Khaimah serves as a complete travel experience for visitors who require dining options, theatrical shows, and beachside relaxation, combined with their need for exceptional service throughout their stay. The resort development will proceed to its planned Spring 2027 opening, which both residents and tourism industry professionals will monitor because they believe the Legend Collection badge will improve hotel quality while attracting more diverse visitors to the emirate.

A historic nor’easter recently slammed the US East Coast, leaving a trail of record-breaking snowfall and logistical chaos in its wake. This massive storm centered its fury on New York City, burying Central Park under 19 inches of snow. Consequently, travel across the region ground to a halt as officials implemented strict bans to ensure public safety. LaGuardia Airport became the epicenter of this aviation crisis, recording hundreds of cancelled flights in a single day. Regional carriers bore the brunt of the atmospheric onslaught. Republic Airways faced the most significant hurdles, reporting 164 cancellations as ground operations became impossible. Similarly, Endeavor Air struggled to maintain its schedule, resulting in 105 grounded flights. These disruptions left thousands of passengers stranded and searching for answers. There’s a total of 449 cancellations and 119 delays reported. This report examines the specific data behind the delays and the ongoing recovery efforts. We explore how the aviation industry navigates such unprecedented weather events while prioritizing passenger security

Major Airport Affected

LaGuardia Airport was significantly hampered by the storm’s intensity, which saw more than 19 inches of snow fall in New York City’s Central Park. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the storm brought white-out conditions and extreme hazards, necessitating a total citywide travel ban that was only lifted at noon local time. During the height of the crisis, all roads, highways and bridges were closed, effectively isolating the airport from the rest of the city.

The scale of the disruption at LaGuardia is reflected in the staggering operational figures reported today. A total of 449 flight cancellations were recorded, alongside 119 delays. Although the nor’easter has moved away, the facility continues to deal with the logistical nightmare of clearing snow and reorganizing flight schedules. Strong winds are expected to continue, potentially complicating the recovery efforts for ground crews and air traffic controllers in the US Northeast.

Impacted Airlines

The burden of the cancellations was felt most acutely by regional and domestic carriers. Republic Airways was the most heavily affected, with 164 cancellations and 41 delays. This was followed by Endeavor Air, which saw 105 of its flights cancelled. Major mainline carriers were not spared either; Delta Air Lines reported 74 cancellations and 21 delays, while American Airlines faced 33 cancellations and 20 delays.

Other airlines impacted by the travel chaos include:

• Southwest Airlines: 25 cancellations, 9 delays
• Spirit Airlines: 16 cancellations, 2 delays
• JetBlue: 10 cancellations, 5 delays
• United Airlines: 8 cancellations, 3 delays
• Jazz Aviation: 7 cancellations, 6 delays
• Air Canada: 3 cancellations
• Porter Airlines: 2 cancellations
• Frontier Airlines: 1 cancellation, 2 delays
• Mesa Airlines: 1 cancellation

The concentration of these disruptions highlights the vulnerability of regional networks when a major US hub like New York City is incapacitated by extreme weather.

Probable Impact on Local Tourism

The nor’easter has caused an immediate and visible halt to tourism activities. With New York City brought to a near-standstill and over 600,000 properties across the East Coast losing power, the hospitality sector has faced significant strain. The severity of the storm was such that even The Boston Globe ceased its print edition for the first time in 153 years, signaling the total disruption of normal commerce and information flow in the region.

Tourism in New York City is heavily dependent on the seamless movement of people through its airports. With nearly 450 flights cancelled at LaGuardia alone, thousands of visitors were unable to reach their hotels, theaters, or business engagements. Furthermore, the historic nature of the storm—with Rhode Island recording its worst snowstorm ever and Providence receiving 36 inches—suggests that regional tourism will take days to recover as states like Connecticut and Massachusetts work to lift their respective travel bans.

What Affected Passengers Can Do Now

For those currently stranded or facing delays in the US, certain protocols are recommended to navigate the situation. Passengers are advised to monitor their flight status via airline mobile apps or websites, as the situation remains fluid due to ongoing winds and the backlog of diverted aircraft.

Because the travel bans in New York City and neighboring states have only recently been lifted, ground transportation to and from airports may still be limited. Passengers are encouraged to remain in safe locations until their airline confirms a new departure time. Most carriers offer rebooking options for weather-related events and travelers should explore these digital self-service tools to avoid long wait times at airport service desks.

The recovery of the travel network is expected to be gradual. While the snow has stopped, the 1-2 feet of accumulation predicted for the coastline continues to pose a challenge for infrastructure. Safety remains the priority for all officials and aviation personnel as they work to restore normalcy to the US air travel system.

-The information provided is sourced from FlightAware.

Samsung will reportedly bring major camera improvements with its upcoming flagship, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. For a long time, rumors suggested that Samsung was working on adding a 24MP photo mode to the device. Now, new information has made this upgrade more certain.

According to Sahil Karoul, who reportedly got early access to the Galaxy S26 Ultra before its official launch, the phone will come with four camera modes, including 200MP, 50MP, 24MP, and 12MP. The addition of the 24MP camera is new and interesting because Samsung has not offered this exact resolution option before in its Ultra series.

The 24MP camera mode is designed to give users a balance between high detail and smooth image processing. While 200MP photos capture extreme detail, they can take up more storage and sometimes require heavy processing. The 24MP option may provide sharp images without making file sizes too large.

Image via
Sahil Karoul

Samsung’s Camera Assistant app recently received an update. This update added support for a 24MP shooting mode. This strongly hints that the Galaxy S26 Ultra will officially feature this new camera option when it launches, but under Camera Assistant functionality.

The new 24MP mode will reportedly work in both Photo and Portrait modes. After taking a picture, the phone takes around three seconds to process the image. The final photos look clean and natural, especially in bright scenes or when taking portraits.

Samsung is going to launch the Galaxy S26 series on February 25, 2025. Stay tuned for more information.

The post Galaxy S26 Ultra leak highlights new 24MP photo option appeared first on Sammy Fans.

This year the big show is a month later than usual, but it’s finally here – you can watch the Galaxy S26 Unpacked event live on YouTube below. We’re on location and will have more to report, but for now you can just enjoy the show. If you haven’t already, you can still register on Samsung.com for a $30/€30 discount once the phones are ready for pre-order – that should be later today or tomorrow morning at the latest. If the stream hasn’t started yet, you can check out our rumor round-up articles for the Galaxy S26 and S26+ as well as the Galaxy S26 Ultra. In addition to the new...

Google is now sending earthquake alerts to Wear OS devices even when they're not connected to a smartphone, according to the release notes for the latest version of Google Play Services. Google first brought Android's Earthquake Alerts System to Wear OS last year, but so far it was just basically mirroring the alert you received on your phone. From now on, even if your phone is too far to remain connected to your watch, the latter will still notify you about earthquakes. Of course, it will probably need a standalone internet connection to do so - thus, this most likely only applies...

Amid a difficult season, Virgil van Dijk has remained one of Liverpool’s standout performers, leading the team from the back. Despite this, the Dutchman’s contract runs until 2027, and a renewal appears complicated. As a result, the Reds are reportedly targeting a Premier League defensive star valued at $135 million. However, they would have to compete with Manchester United to secure his signing.

According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are closely monitoring Micky van de Ven, who is looking to leave Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2026. Despite being under contract until 2029, his team has set a price tag of £100 million (around $135 million). The Reds reportedly view him as the ideal long-term successor to Virgil van Dijk. However, Manchester United have also entered the race, further complicating a potential move to Anfield.

Although Arne Slot will already have Jérémy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni at his disposal next season, the potential arrival of Micky van de Ven would be a game-changer. He would not only make an immediate impact at Liverpool, but also represent a long-term investment, as he is just 24 years old and already shining in the Premier League. Moreover, he could even thrive alongside Virgil van Dijk, covering for the possible departure of Ibrahima Konaté.

Far from being simply a matter of paying the $135 million fee, Liverpool could face a significant challenge in convincing van de Ven. Just as he would be an ideal solution at Anfield, the young Dutchman would also fit perfectly at Manchester United. In addition, they appear to be on track to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, which could give them an edge in the race. As a result, Micky could also be tempted to form a strong partnership with Matthijs de Ligt.

Not only van de Ven: Liverpool could chase other roster reinforcements

Following a successful era led by Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool are facing an imminent change of cycle, backing Arne Slot as their undisputed leader. Despite having invested €482 million, the Reds continue to struggle to find consistency. As a result, they could look to make several changes to their roster, allowing key players to depart. In turn, the coach could receive multiple reinforcements — not just Micky van de Ven.

While Andrew Robertson and Ibrahima Konaté are set to see their contracts expire in the summer of 2026, Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker are under contract until 2027, yet all are reportedly heading toward potential exits. Alongside them, Federico Chiesa and Cody Gakpo are also being linked with departures. For this reason, the Reds could not only pursue the signing of Micky van de Ven, but also Yan Diomande, in search of an attacking boost.

