Samsung’s AI-powered Galaxy Glasses have not even entered the market yet, and Meta has already made its move. Starting at $299, Meta’s new AI-powered glasses are entering the market at a point where regular consumers can actually consider buying them.
The smart glasses race is getting serious, and Meta just fired the first major shot with a product that targets the biggest weakness in emerging wearable categories: price.
For Samsung, which is reportedly preparing its own Galaxy Glasses as part of its XR strategy, this is the kind of early momentum that cannot be ignored.
The new Meta Glasses lineup, developed with EssilorLuxottica, comes in multiple styles, including Adventurer, Fury, and a Kylie Jenner collaboration.
Meta Adventurer: A clean rectangle shape for a timeless, versatile look. Available in Standard and Large.
Meta Fury: A bold frame that makes a bold statement.
Meta Glasses by Kylie: A unique slim oval frame designed in collaboration with Kylie Jenner and inspired by her personal style.
The company is bringing Meta AI, powered by its new Muse Spark multimodal model, giving the glasses a stronger focus on real-world interaction.
The glasses feature open-ear audio, wind noise reduction, an 8-hour battery life, and a charging case that extends usage up to 40 hours. Meta is also preparing features like pedestrian navigation and expanded live translation support with 14 new languages.
Samsung’s Galaxy Glasses could still bring something different. The company has years of experience building polished consumer hardware, displays, cameras, and mobile integrations.
If Samsung combines that expertise with Galaxy AI, it could create a strong alternative.
We have had our early unofficial looks at Samsung’s upcoming foldables, but the smartwatches remained a mystery. Credible tipster Onleaks changed that today by revealing the Galaxy Watch 9 design through CAD renders.
Samsung is expected to unveil two Wear OS watches next month. The second-generation Galaxy Watch Ultra is coming alongside the Watch 9. The next Galaxy Unpacked event is expected to be held on July 22 in London.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 keeps the familiar design
Galaxy Watch 9 renders reveal a familiar design and shape. Samsung is retaining the design that already works rather than making changes. The Watch 9 keeps its squircle design approach, featuring a circular screen.
Samsung’s squircle design decision makes the smartwatch durable. The display is protected by a uniquely crafted frame that looks classy yet elegant. Watch 8 was a major overhaul over the Watch 7, but Watch 9 is a refined version.
Galaxy Watch 9 will be available in two sizes, 40mm and 44mm. AndroidHeadlines reconfirms the recently leaked colorways, which promised Cream and/or Graphite for smaller ones and Silver and/or Graphite for larger ones.
The model shown in leaked renders features bands painted in Green. The combination is catchy enough, offering a decent appearance. Well, Samsung is rumored to bump the prices of its upcoming smartwatches.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear Elite chipset could power the Galaxy Watch 9. The next-gen smartwatches will run the latest Wear OS 7 with One UI 9 Watch.
Power efficiency improvements are likely, thanks to the Qualcomm chip and Wear OS 7. It will also have on-device AI capabilities, expanding from mobile phones to wearables.
Dragon Age's ex-lead writer David Gaider warns that generative AI could introduce unreliable workflows, ethical issues, and long-term harm to developer training in game production.
Ubisoft co-founder Claude Guillemot has died at 69 in a plane crash near La Baule-Escoublac in western France, with authorities investigating the cause of the incident.
A software update is rolling out to a well-known Garmin Fenix competitor, bringing a host of new features. Having already tried out the upgrade, we took a closer look at a standout function designed to streamline your fitness routine on the Amazfit T-Rex 3.
Deal | The Ugreen Nexode Pro 25,000 mAh power bank has received an attractive discount thanks to Amazon’s Prime Day promotions. In addition to the large capacity of 25,000 mAh, the Nexode Pro has a high output of 200 W, which stands out as a solid option for folks who can take advantage of its capabilities.
A very early leak provides us with a very detailed information about the successor to one of this years best camera flagships, which is expected to launch in nine months at the earliest. As it stands, one of the exclusive features of the Oppo Find X9 Ultra will get even better next year.
Ethereum Foundation has cut roughly 20% of its workforce, eliminating 54 positions as part of a sweeping organizational overhaul tied to its long-term development strategy. According to the Ethereum Foundation, the workforce reduction concludes a months-long restructuring process carried out…
Worldcoin has fallen nearly 12% while Robinhood has added the token to its trading platform, bringing fresh attention to the project as allegations linked to co-founder Sam Altman continue to weigh on sentiment. According to a June 23 X announcement…
Samsung is rumored to be holding its next Unpacked event in London on July 22, where it's expected to unveil the Galaxy Z Fold8, Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, and Galaxy Z Flip8, alongside the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and Galaxy Watch9.
Today a new leak brings us details about the phones' colors and storage options. The Fold8, which is allegedly the wide one, will be available in Cream, Graphite, Lavender, and Pistachio, with 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB of storage.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 (left) and Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra (right) dummy units
The Fold8 Ultra, on the other hand, will be offered in Cream,...
Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra launched earlier this year with the Privacy Display feature as its main differentiator from all of its competitors, but according to a new rumor Samsung Display will be offering this to other smartphone manufacturers by the end of 2028.
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Some Chinese Android OEMs are going to be waiting for that moment, while others are already developing similar solutions by working together with Chinese display manufacturers. We recently heard that Xiaomi's 18 Pro could have a Privacy Display feature of its own.
Privacy Display on the...
Did you know that you can stream World Cup 2026 matches in 4K on BBC iPlayer? Well, you can — it's just not entirely obvious as to which devices actually support the feature. What is certain is that not all of them do — and your TV may not be among them.
While it would be useful to have a list of which of the best TVs and other devices support 4K for the World Cup, there isn't one. Instead, BBC says the easiest way to check if your device supports 4K content on iPlayer is to go to BBC iPlayer app itself and stream some 4K content, then look for the 'UHD' logo. If it appears, then your device supports it: hooray! If not, then unfortunately you won't be able to watch the World Cup in 4K on your current device.
If you want a list of 4K shows on BBC iPlayer to check, there's one here, but some quick names are Blue Planet II, SAS Rogue Heroes and Doctor Who (the latest series). If the UHD logo doesn't appear in the listing for one of the shows, then your device doesn't support it.
Thankfully, there are two devices that do support 4K streaming on BBC iPlayer: the Roku Streaming Stick 4K and the PS5. The Roku is a cheap upgrade to your TV that will allow 4K streaming on iPlayer and while the PS5 is pricier, it's a multimedia system that can obviously play games and 4K Blu-rays, as well as supporting most of the best streaming services.
And just in time for Amazon Prime Day, there are deals available for both devices.
Today's best Roku Streaming Stick 4K deal
The Roku Streaming Stick 4K supports 4K resolution and Dolby Vision HDR, and supports major streaming apps such as Netflix, Disney Plus and Prime Video, as well as major UK apps such as BBC iPlayer. This deal knocks the £10 off, taking it down to £39.99. I've noticed it for cheaper at Amazon, but these listings seem to be from third party sellers I would avoid. View Deal
Today's best PS5 deals
The cheapest way to pick up a brand new PS5 right now is the PS5 Slim Digital Edition at Joybuy for £419. Obviously this version doesn't come with a disc drive, so you'll need to buy the optional one for £69.99, or download your games digitally. View Deal
The premium PS5 Pro is best acquired at EE right now in the UK, with the retailer knocking 45 pounds off the console's list price. We predict the PS5 Pro could be the definitive way to play GTA 6, given Rockstar's close relationship with Sony, so this is our top pick for the console to play the game on. View Deal
I've been a hardcore headphones user for almost four years (thank you, Sony), but when I picked up the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100s a few months back, they restored my faith in earbuds.
Since introducing one of the best earbuds back into my life, I've been using them alongside my headphones interchangeably — headphones are better for certain things, and vice versa — but the performance exceeds the low price, and Amazon Prime Day just made them cheaper.
For a pair of earbuds with surprising noise cancelling and a lengthy battery life, sub-£80 is quite a bargain. According to Amazon's listing, this is the lowest price for the Melomania earbuds in the last 30 days, and though the pricing history isn't available right now, it leads me to believe that this is as good as it's going to get this Prime Day. View Deal
I stopped using earbuds years ago after going through a number of models and being let down each time. From there, I swore that earbuds would never give me what I needed quite like headphones do.
However, since I started using the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100s, all the things I enjoyed about earbuds suddenly came flooding back to me.
For starters, they're just far easier to carry around with you, and though over-ear headphones win in the comfort department, the convenience aspect wins by a landslide. However, that's not to say the Melomania A100s aren't comfortable. If anything, they fit quite pleasantly and come with different-sized sponges for you to swap out.
On the audio side of things, the Melomania A100s' noise cancelling is quite impressive for in-ear buds — I find they block out sounds just as well as headphones. That said, switching between noise-cancelling, normal, and transparency settings is very simple. All it takes is a small tap on the left earbud.
Because of their price, you're not going to get all the health tracking bells and whistles as you do with the AirPods Pro 3, but for earbuds that are centred on dynamic and well-defined audio offerings, these earbuds are really all you need.
Disney Store is beta testing a new AI Personal Shopping Assistant
The conversational tool can recommend products, gifts, and other items
I tried it early, and it's very knowledgeable about Disney's universes
If you've used the Disney Store app recently, you'll know it’s been getting a steady stream of updates over the past few months — from push notifications for limited-edition drops to a faster, easier-to-navigate interface.
Now Disney Store is taking another step forward with a feature designed to make finding the right product feel a little more intuitive — and we have an exclusive first look. It’s dubbed the Disney Store AI Personal Shopping Assistant, and it’s a conversational AI shopping tool built directly into the app. It lets users describe what they’re looking for in natural language rather than relying on traditional keyword search, though the standard search experience will remain in the app.
The shopping assistant is currently live as a beta test for a select portion of signed-in users on the Disney Store iOS app in the United States. Disney says it will continue to learn from usage and refine the experience over time, with expansion to Android, DisneyStore.com, and international markets planned for a later date.
(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
To see how well it works, I first asked it for gift ideas for a niece who loves Jessie from Toy Story, along with some fun toys to go alongside a classic doll. After a short pause, it returned a curated set of suggestions tailored to that character, each with brief explanations for why they fit the prompt. Instead of standard search results, it felt more like a tailored recommendation flow.
On the surface, the assistant doesn't feel like a separate feature bolted onto the app. Instead, it's built directly into the existing search experience. A new magnifying glass icon with a subtle sparkle now sits in the top-left corner of the home screen, taking you into search, where Disney prompts users with "Need ideas? Ask our AI Personal Shopping Assistant."
Once inside, it shifts into a conversational interface. In my testing, it opened with: "Hello Jacob, how can I help?" followed by a handful of suggested prompts to get started. From there, it behaves more like a shopping assistant than a traditional search bar, designed to understand natural language requests — whether you're looking for gifts, planning outfits for a Disney Parks visit, or tracking down merchandise tied to specific characters or franchises.
(Image credit: Disney)
In practice, it feels responsive and surprisingly aware of Disney's wider universe — not just flagship characters like Mickey Mouse or Stitch, but also more obscure references, newer additions to the catalog, and park-related and age-appropriate suggestions.
"Our focus is always on enhancing the guest journey and meeting our fans where they are," said Patrick Sager, VP Disney Stores. "By introducing an AI-powered shopping assistant to the Disney Store app, we're blending storytelling with technology, delivering smarter recommendations, seamless discovery, and a more connected experience, making it easier than ever for guests to find the perfect product."
Items can be expanded for more detail or added directly to a shopping bag, reducing friction between browsing and purchase. The assistant also encourages exploration through follow-up prompts. After an initial query, it suggests refinements like "show Jessie dolls" or "show more plush toys," helping users narrow results without starting over. Of course, you can also type a follow-up or take it in an entirely new direction.
Disney says the assistant was developed in-house and built within its own ecosystem of characters, stories, and products. No guest data was used during development, and that remains the case going forward.
Beyond the conversational layer, Disney has also built in standard usability features: thumbs up/down ratings — which will likely be used to refine the experience over time — the ability to clear the chat at any time, and a light and dark mode toggle.
The Disney Store AI Personal Shopping Assistant feels like an early pilot feature in Disney’s broader push into AI-powered experiences — one that follows recently announced AI enhancements within the My Disney Experience app at Walt Disney World, as well as Disney’s departure from its deal with OpenAI.
While those efforts focus on planning and in-park experiences, the Disney Store implementation brings the same idea into retail. The common thread is that Disney appears to be exploring how AI can support different parts of its ecosystem, using conversational tools to surface products while still keeping everything anchored in the characters and worlds that define the brand.
At this stage, it still feels experimental in places rather than fully defined, but it’s clear Disney has put thought into how it integrates into the existing shopping experience rather than simply layering on a generic AI chatbot. I’m very curious to see how it evolves as new characters or franchises are introduced, as we see new product launches, and as we get closer to the holiday season. Who knows, maybe Disney will add a deal alert or restock functionality.
If you give it a go, let me know what you think of the experience in the comments below.
It's the 35th anniversary of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise this year, with the blue blur having launched all the way back in 1991.
It's fair to say that the series has had its ups and downs, but it's definitely in a strong spot at the moment. Recent releases like Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds and Sonic x Shadow Generations have been absolutely excellent, and the last few years saw the launch of an official Lego line based on the franchise.
Whether you're a long-time Sonic fan or more of a newcomer, there are loads to dive into, and I've spent some of my time today rounding up the best Sonic games and Lego sets out there right now. Many of them are even discounted as part of the ongoing Amazon Prime Day sales.
In 2026 it can feel a little like VR’s moment has passed.
Meta’s layoffs to kick off the year felt like a major downer for the industry at large — especially as it has been the champion of this space for years now — and it certainly seems that smart glasses like the Meta Ray-Bans but also Snap Specs, Android XR glasses, and more that have debuted this year are stealing the XR spotlight.
But VR is far from dead. Sure it might not be seeing the growth it once saw but sa a gaming and entertainment machine that tech is only getting better each day.
Plus with some Meta Quest 3S deals at Amazon Prime Day you can save big on the best affordable VR hardware out there.
The Meta Quest 3S is an incredible, cheap VR headset, but let's just ignore the fact that this deal just undoes the recent price hikes caused by the RAM crisis.View Deal
If you want a VR headset and are on a budget you can't do better than the Meta Quest 3S. Is this Prime Day deal really a deal? Not really, but that doesn't stop the headset being incredible value for money.View Deal
This headset is technically as capable as a Meta Quest 3, meaning the 3S can handle whatever software the Quest ecosystem might want to throw at it — and that’s a broad list.
There’s plenty of VR games to jump into including Marvel’s Deadpool, Batman:Arkham Shadow, Walkabout Minigolf, and Beat Saber to name just a few. Plus there are fitness apps — which when combined with a silicone facial interface turn your headset into an actually enjoyable home gym — and a growing collection of streaming services which turn your headset into a private home theatre, you can even kick back in bed and enjoy watching the screen as if it were affixed to your ceiling.
With game console price hikes making gaming pricier than ever, it’s worth noting your headset can double as an Xbox too — again complete with a giant display. You’ll just need a Game Pass subscription and Xbox controller.
In the US a bonus Quest deal will get you a free month of Xbox Game Pass, while the UK version nets you 20%-off code for an Xbox controller and one month of Game Pass Ultimate after the purchase of a 3S headset.
Price up, prices down
(Image credit: Meta)
The slight elephant in the room we should address with these Prime Day ‘deals’ is they unfortunately aren’t really deals in the truest sense.
Thanks to the RAM crisis the Meta Quest 3 series headsets saw a price hike. The 128GB model Meta Quest 3S went up to $349.99 / £319.99 / AU$569, while the price of the 256GB edition rose to $449.99 / £409.99 / AU$729. The 512GB Meta Quest 3now sets you back $599.99 / £549.99 / AU$969.
These Prime Day deals generally just revert the headset to its pre-hike price. You’ll see a roughly $53 saving, but in actuality it’s closer to $3.
That said, as some pointed out even after the hike, the Quest 3S represents incredible value for money. So sure this discount isn’t as great as it was a year ago before the base cost rose, but the Quest 3S at its original asking price is one of the best deals in tech, so definitely consider grabbing one while the discount is around.
With the RAM crisis and shipping troubles looking set to persist I wouldn’t be surprised if prices rise further, and Black Friday deals might struggle to match even those we have today. Not just for the Meta Quest 3S, but any gadget.
TrophyLab gives verified allies direct access to captured Russian military intelligence
Foreign engineers can now physically disassemble real Russian weapons and missiles
The platform covers armoured vehicles, UAVs, missiles, and electronic warfare systems
Ukraine's Ministry of Defence has launched TrophyLab, a platform giving foreign governments, research institutions, and defence companies direct access to technical intelligence gathered from captured Russian military equipment.
The platform includes technical documentation, research results, blueprints, and analytical findings covering armoured vehicles, missiles, aircraft, UAVs, electronic warfare assets, and cruise missiles.
In a move that breaks sharply from standard military practice, Ukraine is also offering to ship physical hardware samples to allied partners for hands-on examination.
What TrophyLab actually offers and who can access it
Since the beginning of the war, Ukrainian military researchers and scientific institutions have been systematically studying every piece of captured enemy equipment.
That work has produced detailed knowledge of how Russian weapons function, where their weaknesses lie, and what countermeasures can be developed most efficiently against them.
TrophyLab now makes that accumulated intelligence available to Ukrainian defence manufacturers, military units, scientific institutions, and international partners actively supporting Ukraine's war effort.
Its catalogues include armoured vehicles, missiles, aircraft, UAVs, electronic warfare systems, unmanned ground vehicles, and cruise missiles across multiple operational categories, exceeding typical databases.
Access to physical samples goes considerably further than document sharing alone, as the platform supports multiple examination formats, ranging from non-destructive analysis through to complete disassembly and destruction of captured equipment.
That level of access allows foreign engineers to test their own countermeasure solutions directly against real Russian hardware, potentially cutting the development cycle for defensive technologies.
The strategic logic behind making Russian secrets public
Governments typically guard captured enemy technology closely for their own strategic advantage, which makes Ukraine's decision to share it openly with allies a genuinely unusual step in modern warfare.
The decision to open this intelligence reflects a deliberate calculation about how to maximize the collective defensive capability of Ukraine's partners against a common adversary.
Every Russian weapon deployed against Ukraine now becomes a potential source of publicly available technical knowledge for the broader defence community of democratic nations.
Ukraine's framing of the initiative is explicit on this point, describing the knowledge as something that "should work for those who create defence" rather than remaining locked away from allied researchers.
The platform is available to verified users only, suggesting some access controls remain in place despite the broadly open-access philosophy behind the project.
Whether TrophyLab accelerates the development of effective countermeasures at meaningful scale will depend on how actively allied governments and defence contractors engage with the available material.
The more extensively Russia deploys its weapons arsenal against Ukraine, the larger and more detailed that shared intelligence base becomes.
This may bring a new dimension to the deployment of Russian technology, since any captured equipment could now instantly become public knowledge through TrophyLab.
Workday's AI screening software under fire for discriminatory biases
Hirers usually bear the responsibility, but human-replacing software could be responsible
The case must also consider AI much more broadly, including historical biases and shifting responsibilities
During a June 2026 hearing, Judge Rita Lin implied she might be likely to reject Workday's latest attempt to dismiss claims brought under California law relating to a 2023 discrimination case.
Three years ago, Derek Mobley accused the company of rejecting him from more than 100 jobs after applying through he company's recruitment systems on the basis that he is black, over 40 years old and has anxiety and depression.
But rather than suing the individual employers, Mobley is pursuing action against Workday itself, arguing its AI-powered hiring software is responsible for discriminatory action.
Workday is on track to face legal action over AI-powered hiring software
Workday has argued that California employment discrimination laws should not apply when applicants live – or jobs are located – outside of California.
Reuters notes that more than four in five US employers and nearly all Fortune 500 companies now use AI-powered hiring or applicant-screening tools, and the ongoing case marks an important potential shift in its regulation.
Previously, employers have been liable for discriminatory hiring, but the lawsuit is now exploring whether software developers and AI vendors should bear some responsibility.
In an earlier 2024 hearing, the judge questioned whether Workday may also qualify as an employer because it performs screening tasks that would usually be carried out by human workers in HR teams.
While this specific case relates to Workday, the court must also explore how training data can affect biases and who bears responsibility for the outcome – the results could have a much bigger impact than just a fine for Workday.
"Our technology looks only at job qualifications, not protected traits like race, age, or disability," the company added in a statement.
Back in 2025, we reviewed the 65-inch model, the 65S90F, and said, "The Samsung 65S90F delivers much of the performance of Samsung’s flagship OLED TV for far less money, making it a true 2025 TV hero."
The combination of excellent picture quality and strong connectivity chops would appear to make it a perfect fit for its newest app: Instagram for TV.
The app, by the way, looks almost exactly like your standard Instagram interface on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (or your iPhone), but Instagram is testing something new that might do a better job of showing off the OLED's excellent, rich contrast, pure RGB colors, and strong viewing angles (a feature of most OLEDs): horizontal video.
So for those who find themselves viewing more and more landscape video on the mobile app, they will soon enjoy similar full-screen social video courtesy of Instagram on their Samsung TVs (provided it's a new enough model).
Samsung's S90F OLED TV earned five stars in our review, and, though smaller, the 48S90F shares all the same excellent features. Now Amazon has it at a huge $600 discount. The S90F OLED TV delivers an outstanding picture, thanks to quantum dot OLED technology and Samsung's NQ4 AI Gen3 processor. You're also getting extensive gaming features and Samsung's impressive Tizen operating system.
Granted, social video via Instagram is probably not reason enough to pick up this Samsung set, but the specs, including a powerful NQ4 AI Gen3 processor, Dolby Atmos, fit-anywhere 48-inch screen size, and the current sub-$800 price, probably are.
Amid all the 10%-to-20% discounts, this is the kind of Prime Day deal we dream of. 43% is hovering in the half-off range, and for a near-top-of-the-line set, that's something to celebrate. Perhaps you'll do it with an Instagram post that you share with friends and watch on your new Samsung S90F. It's a full-circle Prime Day moment.
Here in the UK, it's been absolutely sweltering for the past couple of days. It's even got to the point where schools and other institutions are shutting down, with red weather warnings popping up around the country. I have to say, even working from home in this heat can be quite the challenge — but there's something you can do to make your life a lot easier: snap up a shiny new misting fan.
That's right, I recently got my hands on the Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S, and it's been an absolute lifesaver. This affordable device has kept me cool, even at the hottest times of day. It's mess-free, has a number of different speed settings, can oscillate, and there's even a turbo mode if you need to get a real blast of cold.
I'll include more details about the fan below, as well as a few alternatives to keep you nice and cool, whether you're in the UK or beyond.
Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S — US best price
Over in the US, you can grab the Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S for less than $100, which is a great price considering its talents. It's a desktop fan with mess-free misting, various control modes, 12 speed settings, and Turbo cooling tech that's sure to keep you chilled on the hottest of days.View Deal
Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S — UK best price
The Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S is a great desktop fan that will keep you nice and chilled in the sizzling summer sun. It has 12 speed modes, Turbo cooling tech, mess-free misting, and can oscillate to catch every angle. At less than £100, it's well worth the investment.View Deal
In my recently published Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S review, I raved about the model's excellent misting effect, which never creates excess water build-up, as well as its wide variety of control options — including app and voice assistant compatibility — and its generally quiet performance in use.
Does it have massive coverage or the most striking airflow you'll experience? No — it's a desktop fan first and foremost. But given its relatively compact size, it performs very well indeed, and its generous 1.3L water tank means you won't have to refill it too often. As a result, it gets my full recommendation.
Still, a lot of misting fans are selling out pretty quickly in the UK, and more generally, you may fancy checking out a few other options. As a result, I've found a few alternatives that you can check out. Just scroll down to see a few more options for fending off excessive heat this summer.
More fans to check out — US
The Shark 3-in-1 ChillPill received a fantastic 4.5 stars in our recent review. It's a great performing fan with effective misting, and it's an excellent alternative to the Dreo if you've got a little more wiggle-room in your budget.View Deal
If you really want to take things up a notch then I've got yet another Shark fan that could be ideal for you: the FlexBreeze Pro Mist. This one's fantastic for indoor or outdoor use, and has a 24 hour battery life too, although it can be plugged in and used if you run dry. View Deal
More fans to check out — UK
Shark's 3-in-1 ChillPill earned a solid score of 4.5 stars in our recent review. Now, only one colourway is on sale right now, and they did inflate the list price to make it look like a big deal, but the actual offer of £10 off on a brand-new product that mists, cools, and fans is still pretty neat.View Deal
The Pro Mist is the most hardcore option in the FlexBreeze lineup, because it comes with the mister attachment and an integrated water tank included. That means it's all set up to envelop you in a cooling cloud whenever and wherever you want.View Deal
I've spent most of my life drifting from one fleeting entanglement to another, never really taking the risk to actually invest in something significant. But then, four months ago, I finally made a real commitment: my life changed for the better and I haven't looked back since. That's right, I finally bought myself a premium gaming controller. And, this Prime Day, I think should take the leap too.
But there are lots of great PC and Xbox controllers out there, so how do you know when you've found the one? Trust me: when you know, you know. And for me, that controller is the Asus ROG Raikiri II.
If you want a super low-latency, wireless controller for PC or Xbox, the Asus ROG Raikiri II is an excellent choice, thanks to its great feature-set and impressive build. And while it usually has a unflinchingly high price tag, you're currently in luck, as right now you can pick up the ROG Raikiri II at Amazon for $189.99 (was $143.99). In my book, that turns it from a strong candidate to an absolute must-have.
There are so many reasons I'm impressed with the Asus ROG Raikiri II. Wonderfully clicky face buttons. Dual-mode, TMR triggers and TMR thumbsticks. Impressively low latency. And I'm even more impressed now it's a huge $46 off.
I've not exactly tried to hide my love for this controller, as you can see from my Asus ROG Raikiri II review. I gave it a glowing 4.5 stars, thanks to its compelling features.
Those dual-mode triggers mean you can easily set it to a shallow tap for clicking heads in shooters or set them to their full range for granular control over your accelerator for driving games.
The thumbsticks also feel wonderfully precise, making it easy to sneak past fascists on Indiana Jones and The Great Circle. Also, its 2.4GHz wireless connectivity offers super low-latency of just 2.3ms, making it always feel really responsive.
And when it comes to design, it's no less impressive. It feels solidly built in your hand and comes with its own charging dock and replacement thumbsticks. Meanwhile, its customizable RGB lightning adds just enough flair without it feel overdone or garish. Finally, ROG's Gear Link software allows to set response curves for its sticks and triggers and changes its lighting patterns. Not bad for less that $150 / £200.
Want to peruse some other controllers before making your decision? Then check out our guide to the best PC controllers. Alternatively, keep an eye on our Amazon Prime Day live blog for all the latest deals as we unearth them.
Xsolis confirmed a phishing‑enabled breach on Jan 22, 2026, exposing data of 1.39M individuals
Stolen info includes names, addresses, DOBs, SSNs, health insurance, and medical treatment details; no ransom demands or dark web leaks yet
Customers offered free credit monitoring and identity theft protection, with warnings to watch for phishing and fraud attempts
Healthcare technology company Xsolis disclosed a cyberattack in which it lost sensitive data on almost 1.4 million customers.
Xsolis is a company that uses AI to help healthcare organizations make faster and more consistent decisions about patient care and utilization management. Earlier this week, it published a data breach notification on its website, saying that it spotted the intrusion on January 22, 2026.
Apparently, after a successful phishing attack on one of its employees two days earlier, the attackers were able to access a “limited portion” of the Xsolis environment, from which they were able to exfiltrate people’s names, addresses, dates of birth, health insurance information, Social Security numbers, and medical treatment information.
Almost 1.4 million victims
This level of information is more than enough information to target these individuals with phishing or even steal their identity for more disruptive attacks elsewhere.
In a filing with the US Department of Health and Human Services, Xsolis confirmed that 1,396,519 individuals were affected by this breach.
“We have taken steps to address the incident and are committed to protecting the information entrusted to us,” Xsolis said in the announcement. “Upon learning of this incident, we immediately began an investigation and reported the incident to law enforcement. We also implemented additional safeguards to further enhance the security of information in our possession and to help prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.”
So far, there is no evidence of the data being used in follow-up attacks, or being offered on the dark web. No threat actors have yet claimed responsibility for the attack, and no one has yet demanded ransom in exchange for the files.
Xsolis told its customers to be wary of incoming messages, especially those pretending to be from the company, or using it in any other context. Customers are also offered free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services, as well as fraud alerts and credit freezes.
They say you need to own at least 1,000 to constitute a home library, and while I love a compelling novel as much as the next bookworm, finding the space is tricky — but that's why we have the Amazon Kindle, a budget-friendly e-reader that just got even cheaper this Amazon Prime Day.
I've always enjoyed physical books, simply because nothing quite beats the feeling of achievement you feel at the close of the final page. I have a summer getaway coming up, and reading by the poolside or at the beach is one of the best forms of relaxation.
Prime Day discounts on the 2024 Kindle don't come as generous as they do during Black Friday, but you won't come across a better deal at any other time of year. For Amazon's most recent standard version Kindle, $85 isn't the worst price for an e-reader that covers the basics, but it has been cheaper in the past. View Deal
Likewise with Amazon UK, the 2024 Kindle generally gets a better deal at Black Friday, but Prime Day is a very close second. Given it's £55 cheaper than the Paperwhite, this is clearly a better pick for the infrequent reader who's after a more budget-friendly option.View Deal
Amazon has some of the best e-readers out there, and they range from basic models to more advanced ones like the Kindle Scribe which are designed for note-taking and productivity. But they're often very pricey, even after a Prime Day discount is applied.
The 2024 Kindle is our best budget e-reader even when it's not Prime Day, and it's an ideal model if you're only after reading tools and not the bells and whistles of its Scribe sibling. This model is also not a bulky device that's going to take up loads of room when on the move (it has an easy-to-read 6-inch screen).
Additionally, many previous-generation Kindle owners may not be too thrilled with Amazon's recent decisions to axe support for older devices, even though you're still using them despite their declining functionality. If an upgrade is what you're looking for, we believe the performance alone will be worth your while.
It's big game time at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as England take on Ghana on a night which could see the Three Lions seal qualification to the knockouts – and just because you're a UK expat it doesn't mean that you can't still enjoy watching Thomas Tuchel's men for free on BBC iPlayer just like you would back in Blighty.
So long as you're a license fee payer, you've every right to enjoy the Beeb's British commentary and support from your sunny spot in Dubai, Saudi, Singapore or wherever else you may be.
Just use a VPN, choose a UK server to connect to in the app, and then head to iPlayer and get streaming straight away, just like everyone else back in England.
If you don't have a VPN, then we recommend NordVPN. We've rated it as the best VPN for streaming as well as the best VPN overall for more than two years now. Sign-up, install it on your laptop and away you go.
NordVPN: Stream England vs Ghana and everything on iPlayer NordVPN is the best streaming VPN available. Use it to set your computer to appear to be in a United Kingdom location and then watch anything you like on BBC iPlayer as usual, including England vs Ghana. NordVPN costs $3.49 per month and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, just in case you don't get along with it. Try the NordVPN Plus plan if you want to add scam protection too.View Deal
NordVPN comes with 24/7 live chat support just in case you have any difficulties getting connected. It also offers a tonne of scam protection features too if that's of interest to you beyond streaming.
VPNs are completely legal to use in all but the most draconian of countries. They're excellent for streaming your regular shows wherever your travel and providing privacy and protection from prying eyes for all of your online activities.
If you want to keep up with the World Cup wherever you go, or get hold of a secure streaming connection, then you have a few options.
The standard method is to use a VPN on a laptop or mobile device, and then use a HDMI cable to connect the device to your TV and display the image, effectively turning the TV into a monitor.
You could also try wireless casting via AirPlay, Chromecast, or Windows’ Miracast, but the experience is rarely as straightforward as your TV maker or the casting technology pretends it is. It all takes precious fiddling around time and that's time that your World Cup watch party guests will not be willing to wait.
Instead, turn to your hardware and try out your VPN provider's native TV apps or its apps for media streamers like Fire Sticks or Apple TV boxes. For most of these devices, it's incredibly simple to get going. Go to their app stores, find your VPN provider and install.
Then, just set your server location to the UK or Australia or wherever else you need to tune in, as usual, and then head to your regular streaming app – whether that's BBC iPlayer, ITVX, SBS or wherever else you find your free World Cup live streams.
And, if you don't already have a World Cup VPN, then you might want to try Norton VPN at the moment. It's a great streaming VPN and the only one to offer a 60-day money-back guarantee. That's more than enough to iron out any teething issues and will also see you through to the end of the World Cup itself.