Far from settling for those additions, Liverpool may even need to bring in another winger to strengthen the right flank. As a result, the Reds are reportedly targeting Michael Olise as an ideal signing, although they are considering alternative options as well. With this in mind, coach Arne Slot could receive a significant boost to his roster, aiming to lay the foundations for a winning project in the years ahead.

Kylian Mbappé has been one of the few consistent bright spots in what has been a turbulent 2025-26 season for Real Madrid, as the club prepares for a decisive UEFA Champions League showdown against Benfica. However, less than 24 hours before kickoff, the French star has reportedly suffered an injury setback, raising concern within Los Blancos ahead of the crucial fixture.

According to L’Équipe, Mbappé was unable to complete Real Madrid’s final training session after once again experiencing discomfort in his left knee. As a result of the setback, the forward is expected to be rested and will not feature against Benfica, dealing a significant blow to Madrid’s plans for the UEFA Champions League encounter.

As the French outlet reported, Mbappé underwent tests in the afternoon that revealed the knee, an area that has troubled him in recent months, is still far from fully healed. While a recovery timeline has not been determined, the Frenchman’s availability for Wednesday’s match at the Santiago Bernabéu has effectively been ruled out.

Earlier in Tuesday’s press conference, head coach Álvaro Arbeloa had said Mbappé was fit for the Champions League clash: “Kylian is ready to play Wednesday and that’s what matters most. For several weeks now, everyone has known it… And I want to highlight the dedication he shows. Toward his teammates, his team, his coach, his club, his supporters.“

Mbappé’s knee discomfort resurfaces

This is not the first time Mbappé has been sidelined from key matches because of knee trouble. Toward the end of 2025, during a Madrid training session, the forward felt discomfort, and an MRI later revealed damage to the lateral collateral ligament in his left knee.

Because of that injury, Mbappé missed the La Liga match against Real Betis on Jan. 4 and the Spanish Super Cup semifinal against Atlético Madrid four days later. Despite not traveling to Saudi Arabia with the squad, he pushed to appear in the Jan. 11 final against FC Barcelona, playing just 14 minutes.

After that effort, and following the dismissal of coach Xabi Alonso after the lost final, Mbappé continued featuring regularly for Madrid, completing 90 minutes in eight of the club’s last nine matches across all competitions. However, the discomfort never fully subsided, and with a pivotal European showdown looming, resting the team’s star forward is viewed internally as the safest course to avoid a more serious setback.

Mbappé, eager to avoid any setback for the 2026 World Cup

Mbappé currently stands as Real Madrid’s leading scorer in the UEFA Champions League with 13 goals this season, which underscores how significant his absence could be. With Madrid holding only a one-goal aggregate edge over Benfica, losing their most clinical finisher represents a major blow heading into the decisive stretch of the tie.

Still, with the tournament set to kick off in less than five months, any issue involving his knee would raise serious concern for both Mbappé and the France national team. Sitting out against Benfica is therefore a decision shaped not only by Champions League priorities, but also by the long-term objective of ensuring he is fully fit for this summer’s global showcase in North America.

Vinicius was the protagonist of the first leg in the Champions League playoff against Benfica due to a controversy over an alleged racist incident involving Gianluca Prestianni. His importance makes him the focus again, as he could miss the next match through suspension if Real Madrid progress from this round.

The Brazilian scored the winning goal in Portugal to give his team the lead heading back to Spain. However, the referee deemed his celebration excessive and showed him a yellow card, putting him at risk of suspension if he receives another in Wednesday’s match.

There are five more players who are at risk of missing the round of 16. Jude Bellingham looks like the most irreplaceable on the list, but he should be available because he will not play this rematch due to injury. Rodrygo is another player at risk who will not play in Madrid. Álvaro Carreras, Aurelien Tchouameni and Dean Huijsen are the other three.

Real Madrid’s potential rivals

The new Champions League format raised doubts when it was announced. Using unified standings to rank all 36 teams did not seem straightforward, but it has produced exciting outcomes, such as Benfica qualifying for this round at Real Madrid’s expense.

This also produced a different type of bracket for the knockout rounds than what everyone was used to since the competition changed its structure in the 1990s. Potential opponents will be decided by a mini draw.

Real Madrid will not know who they will face in the round of 16 until the draw. The opponent will be randomly selected from two very different options. Manchester City or Sporting CP are the clubs they could play in the next round.

When do the yellow cards accumulation end?

The rule states that after a player receives three yellow cards, he is suspended for one match. This is not usually a major focus in short series like this one, but it can influence how managers use substitutions.

Yellow card tallies are reset after the quarterfinals, but if a player receives his third booking in the second leg of that round, he will miss the first semifinal match. If Rodrygo or Bellingham pick up a yellow card in the quarterfinals, they could miss the rematch or the first leg of the semifinals.

Mexico, the United States, and Canada will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the world’s biggest sporting event. Hosting such a tournament is a great honor and could even be an advantage, but it also comes with significant challenges, as Lionel Messi explained.

The Argentine forward spoke in an interview on the Miro de Atras podcast, hosted by his former Argentina teammate Nahuel Guzman, who has been playing in Liga MX for several years. Among other topics, Leo discussed what the upcoming World Cup could mean for Mexico.

“Now there’s a nice opportunity coming for you and for the United States. Being the World Cup at home, for better or worse, it has an influence,” Messi began, speaking to the Mexican journalists who also participated in the interview. “If things go well, it can be a great opportunity, because playing at home makes a difference. Likewise, if things go badly for you, it will also be noticed.”

Messi knows what he’s talking about, as during his long international career with Argentina, he had the chance to play a major tournament at home: the 2011 Copa America. That was probably the toughest tournament of his entire national team career, largely due to fan criticism after disappointing results.

The pressure affected the team’s performance under then-coach Sergio Batista, which drew against Bolivia and Colombia in their first two matches and only secured a spot in the knockout stages in the final game against Costa Rica. The story ended bitterly, however, as Argentina were eliminated by Uruguay in the quarterfinals.

Messi recalls the matches against Mexico

In the same conversation, Messi reflected on the matches he has played against Mexico with Argentina. “We’ve crossed paths a lot in important competitions. Aside from the last one in the group stage, the others were always knockout games,” the forward recalled.

Since Messi began his journey with Argentina in 2005, Mexico have been one of the teams he has faced most often in official tournaments. Both teams met in the 2007 Copa America and the 2006, 2010, and 2022 World Cups, all resulting in victories for Argentina.

The Qatar 2022 match was particularly important, even though it was in the group stage, because a loss would have meant Argentina’s elimination. “That game against Mexico was decisive for us and one of the ones we suffered the most. So much was at stake,” Messi recalled, scoring the opener in Argentina’s 2-0 win. Looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup, he expressed his wish: “Hopefully we don’t face each other this time.”

Is it an advantage to be a World Cup host?

Being the host of a World Cup can add extra pressure to a national team, as Messi noted, but historically, results have varied. In six of the 22 editions, the host nation went on to win the tournament. This happened with Uruguay in 1930, Italy in 1934, England in 1966, West Germany in 1974, Argentina in 1978, and France in 1998.

That success rate might seem low, but it’s important to consider that many host countries historically had little realistic chance of winning the tournament. Even so, host nations often performed above expectations.

In several cases, a team’s best performance came precisely when they hosted the World Cup. This includes Switzerland (fifth place in 1954), Sweden (finalists in 1958), Chile (semifinalists in 1962), and South Korea (semifinalists in 2002). The most emblematic case is Mexico, which has only reached the quarterfinals twice in its history—both times at home, in 1970 and 1986.

With Harry Kane leading the line and Jude Bellingham emerging as the heartbeat of the midfield, the national team arrived at World Cup 2026 with enormous expectations and genuine title ambitions. But months before a ball is kicked, the tournament’s preparations are already spiraling into uncertainty, and one of the national team’s key group-stage fixtures is now facing an extraordinary threat.

What makes the situation even more surreal is that the issue has nothing to do with injuries, tactical decisions, or even soccer. Instead, a bizarre off-field dispute has plunged one of England‘s matches into serious doubt, leaving fans, organizers, and the national team scrambling for answers.

The World Cup is meant to be the pinnacle of global soccer, but the build-up in North America has been riddled with unexpected complications. With just four months remaining until kick-off, organizers are facing mounting logistical headaches, political shifts, and funding disputes that threaten to derail key aspects of the tournament.

One of the most alarming developments surrounds the match scheduled at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, a venue set to host several high-profile fixtures, including group-stage clashes and a knockout game. Thousands of supporters have already booked flights, hotels, and tickets, believing the tournament would proceed smoothly. Instead, the fixture has become a symbol of the tournament’s growing instability.

The bizarre reason behind the match threat

In the middle of the controversy lies the core issue that could derail the national team’s fixture. Foxborough officials have warned they will refuse to issue the crucial entertainment licence required to host World Cup matches unless they receive $7.3 million in security funding to cover public safety costs, as per The Mirror and Daily Record.

Despite years of planning by local police and fire departments, the town claims it cannot afford to front the money while waiting for reimbursement from federal authorities. Without the licence, the matches could be cancelled or moved hundreds of miles away, causing chaos for fans and organizers alike.

Without the funding, vital safety equipment has not been ordered, preparations remain incomplete, and the licence deadline is looming on March 17. If the deadline passes without resolution, FIFA may be forced to relocate matches, triggering logistical nightmares.

Fans facing potential travel disaster

The potential fallout for supporters is immense. Fans have already spent thousands of dollars on travel, accommodation, and match tickets, expecting to see the national team live in North America. A last-minute relocation would force them to reorganize plans at massive personal cost, with no guarantee of refunds or alternative arrangements, the Daily Express adds.

Relocating the match could also impact the tournament schedule, logistics, and competitive balance, as teams would need to adapt to new venues, climates, and travel demands. Whether Foxborough receives the funding in time remains unclear. But one thing is certain: the road to World Cup 2026 is proving to be as unpredictable and dramatic off the pitch as it will be on it.

Cristiano Ronaldo has continued to defy the standards of modern soccer, extending his legacy as the sport’s all-time leading scorer even at 41 years old, with the 2026 World Cup representing his final chance to lift the trophy. With less than five months until the tournament begins, Roberto Martinez, head coach of Portugal national team, weighed in on whether the legend needs a World Cup title to officially cement his status as the GOAT.

After being eliminated in the quarterfinals by Morocco national team at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and with Ronaldo seen in tears in the tunnel on his way back to the locker room, many expected him to step away from international duty. Instead, the striker helped Portugal capture the UEFA Nations League title and is now preparing for one last World Cup push when the tournament kicks off in North America.

Speaking on the Portugal Football Summit podcast, Martinez said a World Cup triumph would enhance Ronaldo’s legacy but isn’t required to validate it: “He will be the greatest player ever, whether he wins the World Cup or not. Our responsibility is to give ourselves the best possible chance to compete for it.“

The Spanish coach also stressed that replicating the formula that led to Nations League success will be crucial this summer. “That comes from analyzing, improving constantly, and maintaining the same mindset that helped us succeed in the Nations League,” Martinez added.

Ronaldo’s role in Portugal

After his move to Saudi Arabia in 2022, there were expectations that Ronaldo’s influence with the national team would diminish. Instead, he has remained Portugal’s undisputed captain and is also the leading scorer of Martinez’s tenure, with 25 goals in the 36 matches the coach has overseen.

Martinez spoke candidly about the veteran’s impact during the Nations League triumph: “It was essential for our confidence and belief. When you analyse the Nations League, it is probably the most demanding format: 10 matches over 10 months, five different camps, and decisive knockout matches.“

Portugal ultimately secured the title by winning the Final Four, first defeating Germany national team in Munich and then beating Spain national team in the final, with La Roja entering as favorites after their recent European Championship triumph. “Winning in Germany, where Portugal had not won for 25 years, and facing a European champion in the final, gave the group incredible confidence for the future,” the coach added.

What’s next for Portugal?

After finishing atop their qualifying group, Portugal have been drawn into a World Cup group alongside Uzbekistan national team, Colombia national team, and one of the intercontinental playoff winners. To prepare for the tournament, the Seleção have lined up friendlies aimed at sharpening match fitness and tactical rhythm.

Portugal’s next fixtures come during the March international window, when they travel to North America to face Mexico national team on the 28th and the United States men’s national team on U.S. soil on the 31st. Those matches will mark Ronaldo’s first appearance in Mexico and his return to the United States, where he’s widely expected to be part of Martinez’s squad as preparations for the World Cup enter their final phase.

The future of Cristiano Ronaldo has rarely been quiet, but recent weeks have seen speculation reach a new peak. Frustration, public criticism, and even a brief boycott of matches fueled rumors that the Portuguese icon could be preparing another dramatic career twist. At Al-Nassr, tensions behind the scenes had raised questions about his long-term commitment, while clubs across Europe and beyond were mentioned as potential destinations.

Yet, amid the noise, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner continued to deliver on the pitch, scoring goals and keeping himself at the center of the global soccer conversation. The speculation surrounding Ronaldo’s future intensified after reports of growing dissatisfaction with how resources were distributed within the Saudi Pro League. The Portuguese superstar reportedly accused the league of favoring certain clubs while neglecting others, leading to frustration that culminated in a brief spell out of action.

Despite the controversy, the 41-year-old returned to the pitch in emphatic fashion, scoring three goals in two matches and reminding everyone that, even at this stage of his career, he remains one of the sport’s most decisive figures.

The uncertainty sparked widespread speculation about potential next destinations. A sentimental return to Sporting Lisbon was floated as a nostalgic storyline, while domestic rivals Al-Hilal, MLS side Inter Miami, Turkish giants Fenerbahçe, and French outfit Marseille were all cited as hypothetical landing spots. Each scenario carried its own intrigue, from marketing impact to tactical reinvention and renewed trophy ambitions.

The final decision revealed

In the middle of the swirling rumors, clarity has now arrived. According to Saudi journalist Ahmed Al-Jedi, Ronaldo has made a definitive call regarding his future. “Cristiano Ronaldo will not leave the Saudi Pro League or his club, Al Nassr. A legend. Professionalism. Popularity. Influence that everyone envies. In short: Al Nassr and Ronaldo are twins, and their story will only end with championships.”

This revelation marks a decisive moment after weeks of uncertainty, signaling a renewed commitment to the project and a desire to continue building his legacy in the Middle East.

Fabrizio Romano’s insight: Commitment to the project

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano further confirmed the superstar’s stance, shedding light on the nature of the earlier tensions and Ronaldo’s mindset. “Cristiano is happy at Al-Nassr, and now Cristiano confirms: ‘I belong to Saudi Arabia. I want to continue in Saudi Arabia.’ Cristiano is showing commitment to the project. Cristiano is absolutely determined to make history at Al-Nassr.”

Romano explained that the disputes were largely related to budget management and the Saudi Public Investment Fund rather than a breakdown in relationships with the club’s management or coaching staff. The resolution of those issues appears to have reassured Ronaldo and reinforced his belief in the project.

Şampiyonlar Ligi Son 16 play-off turunda Atletico Madrid ile Club Brugge karşı karşıya geldi. Atletico Madrid 3-3'ün rövanş maçında Club Brugge'ü 4-1 mağlup ederek adını son 16'ya yazdırdı.

UEFA Şampiyonlar Ligi play-off turu rövanş maçında Atletico Madrid, konuk ettiği Club Brugge'u 4-1 mağlup etti. Atletico Madrid, 16'ya yazdıran ilk takım oldu. Norveçli santrfor Alexander Sörloth 'hat-trick' yaptı.

Atletico Madrid son 16 turunda Tottenham Hotspur ya da Liverpool ile eşleşecek.

Kayserispor, Teknik Direktör Radomir Djalovic ile karşılıklı anlaşarak yolların ayrıldığını açıkladı.

Trendyol Süper Lig ekibi Kayserispor, Teknik Direktör Radomir Djalovic ile yollarını ayırdığını duyurdu.

Kayserispor Kulübünden yapılan açıklamada, "Teknik direktör Radomir Djalovic ile karşılıklı anlaşarak yollarımızı ayırmış bulunuyoruz. Kendisine ve ekibine bundan sonraki kariyerlerinde başarılar dileriz"denildi.

Teknik Direktör Radomir Djalovic ile karşılıklı anlaşarak yollarımızı ayırmış bulunuyoruz.

Kendisine ve ekibine bundan sonraki kariyerlerinde başarılar dileriz.

Kayserispor Futbol Kulübü pic.twitter.com/jB8FKtmYwy

Beşiktaş yönetimi, basın toplantılarını "takipçi satın alan trollerden" temizlemek için devrim niteliğinde bir adım atıyor. TSYD üyeliği ve Sarı Basın Kartı zorunluluğu getirilerek meslek onurunun korunması hedefleniyor. Türk futbolunda liyakat ve kalite standardını yeniden belirleyecek olan bu "hijyen" operasyonunu, Fotospor olarak sonuna kadar destekliyoruz.

Beşiktaş yönetimi spor medyasındaki kirliliği önlemek ve basın toplantılarını daha nitelikli hale getirmek amacıyla devrim niteliğinde bir adım atmaya hazırlanıyor. Hazırlanan yeni düzenlemenin, tüm kulüplere örnek olması bekleniyor.

Beşiktaş yönetimine yakın kaynaklardan edinilen bilgilere göre; kulüp bünyesinde düzenlenen basın toplantılarının standardını yükseltmek için düğmeye basıldı. Son dönemde dijital mecraların artışıyla birlikte ortaya çıkan "trol" hesaplar ve amacı belirsiz profillerin, gerçek basın mensuplarının önüne geçmesinin engellenmesi hedefleniyor.

Planlanan yeni düzenleme ile basın toplantılarına girişlerde ciddi bir filtreleme sistemi uygulanacak. Masadaki taslağa göre, toplantılara katılacak kişilerin şu şartları taşıması gerekecek.