Watch free World Cup streams without limits using Norton VPN and its apps for Fire Stick, Apple TV and smart TVs. It delivers fast, secure connections with global servers, so you can stream from anywhere with ease.
💰 60-day money-back guarantee 🔓 Unlocks free World Cup games
Of course, there are other options if Norton VPN isn’t to your liking. ExpressVPN is a solid pick for TV streaming, thanks to support for multiple platforms and intuitive Smart DNS capability – the last of which is a good solution for TVs that don’t support VPNs as standard.
As a rule of thumb, if your TV OS is Android TV, you should find it easy to set up the VPN direct on your TV set. If you've got a Samsung or an LG and would rather keep things simple, then your Fire Stick or Apple TV box is best.
I’ve tested a lot — and I mean a lot — of the best Bluetooth speakers. More than 50 to be exact. And if we’re talking about sheer popularity, then one brand is the clear and obvious top dog: JBL. For good reason too. In my years of testing, I’ve found that JBL regularly delivers the ideal blend of quality and affordability, regularly producing Bluetooth speakers with great sound and impressive durability at an easy-to-stomach price.
JBL also makes loads of different options, so I though I'd help you narrow things down a bit, and have picked out three JBL speakers I’d actually spend my own money on — with speakers for all budgets.
I’ve selected a small, budget-friendly speaker, a mid-priced maestro, and a premium pick that’s ideal for parties — there really is something here for everyone. If a speaker hasn't make this list, it’s by no means a vote of no confidence; this is simply a list of the three I’d personally grab right now.
1. JBL Go 5
(Image credit: Future)
Let’s start with the small yet mighty JBL Go 5, which I recently reviewed and rated five stars. The Go 5 is, in my view, the best small speaker on the market right now, offering clear, precise, and well-balanced sound, alongside an extremely hardy build, and a stellar feature-set.
As a mini speaker, the Go 5 won’t be able to belt out earth-shaking bass, but it plays to its strengths. Low-end sound is agile and punchy rather than ‘boomy’ and uncontrolled. Meanwhile, mids are clear and composed, and treble is highly articulate, resulting in great sound within a small package.
There’s also USB-C audio for lossless playback and EQ options to tailor audio to your specific tastes. The Go 5 has a more layered, full sound than its predecessor, the JBL Go 4, so if you own that model, I’d still recommend upgrading.
Another reason to opt for the Go 5 over the Go 4 is its design. The newer variant is equipped with edge lighting that makes listening to music even more immersive — especially in low-lit rooms if you want a bit of ambience. Waterproofing also got a boost to IP68, meaning the Go 5 is fully dustproof and capable of surviving a 1.5 meter dunking underwater for as long as 30 minutes — ideal for beach trips and pool parties.
Mix in solid battery life, Auracast compatibility, as well as a drop proof exterior, and the JBL Go 5 really is the full package — albeit a small-sized one. It’s typically available for $54.95 / £39.99 (about AU$75) as well, meaning it’s an absolute bargain.
2. JBL Flip 7
(Image credit: Future)
If we’re talking about value for money, then the JBL Flip 7 might just be the greatest Bluetooth speaker I’ve ever tested. Big statement, I know.
The reason for this is actually fairly simple: the sound it produces defies belief — not only based on the speaker’s low price, but also on its low footprint. Yes, the five-star Flip 7 is very compact, but it produces big, impactful sound, with strikingly impactful bass that demands your attention. But this doesn’t come at the expense of the rest of the frequency range. Mids are layered and intricate with vocals sounding especially well-defined, while treble sounds exert a level of expressiveness that’s beyond expectation.
Elsewhere, the Flip 7 carries over a lot of the Go 5’s greatest features, like an IP68 rating, USB-C audio, Auracast, and PlayTime Boost if you need a bit more battery life — though the standard 14 hours should get you a decent way. Sure, there’s no edge lighting on this one, but it's a clear step-up in terms of sound quality and power — it has a 35W maximum power output compared to the Go 5’s humble 4.8W.
At $149 / £129 / AU$179, the Flip 7 already overdelivers against its asking price, but I’ve seen it pop up on sale plenty of times, so keep your eye out for a sweet deal.
3. JBL Xtreme 5
(Image credit: Future)
Last but most definitely not least, I have the JBL Xtreme 5. If you’re working with a larger budget, want massive sound, or want a speaker for parties, then this one’s for you. This model was released alongside the Go 5, so I also reviewed it very recently, and like its small counterpart, it earned a glowing five-star review.
But what makes the Xtreme 5 so special? Of course it has all of the aforementioned features, whether that be IP68 dust and waterproofing, wired lossless playback or personalizable EQ. But the big difference is made in the audio department.
The Xtreme 5 has a massive maximum power output of 130W, meaning it can supply seismic sound, with thumping bass, driven and direct mids, and vibrant highs. Although it's a great performer all-round, it really is the low-end that wows. I described this model’s bass as “mesmerizing” in my review, and during testing I was blown away by the sheer might of its low-end output, which was significantly improved from the JBL Xtreme 4.
In addition, the Xtreme can squeeze out up to 28 hours of playtime, has JBL EasySing Mic compatibility for karaoke, and like the Go 5 it has customizable LED lighting. If you want the ultimate portable party speaker, look no further than this. The Xtreme 5 usually sells for $399.95 / £329.99 (about AU$560), which is very competitive in the upper echelons of the Bluetooth speaker market, although it's undoubtedly quite the investment.
Gençlik ve Spor Şile İlçe Müdürlüğü, İstanbul Binicilik Kulübü ve Şile Tenis Kulübü'nün iş birliğiyle düzenlenen Şile Beach Jumping Etkinliği, Kumbaba Sahili'nde sporseverlere unutulmaz anlar yaşattı. Engel atlama gösterilerinin sahne aldığı organizasyonda başarılı sporcular madalyalarına kavuştu. Şile Beach Jumping etkinliğine katılan biniciler madalyalarını, Gençlik ve Spor Şile İlçe Müdürü Bedrettin Naim Arslan'ın elinden aldı.
Şile'de sporun farklı branşlarını bir araya getiren etkinliklere bir yenisi daha eklendi. Gençlik ve Spor Şile İlçe Müdürlüğü, İstanbul Binicilik Kulübü ve Şile Tenis Kulübü'nün destekleriyle gerçekleştirilen Şile Beach Jumping Etkinliği, Kumbaba Sahili'nde büyük ilgi gördü.
Marin Beach Otel önünde özel olarak hazırlanan manej alanında düzenlenen organizasyonda, İstanbul Binicilik Kulübü'nün lisanslı sporcuları engel atlama performanslarıyla izleyenlere heyecan dolu anlar yaşattı.
İstanbul Binicilik Kulübü tarafından organize edilen etkinlikte, kulübün sporcuları, eğitmenleri ve seyis ekibi yer aldı. Yaklaşık 10 sporcunun katılımıyla gerçekleştirilen parkur çalışması, hem binicilik sporunun tanıtılmasına hem de gençlerin spora olan ilgisinin artırılmasına katkı sağladı.
Etkinliğin sonunda dereceye giren ve gösterilere katılan sporculara madalyaları, Gençlik ve Spor Şile İlçe Müdürü Bedrettin Naim Arslan tarafından takdim edildi.
Şile Beach Jumping Etkinliği, sahil atmosferiyle binicilik sporunu buluşturarak hem sporcular hem de izleyiciler için renkli görüntülere sahne oldu.
2026 Dünya Kupası'ndaki Almanya maçında sakatlanarak Galatasaraylı taraftarları korkutan Wilfried Singo'nun sağlık kontrolleri temiz çıktı.
2026 Dünya Kupası grup aşamasındaki Fildişi Sahili - Almanya maçında sakatlanan Singo, oyunu yarıda bırakmak zorunda kalmış ve sarı-kırmızılı camiada büyük endişe yaratmıştı.
Fildişi Sahili Futbol Federasyonu'ndan yapılan detaylı kontrollerin ardından şu açıklamayı yaptı...
- 2026 Dünya Kupası grup aşamasının ikinci maçında Fildişi Sahili ile Almanya arasında oynanan karşılaşmada sakatlanarak oyundan çıkan Wilfried Singo, 22 Haziran Pazartesi günü ek sağlık kontrollerinden geçti.
- Bu kontrollerin sonuçları olumlu çıktı. Milli takım sağlık ekibine göre Fildişili savunmacı, en iyi şekilde iyileşmesi için birkaç gün dinlenecek ve tedavi görecek.
- Fildişi Sahili Futbol Federasyonu ile Fildişi Sahili Milli Takımı'nın tüm teknik ekibi, kendisine acil şifalar dilerken sağlık durumundaki gelişmeleri yakından takip edecek.
Wilfried Singo'dan da açıklama geldi:
- Ailem, tüm destek mesajlarınız için teşekkür ederim, beni gerçekten çok mutlu etti. Çok şükür ciddi bir şey yok. Mücadeleye devam etmek için yakında geri döneceğiz.
Kocaelispor, Kayserispor'dan ayrılan 31 yaşındaki tecrübeli kaleci Onurcan Piri ile 1 yıllık sözleşme imzalayarak kalesini güçlendirdi.
Kocaelispor, Kayserispor ile yollarını ayıran tecrübeli kaleci Onurcan Piri'yi kadrosuna kattı. Yeşil-siyahlı kulüp, 31 yaşındaki file bekçisi ileKocaelispor, Kayserispor'dan ayrılan 31 yaşındaki tecrübeli kaleci Onurcan Piri ile 1 yıllık sözleşme imzalayarak kalesini güçlendirdi. 1 yıllık sözleşme imzaladı.
Yeni sezon öncesi transfer çalışmalarına hız kesmeden devam eden Kocaelispor, kalesini sağlama aldı. Kulüpten yapılan resmi açıklamada, son olarak Süper Lig ekibi Kayserispor forması giyen Onurcan Piri ile her konuda anlaşmaya varıldığı belirtildi.
Kulüp binasında düzenlenen imza töreninde kendisini 1 yıllığına yeşil-siyahlı renklere bağlayan sözleşmeye imza atan deneyimli kaleci, transferin ardından takımla birlikte çalışmalara başlamak üzere kampa katılacak.
Türkiye Voleybol Federasyonunun düzenlemiş olduğu İstanbul alt yapı liglerinde yerel maçlar 21 Haziran 2026 Pazar günü tamamlandı. Ertesi gün liglerin tescillenmesiyle beraber İstanbul'da en fazla bölge ve İstanbul derecesi elde eden kulüp SET Voleybol Kulübü oldu.
SET Voleybol Kulübü aynı zamanda 21 Haziran Pazar günü 50. Yıl Deniz Esinduy voleybol salonunda Küçük Kızlar 1. Ligi İstanbul Finali müsabakasına çıktı. Finalde, Galatasaray Spor Kulübü karşısında 3-0 kazanarak İstanbul Şampiyonu oldu.
Alt yapının tüm kategorilerinde çeşitli dereceler elde eden kulüp, İstanbul’un en fazla kupa ve madalya kazanan kulübü olarak ve ödül törenine 76 sporcuyla katılarak rekor kırdı.
SET Voleybol Kulübü’nün 2025-2026 sezonunda başardığı dereceler ve şampiyonluklar şu şekilde;
TVF İstanbul Mini Voleybol Ligi - İstanbul Avrupa Yakası üçüncüsü (Mini A Takım)
TVF Midi Kızlar İstanbul 1. Ligi - İstanbul 3. Bölge İkincisi (Midi A Takım)
TVF Küçük Kızlar İstanbul 1. Ligi - İstanbul 3. Bölge Şampiyonu (Küçük A Takım)
TVF Küçük Kızlar İstanbul 1. Ligi - İstanbul Avrupa Yakası Şampiyonu (Küçük A Takım)
TVF Küçük Kızlar İstanbul 1. Ligi - İstanbul Şampiyonu (Küçük A Takım)
TVF Küçük Kızlar İstanbul Gelişim Ligi - 3. Bölge üçüncüsü (Küçük B Takım)
TVF Yıldız Kızlar İstanbul 1. Ligi - İstanbul 3. Bölge üçüncüsü (Yıldız A Takım)
TVF Genç Kızlar İstanbul 1. Ligi - İstanbul 3. Bölge üçüncüsü (Genç A Takım)
TVF Büyük Kadınlar Ligi İstanbul üçüncüsü (A Takım)
“SET Voleybol Kulübü olarak 2025-2026 sezonunda alt yapının tüm kategorilerinde ve a takımımızla İstanbul’un en fazla derece elde eden kulübü olduk. Bu sezonun sonunu Galatasaray ile oynanan İstanbul Finali’nde rakibimizi 3-0 yenerek İstanbul Şampiyonu apoletimizle taçlandırdık. Uzun ve stresli geçen bir sezonda kulübümüz sporcularından tam 76 kişiye kupa ve madalya kazandırdık.
Buradaki en önemli detay kesinlikle bütün kategorilere aynı sabır ve özveriyle çalışıp tek bir jenerasyona bağlı kalmadan sürekli Türk Voleybol’una elit seviyede oyuncu yetiştirmeye çalışıyoruz. Bunun yanında her sene spor okullarımızda yüzlerce minik sporculara hem sporu sevdiriyor hem de onlara sporcu olma konusunda profesyonelce yardım ediyoruz. Bu sistemle çok daha iyi işler başarabileceğimize inanıyoruz. Bizlere güvenip çocuklarını emanet eden ve sabreden bütün velilerimize de çok teşekkür ediyoruz”
There are plenty of great deals out during Amazon's Prime Day 2026 sales event, with discounts on Intel, AMD, and Nvidia's latest mobile hardware. We're constantly combing through the best deals across multiple retailers, backing up our deal selections with in-depth reviews, benchmarks, and comprehensive historical pricing analysis. We're checking deals around the clock to find the best options and keep this page up to date, but please note that they often won't last long, so you'll need to act quickly.
There may also be some older laptops, which you should definitely avoid. For instance, anything older than one generation is better off avoided. If you have the cash, spring for a system with a GPU that has at least 8GB of VRAM, as well as 16GB of RAM and at least 512GB of storage. If the deal doesn't meet the RAM or storage requirements, consider upgrading the RAM or storage later, but first, make sure the laptop is upgradeable.
A superb budget gaming laptop with enough power to breeze through the latest games. This large 16-inch laptop features an AMD Ryzen 7 260 processor, an Nvidia RTX 5060 GPU, a 165Hz display, 16 GB of RAM, and a 1 TB SSD —a sleek, well-rounded laptop built for performance and value. (model: 3VHK3US894SH)View Deal
This Acer Predator Helios AI deal features an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 laptop GPU with 24GB of fast GDDR7 VRAM, 32GB of RAM, and 2TB of SSD storage. It's a powerful gaming laptop with an imposing 16-inch OLED display and blazing-fast 240Hz refresh rate. View Deal
In a Best Buy limited-time deal, you can pick up this Acer Nitro V 16 gaming laptop with RTX 5070 GPU for a sweet $50 off. Other specs include a 16-inch FHD+ screen with an Intel Core 7 240H CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD for storage. View Deal
Lenovo's Legion 5i gaming laptop contains an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX 24-core processor and Nvidia RTX 5070 GPU with 8GB of GDDR7 VRAM, 32GB of DDR5 memory, and a 1TB M.2 SSD for storage. View your games and media content on the gorgeous 15.1-inch OLED display with a fast 165Hz refresh rate. View Deal
This super-powerful gaming laptop packs the world's most powerful gaming GPU. Inside the Legion Pro 7i is Nvidia's RTX 5090 GPU with 24GB of GDDR7 VRAM, a 24-core Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, a 1TB SSD, and WiFi 7. Games will look and play great on the 16-inch 2560 x 1600 pixel WQXGA OLED screen with blistering 240Hz refresh rate.View Deal
This 16-inch Aero X16 from Gigabyte packs an Nvidia RTX 5070 into its compact frame, along with an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. The screen resolution of this laptop is 2560 x 1600 pixels, with a 165Hz refresh rate. On sale, this laptop offers excellent performance for the price and can double as both a work and a gaming laptop.View Deal
Our first Acer Predator Helios Neo 18 AI deal features an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti laptop GPU with 12GB of fast GDDR7 VRAM, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD. It's a massive gaming laptop with an imposing 18-inch IPS display and blazing-fast 240Hz refresh rate. View Deal
This slightly beefier version uses the same screen, Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, and Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti GPU, but upgrades the DDR5 RAM to 32GB and doubles the storage capacity with a 2TB Gen 4 SSD. View Deal
This model of the Rog Strix G16 from Asus comes with a screen measuring 16 inches, with an FHD+ resolution, a 16:10 screen ratio, and refresh and response rates of 165Hz and 3ms, respectively. Hardware inside this gaming laptop includes Nvidia's GeForce RTX 5060 laptop GPU, an Intel Core i7 14650HX processor, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB Gen 4 SSD for storage. For online gaming, the laptop has Wi-Fi 7 built in. View Deal
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The same specs as the model above, but with the RTX 5090 swapped out for an RTX 5080, saving you a bit of cash if you don't need the world's best laptop GPU in your rig.View Deal
This Omen laptop variant keeps an almost identical component specs list, but swaps the Intel CPU for the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 CPU. This model still uses the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 GPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD. View Deal
This gaming laptop packs an Intel CPU (Core i7-14650HX), an Nvidia RTX 5070 GPU, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD for storage. Experience crisp visuals on the compact 15.6-inch screen, thanks to a tight QHD resolution and fast 165Hz refresh rate. View Deal
This Acer Nitro V 15 includes a 10-core Intel Core i7-13620H CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 GPU, 15.6-inch FHD IPS 165Hz display, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, a 512GB Gen 4 SSD, and Wi-Fi 6 support. There's room to expand here, too, with support to upgrade to 32GB of RAM and an even bigger SSD further down the line.View Deal
This Acer Nitro V 16 AI laptop includes an AMD Ryzen AI 5 240 processor with six cores, along with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 GPU, 16-inch WUXGA IPS 180Hz display, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, a 512GB Gen 4 SSD, and Wi-Fi 6E support. You can also upgrade to 32GB of RAM and a larger SSD.View Deal
This monster of a gaming laptop from Gigabyte features an RTX 5090 mobile GPU, along with a huge 24-core Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU. A 2TB SSD for storage is included, as is 32GB of DDR5 RAM. The 16-inch OLED display supports a 2,560 x 1,600 screen resolution and a refresh rate up to 240Hz.