- TSYD (Türkiye Spor Yazarları Derneği) Üyeliği

- Resmi Sarı Basın Kartı Sahibi Olmak

Yapılacak düzenlemenin sadece bir kural değişikliği değil, aynı zamanda meslek onurunu koruma adımı olduğunu belirten Beşiktaş profesyonelleri, bu durumu "gerçek basın mensuplarına yapılan bir haksızlık" olarak nitelendirdi. Yönetim, mikrofonun sadece işin ehli olan kişilere uzatılması konusunda kararlı.

Beşiktaş'ın bu hamlesi, spor dünyasında sadece bir kulüp kararı olarak değil, bir kalite standartı arayışı olarak görülüyor.

- Basın toplantıları daha profesyonel bir zemine oturacak.

- Manipülasyon amaçlı soruların önüne geçilecek.

- Diğer kulüplere "akreditasyon disiplini" konusunda örnek teşkil edilecek.

Son kararı Başkan Serdal Adalı'nın vermesi beklenirken, Fotospor olarak bu kararı sonuna kadar destekliyoruz.

Beşiktaş'ta Sergen Yalçın'ın savunma planları sakatlıklarla altüst oldu. Agbadou ve Emirhan hayalleri kuran Yalçın, Emirhan'ın uzun süreli sakatlığıyla sarsıldı. Göztepe maçında sürpriz bir kararla Yasin Özcan yerine, Rusya'ya gidişi son anda yatan Uduokhai'ye sarılan tecrübeli teknik adam, Alman stoperi sezonun geri kalanında savunmanın anahtarı yapmaya hazırlanıyor.

Beşiktaş’ta savunma hattı adeta "satranç tahtasına" dönüştü. Sergen Yalçın’ın planları, sakatlıklar yüzünden yeniden altüst oldu. Yalçın’ın savunma kurgusundaki kilit isim Emmanuel Agbadou. Fildişili stoperin fiziksel gücüne Yalçın'ın güveni tam. Yalçın, Agbadou ile Emirhan Topçu'nun oturduğuna inanıyordu.

Ancak Emirhan’ın yaşadığı sakatlık nedeniyle uzun süre sahalardan uzak kalacak olması bir kez daha keyiflerin kaçmasın neden oldu. Son oynanan Göztepe mücadelesinde Sergen Yalçın, Emirhan sakatlanınca yeni transfer Yasin Özcan'ı değil de Rusya’ya transferi son anda yatan Felix Uduokhai’ye tercih etti.

Sakatlığını atlatan ve takıma dönen Tiago Djalo cephesinde sevindirici haber gelse de teknik bir detay planları zorlaştırıyor. Portekizli oyuncu, tıpkı Agbadou gibi bir sağ stoper. Bu durum, savunmanın solunda kimin oynayacağı sorusunu beraberinde getiriyor.

Sezonun bu kritik virajında Beşiktaş’ın en büyük kozu, devre arasında valizini toplamışken takımda kalan Uduokhai olacak gibi duruyor. Alman stoper savunmadaki eksikler nedeniyle sezonun geri kalanında değişilmez olmaya aday.

Süper Lig'deki ofsayt tartışmalarında sular durulmuyor. Galatasaray'ın rakipleriyle kıyaslayarak "adaletsizlik" dediği pozisyonlara, eski MHK Başkanı Mustafa Çulcu'dan UEFA destekli yanıt geldi: "Karar doğru, itiraz yersiz!"

Süper Lig’de son haftaya damga vuran hakem kararları, kulüpler arasında sosyal medya üzerinden başlayan bir "çizgi" savaşına dönüştü. Galatasaray’ın iptal edilen golü sonrası başlattığı tartışmaya, eski Merkez Hakem Kurulu (MHK) Başkanı Mustafa Çulcu’dan kritik bir açıklama geldi.

Galatasaray resmi hesaplarından yaptığı bir paylaşımla hakem kararlarındaki standart sapmasına dikkat çekti. Paylaşımda; Trabzonspor, Fenerbahçe ve Galatasaray’ın benzer ofsayt tartışmaları içeren pozisyonları yan yana getirilerek şu ifadelere yer verildi:

- Hangisi ofsayt, biz anlayamadık. Siz karar verin.

Sarı-kırmızılı yönetim, rakiplerinin benzer pozisyonlarda attığı gollerin geçerli sayıldığını, ancak kendi gollerinin ofsayt gerekçesiyle iptal edilmesinin adaletsiz olduğunu savundu.

Tartışmaların odağındaki pozisyonlarla ilgili konuşan eski MHK Başkanı Mustafa Çulcu, konuyu UEFA nezdinde araştırdığını belirterek tartışmalara yeni bir boyut kazandırdı.

- UEFA'dan teyit ettim; Galatasaray maçındaki pozisyonda hakemin verdiği ofsayt kararının doğru olduğunu söylüyorlar. Trabzonspor maçındaki pozisyon için ise 'gol' diyorlar.

Ligde oynanan son maçlarda, üç büyük kulübün benzer hücum varyasyonlarında VAR çizgileri ve yardımcı hakem kararları farklılık göstermiş; Galatasaray cephesi, kendilerine uygulanan standardın rakiplerinden farklı olduğunu iddia ederek tepki göstermişti.

Trabzonspor'un Gaziantep FK galibiyetine gölge düştü! Sağlık Kurulu Başkanı Prof. Dr. Ahmet Beşir, sakatlanan Tim Jabol Folcarelli'nin son durumunu açıkladı. Fotospor'un işaret ettiği gibi yapılan MR kontrollerinde korkulan senaryo gerçek oldu. Yıldız oyuncunun bağlarında yırtık tespit edildi.

Trabzonspor’un Gaziantep FK ile oynadığı maçta sakatlanarak teknik heyeti korkutan Tim Jabol Folcarelli’den korkulan kötü haber geldi. Fotospor’un dün işaret ettiği endişeler, bugün yapılan resmi açıklamayla kesinleşti.

Trabzonspor Sağlık Kurulu Başkanı Prof. Dr. Ahmet Beşir, oyuncunun durumu hakkında yaptığı açıklamada taraftarları üzen detayları paylaştı. Beşir, yaptığı bilgilendirmede şu ifadeleri kullandı:

- Gaziantep FK maçında sakatlanan futbolcumuz Tim Jabol Folcarelli’nin yapılan muayene ve görüntülemeleri sonucunda sol ayak bileği dış yan bağlarında yırtık ve kanama tespit edilmiştir. Oyuncumuzun tedavisine sağlık ekibimizce başlanmıştır.

Kulüp doktorlarından alınan ilk bilgilere göre Folcarelli’nin önünde iki farklı senaryo bulunuyordu. Yapılan tetkiklerde "yırtık" tespit edilmesi, oyuncunun sahalardan uzak kalma süresini uzattı.

- Mevcut tabloya göre oyuncunun rehabilitasyon sürecinin 1.5 ile 2 ay arasında sürmesi bekleniyor.

Galibiyetin ardından düzenlenen basın toplantısında üzüntüsü yüzünden okunan teknik direktör Fatih Tekke, Folcarelli’nin takımdaki önemine vurgu yapmıştı.

- Tim bizim için çok değerli bir parça. Ancak her ne olursa olsun, eksiklere takılmadan yolumuza devam edeceğiz. Elimizdeki malzemeyi en iyi şekilde kullanmaya çalışacağız.

Beşiktaş yönetimi bilet fiyatlarında indirime gitti, siyah-beyazlı taraftarlar Dolmabahçe'yi bayram yerine çevirdi. Göztepe galibiyetiyle moral bulan camiada yeni hedef 7 Mart: Galatasaray'ı cehennem gibi bir baskı bekliyor!

Beşiktaş tribünleri yönetimin hamlesiyle küllerinden doğdu. Göztepe galibiyetiyle moral bulan camia şimdi 7 Mart’taki Galatasaray derbisini bekliyor. Takım, yönetim ve taraftar arasındaki buzların erimesiyle birlikte, Galatasaray maçı öncesi Dolmabahçe’de "cehennem" hazırlıkları başladı.

Beşiktaş yönetimi, Göztepe maçı öncesi taraftarın çağrısına kulak vererek bilet fiyatlarında ciddi bir indirime gitti. Bu hamle meyvesini anında verdi. Aynı saatlerde Sinan Erdem’de Fenerbahçe Beko ile oynanan Türkiye Kupası finaline rağmen, siyah-beyazlı futbolseverler stadı hınca hınç doldurdu.

Göztepe karşısında tribünlerin uzun süre sonra ilk kez bu kadar dolması ve coşkusu dikkat çekti. Maçın başından sonuna kadar susmayan taraftarlar, adeta "12. adam" etkisini sahaya yansıttı.

Göztepe takımı tezahüratlarla adeta boğuldu. Tribünlerin sadece izleyici değil, maça doğrudan müdahale eden enerjisi galibiyette kilit rol oynadı. Uzun süreli durgunluğun ardından gelen bu kenetlenme, camiada "eski ruh geri dönüyor" yorumlarını beraberinde getirdi.