This RTX 5060 laptop from Asus features a 14th Gen Intel Core processor, 32GB of RAM, and a roomy 1TB SSD. The 1920 x 1200 screen is plenty for the power behind this mobile GPU.View Deal
The RTX 4050 is Nvidia's last-gen entry-level GPU, but it's still powerful enough for gaming at 1080p in most games on medium graphics presets. The 15.6-inch screen on this HP Victus laptop supports a 144Hz refresh rate, while 16GB of RAM means you're only compromising on storage, with a 512GB SSD included, along with an AMD Ryzen 7 7445HS CPU.View Deal
This budget-friendly Lenovo LOQ laptop features a brand new Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050, capable of 1080p gaming with DLSS 4 unlocking multi-frame gen. It includes a 10-core Intel Core i5-13450HX CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD.View Deal
This MSI Vector 16 features an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti laptop GPU in a system that's $1,299, which is a great price for that level of graphics. You will get a last-gen AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX, along with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.View Deal
This Asus TUF Gaming A16 gaming laptop boasts an Nvidia RTX 5070, AMD Ryzen 9 270, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. View Deal
You can make massive savings on this RTX 5080 laptop, making it a no-brainer. You also get 32GB of DDR5, 1TB SSD, and Intel's Ultra 9 275HX processor. The display is also upgraded, with a 240Hz refresh rate and 2.5K resolution.View Deal
This 1080p-focused Alienware 16 Aurora model features an Nvidia RTX 5060 GPU, Intel Core 7 240H CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. A large 16-inch screen lets you play your favorite games at a smooth 120Hz for smooth motion gameplay. View Deal
This 15.6-inch MSI Thin 15 gaming laptop is a budget-friendly option, featuring an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, Intel Core i7-13620H CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD.View Deal
Get a deal on this Aurora 16-inch laptop with a 120Hz display. Under the hood, you get a Core 7 240H CPU, 32GB of RAM, and an Nvidia RTX 5060, plus a 1TB SSD. View Deal
This powerful version of the Asus ROG Strix G16 (model: G614FP-DS96) uses a 16-inch "Nebula" screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio, 2.5K resolution, and ultrafast 240Hz refresh rate. Powering this beast of a machine is an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 laptop GPU, AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX CPU, 32GB of DDR5 5600MHz memory, and a 1TB SSD.View Deal
The MSI Katana HX is a solid peforming gaming laptop, featuring an Intel Core i7 CPU and Nvidia RTX 5050 GPU, making for solid 1080p performance on a laptop, and you even get four-zone RGB lighting.View Deal
This 15.1-inch Lenovo gaming laptop features an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 mobile GPU, ready for high frame rates at 1080p, with DLSS 4 support for multi-frame gen. An eight-core AMD Ryzen 7 260 CPU, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD finish off the specs.View Deal
With an AMD Ryzen 5 7235HS and Nvidia RTX 4050, this isn't the most powerful or modern system. But it's priced well. You also get a 512GB SSD and 12GB of RAM.View Deal
With a 15.6-inch 165Hz QHD display, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card, AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS processor, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD, this laptop packs a lot of power into its ultra-slim frame.View Deal
This 15-inch gaming laptop features an Intel Core i7-12650H, an Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD. It has a 15.6-inch 1080p display with a 144 Hz refresh rate.View Deal
This 15.6-inch gaming laptop is powered by an Intel Core i7-12500H processor, GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB PCIe 4.0 SSD. The 15.6-inch IPS display also boasts a 144Hz refresh rate.View Deal
Anthropic’s new Claude Tag brings an always-on AI teammate to Slack. But beyond productivity, the feature is a strategic play to capture organizational context, institutional knowledge, and enterprise workflows.
Stepping up when it matters most, Cristiano Ronaldo struck against Uzbekistan in a tense Group K showdown, cementing a historic World Cup scoring streak that even Messi cannot equal.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have spent nearly two decades rewriting soccer history, but another chapter was added during Portugal’s 2026 World Cup campaign. Stepping up when it matters most, Cristiano Ronaldo struck against Uzbekistan in a tense Group K showdown, cementing a historic World Cup scoring streak that even Messi cannot equal.
Portugal entered the match under pressure after a frustrating 1-1 draw against DR Congo in the opening game. Uzbekistan arrived looking to recover from a 3-1 defeat against Colombia, but Ronaldo’s moment changed the atmosphere and gave Portugal the breakthrough it desperately needed.
The goal also continued one of the most remarkable individual stories in World Cup history. At 41 years old and competing in his sixth tournament, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner once again showed why he remains one of the greatest goalscorers the sport has ever produced.
Ronaldo makes history across six World Cups
Ronaldo’s brace against Uzbekistan completed a unique achievement that separates him from many other legends of the game. The Portugal forward has now scored in every FIFA World Cup he has represented his country in, becoming the first player to find the net across six different editions of the tournament.
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal gestures during the International Friendly match.
His World Cup journey began in Germany in 2006, when he scored against Iran. Since then, he has continued to appear on the scoresheet in every tournament:
World Cup
Goals
Opponent(s)
2006 Germany
1
Iran (Penalty)
2010 South Africa
1
North Korea
2014 Brazil
1
Ghana
2018 Russia
4
Hat-trick vs. Spain, 1 vs. Morocco
2022 Qatar
1
Ghana (Penalty)
2026 United States / Canada / Mexico
2
Uzbekistan
Before the Uzbekistan match, Ronaldo had already become the first male player to score in five different World Cups. The latest goal pushed the record even further and added another historic achievement to an already legendary career.
Why Messi can’t reach Ronaldo’s World Cup scoring record
The rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi has always been built around historic comparisons, and the World Cup has been one of the biggest stages for their competition. While Messi has achieved incredible mil/estones, including winning the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, he does not hold the same record because he failed to score in one edition of the tournament.
Lionel Messi of Argentina.
The 38-year-old has played in six World Cups, but the 2010 tournament in South Africa remains the only exception where he did not score. His World Cup goals have come across the other five editions, including a brilliant 2022 campaign and goals during the 2026 tournament.
World Cup
Goals
Opponent(s)
2006 Germany
1
Serbia and Montenegro
2010 South Africa
0
—
2014 Brazil
4
1 vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1 vs. Iran, 2 vs. Nigeria
2018 Russia
1
Nigeria
2022 Qatar
7
1 vs. Saudi Arabia (Penalty), 1 vs. Mexico, 1 vs. Australia, 1 vs. Netherlands (Penalty), 1 vs. Croatia (Penalty), 2 vs. France (One penalty)
2026 United States / Canada / Mexico
5
Hat-trick vs. Algeria, 2 vs. Austria
The comparison between the two icons remains fascinating. Ronaldo now has 10 World Cup goals across his career, while Messi leads the all-time active player scoring charts with a higher total. However, Ronaldo’s ability to score in every tournament he has entered creates a record of consistency that Messi cannot replicate.
Cristiano Ronaldo (L) of Portugal and Lionel Messi (R) of Argentina.
The legendary 41-year-old forward has finally delivered when his national team needed him most.
Cristiano Ronaldo has once again found himself at the center of soccer history as Portugal faces Uzbekistan in a crucial 2026 World Cup Group K clash. The legendary 41-year-old forward has finally delivered when his national team needed him most.
Portugal entered the game under pressure after a disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo in the opening round, while Uzbekistan arrived searching for a response after a 3-1 defeat against Colombia. With qualification hopes beginning to take shape, both national teams approached the match with very different objectives.
The breakthrough arrived early in the sixth minute, and it came from the player the Selecao das Quinas needed most. Cristiano Ronaldo scored against Uzbekistan to open his 2026 World Cup account, becoming the first player in history to score in six different World Cups. Latching onto a low cross from Joao Cancelo down the right flank, Ronaldo cleverly lost his marker and smashed a powerful first-time finish into the bottom corner.
The stadium erupted as Ronaldo celebrated another unforgettable moment. The goal answered the criticism that followed his performance against DR Congo and reminded everyone why Portugal continues to rely on him on soccer’s biggest stage.
Just half an hour later, Cristiano Ronaldo secured his second. The forward doubled his tally with a precise right-footed finish that went in off the far post. The sequence was engineered by Bruno Fernandes, who advanced through the midfield before delivering an optimally weighted pass into Ronaldo’s path.
Ronaldo breaks Portugal legend Eusebio’s World Cup record
The Uzbekistan brace carries even more significance for Portugal’s history books. Ronaldo reached 10 World Cup goals for Portugal, surpassing the legendary Eusebio as the country’s joint-highest scorer in the competition.
Eusebio famously scored nine goals during the 1966 World Cup, helping Portugal achieve a historic third-place finish. Decades later, Ronaldo joined him at the top of Portugal’s World Cup scoring charts.
The achievement added another milestone to Ronaldo’s extraordinary international career. His World Cup goals have now come across six different tournaments, a level of consistency unmatched in soccer history.
Cristiano Ronaldo #7 of Portugal celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal.
The 975th career goal adds another chapter
Beyond the World Cup record, Ronaldo’s goals also pushed his incredible career tally even higher. The two strikes became Ronaldo’s 975th career goal, extending his position as the highest goalscorer in soccer history.
His numbers across club and country continue to separate him from generations of great players. From Sporting Lisbon to Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, Al Nassr, and Portugal, Ronaldo has built a scoring legacy that continues to grow even in the final years of his career.
Cristiano Ronaldo #7 of Portugal celebrates scoring
Real Madrid'de Jose Mourinho'nun göreve başlamasının ardından gözler Arda Güler'e çevrilirken, İspanyol basını milli futbolcunun yeni sezon planlamasındaki yerini yazdı.
2026 FIFA Dünya Kupası K Grubu'nda futbolseverleri ekran başına kilitleyecek dev bir randevu sahne alıyor. Turnuvadaki ilk maçında yaşadığı sürpriz puan kaybını telafi etmek isteyen ve 1 puanla üçüncü...Devamı için tıklayınız
Portekiz formasıyla Özbekistan filelerini havalandıran Cristiano Ronaldo, Dünya Kupası tarihinde 6 farklı turnuvada gol atan ilk oyuncu oldu.Devamı için tıklayınız
Eastbourne Açık Turnuvası Tek Kadınlar kategorisinde Milli tenisçi Zeynep Sönmez, Harriet Dart'ı 2-1 mağlup ederek 2. tura yükseldi.Devamı için tıklayınız
Futbol üzrə İtaliya yığma komandasının sabiq baş məşqçisi Cennaro Qattuzo bundan sonra A Seriyası təmsilçisi “Latsio”nu çalışdıracaq.
Arena.az bu barədə paytaxt təmsilçisinin mətbuat xidmətinə istinadən xəbər verir.
48 yaşlı mütəxəssislə imzalanmış müqavilənin müddəti açıqlanmayıb. Klubun bəyanatında bildirilir:
“Klub yeni baş məşqçisini səmimi qəlbdən salamlayır və əmindir ki, onun təcrübəsi, peşəkarlığı və məqsədyönlülüyü komandanın qarşıya qoyduğu idman hədəflərinə çatmasına kömək edəcək”.
Qeyd edək ki, Qattuzo son olaraq İtaliya millisini çalışdırıb. O, yığmanın 2026-cı il dünya çempionatının final mərhələsinə vəsiqə qazana bilməməsindən sonra vəzifəsindən ayrılmışdı.
Məşqçilik karyerası ərzində Qattuzo İtaliyanın “Palermo”, “Piza”, “Milan” və “Napoli” klublarını, İsveçrənin “Syon”, Yunanıstanın OFİ, İspaniyanın “Valensiya”, Fransanın “Olimpik” (Marsel) və Xorvatiyanın “Hayduk” komandalarını da çalışdırıb. Onun rəhbərliyi altında “Napoli” 2020-ci ildə İtaliya Kubokunun qalibi olub.
Futbolçu karyerasında isə Cennaro Qattuzo əsasən “Milan”dakı çıxışı ilə yadda qalıb. O, 1999-2012-ci illərdə “rossonerilər”in heyətində 468 oyunda iştirak edib, 11 qol vurub və 19 məhsuldar ötürmə edib. “Milan”la iki dəfə İtaliya çempionu, iki dəfə UEFA Çempionlar Liqasının qalibi olmuş sabiq yarımmüdafiəçi, həmçinin 2006-cı ildə İtaliya millisinin heyətində dünya çempionu titulunu qazanıb.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə klub məlumat yayıb. I liqa təmsilçisi Vüqar Həsənovla müqavilə imzalayıb. Təcrübəli futbolçu ilə 1+1 illik sözləşmə imzalanıb.
Həsənovun son klubu “Şəfa” olub.
“Şahdağ Qusar” daha öncə Elməddin Sultanov, Urfan İsmayılov, Ravil Qafarov, Fəxri Məmmədli, Gülağa Əsədov və Mehrac Baxşalını heyətinə qatıb.
Michael Selig told US cotton producers that the agency’s regulatory approach to crypto perpetual futures may not be a “natural fit for traditional commodity markets, like agriculture.”
As US regulatory changes accelerate the adoption of crypto perpetual futures and rivals Coinbase and Kalshi expand their offerings, Cboe mulls a product overhaul.
The Ethereum Foundation fired 54 employees and unveiled a new organizational structure as Vitalik Buterin said the group plans to reduce its budget by roughly 40%.
“Barselona”nın qapıçısı İnykaki Pena karyerasını Yunanıstanda davam etdirəcək. Msport az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə Kataloniya klubu məlumat yayıb. 27 […]
A new episode of the Football Italia transfer show is live on YouTube: check out the latest updates from a busy day of negotiations in Italian football.
Marco Palestra and Sandro Tonali have been making headlines in recent days, as both are expected to change clubs this summer.
Palestra is close to joining Inter, with his agent travelling to Milan to finalise talks with the Nerazzurri, while Newcastle will soon receive a new offer from Tottenham for Sandro Tonali.
ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: Tarik Muharemovic of Bosnia & Herzegovina competes for the ball with Marco Palestra of Italy during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)
Serie A transfer round-up: June 23
The Italian midfielder is open to a move to Spurs, but according to a report in the Daily Mail, he’d rather join Arsenal, so timing could be crucial here. Both Palestra and Tonali played under Gennaro Gattuso in Italy’s disgraceful World Cup qualifiers, and the Italian tactician has now been appointed by Serie A side Lazio in a two-year deal.
ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: Head coach of Italy Gennaro Gattuso gestures during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)
According to Calciomercato.com, Lucas Bergvall, Tottenham’s central midfielder, was one of the first names mentioned in talks between new Milan coach Amorim and director Almstad. Watch the full show for our analysis and discussion.