Sosyal medyada birleşen Beşiktaşlı taraftarlar, Göztepe maçındaki atmosferin kalıcı olması için yönetime seslendi. Biletlerdeki uygun fiyat politikasının devam etmesi durumunda Dolmabahçe’nin her maç kapalı gişe olacağının garantisini verdi.

Motivasyonun asıl hedefi ise 7 Mart’taki Galatasaray derbisi. Göztepe maçındaki enerjiyi bir "prova" olarak gören siyah-beyazlılar, lider Galatasaray’ı Tüpraş Stadyumu’nda yoğun bir baskıyla karşılamaya hazırlanıyor.

Şampiyonluk ve Avrupa'da gelen başarılar bir sonuç değil, 40 yıllık bir adanmışlığın hikayesi. Derwall ile atılan tohumlardan Fatih Terim'in 'alfa' liderliğine, Kalli'nin kısıtlı imkanlarla yazdığı destanlardan Okan Buruk'un zafer koşusuna... Galatasaray'ın 'winner' kimliği gökten inmedi.

Türk futbolunda başarı söz konusu olduğunda sıkça telaffuz edilen "winner" kimliği, tesadüflerin değil, on yıllara yayılan bir adanmışlığın eseri olarak yeniden sahnede. Galatasaray, 2024-25 sezonunda taktığı 5. yıldızla ve İstanbul'da Juventus gibi bir dünya devine 5 gol atına bu tartışmaları teknik bir boyuttan çıkarıp bir "doktrin" haline getirdi. Her şeyin başında, 80’lerin ortasında Jupp Derwall’in Florya’ya attığı o modern tohumlar var. Analizlere göre, rakiplerin en büyük eksiği taktikten ziyade bir "Derwall figürünün" olmayışı. Galatasaray, sadece kupalar kazanmadı. Derwall’in kurduğu felsefeyi her nesilde güncelleyerek bir genetik miras haline getirdi.

Fatih Terim, Türk futbol tarihinin en büyük "alfa" figürü olarak bu kimliğin bayraktarlığını yaptı. Bugün rakiplerin Terim modelini taklit etme çabaları olarak görülüyor. Galatasaray ise içinden yeni liderler çıkarmayı sürdürüyor.

Emre Belözoğlu, Volkan Demirel veya İsmail Kartal gibi isimler üzerinden kurulan Fenerbahçe denklemlerinin aksine; Galatasaray’da Arda Turan, Selçuk İnan veya Albert Riera gibi isimler pişiyor. Okan Buruk ise bayrağı 4. kez göndere çekmek ve Avrupa'yı sallamak için için koşuyor.

Galatasaray’ın en zor dönemlerinde bile (Kalli’nin 75 yaşında inşa ettiği Uğur Uçar’lı, Barış Özbek’li kadro veya Gerets dönemi) şampiyonluğa ulaşması, başarının sadece cüzdanla ilgili olmadığının kanıtı olarak sunuluyor.

Bu yaklaşım, sarı-kırmızılıların Victor Osimhen veya İlkay Gündoğan gibi dünya yıldızlarını transfer ederken bile, bu isimleri "yıldız" olmaktan öte "takımın bir parçası" haline getiren o görünmez gücü açıklıyor.

Galatasaray'ın bugün bu haldeyse bu bir transfer başarısı değil; Derwall ile atılan temelin, Terim ile büyüyen gövdenin ve Okan Buruk ile taçlanan modern vizyonun bir sonucu olarak kabul ediliyor.

Galatasaray'ın milli yıldızı Barış Alper Yılmaz, Juventus karşısında Avrupa devlerinin merceği altında! Vincenzo Montella'nın 'modern futbolcu' övgüleriyle taçlandırdığı genç yetenek için Premier Lig devi Chelsea devreye girdi. Montella ile Maresca arasındaki 'özel referans' hattı, Barış Alper'i sezon sonunda Londra'ya taşıyabilir.

Bu akşamki dev Juventus karşılaşması öncesinde tüm gözler Galatasaray'ın "joker" oyuncusu Barış Alper Yılmaz'ın üzerinde. Milli yıldız için Torino tribünlerine scout akını olacak.

Juventus mücadelesi, Barış Alper için Avrupa kariyerinde bir kırılma noktası olabilir. İtalyan devlerinin yanı sıra, başta Premier Lig ekipleri olmak üzere Avrupa'nın pek çok önemli kulübü, milli oyuncuyu canlı izlemek için tribündeki yerini alacak.

A Milli Takım Teknik Direktörü Vincenzo Montella da tam da maç öncesi Tuttosport'a verdiği demeçte Barış Alper'in modern futbolun en önemli örneklerinden biri olduğunu vurguladı:

- Barış Alper Yılmaz'ın fiziksel olarak inanılmaz bir gücü var. Her pozisyonda oynayabiliyor. Santrfor, bek, sağ açık ve hatta sol açık oynadı. Gerçekten tam anlamıyla modern bir oyuncu.

Transfer kulislerindeki en heyecan verici iddia ise Londra'dan geldi. Chelsea Menajeri Enzo Maresca, Barış Alper Yılmaz için eski dostu ve çalışma arkadaşı Montella ile iletişim halinde. Montella, daha önce Maresca'nın çalıştırdığı Leicester City'ye Yunus Akgün'ü önererek transferde kilit rol oynamıştı.

Montella'nın, eski yardımcısı Maresca'ya bu kez de "şiddetle" Barış Alper Yılmaz'ı önerdiği belirtiliyor. Eğer Chelsea cephesinden nihai karar çıkarsa, İngiliz devinin sezon sonunda Barış Alper için Galatasaray'ın kapısını resmen çalması bekleniyor.

Şampiyonlar Ligi'nde devler sahnesine yürüyen Galatasaray, bu akşamki Juventus sınavının ardından gözünü Cuma günkü kuraya çevirecek. Sarı-kırmızılı camiada tek bir soru var: Liverpool mu, yoksa eski teknik direktör Igor Tudor'un çalıştırdığı Tottenham mı?

Bu akşam Juventus'a 5-2'nin rövanşında konuk olacak Galatasaray bir gözünün ucuyla da Cuma günü Nyon’da çekilecek son 16 turu kuraları için tercih aşamasında.

Sarı-kırmızılı ekibin muhtemel rakipleri arasında İngiliz futbolunun iki devi, Liverpool ve Tottenham yer alıyor. Ancak kuranın en "hikayeli" eşleşmesi kuşkusuz Igor Tudor’un çalıştırdığı Tottenham olacak.

Galatasaray camiası için Tudor ismi, hem modern futbol arayışlarını hem de tartışmalı taktiksel tercihleri anımsatıyor. 2017 yılında Cenk Ergün’ün yürüttüğü operasyonla Karabükspor’dan getirilen Hırvat teknik adam, İstanbul macerasında ilginç izler bırakmıştı.

Galatasaray’ın başında çıktığı 34 maçta 19 galibiyet, 4 beraberlik ve 11 mağlubiyet alarak 1.79 puan ortalaması yakaladı. Tudor denilince akla gelen en büyük eleştiri, büyük maçlarda takımın alışık olmadığı 3-4-3 veya 3-5-2 dizilişlerini denemesiydi.

Tudor, Galatasaray'ın başındayken şu anki teknik direktör Okan Buruk (o dönem Akhisarspor'daydı) ile karşı karşıya gelmiş ve Buruk’un öğrencileri sahadan 4-2 yenik ayrılmıştı.

Galatasaray, muhtemel rakiplerine karşı son dönemde kurduğu psikolojik üstünlükle dikkat çekiyor. Sarı-kırmızılılar, bu sezon Liverpool’u mağlup ederek rüştünü ispatlarken, geçtiğimiz sezon da Tottenham’ı dize getirmeyi başarmıştı.

Juventus’u da çalıştırmış olan ve şu an Tottenham’ın başında bulunan Tudor, Galatasaray'a rakip olması durumunda sadece taktiksel bir savaş değil, aynı zamanda bir iade-i itibar mücadelesine çıkacak.

Galatasaray taraftarı ise sosyal medyada şimdiden "Tudor’un Tottenham’ı mı, yoksa Liverpool mu?" sorusunu tartışmaya başladı. 27 Şubat’taki kura, sarı-kırmızılıların Avrupa hayallerindeki yeni durağı belirleyecek.

UEFA Çempionlar Liqasının pley-off mərhələsi çərçivəsində keçiriləcək “Nyukasl” – “Qarabağ” matçının start heyətləri bəlli olub.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, sözügedən komandalar arasındakı cavab oyunu bu gün Nyukasldakı “Sent Ceyms Park” stadionunda baş tutacaq.

Görüşü İtaliyadan olan hakimlər briqadası idarə edəcək. Matçın baş hakimi FIFA referisi Davide Massa olacaq.