Inter are confident they can get a deal done with Atalanta for Marco Palestra worth €50m, but The Athletic claims Chelsea and another Premier League club are not giving up.
The right-back made a big impact when on loan at Cagliari this season and returned to base ready for the next step in his career.
It has been clear for many months that Inter had him as their top target to replace Denzel Dumfries, who is heading for Real Madrid with a release clause of around €20m.
Inter remain Palestra favourites
MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 17: Marco Palestra of Cagliari Calcio in action during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Cagliari Calcio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 17, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
His agent has been in Milan since yesterday for intensive negotiations, with Palestra also giving his preference to Inter over a Premier League move.
Sky Sport Italia say that today Inter presented a formal offer of personal terms to his representative.
Atalanta seem prepared to accept the bid worth €45m plus a further €5m in add-ons, but The Athletic insist that it is not done yet.
David Ornstein maintains that Chelsea and another Premier League club are still in the running, and prepared to make an improved offer to challenge Inter.
It would not be a first choice position for him, as he turns 36 in November, even if he is still making remarkable saves every week.
De Gea has heart set on Manchester United
CREMONA, ITALY – MARCH 16: Federico Bonazzoli of US Cremonese shoots on goal forcing goalkeeper David De Gea of ACF Fiorentina to make a difficult save during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Giovanni Zini on March 16, 2026 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)
According to the Manchester Evening News and Tuttomercatoweb, De Gea has made it clear that he would only be prepared to walk away from the Viola this summer for one destination.
That would be a return to Manchester United, where he had played from 2011 until his contract was allowed to run down in June 2023.
After a year of waiting for the right opportunity, the Spaniard was tempted back to the field by Fiorentina as a free agent in the summer of 2024.
His contract runs to June 2028 and there is an option to extend for a further year, so unless a call comes from Old Trafford, he ought to see out his playing career at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Turkish reports claim that Lazio have made several proposals for Colombia and Al-Nassr striker Jhon Duran, but he is not encouraging.
The 22-year-old has had a rather strange career path, going from Aston Villa to Al-Nassr at a huge fee of €77m, then with loan experiences at Fenerbahce and Zenit St. Petersburg.
He remains under contract with the Saudi side until June 2030, so another loan is entirely possible for Lazio.
Duran not eager for Lazio
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – FEBRUARY 7: Jhon Durán of Al-Nassr FC celebrates scoring their second goal during the Saudi Pro League match between Al-Nassr and Al-Fayha at Al Awwal Park on February 7, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images)
According to Fanatik in Turkiye, Lazio made several attempts to contact the player and make their proposal, but his response to all of them was far from positive.
The club just announced today that their new coach is former Italy CT Gennaro Gattuso, who is eager to revamp the side inherited from Maurizio Sarri.
Duran has instead repeatedly been linked with a return to the Turkish Super Lig for Galatasaray.
A major problem for the player might be that Lazio failed to qualify for European football for the second season in a row, so will only be participating in Serie A and the Coppa Italia.
There is also the Supercoppa Italiana Final Four, after they lost the Coppa Italia Final to Inter last term.
Chelsea are interested in Marco Palestra, according to news from David Ornstein, who says the Italian right back is a Blues target.
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By their standards, Chelsea have been very quiet in the transfer market so far. After confirming the appointment of Xabi Alonso in May, there has been little to follow.
That could soon change, according to top transfer insider David Ornstein. His latest piece for the Athletic claims that the Blues are in for Atalanta defender Marco Palestra. They’re competing with Inter Milan, who had the 21 year old in their academy some years ago.
Negotiations between Atalanta and Inter had apparently reached the point where the Serie A champions were ready to pay €45m plus €5m in bonuses to sign him. The Blues would have to at least match that if they want him.
Chelsea’s Palestra interest hints at Alonso’s plans
Signing Palestra, who plays as a right back or right wing back, would surely mean that Malo Gusto is leaving. Palestra would compete with captain Reece James on that flank.
Another possibility is a formation shift – Gusto and Palestra competing as right wing back, with James as a wide centre back option.
We still don’t know what Alonso is planning, but these first transfer moves should give us some clues.
In other news…
Gary O’Neil has been names as the new Ipswich manager, leaving Chelsea associated Strasbourg after just a few months.
Roma are under big pressure to make sales this summer to keep their FFP in line, and one midfielder is getting looks from across Europe.
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Portugal has taken the lead against Uzbekistan in the FIFA World Cup 2026, and Cristiano Ronaldo has opened his account.
Ronaldo scored the opening goal of the game in the sixth minute, as he turned a cross from Joao Cancelo into the back of the net after an intelligent run to beat his man in the near post.
Ronaldo has now become the first player to score in six World Cup editions.
After intense criticism against DR Congo, the Portuguese superstar will be relieved to have found the back of the net here. It will certainly give him a lot of confidence for the remainder of the tournament.
GOAL!@Cristiano opens the scoring in Houston and becomes the first player ever to score in six different @FIFAWorldCup tournaments
The 22-year-old was one of the most in-form midfielders in the Premier League in 2025/26, and was unfortunate not to make England’s World Cup squad this summer.
Scott looks like a player with a big future at the highest level, and Bournemouth often tend to sell their star names when the right offers come in.
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We’ve seen this several times in the last year or so, with the Cherries cashing in on the likes of Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez last summer, while Antoine Semenyo also left in January.
Alex Scott transfer won’t come cheap but that’s the current market
Scott arguably looks a little overpriced at £60m, but when you look at other similar players on the market right now then it’s perhaps not so unreasonable.
BBC Sport have previously reported on Manchester City having as much as £120m rejected by Nottingham Forest for Elliot Anderson.
Is Anderson really twice the player Scott is? Surely not, in which case maybe clubs like Arsenal and Man Utd should be looking at the Bournemouth man as a good-value option on the market.
The Red Devils are expected to sign Ederson from Atalanta, as previously reported by BBC Sport, and they could surely do with more new additions in that position.
With Casemiro leaving at the end of his contract and Manuel Ugarte struggling at Old Trafford, it could be good business to bring in both Ederson and Scott to give Michael Carrick a new-look midfield next season.
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Arsenal, meanwhile, probably don’t need to make that position a top priority, but could perhaps do with more depth as Mikel Arteta barely used Christian Norgaard in the 2025/26 season.
This led to Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi playing a lot of football in all competitions, but someone like Scott could be ideal to take the pressure off them to play 90 minutes week in, week out.
AZ Alkmaar midfielder Kees Smit has been linked with a move away from the Netherlands, and clubs like Chelsea and Tottenham have been mentioned as potential destinations.
According to a report from TEAMtalk, the 20-year-old midfielder has been offered to the Premier League club through an intermediary.
The Netherlands under-21 international is a highly talented player with a bright future, and he could prove to be a solid long-term investment for both clubs.
Tottenham need more control and defensive cover in the middle of the park, and Smit could be ideal for them. He has shown his quality in Dutch football, and he has technical attributes for the Premier League as well. However, he is still quite young, and he might not start regularly for Tottenham.
It will be interesting to see if they can afford to invest in a long-term prospect like Smit. Tottenham lack quality in the middle of the park and needs experience as well.
As far as Chelsea are concerned, they have quality midfielders like Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo. However, they need more depth in the team, and the 20-year-old could be ideal for them. He could be a rotational option for Caicedo, and exposure to English football could accelerate his development.
Meanwhile, the player is valued at £52 million, and it remains to be seen whether the Premier League clubs are willing to spend that kind of money on the youngster. They might prefer to invest that in an established international instead.
Smit has been linked with multiple clubs recently, and he will look to sort out his future quickly so that he can focus on his football once again.
Gary O’Neil has been appointed at newly promoted Ipswich, as the chain of managerial changes across the leagues continues.
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Newly promoted Ipswich Town have appointed Gary O’Neil as their new manager.
It’s not common for promoted teams to be hunting for a new coach, but having taken them up and down once, Kieran McKenna decided to jump ship this time rather than potentially take them down again
Ipswich pay the price to appoint O’Neil – who has another tough battle on his hands
Ipswich have moved fast to appoint his replacement, identifying another impressive young English coach in O’Neil. Short spells at Bournemouth, Wolves and Strasbourg have all shown plenty of promise from the former midfielder. Ipswich will be another challenge, battling against relegation. That’s quite the change from the European football he had this season.
It might be harder to impress the top teams under those circumstances rather than at an upwardly mobile side, but O’Neil knows that there’s so much attention on the Premier League that it’s hard to turn down any opportunity there.
Ipswich are clearly convinced – they paid €5m to free O’Neil from the Strasbourg deal he only signed back in January. According to L’Equipe, the BlueCo sister club of Chelsea hope to appoint their replacement for the start of preseason on the 8th of July.
In other news…
Roma are under big pressure to make sales this summer to keep their FFP in line, and one midfielder is getting looks from across Europe.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is reportedly keen on the potential transfer of Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez after glowing reports from his staff.
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According to the Daily Mail’s Isaan Khan, Arsenal staff were told to gather data on Alvarez earlier this year, with an “emphatic” verdict emerging that the Argentina international looks to be the perfect fit.
See below for details in Khan’s post on X, with transfer rumours coming thick and fast at the moment about Alvarez and what the future holds for him after his fine form in Madrid…
? Julian Alvarez to Arsenal update – Earlier in the year, Arsenal staff were tasked with gathering data on Alvarez to assess whether he would fit the team’s required profile.
That included his injury record, physiological numbers and playing output. The result was emphatic:…
“Julian Alvarez to Arsenal update – Earlier in the year, Arsenal staff were tasked with gathering data on Alvarez to assess whether he would fit the team’s required profile. That included his injury record, physiological numbers and playing output. The result was emphatic: he fits the requirements of Arsenal’s team, and Arteta wants him. Though from Alvarez’s side, Barcelona is the dream move. On the flipside, Atletico do hold an interest in Viktor Gyokeres,” Khan posted.
Could Arsenal win the race for Julian Alvarez?
This saga seems slightly complicated and far from being settled, with Arteta facing the major issue that Alvarez would likely prefer the move to Barcelona.
The 26-year-old, who has 49 goals in 106 games across two seasons for Atletico, has previously shown what he can do in the Premier League with his time at Manchester City.
Still, his best form has come in Spain and it perhaps makes sense that he wants to stay in La Liga if possible.
Arsenal’s project would surely be a tempting one for most players, so if Alvarez isn’t entirely sold on the move, perhaps the Gunners should seriously consider switching to other targets who are desperate to come to the club.
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In fairness, it’s a tricky market for strikers right now, as Arsenal also found last summer when they eventually signed Viktor Gyokeres, who had a mixed first season at the Emirates Stadium.
Igor Thiago has been linked with a move away from Brentford during the summer transfer window, and Tottenham have been urged to make a move for him.
It is no secret that the North London club needs more depth in the attacking unit. The Brazilian scored 25 goals in all competitions last season, and he was outstanding for Brentford. He has the quality to improve Spurs immensely.
Dominic Solanke has failed to find the back of the net consistently, and they need someone who can score goals. The Brazilian international would be an excellent investment for Spurs, but he would come at a high cost.
Former Tottenham midfielder Darren Anderton has now revealed that a move for the Brazilian would be ideal for Tottenham this summer.
Darren Anderton said (h/t Standard): “I don’t think anyone can [replace Kane] as such. Are we going to go out and buy the best striker in the world that’s available and pay him crazy, whoever that guy is, crazy money? I don’t think we are.
“It’s going to be that one where we probably take a gamble on someone and try and do it that way. I mean, I love the boy at Brentford, Igor Thiago. I think he’s done great.”
“I don’t see why Igor Thiago wouldn’t fit the system.”
It will be interesting to see if Tottenham decide to test the resolve of Brentford with an offer for the Brazilian in the coming weeks. Thiago could be tempted to join the club this summer.
Despite their struggles last year, they are a big club with a strong team. They also have a quality manager like Roberto De Zerbi. The Brazilian might feel he can compete for trophies with them. Convincing him should not be too difficult for the north London club, but agreeing on a deal with Branford could be complicated.
Perhaps after signing Florian Wirtz for that position last year, the Reds no longer feel they need someone of Rogers’ profile, as they instead focus on more of an out-and-out wide-player in the form of Yan Diomande.
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However, this could still hurt Arsenal’s hopes in their pursuit of Rogers, according to Give Me Sport, as Villa will look at the kind of money RB Leipzig get for Diomande to inform their own valuation for their star player.
The report suggests Villa do not want to sell Rogers, but are ultimately likely to do so if the right offer comes in, but that could put pressure on Arsenal to over-pay for the England international.
The Gunners could perhaps do well to get this deal done quickly in case Liverpool end up paying huge money for Diomande and inflating the rest of the market.
How much is Morgan Rogers worth?
Give Me Sport state that Rogers’ value last summer was around £80m, but after another superb season, in which the 23-year-old finished with 14 goals and eight assists, that price will surely have gone up.
It’s previously been reported by TEAMtalk and others that Rogers could cost as much as £100m, and in today’s market you’d probably have to say that’s fair.
At the same time, it’s not often we see Arsenal pay quite that much money for one player, even if their spending last summer was high as they added a great deal of numbers to strengthen the depth of their squad.
The former Middlesbrough youngster should be just about to hit his peak, and it’s easy to imagine him having a huge influence at Arsenal for years to come.
Overall, that might make the high fee worth it, just as it was when AFC splashed the cash on Declan Rice three years ago.
Brian Brobbey has been linked with a move away from Sunderland during the summer transfer window.
He has excelled in the recent World Cup match against Sweden, and he is attracting the attention of top clubs. According to TEAMtalk, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are keeping tabs on his development.
The scouts from the Premier League clubs are impressed with the performances of the 24-year-old, and it will be interesting to see if they decide to make a move for him in the coming weeks. Sunderland paid €25 million in order to sign the player, and they could demand a premium for his signature.
Manchester United need more depth in the attacking unit, and the 24-year-old could be a handy option for them. He will add physicality and presence in the box. Brobbey scored 7 goals in the league last season.
He’s already well settled in the Premier League, and he could make an immediate impact. Manchester United have Benjamin Sesko at their disposal, but the Slovenian needs more support in the attack. Adding another striker would be a wise decision for the club.
Similarly, Chelsea will need to find an upgrade on Liam Delap, who has been underwhelming. The former Ipswich Town striker could be sold this summer, and Chelsea needs to replace him.
As far as Tottenham is concerned, Dominic Solanki has not been able to find the back of the net regularly, and they need someone else to share the goal-scoring burden.
It will be interesting to see which of the three clubs make a move for the 24-year-old Netherlands international. An impressive World Cup campaign will only add to his value, and Sunderland will look to recoup as much as possible from his departure.
XRP is trading at $1.09, down 3.41% over the past 24 hours, as broader market weakness continues to weigh on the token. Despite the daily decline, the weekly chart is telling a more stable story, with the critical $1.13 support level holding for now and a previously flagged bearish pattern looking increasingly unlikely to confirm. …
Bitcoin is down more than 50% from its all-time high. Miners are shutting off machines. Capital that spent years flowing into crypto is chasing AI stocks instead. And the question being asked across every corner of the market right now is the same one it always is at moments like this: is it ever going …
Bittensor (TAO) price is down by more than 5.5% to $216.34, underperforming the broader market, primarily driven by a risk-off cascade across crypto. The drop comes as traders continue de-risking, with market structure weakening near a key ascending support zone. While TAO managed to hold above $214 intraday, on-chain and derivatives data suggest sellers remain …
For months, XRP holders have watched price action struggle to gain meaningful traction. Yet beneath the surface, two developments are quietly reshaping the conversation around the asset. The latest XRP news centers on Ripple securing preliminary MiCA approval in Europe and a notable shift in Binance transaction behavior that has persisted for an entire week. …
The crypto market today is facing notable upward pressure with a drop in the buyers’ conviction, triggering some profit-taking. Despite this, the Bitcoin price is around $63,500 while the Ethereum price is $1,730. The overall market capitalisation has dropped to $2.18 trillion, with the fear and greed index stuck at 22. Long liquidations and ETF …
Crypto markets are in freefall on Monday, and for once the selling has nothing to do with anything specific to digital assets. Bitcoin fell to $62,400, down 4% on the day, Ethereum dropped 5.45% to $1,657 and XRP slid 4.36% to $1.09. The total crypto market cap shed nearly $86 billion in 24 hours to …
XRP is approaching what several technical analysts believe could be the final stage of its bear market cycle, with price structure pointing toward a low in the $0.87 to $0.90 range before a meaningful recovery begins. The timeline, based on Elliott Wave analysis and historical cycle comparisons, points to late June through early July as …
While the world’s attention is focused on the World Cup, new changes are also taking place in the digital finance sector. With the increasing demand for cross-border payments, XRP, as a key player in the global payments market, is once again attracting widespread market attention. Some analysts believe that the expansion of digital asset application …
Crypto markets are once again trading under pressure. Bitcoin has slipped, Ethereum has extended losses, and altcoins are facing another round of liquidations. Yet beneath Hyperliquid’s 7% decline, a different story is quietly developing. Large investors are accumulating millions of dollars worth of HYPE, profitable traders are adding fresh positions, and smart-money wallets continue buying …
Markets are selling off across the board as several pressures hit investors at the same time. The biggest trigger is weakness in the AI semiconductor sector after reports that SK Hynix may slow expansion plans, raising concerns that expectations for AI-related demand have become too optimistic. Heavy leverage among South Korean investors amplified the move, …
AUSTIN, TX - APRIL 19: Outfielder Maddox Monsour #32 of the Texas Longhorns on the field before the SEC baseball game between Texas Longhorns and Alabama Crimson Tide on April 19, 2026, at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Texas Longhorns lost a promising young player to the NCAA transfer portal when outfielder Maddox Monsour announced his departure from the Forty Acres on Monday.