UEFA Çempionlar Liqası
Pley-off mərhələsinin cavab oyunu
24 fevral

“Nyukasl” – “Qarabağ”
Hakimlər: Davide Massa, Filippo Meli, Stefano Alassio, Luka Payretto (İtaliya).
VAR: Daniele Kiffi (İtaliya).
AVAR: Kristian Dingert (Almaniya).
Nyukasl. “Sent Ceyms Park” stadionu. Saat 00:00.
İlk oyun – 6:1.

Nyukasl: 32. Aaron Ramsdeyl, 2. Kiran Trippyer (k), 4. Sven Botman, 7. Joelinton, 8. Sandro Tonali, 11. Harvi Barnes, 18. Uilyam Osula, 23. Ceykop Mörfi, 27. Nik Voltemade, 33. Dan Börn, 37. Aleks Mörfi.
Ehtiyat oyunçular: 1. Nik Pope, 26. Con Ruddi, 58. Aydan Harris, 3. Lyuis Holl, 9. Yoan Vissa, 10. Antoni Qordon, 20. Antoni Elanqa, 28. Co Uillok, 61. Leo Şahar, 62. Şon Niv.
Baş məşqçi: Eddi Hau.

Qarabağ: 99. Mateuş Koxalski, 2. Mateus Silva, 8. Marko Yankoviç, 9. Xoni Montiel, 10. Abdullah Zubir (k), 17. Kamilo Duran, 18. Dani Bolt, 35. Pedro Bikalyo, 44. Elvin Cəfərquliyev, 55. Bədavi Hüseynov, 81. Kevin Medina.
Ehtiyat oyunçular: 89. Amin Ramazanov, 97. Fabian Buntiç, 11. Emmanuel Addai, 15. Leandro Andrade, 20. Kadi Borges, 21. Aleksey Kaşuk, 22. Musa Qurbanlı, 27. Toral Bayramov, 30. Abbas Hüseynov, 32. Hikmət Cəbrayılzadə.
Baş məşqçi: Qurban Qurbanov.

Ronaldo was back at San Siro for Inter’s Champions League play-off with Bodo/Glimt, but was shocked by the worst possible question from Fabio Capello. ‘No more!’

It kicks off at San Siro at 20.00 GMT (21.00 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.

The Nerazzurri need all the help they can get to overturn a 3-1 first leg defeat to the Norwegians, especially as captain Lautaro Martinez and midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu are out of action.

They hope to get some inspiration from the presence before kick-off of former Inter legends Ronaldo and Christian Vieri, who were awarded special edition jerseys.

Ronaldo always a special figure for Inter fans

“It’s wonderful to be back here, to feel the emotion of these fans, who are so important for me,” the Brazilian told Sky Sport Italia.

“Those fans can also make their impact felt and help Inter to win tonight.”

His old Real Madrid coach Capello was in the studio and asked just one question of his former player: How much do you weigh now?

“Still with the weight? No more!” replied Ronaldo with a laugh.

Much to the amusement of the rest of the panel, the now retired coach revealed he had weighed Ronaldo every single day in Madrid to make sure he kept in shape during the 2006-07 season.

Capello also explained in the Sky Sport Italia studio that Ronaldo was “the most talented player I ever worked with, but when it came to his lifestyle, he left rather a lot to be desired.”

No words. Just O Fenômeno pic.twitter.com/CKrgTKbwaD

— Inter (@Inter) February 24, 2026

Inter President Beppe Marotta laughed off ‘fake news’ about approaching Diego Simeone, assuring Cristian Chivu ‘is proving himself worthy’ regardless of the Champions League play-off with Bodo/Glimt.

It kicks off at San Siro at 20.00 GMT (21.00 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.

There is a mountain to climb if the Nerazzurri are to stay in the competition after losing the first leg of this play-off 3-1 in Norway.

That defeat on the artificial pitch was doubly painful, as Lautaro Martinez also sustained a soleus injury and is expected to be out of action for a month.

Marotta reassuring on Chivu future at Inter

“Anything is possible in sport. They have a big advantage, but it is not insurmountable,” Marotta told Sky Sport Italia.

“This is why I have faith in our team, their determination, the support of all these fans. We must have respect for our opponents, but never fear, and we have the strongest motivation.”

There are quite a few special guests in the stands this evening, including ex-Inter hero Ronaldo, and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.

“Being able to emulate Ronaldo even just a little bit would be a dream for our young players,” smiled the President.

Hakan Calhanoglu is also on the treatment table, though Denzel Dumfries is back on the bench for the first time since November 9 after ankle surgery.

Davide Frattesi has been chosen for the midfield instead of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, partly for his history of scoring big Champions League goals to eliminate Bayern Munich and Barcelona last season.

Spanish media claimed yesterday that Inter have an agreement with Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone to take over from Cristian Chivu next season.

“It’s absolutely fake news, it’s not even worth talking about. We are extraordinarily happy with Chivu,” shrugged Marotta.

“Luck is a part of football, but the coach is proving himself worthy of the Inter job.”

Inter reached the Champions League Final twice in the last three years, so how would going out before the Round of 16 affect the club’s finances?

“In all honesty, it’s important, but not all that relevant. This is a night of sport, we want to honour it in the best possible way. If we were to miss this objective, obviously we’d have to make some adjustments, but it’s not a problem, certainly.”

Inter coach Cristian Chivu explains why he chose Davide Frattesi to start in the Champions League play-off with Bodo/Glimt and assures ‘it can be done, it’s up to us.’

It kicks off at San Siro at 20.00 GMT (21.00 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.

It is a huge task to overturn a 3-1 first leg defeat in the Champions League play-off, made even tougher by the absence of star players Lautaro Martinez and Hakan Calhanoglu.

Chivu has faith in Inter turnaround

“Everything is feasible, it’s up to us, our determination, attitude and balance, because it can be done,” Chivu told Sky Sport Italia.

Francesco Pio Esposito scored in Norway and starts upfront this evening alongside Marcus Thuram, but the surprise is Frattesi in midfield rather than Hakan Calhanoglu.

The Italian has a remarkable record of scoring decisive Champions League goals, last season striking late to eliminate Bayern Munich and Barcelona on Inter’s way to the Final.

“Like all the others, he is a valuable member of the group. He showed that last season and at times this term, he overcame the difficulties that he had in the early part of the campaign.

“We need everyone to give their contribution to the cause,” concluded Chivu.

There are quite a few special guests in the stands this evening, including ex-Inter hero Ronaldo, and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.

Matteo Darmian insists Inter must ‘score as early as possible, but not make it an obsession’ in their Champions League play-off against Bodo/Glimt. ‘We will get chances.’

It kicks off at San Siro at 20.00 GMT (21.00 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.

The first leg was disastrous for two different reasons, as it was a 3-1 defeat in Norway, but they also lost captain Lautaro Martinez for approximately a month to a soleus injury that was blamed on the artificial pitch.

As the away goals rule was abolished, it means any win by two clear goals would prompt extra time and potentially even penalties.

Darmian believes Inter can qualify

“We must have the right focus and spirit, it’s not easy to overturn a two-goal deficit, but over the years we’ve shown that we know what to do in the Champions League. We need the best version of ourselves to overturn this result,” Darmian told Sky Sport Italia.

The Nerazzurri reached the Champions League Final in two of the last three seasons, but here risk going out before the Round of 16, as they fumbled precious points in the league phase against Atletico Madrid and Liverpool.

“I remember very few performances where we got the wrong approach this season. We need to score as early as possible, but it also mustn’t be an obsession, because it is a long game and we will get chances,” insisted Darmian.

“We must simply be aware of our strength and not let that slip over into arrogance. We must be ourselves and prove it tonight.”

Inter look to Marcus Thuram, Francesco Pio Esposito and Davide Frattesi against Bodo/Glimt, needing to win by at least two clear goals to stay in the Champions League.

It kicks off at San Siro at 20.00 GMT (21.00 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.

The 3-1 play-off defeat in Norway was doubly painful for the Nerazzurri, as it also saw Lautaro Martinez sustain a calf injury on the artificial turf, which has ruled him out for approximately a month.

Hakan Calhanoglu has also struggled with muscular issues in recent weeks, and straight after making his comeback, is again out of action.

Denzel Dumfries is on the bench for the first time since November 9, as he is finally back in the squad after ankle surgery.

The big surprise is Frattesi chosen in place of Henrikh Mkhitaryan in midfield, as he has a strong record of making the difference in the Champions League with late goals against Bayern Munich and Barcelona last season.

Fresh from a 2-0 win away to Lecce that put them 10 points clear at the top of the Serie A table, Inter must pour all their resources into turning this around and staying in the Champions League.

Bodo/Glimt don’t resume their domestic campaign until March 6, so the only games they’ve played since September 26 have been in the Champions League, spending weeks at a training camp in Spain.

This has seen them notch up a 2-2 draw at Borussia Dortmund and three consecutive victories over Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and Inter.

They used to be a much weaker side away than at home, but have corrected that recently.