— Mad Hacks Monsour (@madhacksmonsour) June 22, 2026
The 5’11, 205-pounder has three seasons of eligibility remaining.
Out of Carrllton (Ga.), Monsour signed with Texas in the 2025 recruiting class as a versatile player capable of playing multiple positions in the infield in addition to the outfield. Perfect Game ranked Monsour as the No. 228 player overall and the No. 47 outfielder and praised his quick-twitch athleticism and bat speed.
As the Longhorns lost transfer portal additions Jack Moroknek and Kaleb Freeman to the 2025 MLB Draft and Jonah Williams underwent season-ending shoulder surgery, Monsour had opportunities to prove himself as a true freshman, moving into the starting lineup in early May against Mississippi State when Aiden Robbins moved from center to right.
Monsour helped stabilize the team’s defense with his range in center field, and was dangerous on the base paths with seven steals, but was unable to make a positive impact at the plate. In 36 games with 14 starts, Monsour slashed .185/.267/.278 with only two extra-base hits.
“We have confidence in Maddox. We’ve got to get Maddox have more confidence in himself. Maddox is learning [Anthony] Pack is fearless and has great belief in himself. And Maddox actually has that on the bases and he has it on defense,” Texas head coach Jim Schlossnagle said after the Mississippi State series.
“He’s just a little tentative at home plate and we’re just trying to get that out of him. If you strike out, you strike out, but make sure you feel really aggressive getting your swing off. He’s getting there. He certainly has a lot of value on the bases and on defense. We’ve just got to continue to coach him up as a hitter.”
Now that development will happen somewhere else after Monsour lost the starting job to redshirt senior Dariyan Pendergrass when the College of Charleston transfer returned from injury.
Peoria Liberty High School athletic director Eric Gardner had a tumor removed from his brain on June 12. He is resting comfortably at home and hopes to be back at work next month.
The 53-year-old former Peoria Sunrise Mountain baseball coach said surgeons from Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix were able to remove all of the tumor. He is waiting for results to determine a cancer treatment going forward.
"I'm recovering pretty well," Gardner said. "I met with my surgeon the other day. They said it would be at least two to three more weeks, before they would have some pathology results and known what my chemo and radiation treatment will be.
"But it's a positive. We've had a tremendous amount of support from our community. Just lots of prayers. Lots of blessings."
Medical bills are going to start to mount. A Schoolfundr campaign was started to raise money to help offset the costs.
Gardner was 30 years into education when he retired. But he said he came back and was rehired by the Peoria Unified School District in March.
"Because I retired, then they rehired me, I'm not longer qualified for FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) with my district because I'm considered a new employee," he said. "I'm only considered for short-term disability. The district has contacted me and said they'll pay me up until my surgery, and whatever vacation days I have stored up. It's only like seven. Once that runs out, I will no longer be employed until I come back full-time."
He said he hopes he'll be able to get back to work part-time in July and see how he can handle the pace of work. He oversees all of the sports programs at Liberty, which won the 6A boys basketball title this past school year.
"It's one of those Catch-22 things," he said. "Once these medical bills start to hit, it's going to be a heavy lift."
Gardner's symptoms hit him fast and hard with migraines three weeks ago. He went into the hospital to get an MRI and a cyst was found. He said another MRI determined that a tumor needed to be removed.
"We don't have a level or stage of what level of cancer it could be," he said. "Right now, I'm actually recovering really well. There were some concerns about motor function and talking, because of where the tumor was.
"But they were able to remove every part of the tumor. That's a positive."
Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. He also covers Grand Canyon University athletics and the Arizona Rattlers. Please sign up for Azcentral Preps Now newsletter. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
BURNLEY, ENGLAND - APRIL 22: Martin Dubravka of Burnley during the Premier League match between Burnley and Manchester City at Turf Moor on April 22, 2026 in Burnley, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tottenham have made two free agent signings thus far and according to Alasdair Gold might be close to a third. Gold is reporting that Tottenham Hotspur is close to a free agent acquisition of former Burnley and Slovakia international keeper Martin Dubravka.
This is fine, and actually a quite decent signing, especially if he’s coming in as an experienced backup. The scuttlebutt around the club right now is that Robert De Zerbi and Spurs are ready to part ways with Guglielmo Vicario, with Juventus very interested in the Italian keeper. Antonin Kinsky impressed in Tottenham’s run-in this past season, ably filling in for the injured Vicario and even keeping him out of the side for the last couple of matches. That’s an impressive thing for a young keeper, especially after the disasterclass performance in the Europa League loss to Atletico Madrid at the Wanda, a performance that surely dented his confidence. Spurs are expected to give Kinsky the shot at the #1 spot in Vicario’s place, and that means Dubravka would be coming in to both push and back up Kinsky.
Honestly, bringing an experienced and elder keeper in to back up your young potential star is a good move. Dubravka is 37 but has been around the block a LOT over his career. Should Kinsky be injured or simply find himself not up to the task of being Tottenham’s starting keeper, I have no doubt Dubravka could come in and do a job. I wouldn’t imagine that his deal would be longer than 1-2 years – he’s certainly not a long term signing, but he’d be able to mentor Kinsky and step in easily if required. He’s also not Czech like Kinsky but is from the same part of Europe and could be a good life mentor as well.
I don’t hate this at all. While it’d be nice to have a backup keeper be English, homegrown and club trained, that doesn’t matter so much this season as Spurs don’t have to contend with European competition this season. It might make less sense next year if Spurs get back into Europe, but for now this is both fine and good. Let’s make it happen.
Pitcher Landen Roupp was among the San Francisco Giants players who wrote Bible references on their hats earlier this month on Pride Night in San Francisco. File Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI
June 23 (UPI) -- A communication "lapse" by the San Francisco Giants led to players writing Bible verses on their Pride Night hats, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said.
Manfred spoke about the issue through a letter sent Friday to Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo. Hawley posted the letter Monday night on social media. The Giants did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
MLB issued warnings to several Giants players last week, pointing to uniform-related rules violations committed during their 5-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs on June 12 in San Francisco.
Giants pitchers Landen Roupp, J.T. Brubaker and Ryan Walker had placed Biblical references on their hats. Fellow pitcher Sam Hentges wore a plain black Giants cap instead of a Pride Night one.
The collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the MLBPA states that players who violate uniform regulations will first receive warnings, specifying that they will be subject to further discipline if they do not "immediately cease violating" the regulations. Writing messages on apparel is among the violations listed in the agreement.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said a "lapse" of communication led the San Francisco Giants players wearing biblical references on their hats during Pride Night. File Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI
.@MLB Commissioner writes to me and admits they were wrong to threaten the Giants players over Bible verses and promises never to fine or discipline these players - or any players for their religious beliefs pic.twitter.com/rnPy2F7fyR— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) June 22, 2026
San Francisco Giants pitcher J.T. Brubaker was among the players warned for committing a uniform violation during Pride Night in San Francisco. File Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI
MLB's warning to the Giants' players drew criticism on social media from those who believed they were being penalized "for their Christian faith," including Hawley, who sent an initial letter to Manfred on June 16.
Hawley claimed that MLB had a "legal obligation not to discriminate against its employees on the basis of religion" and requested a response and further information from MLB.
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo. (pictured), sent a letter to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred related to the league's warning to players who wrote biblical references on their hats during Pride Night. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
The U.S. Department of Justice also launched an investigation, with Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon referring the matter to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
MLB said at the time that its verbal warning to the Giants players had "absolutely nothing to do with the content of the message" on the hats. In MLB's response to Hawley, Manfred said that the use of pride emblems on hats and uniforms during Pride Night was requested by the Los Angeles Dodgers and Giants in 2023.
San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Sam Hentges wore his standard-issue hat, instead of one commemorating Pride Night, during a loss to the Chicago Cubs on June 12 in San Francisco. File Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI
MLB agreed to allow the teams to utilize the emblems on the apparel on a "grandfathered" basis, provided that "no player or uniformed staff would be required to wear them" and that teams would speak to players to ensure they were comfortable with the garb.
"Unfortunately, this year the Giants' communication with players was inadequate and not clear," Manfred wrote in his letter to Hawley. "Some players apparently did not understand that they had the option to wear their normal uniform and elected to add messages to their hats bearing the pride logo as a result.
"The Giants players were allowed to wear the hats with the biblical references for the entire game."
Manfred said MLB issued the oral warnings before the league was aware of the "Giants' lapse in communication." He also stated that the players "were neither fined nor disciplined, nor will they ever be."
The Giants issued an apology last week, saying that they "respect that individuals may make person choices about participating in team activations." The team also said understood the "choices by individual players has caused pain and anger to many in the LGBTQ+ community and we are sorry for that."
Brubaker and Walker told the California Post last week that they received negative comments and messages after wearing the messages on their hats.
"It was just one of those things where we've seen other baseball players do it, so we went along with it," Brubaker told the Post.
📸 No burden at all! CR7 has his World Cup goal, whole team celebrates him
What all hasn’t the Portuguese national team had to listen to in recent days? After the disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo, superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in particular became the target of ridicule and mockery.
The 41-year-old was accused of being a sporting hindrance to his team. In addition, rumors were circulating that one or two teammates would prefer CR7 in a less prominent role.
But the opening phase of the match currently underway against Uzbekistan is showing us viewers a completely different picture: after just six minutes, Ronaldo gave the favorites an early lead from a João Cancelo assist.
The striker then ran to the Portuguese bench and celebrated there with all of his teammates. So there really can be no talk of unrest or even any resentment toward CR7...
It also likely helped that Ronaldo passed up a promising free-kick opportunity, which left-back Nuno Mendes converted shortly afterward to make it 2-0.
📸 RONALDO SCHEMIDT - AFP or licensors
Also remarkable: with his goal, the veteran became the first player in World Cup history to get on the scoresheet in a total of six tournaments.
Some call it the most important promo in professional wrestling history — and honestly they might be right. Either way, one thing we can say with certainty is that it's exactly 30 years today since "Stone Cold" Steve Austin delivered the promo that would change the face of pro-wrestling forever: the much heralded "Austin 3:16" speech delivered on this day at WWF King of the Ring in 1996.
"You sit there and you thump your Bible, and you say your prayers, and it didn't get you anywhere. Talk about your psalms, talk about John 3:16 … Austin 3:16 says I just whipped your ass!”
By now, plenty of us can recite much of the segment from memory. Not least the closing line that became an instant catchphrase in its own right:
".... and that's the bottom line … because Stone Cold said so!"
That alone could easily lay claim to being the most memorable payoff in wrestling.
Look, we all know wrestling fans have a tendency to over-mythologize. But the one thing that always strikes me afresh whenever I watch the "Austin 3:16" promo is that it really is just as good as we all remember. Not just the words themselves — as excellent as they are — but also the delivery; the sheer adrenaline of the shaved-headed Texan who has just won back-to-back King of the Ring matches, while enduring a legitimate boot to the face in the final. It's a genuine lightning in the bottle moment.
Arguably, what really gave it such a lasting impact was its ambition. The fact that Austin chose not to focus on the larger-than-life character played by Jake "The Snake" Roberts, but instead to take shots at the real-life man behind the bravado. In a few minutes, Austin made reference not just to Roberts' much-professed religious faith, but also his struggles with addiction. As a kicker, Austin suggested that Roberts, a former WWF champion, was washed-up — a view probably shared by most fans of the time, but still shocking to hear coming from a fellow wrestler.
When you take all that into account, you can see why so many people now see the "Austin 3:16" promo as the spiritual start of the famous Attitude Era — the much-praised shift in WWF presentation that embraced edgier and more outrageous storylines in order to bring eyeballs to the product. What a contrast it was from the promos that defined the 1980s. Back then, we'd had Hulk Hogan dutifully reminding us to say our prayers; now we had Austin bastardizing the gospels for his own ends.
Naturally, the fans loved it. Jim Cornette, then working as a WWF commentator, has told the story about turning up to the arena for the next taping of "WWF Raw" and noticing all of the handmade "Austin 3:16" signs being held aloft by fans. Before long, WWF was plastering the motif on t-shirts, coming up with an iconic design that would rival the era-defining nWo shirts produced by WCW.
Stone Cold Steve Austin salutes the crowd one at "WrestleMania 25."
Bob Levey
At one point, “Stone Cold” himself claimed that WWF sold 12 million of those shirts in 1998 alone. Common sense would suggest that is probably an exaggeration, though it probably became true in the decades to follow. The 3:16 shirts are still some of the most popular merch items sold at WWE's live shows, with custom ones produced for different host cities.
As for what "Austin 3:16" did for the man himself, you only have to go back and watch some of his matches before and after that promo. For me, the starkest one has to be Austin vs. Savio Vega at WrestleMania 12, which took place just a few months before King of the Ring. "How on earth are they not popping like hell for Stone Cold?" I always wonder when I watch it back, before slapping my forehead like a cartoon character who's just remembered a crucial plot twist. "Oh that's right, he hasn't done the 3:16 promo yet." Without that promo, you probably don't get the "glass shatters" theme, the Austin vs. McMahon feud, or the beer-swilling entrances over the years.
Looking back after 30 years, it all begs one question: could it ever happen again? Could a wrestler really deliver an unscripted promo that would propel them into superstardom? I mean, it isn't impossible. We saw how well the fans responded to LA Knight's breakthrough promos a few years ago, though WWE failed to pull the trigger. Even if they had, though, do we really think anyone would have been talking about those segments in 30 years' time?
I mean, just think about the hundreds of thousands of times “Austin 3:16” must have been referenced on WWE programming over the past few decades, or all the times it's been shown in wrestling documentaries or highlights packages. At this point, I'd be genuinely surprised if WWE hadn't considered whether they could put that promo in its Hall of Fame.
It comes up, too, in every long-form interview “Stone Cold” does, putting him in a similar position to those athletes who ended up being asked about that same home run or touchdown for the rest of their lives. In some of the recent interviews, Austin has even sounded a bit irritated being asked about it, suggesting that the whole "that's the bottom line" thing was just him recycling his old WCW promos.
Who knows, maybe he just gets bored hearing about “Austin 3:16” all the time. The problem for him, though, is that the rest of us are far from bored hearing about it. And if that hasn't happened after 30 years, it probably never will.
Cristiano Ronaldo scores again, sets record and ends 10-game hoodoo
Cristiano Ronaldo needed just 6 minutes against Uzbekistan to answer his critics.
He opened the scoring for Portugal in this Tuesday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup match and broke a record as well as a long-standing drought.
The veteran Portuguese star is the first player in history to score goals in six World Cups.
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored in the World Cups of: 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026. Messi also played in those same six World Cups, but he did not find the net in 2010.
In addition to the record, Cristiano Ronaldo also ended a long drought. He had not scored in his last 10 matches for Portugal across the World Cup and the Euros. His previous goal had come in the win over Ghana at the 2022 World Cup.
CR7 is now also the third player with the most World Cup appearances in history. He has 24 matches, level with German Miroslav Klose. Only Messi (28) and Germany’s Lothar Matthäus (25) have more.
One year ago, Flau’jae Johnson and Azzi Fudd sat next to each other, billed as the 2025 “Future of Unrivaled”class at the 3-on-3 league’s pop-event in Indianapolis during WNBA All-Star Weekend.