The Norwegians have a full squad to choose from, including former Milan winger Jens-Petter Hauge, who is therefore no stranger to playing at San Siro.

Kasper Hogh was a nightmare for the Inter defence in the first leg, scoring a goal and providing two assists.

Nobody has overturned a two-leg deficit in the Champions League knockout ties since Liverpool against Barcelona in the 2018-19 semi-final.

However, Inter were in the Champions League Final for two of the last three years, so have pedigree in this tournament.

Inter vs. Bodo/Glimt line-ups

Inter: Sommer; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Luis Henrique, Frattesi, Zielinski, Barella, Dimarco; Thuram, Esposito

Inter bench: Di Gennaro, J Martinez, Dumfries, De Vrij, Sucic, Bonny, Acerbi, Diouf, Mkhitaryan, Carlos Augusto, Darmian, Lavelli

Bodo/Glimt: Haikin; Sjovold, Bjortuft, Gundersen, Bjorkan; Evjen, Berg, Brunstad Fet; Blomberg, Hogh, Hauge

Bodo/Glimt bench: Faye Lund, Sjong, Nielsen, Aleesami, Auklend, Saltnes, Helmersen, Klynge, Riisnaes, Bassi, Maatta, Mikkelsen

Ref: Hernandez (ESP)

24-02-2026 20:00

Knockout phase play-offs

San Siro Stadium (Stadio Giuseppe Meazza)

Inter

Bodø/Glimt

Live

0 - 0

Inter

Bodø/Glimt

Starting lineups

1

Yann Sommer

Goalkeeper

95

Alessandro Bastoni

Defender

32

Federico Dimarco

Defender

25

Manuel Akanji

Defender

31

Yann Bisseck

Defender

16

Davide Frattesi

Midfielder

23

Nicolò Barella

Midfielder

7

Piotr Zielinski

Midfielder

94

Pio Esposito

Attacker

11

Luis Henrique

Attacker

9

Marcus Thuram

Attacker

12

Nikita Haikin

Goalkeeper

15

Fredrik Björkan

Defender

6

Jostein Gundersen

Defender

4

Odin Bjørtuft

Defender

20

Fredrik Sjövold

Midfielder

7

Patrick Berg

Midfielder

19

Sondre Brunstad Fet

Midfielder

26

Hakon Evjen

Attacker

10

Jens Petter Hauge

Attacker

9

Kasper Högh

Attacker

11

Ole Didrik Blomberg

Attacker

Substitutes

22

Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Midfielder

15

Francesco Acerbi

Defender

36

Matteo Darmian

Defender

6

Stefan de Vrij

Defender

2

Denzel Dumfries

Midfielder

14

Ange-Yoan Bonny

Defender

30

Carlos Augusto

Midfielder

13

Josep Martínez

Goalkeeper

17

Andy Diouf

Attacker

12

Raffaele Di Gennaro

Goalkeeper

8

Petar Sucic

Defender

47

Matteo Lavelli

Attacker

5

Haitam Aleesami

Defender

14

Ulrik Saltnes

Midfielder

1

Julian Faye Lund

Goalkeeper

22

Anders Klynge

Midfielder

45

Isak Sjong

Goalkeeper

24

Daniel Bassi

Midfielder

25

Isak Dybvik Määttä

Midfielder

94

August Mikkelsen

Attacker

2

Villads Nielsen

Defender

8

Sondre Auklend

Midfielder

21

Andreas Helmersen

Attacker

23

Magnus Riisnæs

Midfielder

Raffaele Palladino admits Atalanta have ‘a difficult mission’ to overturn a 2-0 Champions League play-off defeat to Borussia Dortmund, but ‘dreams can come true and we believe.’

The second leg kicks off at the New Balance Arena in Bergamo on Wednesday at 17.45 GMT (18.45 CET).

La Dea saw their mood boosted over the weekend by a 2-1 comeback victory over Napoli to put them right back in the race for a top four finish in Serie A.

That kind of confidence will be necessary if they are to turn this play-off around against German giants Borussia Dortmund.

Palladino and Atalanta have faith in comeback

“It’s certainly a difficult mission, we know that, but we must give it our best,” Palladino told Sky Sport Italia.

“It will be tough, but we’ll try with everything we’ve got, with great enthusiasm, awareness of our capabilities. We must play with quality, our style of football, and have faith in ourselves. I want to see us push from the first minute to the last.

“We’ve got so much enthusiasm and positive energy, things we need tomorrow. The game with Napoli was a comeback victory, so we must learn from that too. The tie is open, as 2-0 is hard to overturn, but with 90 and maybe more minutes, we can try to cause problems for a team with strong individuals and accustomed to playing at this level.

“We need to be focused, aware, sharp for the full match, and make the most of the fact we’ve got 20,000 fans behind us.”

Atalanta have achieved great things in Europe under Gian Piero Gasperini, but it is a new tournament for Palladino, who took over from Ivan Juric in mid-November.

“We face everyone with the right spirit, we’ve got to enjoy this match, as it is very important in a fascinating competition. We want to carry on playing in Europe, and it’s a valuable experience to play in these knockout fixtures.

“It is a dream to get through to the Round of 16, but dreams can come true, so we’ve got to give it our best.”

Charles De Ketelaere and Giacomo Raspadori are still out of action, but the good news for Atalanta is the return of midfielder Ederson, who was rested against Napoli with a twinge.

“We’ve got an important player back, we’ll see. So many are hungry to play, they made it difficult for me today with a strong training session, and those who come off the bench will be just as important. It’ll be 100 minutes and we need to play them to the best of our capabilities.”

If Atalanta do manage to turn this 2-0 deficit around, will Palladino reward the squad with a special dinner?

“I haven’t thought about it, but if it did happen, we’d perhaps do more than just buy the team dinner! The lads always give their all, they know that when they deserve rewards, I give them.”

It would not be the first time that Atalanta caused an upset in Europe, as they famously beat Liverpool at Anfield Road.

“We hope this dream can come true, we know it’s not easy to overturn a 2-0 deficit against such a strong team, but I see so much positive energy, I believe, the lads believe, the fans believe, so we need a fiery atmosphere in our home stadium. We can’t wait to get on the pitch,” concluded Palladino.

Victor Osimhen gives an update on his knee injury and warns Galatasaray will ‘take the fight’ to Juventus despite their 5-2 Champions League play-off advantage. ‘Defence starts from the attack.’

It kicks off on Wednesday at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin at 20.00 GMT (21.00 CET).

The Bianconeri have a mountain to climb after losing the first leg 5-2 in Istanbul, despite having taken a 2-1 lead going into half-time, as the Juan Cabal red card proved disastrous.

Osimhen did not score in that first leg, but he rested over the weekend due to a knee issue.

Osimhen ready for Juventus battle

“My knee is fine, thank you,” Osimhen told Sky Sport Italia.

“I have a little pain in my knee, that is the reason why I didn’t play the last league game, but thanks to the medical team, I am back with the squad and looking forward to facing Juve.”

Galatasaray are aiming to make history by eliminating Juventus from the Champions League, and Osimhen denies suggestions they are a completely different team in his absence.

“It’s a huge responsibility, but it’s not just about Osimhen. I have to give props to the rest of the squad, as they’ve been really been helpful putting this club where it should be,” continued the Nigeria international.

“This club is huge, we’ve seen multiple times that even with legends in the past who played for this club, it is the only Turkish side that has done really well in Europe. We’ve been doing that for so many years, when you mention a big club, we’ve done so well in the Champions League.

“We also have the opportunity tomorrow to write history for the club, so it’s not just about one player. Of course, I appreciate all the support from the fans, the coach, the confidence he has in me. If I don’t have these guys around my back, I don’t think they can listen to me when I try to charge them forward. Everything can be made possible, kudos to them, we’re going to lead each other hand in hand and try to make sure we get the maximum result.”

Although he did not score in the first leg, his high pressing game saw him steal the ball twice and provide assists, constantly harassing the Juventus defenders.

“One thing about me is if I’m not seeing an opportunity to score, I am trying to help my team,” added Osimhen.

“Juventus always start from the back, so t was important to press them, I try to call my teammates forward too, so we don’t let them start that play from behind. Juventus have a lot of quality, when they manage to get the ball to Kenan Yildiz, he’s a very dangerous player, so is Conceicao, so we must try to block their passes.

“Defence starts from the attack, so me and the other forwards have to start the press. It was just the right thing to do, and of course the instructions from the coach. I did my duty and I’m glad I did it diligently.”

Despite such a big advantage from the first leg, Galatasaray and Osimhen have no intention of sitting back in Turin.

“Tomorrow too I don’t think we’re the kind of squad who is going to lie back, because Juventus are a really big team, but we’ll come out and take the fight to them. It’s going to be a really tough game, I’m looking forward to it.”

Serie A giants Juventus are in hunt of a new goalkeeper and have identified Tottenham star Guglielmo Vicario as a target.

According to The Standard, the “Old Lady” is looking to bring the 29-year-old back to Serie A as they weigh up a major change between the sticks for the 2026-27 season.

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While Juventus have yet to finalise their summer budget, they have identified Vicario as a high-priority target to provide elite competition for, or potentially replace, the struggling Michele Di Gregorio.

Guglielmo Vicario’s camp holds talks with Juventus

As per the report, while Vicario is not a primary target, if budget allows they will look to make a move for him as well.

It is further reported that the representatives of Vicario have already held talks with Juventus ahead of a potential summer move.

Vicario joined Spurs from Empoli in 2023 and initially became a fan favorite. however, his desire for a return to his homeland has intensified as Tottenham’s season has unraveled.

Juventus are reportedly keen to beat rivals Inter Milan to his signature, with both clubs viewing him as a long-term solution.

The reported fee of €25-30 million (£21.7m-26.1m) is seen as a bargain for a player of his pedigree, and it’s a figure that fits comfortably within Juventus’ financial guidelines.

Spurs may be open to selling Vicario

The willingness to sell Vicario isn’t just about the player’s desire to leave. Tottenham are reportedly preparing for a brutal squad overhaul this summer.

With the club currently sitting 16th in the Premier League and facing a genuine threat of relegation, the hierarchy is planning to “rip up” the existing wage structure and move on from several high-earning stars.

It has been reported that Tottenham would be open to a sale depending on the fee offered and Vicario’s own desire for a return to Italy.

The post Report: Tottenham star’s camp has already held talks with Juventus ahead of potential summer move appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Arsenal may have secured a dominant 4-1 victory over Tottenham on Sunday, but Manchester United legend Paul Scholes was far from impressed with Declan Rice’s temperament during the North London derby.

Despite the convincing scoreline, Scholes believes Rice’s lack of “calmness” in high-pressure situations could hurt Arsenal’s Premier League title ambitions.

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Paul Scholes questions Declan Rice leadership during Arsenal vs Tottenham

Speaking on the Good, the Bad and the Football podcast alongside Nicky Butt, Scholes took aim at Rice’s behavior just moments before a critical error allowed Tottenham back into the contest.

The incident occurred shortly after Eberechi Eze had given Arsenal the lead.

Rice was captured on camera vigorously gesturing to his teammates to maintain their focus.

However, less than two minutes later, Rice was caught in possession by Randal Kolo Muani, whose clinical finish leveled the game at 1-1.

Scholes was unimpressed by the midfielder’s animated approach. He said:

“I don’t like all that [Rice geeing up the crowd]. When I look at Declan Rice, he almost looks too emotional. He’s lively, he’s, ‘Come on! Come on! Come on!’ and then he makes his mistake.

When you’re going for a league title, when you’ve got tough games, there has to be a calmness about you.”

Scholes compared Rice’s leadership style to that of his former captain, Roy Keane, noting that the legendary Irishman led with a sense of “calmness” rather than frantic animation.

“People will call me a miserable b******, but game-management in game situations needs a calmness,” he added.

Declan Rice’s importance to Arsenal remains undeniable

The mistake was rare for Rice, a moment reminiscent of a “Steven Gerrard slip”, but it did not prove costly in the end.

Arsenal scored three in the second half to make a statement win and the celebration showed how much the result meant to them.

Since his £105 million move from West Ham in 2023, Rice has been instrumental under Mikel Arteta.

He transformed Arsenal’s midfield almost immediately, winning the club’s Player of the Season award last year and registering eight goal contributions this campaign.

Arsenal maintained their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table following the win over Tottenham, keeping their title challenge firmly on track.

Arteta was quick to defend his midfielder after the match, praising Rice’s “courage to stand up” following the error and emphasising his influence across the season.

However, with Manchester City still looming in the title race, it will be important for Rice and others to remain calm amid the mounting pressure.

The post “I don’t like all that” – Scholes slams Arsenal star for what he did during the 4-1 win vs Tottenham appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Real Madrid return to the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday evening aiming to protect a narrow advantage in their Champions League knockout round playoff. Los Blancos carry a 1–0 lead into the second leg thanks to Vinícius Júnior’s strike in Lisbon, though the fallout from that match has ensured this tie remains fraught with additional tension. […]

The post Prediction: Real Madrid vs Benfica appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Prediction: Real Madrid vs Benfica appeared first on Soccer News.

Returning to the French capital holding a slender advantage on Wednesday night, PSG will welcome domestic foes Monaco to the Parc des Princes for what could be another Champions League thriller. Mounting an iconic first-leg comeback on their travels last week, the reigning European champions will certainly be hoping for smoother sailing here as they […]

The post PSG vs Monaco Bet Builder Tips – 6/1 Champions League Special, Analysis & Predictions appeared first on Soccer News.

The post PSG vs Monaco Bet Builder Tips – 6/1 Champions League Special, Analysis & Predictions appeared first on Soccer News.

Manchester United booked important three points as they aim to qualify for next season’s Champions League by beating Everton away on Monday evening. The only goal of the game was the work of Benjamin Sesko, but goalkeeper Senne Lammens certainly played his part, denying the Toffees on numerous occasions. Speaking to the press after the […]

The post Everton boss David Moyes lauds “brilliant” goalkeeping performace of Senne Lammens in defeat to Manchester United (Video) appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Everton boss David Moyes lauds “brilliant” goalkeeping performace of Senne Lammens in defeat to Manchester United (Video) appeared first on Soccer News.

According to Fichajes, Manchester United are considering a move to bring Scott McTominay back to Old Trafford from Napoli, and the Serie A champions are open to the idea of cashing in on his services. The figure of €80million is mentioned as a potential fee. McTominay made the move from United to Napoli in 2024, […]

The post Manchester United consider McTominay return appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Manchester United consider McTominay return appeared first on Soccer News.

Ed Skrein, who you might recognize as the main antagonist in the first Deadpool movie or as the antagonist in Zack Snyder's ridiculous Rebel Moon films has been tapped by Amazon and PlayStation Productions to play Baldur in the upcoming God of War TV series. Skrein is the latest to join the cast, taking up one of the last major characters whose casting had yet to be revealed. We know who is playing Kratos, Atreus, Brok, Sindri, Mimir, Thor, Heimdall, Sif, and Odin, and we now know who will be stepping into Baldur's numb feet. Announced in a new report […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/god-of-war-tv-amazon-series-rebel-moons-ed-skrein-will-play-baldur/

Google Ad Grants accounts can now optimize for real-world foot traffic. Advertisers using the nonprofit program are able to set “shop visits” as an account-level goal — a move that enables campaigns to optimize toward in-person visits.

Driving the news. Previously, attempting to mark shop visits as a goal inside Ad Grants would trigger an error. That restriction appears to have been lifted, allowing eligible accounts to include store visit conversions in their primary goal configuration.

The update means nonprofits and local organizations can now align bidding and optimization with physical visits — particularly impactful for visibility in Maps placements and location-driven search results.

Why we care. For nonprofits, museums, places of worship, community centers, and other location-based organizations, digital engagement doesn’t always translate into mission impact. The ability to optimize for shop visits bridges that gap, tying ad performance directly to footfall.

Between the lines. As Google continues emphasizing local intent and Maps-based discovery, bringing store visit optimization to Ad Grants expands how nonprofits compete for nearby audiences. It shifts the focus from just clicks and website traffic to measurable, offline action.

What to do. Ad Grant advertisers should review their account-level goals and confirm shop visits are enabled where eligible. Optimizing toward foot traffic could materially improve local impact — especially for organizations reliant on in-person engagement.

Spotted by: This update was spotted by Google Ads Expert Jason King who shared the update on LinkedIn.

Google’s unified video manager inside Merchant Center is no longer empty. After months of appearing in accounts without visible content, the Video Assets section is now automatically populating with sourced videos.

Driving the news. The feature — first introduced at Google Marketing Live 2025 — was designed to centralize video content inside Google Merchant Center. It began rolling out in September, but many advertisers were seeing a blank interface with no assets displayed.

That’s changed. Videos are now being pulled in automatically, including content from external sources like YouTube.

Why we care, This confirms Google is moving ahead with its plan to make Merchant Center a central hub for commerce-ready creative, not just product feeds. With videos now auto-populating, brands may gain additional visibility across Shopping and Performance Max without extra upload work — but they’ll also need to ensure their YouTube and site videos are optimized for commerce.

In short, video is becoming embedded in retail ad delivery, and advertisers who manage it proactively will have a competitive edge.

Between the lines. By centralizing videos from websites, social platforms, and potentially AI-generated sources, Google is building Merchant Center into a more comprehensive creative hub — not just a product feed manager.

That aligns with broader shifts toward video-first shopping experiences across Search, Shopping, and Performance Max campaigns.

What to watch. It’s still unclear how performance reporting, optimization controls, and editing tools will evolve inside the Video Assets section. But the shift from empty placeholder to populated library shows the infrastructure is now active.

First spotted. This update was first spotted by PPC News Feed founder Hana Kobzová.

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Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, saat 00:00-da start götürəcək oyuna komandalar aşağıdakı heyətlə çıxacaqlar…

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