They both participated in the league’s summer camp in Miami, then, nine months later, were drafted to the WNBA.
The split decision underscores a new reality in women’s basketball: Two winter leagues are battling each other for the top WNBA talent. Unrivaled and Project B have similar schedules during the WNBA offseason, making players unlikely to participate in both leagues, though both have worked around players’ WNBA and national team obligations.
“We are focused on the highest quality of play and ensuring our players can uphold their commitments in the W and with FIBA,” a Project B spokesperson told FOS on Friday.
Project B has already announced 15 players for its first season, including WNBA stars like Nneka Ogwumike, Jonquel Jones, and Alyssa Thomas. They’ve also prioritized international players including Kamilla Cardoso (Brazil), Awa Fam (Spain), and Leonie Fiebich (Germany).
The league, which was founded by former Facebook exec Grady Burnett and Skype cofounder Geoff Prentice, has not indicated how many players it intends to sign, but more names are expected to be announced soon. (The league says it also plans to launch a men’s league alongside its women’s venture, but has yet to announce a male player.)
Leading Project B’s recruiting charge is chief basketball officer Alana Beard, a two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, who won a title with Ogwumike in 2016.
Unrivaled has already locked up more than 90% of its 54 roster spots for the 2027 season, a league source tells Front Office Sports. Many of Unrivaled’s players are signed to multiyear deals, including Johnson and other recent announcements Gabby Williams and WNBA Rookie of the Year favorite Olivia Miles.
The league’s biggest stars include Paige Bueckers and cofounders Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. (Collier’s husband, Alex Bazzell, is Unrivaled’s cofounder and president.)
But there are still a few slots available—and several players have already changed sides. Kelsey Mitchell and Alanna Smith, who played in Unrivaled earlier this year, have been announced as part of Project B’s inaugural roster.
There are still several names up for grabs, including women’s basketball’s biggest stars, though significant endorsement deals—and huge pay increases in the WNBA—also give them the option to skip out on offseason basketball.
Colin Salao – Front Office Sports
A’ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark are the two most famous players yet to play in or commit to either winter league. Clark has said that playing 5-on-5 is a priority for her, while Wilson’s sole overseas stint was four games in China more than seven years ago.
Fellow Nike signature athlete Sabrina Ionescu—WNBA teammates with Stewart—played in Unrivaled’s inaugural season, but did not return last year.
Angel Reese, the most-followed WNBA player on social media, has appeared in two Unrivaled seasons; in 2026, she played just three games after signing a contract in late February.
Same Objective, Different Strategies
Unrivaled and Project B offer the same thing: a way to earn money playing basketball in the offseason. This isn’t a new concept; women’s basketball players have historically played basketball overseas in the offseason to supplement their often-meager WNBA earnings. But Unrivaled’s buzzy 2025 launch shook up the landscape with healthy salaries and big-name investors, including Carmelo Anthony, Michael Phelps, and Dawn Staley. It also secured a multiyear media deal with Warner Bros. Discovery to air games on TNT.
The league guaranteed six-figure salaries; the average salary in its first season was $220,000. Unrivaled also was at the forefront of an increasing trend in pro sports in offering players equity in the league. Even some college athletes like Johnson and Bueckers received equity when they signed NIL deals.
By late 2025, Unrivaled was valued at $340 million after closing a Series B investment round.
Travel is rare at Unrivaled as most games are played at the league’s Miami headquarters. Last year, the league played a handful of games in Philadelphia and Brooklyn. It’s planning 4–6 tour stops next season, but the limited travel was part of its initial pitch to WNBA stars.
“I feel like sometimes when you go overseas, you lose sight on some of the perfecting of the skills that you miss out on just because you’re going to try to make a couple dollars,” Mitchell said at Indiana Fever media day in April, a few months after she had been announced as part of Project B. She has played in several foreign leagues, including in China and Israel.
“I got a soul so I’d rather make sure that I’m right before I want to keep going overseas and missing out on a lot.”
The WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement has mitigated players’ financial issues. The minimum salary has been raised from less than $70,000 last year to $270,000 in 2026. Over 30 players are making seven figures this season.
More than ever, offseason leagues are less of a necessity and more of an opportunity to maximize earning potential.
Enter Project B, which FOS reported last year is offering stars salaries around $2 million annually, $600,000 more than the WNBA’s supermax. Like Unrivaled, players also receive a stake in the league.
“When they’re offering that type of money, plus the signing bonus, plus having equity in the company, it’s a no-brainer,” Project B signee Sophie Cunningham told FOS in April.
The league was seeking $5 billion in funding, according to a Bloomberg report in January 2025. But Project B has declined to share how much money it has raised when asked by FOS.
The league has announced a slew of its own celebrity investors, including WNBA legends Candace Parker and Lauren Jackson, and tennis stars Novak Djokovic and Sloane Stephens. The Financial Times reported in February 2025 that Project B was backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, but the company told FOS in November that Saudi is not a financial backer.
Project B also confirmed to FOS this week that its relationship with Saudi events company Sela has ended.
Unlike Unrivaled, Project B will involve significant international travel. The core vision of the league is to make women’s basketball into a global product—and many women’s basketball business executives believe international fans will be key to growing the business of women’s basketball in the United States.
WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has said multipletimes that she wants to grow the league internationally, hinting at possible games played abroad. WNBA legend and league investor Swin Cash told FOS in April that she believes Project B is “ahead of the curve” by looking at the international market.
Project B is planning six stops across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Alana Beard, the league’s chief basketball officer, has described Project B as adapting a Formula 1-style model where the league has two-week activations in each market.
“Project B gives you a chance to do both, go in and come out, whereas [with] overseas basketball you’ve gotta be over there, eight months or seven months, just to get everything you want,” Mitchell said two days after her earlier comments on overseas play.
The league has already set its media plans, announcing earlier this month that it will work with Host Broadcast Services to produce games and stream them on YouTube.
But questions remain about Project B, from the rest of their roster to the cities they plan to visit. The league has been adjusting on the fly, changing a fall start to December, and cutting the originally reported seven city tour to six.
Unrivaled, meanwhile, came out of the gate strong in 2025 but viewership dipped in 2026, and Warner Bros. Discovery is on the verge of new ownership as the Paramount merger nears completion.
The future of the competition may hinge on how each league navigates its relationship with the WNBA. Unrivaled cofounder Alex Bazzell said he approached the WNBA “early” in the league’s development about a potential investment, but the league declined. The WNBA has not publicly commented on Project B’s plans.
Under the new CBA, the WNBA can extend its calendar into late November, further shrinking the offseason window available to outside leagues, and WNBA salaries will keep growing. By 2032, minimum salaries will be close to $400,000, and maximum salaries should breach $2 million. As the calendar window narrows and the financial pressure on players decreases, the battle between Project B and Unrivaled may come down to which league can offer the most compelling opportunity—and convince the game’s biggest stars that it’s worth their time.
LOS ANGELES, CA - CIRCA 1982: Pitcher Dave Stewart #48 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during a Major League Baseball game circa 1982 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Stewart played for the Dodgers in 1978 and 1981-83. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers got about as good of a pitching game as they could have hoped for in the series opener against the Minnesota Twins. Eric Lauer followed an opener on Monday, in part to avoid having him face Byron Buxton three times. Buxton proved why by hitting his 25th home run of the season in the first inning against said opener, Will Klein.
Lauer entered a 1-1 game in the second inning and got all the way through the seventh with no runs and no hits on his ledger, and a 2-1 lead.
The only other time a Los Angeles Dodgers reliever pitched at least six innings without allowing a hit was Dave Stewart on August 9, 1982, pitching the final six frames of a 13-inning win over the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium.
That Stewart performance was part of a chaotic pennant race for the Dodgers, who trailed the Atlanta Braves by 10 games as late as July 28. The Stewart game was the seventh straight win that brought them to within a half-game of Atlanta. The Dodgers would claim first place the next day, only 13 days after that 10-game deficit.
The longest of these hitless relief outings was by Bob Milliken in 1953. He took over for rookie Johnny Podres with two outs in the first innings — looked like an injury of some sort, as Podres didn’t pitch again for 13 days — then finished out the game by recording the final 25 outs.
Jun. 23—WHITE BEAR LAKE, Minn. — For high school athletes, summer is a crucial time to grow and develop as players, especially if they have aspirations to play their sport at the next level.
Whether it's at a camp, summer league, club team, or showcase, the top varsity athletes in southeastern Minnesota never really slow down, even when school is out.
Recently, boys basketball players from the area had the opportunity to display their skills at the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association Showcase, Division I Scholastic Event, approved by the NCAA, National Federation of State High School Associations, and the Minnesota State High School League.
Of the 126 participants invited to the showcase, which was held June 12-13 at White Bear Lake Area High School, nine are from southeastern Minnesota:
Incoming seniors Elliot Myszkowski (Mayo), Gavyn Lorenson (Lake City), Nick Taylor (Lanesboro), Will Thiemann (Triton), Tate Goergen (Southland), juniors Alex Loos (Goodhue), Grant King (Caledonia) and Brooks Reichtzigel (Cannon Falls) and sophomore Dexter Simmons (Stewartville).
Participants from Minnesota, as well as North and South Dakota, competed in five-on-five and three-on-three games for a crowd of Division I, II, III, NAIA and junior college coaches.
It was a memorable experience for Myszkowski, a 6-foot point guard who helped Mayo win its first Big Nine Conference title since 2000 and its first playoff win since 2020 during the 2025-26 season. His former teammates and 2026 Mayo graduates, Isaac Peterson and Reggie Parker, participated in the event in 2025.
"They said it was a fun time, and it was good to compete against some of the best guys within a four-hour radius," said Myszkowski, who is an All-Conference player for the Spartans. "It means a lot (to represent Mayo). It's tough to get a lot of recognition when you live very far south from a lot of really good players who live in the Twin Cities. So, it felt good knowing that I was recognized."
Players from the area were split among eight of the 12 teams. Myszkowski was on Team 6, which went 1-3 during the tournament, led by coaches from Belle Plaine and Orono.
"They were good guys, they knew the game, and they coached at the MBCA last year, so they had experience, and they were good coaches," Myszkowski said.
Loos, who finished as the Class 2A state runner-up with Goodhue in March, played on the same roster as Reichtzigel on Team 8. Myskowski and the six other players were the sole southeastern Minnesota representatives on their rosters with the chance to play against one another.
"It was still really fun," Myszkowski said. "We didn't really care how many games we lost. I mean, we just wanted to go out there and compete and have fun."
Competing with and against some of the best players in the state and beyond can be intimidating, but Myszkowski has learned to handle the big stage. He also participated in the Prep Hoops Freshman Showcase a few years ago.
"You have to trust yourself," Myszkowski said. "You can't buy in the 'who's getting this and who's getting that,' and you have to follow your own journey, because there's a lot of guys there who have D-2 offers, and some who have D-1 offers, and when it's you going up against them, and you know you're not getting any of that, you have to just be oblivious to it, and trust yourself and play your game.
"I think you have to try your best to just focus on what's in front of you, not focus on who's in the crowd or who might be evaluating you, and you just have to play basketball."
Myszkowski said the Mayo basketball program has helped prepare him to participate in these showcases.
"They instill so much confidence in me, especially (head coach Pat) Franko," he said. "We have a great coaching staff. Last year, we fell short of getting to the state tournament, but I mean, just the group of guys and the camaraderie and everything that went with it. I'll remember that season for a very long time. They help you become better men, too. It's not always about just basketball."
With only his final high school basketball season remaining, Myszkowski is looking to improve his leadership skills this fall and winter, especially after the Spartans graduated seven seniors.
"Even though we lost (seven) seniors, and that's nearly a whole team, but ... we still have the same standard of what we want to accomplish, or I'll at least make sure we do once that time comes," he said.
Whatever opportunities unfold for Myszkowski in the coming year, he knows it will be the right journey for him.
"I just learned to trust your own path," Myszkowski said. "(Current Division I college players) Nolan Groves and Isaac Asuma talked (at the showcase) about their recruiting paths, and they were a little different from each other. Nolan Groves told everyone that 'everyone's dream is going to be different, and you have to trust that everything will fall into place with how hard you work."
Check out the nominees for Lacrosse Player of the Year and vote for who you think deserves the honor. Since there are only two Gardner-area schools that have lacrosse teams, rather than two separate votes this poll encompasses both boys and girls nominees.
Reader votes will make up 25% of the tally, with Sports Reporter Cait Kemp making up the rest of the vote.
The poll will run until July 3 at noon.
The poll
The nominees
Collin Allain, Monty Tech boys
Allain was once again a force for the Bulldogs in his junior season. He was one of the top scorers on the field, helping to create offensive opportunities.
Quin Buckley, Oakmont boys
Buckley served as a captain and was a leader for the Spartans since his sophomore season. He finished his career with over 220 points and over 150 goals. This season, Buckley was named a Mid-Wach B All Star, Central Mass. Coaches All Star and had 64 goals and 21 assists.
Sarah Duval, Oakmont girls
Duval was the Spartans' goalie this season, collecting 177 saves in the position.
Gelinas was one of two Oakmont girls lacrosse players to reach 100 career goals this season. She ended with 48 goals and 19 assists for her junior year.
Julia LaPrade, Oakmont girls
LaPrade capped her high school lacrosse career with a milestone, reaching 100 goals in one of the Spartans final games. She ended the season with 39 goals and 17 assists after serving as a captain and leader for the team.
Jada LeBlanc, Oakmont girls
LeBlanc was a junior captain for the Spartans. She had 52 goals and 15 assists this season.
Brayden Nally, Oakmont boys
As a junior, Nally reached 200 career points and finished with 56 goals and 45 assists this spring. He was named a Mid-Wach B All Star and Central Mass. Coaches All Star for his contributions on the field.
Norris was Oakmont's go-to face-off guy for practically his whole career, and he proved that once again this spring. He finished his senior season with 258 face-off wins, stretching his career total to over 800. He also had 48 goals and 12 assists this season.
Silas Roy, Oakmont boys
Roy was a star for the Spartans this season, finishing with 108 ground balls, 57 caused turnovers, nine goals and 11 assists. He was named a USA All-American, Mid-Wach B League MVP and Central Mass. Coaches All Star.
The 2026 Travelers Championship continues at TPC River Highlands on Friday, with second round pairings set to tee off a little after 8 a.m.
Good friends Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns are the marquee morning duo, going off 15 minutes before the pairing of reigning U.S. Open champ Wyndham Clark and 2025 FedEx Cup winner Tommy Fleetwood.
Besides the NBA Finals clash between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, there has been no bigger story in the NBA over the last few weeks than the saga about whether the Bucks would trade Antetokounmpo or not. However, reports suggested a deal was likely before Tuesday’s NBA Draft so Milwaukee could get another first-rounder in a deep draft.
Well, late on Monday night, they finally pulled the trigger on a long-rumored deal that sends the 10-time All-Star to the Miami Heat. In the agreement, the Bucks will receive veterans Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakučionis, three first-round draft picks, and a pair of future pick swaps. One of those first-rounders is the 13th overall pick in tonight’s draft.
It is a good return for the future Hall of Famer. However, it wasn’t the only offer on the table. Reports in the hours since the trade was revealed claim the Celtics were offering MVP candidate Jaylen Brown and a pair of first-round selections. And it seems that Bucks part-owner Jimmy Haslam liked that offer more, according to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer.
“The Bucks eventually went the Miami route because Haslam was ultimately urged in the end to seize upon a draft-picks-rich deal as opposed to insisting on getting a star back. That was believed to be Haslam’s preference as of Monday morning… He was eventually sold on the notion that swapping Antetokounmpo for Jaylen Brown could well have left the Bucks in a similar predicament in the future to what they’ve faced with Giannis if Brown didn’t like Milwaukee and wanted out.”
The Heat offer comes with more youth and draft picks. It gives Milwaukee the chance to build a young team that can be a playoff competitor consistently. However, if they don’t hit on those picks or turn one of the young veterans they got back in the deal into a star, it could be a huge fail.
The Celtics only offered two picks, but the deal came with a five-time All-Star and MVP candidate under contract for three more seasons. It’s understandable why Haslam preferred it.
DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 21: Endy Rodriguez #13 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates his fourth inning two-run home run against the Colorado Rockies with Bryan Reynolds #10 in a game at Coors Field on June 21, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Count me shocked that the Mariners were able to win one of their games against that trio of lefty starters the Red Sox rolled out last weekend. That win on Sunday wrapped up a 3-3 homestand and pushed the team another game ahead of their division rivals. Now the team embarks on a midwest road trip through Pittsburgh and Cleveland.
With a ton of young talent matriculating into the big leagues and a starting rotation anchored by Paul Skenes, the Pirates looked poised to break out of their long rebuilding cycle this year. They actually spent money on a few free agents in the offseason and traded for some more talent to bolster the lineup. They were rewarded with a quick start to the season, running a 16-11 record through April 25. They’ve fallen back towards .500 since then, though they’re still in the thick of the NL Wild Card hunt.
Player
Position
Bats
PA
K%
BB%
ISO
wRC+
Spencer Horwitz
1B
L
288
13.2%
13.5%
0.179
137
Brandon Lowe
2B
L
317
25.6%
10.4%
0.265
126
Bryan Reynolds
LF
R
335
21.2%
14.6%
0.197
145
Ryan O’Hearn
RF
L
257
22.6%
7.8%
0.176
115
Nick Gonzales
3B
R
292
17.8%
5.5%
0.081
100
Endy Rodriguez
C
S
85
23.5%
18.8%
0.176
133
Marcell Ozuna
DH
R
217
29.0%
8.8%
0.117
64
Jake Mangum
CF
S
176
16.5%
5.7%
0.063
101
Jared Triolo
SS
R
152
25.0%
7.9%
0.044
67
The Pirates signed Ryan O’Hearn to the largest free agent contract for a position player in franchise history this offseason. That’s pretty incredible from an organizational standpoint and that it ended up being O’Hearn who set that record. To his credit, O’Hearn has been a solid first baseman and corner outfielder for the past three years and he’s been just as good for the Pirates this season, rocking a 115 wRC+. They also traded for Brandon Lowe and that has worked out wonderfully; he’s leading the team in home runs with a 126 wRC+. Among the holdovers from last year, Bryan Reynolds has bounced back from a dismal season in 2025 to lead the team with a 145 wRC+. Unfortunately for the Pirates, young phenom Konnor Griffin has been sidelined with a forearm injury for the past month.
Mitch Keller has been a solid, if uninspiring mid-rotation starter for the last five years. He’s also been incredibly consistent in that time; his FIP hasn’t risen above 4.08 and hasn’t fallen below 3.80. Despite that consistency, his peripherals look the worst they’ve been since 2021; his strikeout rate has fallen to 18.4% and his walk rate has jumped up to 8.8%. Only some good home run luck has allowed him to keep his FIP inside that range mentioned above. He’s always been a tinkerer, and this year, he’s reintroduced a cutter to his repertoire. The real issue is that his other two fastballs have been crushed by opposing batters and the rest of his secondary pitches haven’t been able to make up the difference.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Braxton Ashcraft
90.2
26.3%
6.0%
9.3%
46.3%
3.18
3.04
Bryan Woo
89
24.9%
4.5%
7.8%
35.8%
3.94
3.08
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
26.1%
35.9%
97.1
92
84
99
0.307
Sinker
23.7%
8.9%
96.8
102
140
100
0.323
Splitter
0.0%
8.7%
91.9
87
Curveball
20.3%
28.4%
85.0
131
126
93
0.207
Slider
30.0%
18.1%
92.0
100
102
121
0.258
Between Paul Skenes, Konnor Griffin, and a host of other top prospects on the Pirates roster, it’s been easy to overlook Braxton Ashcraft. He was a top prospect in his own right and had a strong debut season last year, compiling a 2.71 ERA and 2.78 FIP in 18 relief appearances and eight starts. The Pirates were pretty cautious with his workload last year but have given him a full-time role in the starting rotation this year and he’s run with the opportunity. He’s got a pair of excellent breaking balls that more than make up for the lack of a strong fastball. Nearly half of his pitch mix is made up of those breaking balls, and their quality is such that he doesn’t really need an offspeed pitch to keep left-handed batters at bay. He can just spin a curveball or bury a slider to a lefty and generate enough swing and miss to thrive.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Bubba Chandler
74
21.1%
13.1%
9.4%
34.3%
4.62
4.73
Bryce Miller
40
30.5%
3.5%
12.5%
40.7%
1.58
2.95
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
51.0%
54.3%
98.4
104
99
109
0.345
Sinker
12.2%
3.6%
97.9
100
0
0
Changeup
9.8%
26.8%
91.8
93
84
111
0.277
Curveball
3.0%
4.1%
85.6
114
0
0
Slider
24.0%
11.3%
89.7
113
112
112
0.298
Sweeper
11.7%
3.9%
87.7
113
0
0
Among the non-Skenes pitching prospects in Pittsburgh’s pipeline, Bubba Chandler had the most hype. And while Ashcraft is having the type of season we expected from Chandler, Chandler probably has the higher ceiling once he fully develops. A lack of command is the biggest area he needs to address — an issue that’s led to a 13.1% walk rate this year. His fastball is fantastic with velocity and carry at the top of the zone. His tremendous arm speed helps his changeup really play up, though he’s still working on developing his trio of breaking balls. Once he figures out his command and finds a bit more consistency, he’ll be a top of the rotation arm for the Pirates. Until then, he’s a work-in-progress.
The Big Picture:
Team
W-L
W%
Games Behind
Run Diff
Recent Form
Mariners
40-39
0.506
—
+17
L-W-L-L-W
Athletics
38-40
0.487
1.5
-54
L-W-W-L-L
Rangers
38-40
0.487
1.5
-10
L-W-L-W-W
Astros
37-43
0.463
3.5
-43
W-W-L-W-L
Angels
32-48
0.400
8.5
-41
L-L-W-W-L
Team
W-L
W%
Games Behind
Run Diff
Recent Form
Rays
43-32
0.573
+5.5
+7
L-W-L-W-L
Guardians
41-38
0.519
+1.5
-8
W-L-W-L-L
Blue Jays
39-39
0.500
—
-23
W-W-L-W-W
Athletics
38-40
0.487
1.0
-54
L-W-W-L-L
Rangers
38-40
0.487
1.0
-10
L-W-L-W-W
The Rangers managed to climb back into a tie with the Athletics after winning their weekend series against the Padres and winning the first game of a series against the Marlins yesterday night. For their part, the Athletics wound up splitting their four-game series against the Angels last weekend and will start a three-game set against the Giants tonight. The Astros are also lurking at 3.5 games back in the division; they won their series against the Guardians over the weekend but dropped the first game of their series against the Blue Jays yesterday.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 09: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks is defended by Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half of a game at Fiserv Forum on March 09, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
First, it’s important to acknowledge that there’s another contender in the East.
The bar for entry into the title conversation is lower than it’s been before this era of parity. Teams that have talent, a clear identity, and can enforce that identity on their opponents can have playoff success even if their rosters aren’t perfect. Groups like the Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks, and Detroit Pistons are examples that did that well in the playoffs.
Miami has the tools to do the same.
They have the talent to be a formidable defense with a Bam Adebayo and Giannis-led front court, and perimeter pests like Davion Mitchell and Norman Powell (if they’re able to retain him in free agency). This should be an imposing half-court defense that generates plenty of turnovers with Erik Spoelstra’s patented zone.
Offensively, they will be potent in transition. Miami was already one of the league’s quickest offenses. That trend should continue as they likely won’t have the shooting or guard play to be an elite half-court attack. Antetokounmpo is elite in the open court. You’d expect them to leverage that as much as possible.
It typically takes teams a few years to build around a new star. The Heat won’t be the fully optimized version of a Giannis-led team for likely several years. But that doesn’t mean they won’t be a threat to the Cavs in the interim.
Cleveland has had issues against rangy defensive teams that can push it in transition. Their Donovan Mitchell and James Harden-led backcourt has struggled with turnovers in matchups where they don’t have the size or athletic advantage. And Cleveland’s oversized front court isn’t much use defensively if they aren’t able to get set up in the half-court. This is why the Cavs struggled so much against the Raptors in the first round this past season.
Miami — even in its current, imperfect construction — projects to be a better version of the Raptors. They have better backline defenders and should be much more explosive offensively in the open court with Giannis. They also have the strength up front to bully the Cavs. A more talented version of Toronto isn’t a team the Cavs want to face, at least not with Cleveland’s current roster.
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Second, the Giannis trade should open up the floodgates on other moves around the league.
What we do know is that Mitchell and Brown are good friends. We also know that the Cavs have done everything within their power to make moves that Mitchell approves of. Trading for a former Finals MVP and someone who fills a hole in the roster would make sense. Although figuring out a deal that works for both sides would be difficult — especially if Mobley isn’t on the table.
Brown wouldn’t be the only player who could be more available after the Giannis trade has gone through. Would the Bucks entertain moving on from Myles Turner? Is Kawhi Leonard the next star player to change teams? Could Trey Murphy III finally be on the move? Is Tyler Herro destined for a new home? What about Anthony Edwards? Presumably, the Cavs could get involved in any potential deal, even as a third team.
The Cavs typically don’t telegraph their moves. If they were to do something drastic, we likely wouldn’t know about it until the deal is nearly finalized, as we saw with the Harden trade this February.
All we can say for certain right now is that there’s a new contender in the East. We’ll see in the coming months whether the Cavs can remake their roster in a conference that will be much deeper next season.
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 02: Patrick Mahomes #15 and Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs walk off the field together during the second quarter in the game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Kansas City Chiefs‘ all-PFF team is made up of plenty of current stars, especially on offense.
QB: Patrick Mahomes (2017-2025) HB: Jamaal Charles (2008-2016) WR: Tyreek Hill (2016-2021) WR: Dwayne Bowe (2007-2014) Slot WR: Rashee Rice (2023-2025) TE: Travis Kelce (2014-2025) TE: Tony Gonzalez (2006-2008) LT: Eric Fisher (2013-2020) LG: Joe Thuney (2021-2024) C: Creed Humphrey (2021-2025) RG: Trey Smith (2021-2025) RT: Mitchell Schwartz (2016-2020)
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes leads the way, joined by wide receiver Rashee Rice, tight end Travis Kelce, center Creed Humphrey and right guard Trey Smith as the players still going strong for the Chiefs in this all-time lineup.
Only three players predate the era of head coach Andy Reid: running back Jamaal Charles, wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and tight end Tony Gonzalez.
The all-time offensive line is made up of two waves: offensive tackles Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz shared the line from 2016-2020, then the interior trio of left guard Joe Thuney, Humphrey and Smith took over until Thuney departed via free agency in 2024.
On defense, the vast majority of Kansas City’s best players from the last 20 years are former Chiefs at this point.
DI: Chris Jones (2016-2025) DI: Mike Devito (2013-2015) NT: Dontari Poe (2012-2016) ED: Justin Houston (2011-2018) ED: Tamba Hali (2006-2017) LB: Derrick Johnson (2006-2017) LB: Nick Bolton (2021-2025) CB: Brandon Flowers (2008-2013) CB: Brandon Carr (2008-2011) Slot CB: Trent McDuffie (2022-2025) S: Eric Berry (2010-2018) S: Tyrann Mathieu (2019-2021)
Defensive tackle Chris Jones and linebacker Nick Bolton are the only current Chiefs players among this group; cornerback Trent McDuffie and safety Tyrann Mathieu are the only other players who have been coached by current defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
The current Chiefs could sure use one of the all-time pass rushers Kansas City has in Justin Houston and Tamba Hali. The team is also missing a star safety like Eric Berry or Mathieu.
Are there any players who you believe were snubbed by PFF? What Chiefs players are you surprised to see in these lineups? Let us know in the comments.
And the second is this World Cup will feature a third-placed table for the first time since 1994 as teams vie for the eight remaining slots.
Head-to-head means teams can either win a group or be eliminated after two games.
Eight teams already know they have nothing to play for on the third matchday.
For instance, Argentina have six points and cannot be overtaken in Group J because they have beaten the two teams on three points, Austria and Algeria.
Likewise, Jordan on zero points have been eliminated because they have lost to those two teams.
If goal difference were being used first every team would still have something on the line.
Will countries with nothing to play for field weaker teams in their final game as a result?
As for the third-placed table, because there are so many groups it takes five days to complete the final round of matches.
That means, for example, when Scotland play Brazil on Wednesday (23:00 BST) they will have no idea what the cut-off in terms of a points threshold will be to go through in third.
A team playing on Saturday or Sunday will likely know exactly what they require.
All in all, the final week of the group stage is going to feel very different.
Fifa follows Uefa with head-to-head - but this seems different
Using head to head as the first tiebreaker is nothing new. Uefa favours it in all its competitions.
The theory behind it is how it separates teams on the result of the match between them, filtering out potentially big scorelines from other matches which can skew goal difference.
Although half the size in terms of the number of teams competing, since 2016, the Euros has used the same format as the World Cup with some third-placed teams qualifying.
At Euro 2016, Italy topped the group and Ukraine were knocked out after two games.
At Euro 2020 it happened in one group, creating a dead rubber between Netherlands and North Macedonia.
At Euro 2024, Portugal and Spain topped their groups with Poland eliminated.
Yet more teams have already been either eliminated or made it through to the round of 32 at this World Cup (eight) than in the whole of the three Euros combined (seven).
Mexico, USA, Germany and Argentina are locked as group winners.
Haiti, Turkey, Tunisia and Jordan know they will be on the plane home.
USA v Turkey and Argentina v Jordan are dead rubbers, fixtures between group winners and eliminated teams.
More could follow on Tuesday. England/Ghana and Colombia could seal top spot, while Croatia/Panama and Uzbekistan might go out.
At the 2022 World Cup, only Canada and Qatar were eliminated after two rounds.
What would happen if we were to apply head to head and add potential third places to the previous edition of the competition?
France, Brazil and Portugal would have been through as group winners after two matches - a total of five teams impacted.
Why is this? It could indicate a greater gap in quality at the World Cup which has allowed some countries to coast to qualification.
The order of fixtures could be influential too; if the strongest teams play the weakest first that gives them a greater likelihood of accumulating six points.
Why having nothing to play for could matter
Lionel Messi, with five goals in two games, could be rested for the knockout rounds with Argentina having sealed top spot in the group [Getty Images]
How will the likes of Argentina and Germany approach their final group games?
It is difficult to predict, but in such an intensive tournament the temptation to rest players will be great.
The group winners have the opportunity to take a refreshed starting XI into the round of 32.
This might be the case for Lionel Messi, who celebrates his 39th birthday on Wednesday.
At Euro 2024, Portugal won their first two matches and the group.
For their third fixture against Georgia, Portugal coach Roberto Martinez made eight changes to his starting XI.
Georgia won 2-0, climbed up to third in the group and went through to the round of 16. Hungary were knocked out of the best third-place positions.
We could see this happen at the World Cup, too.
Curacao and Ivory Coast have both lost to a full-strength Germany in Group E.
Like Georgia, Ecuador must win to qualify and might face an under-strength Die Mannschaft on Thursday (21:00 BST).
This feels unfair not only to Curacao and Ivory Coast but also to the teams hoping to take a third-place slot.
Who else could this World Cup be impacted?
In Group A, Czech Republic (one point) will face Mexico at the Estadio Azteca needing a win to qualify.
Morocco (Group C, four points) and Netherlands (Group F, four points) play Haiti and Tunisia respectively. They have enough points to go through but could be aided in a bid to finish top.
The fight to be one of the third-place teams at the World Cup is hardly a level-playing field.
If you are playing later in the week you know exactly what result is needed to qualify.
You might be able to play for a draw, or even just limit a defeat for goal difference.
The pitfalls of playing earlier are clear for a team like Scotland.
Scotland are not only playing Brazil on Wednesday, they are fighting with the other 37 sides who could still finish in third place.
Steve Clarke's team are on three points and they are guaranteed to finish no lower than third. They know a win or a draw will be enough.
But sitting on goal difference of zero, a heavy defeat could send them home.
If they do lose, the Scots face an anxious wait, potentially until around 05:00 BST on Sunday morning when Group J completes, before they discover if they are one of the top eight.
The impact for third-placed teams is greater in this truncated tournament, with no rest days before the knockout rounds begin.
Scotland could face Germany in Boston on Monday at 21:30 BST - just 40 hours 30 minutes after the group stage ends and their round of 32 fixture is known.
Then there is impact of two teams playing each other for an advantageous result.
West Germany played Austria in the standalone final group game. A slender win for the Germans would send both teams through at the expense of Algeria. The match finished 1-0 to West Germany.
After this, Fifa changed it so all final fixtures would be played simultaneously. But it does not completely remove the potential.
There is quite the coincidence at this World Cup.
The final game in Group J is Algeria v Austria. Both teams are on three points, and by the time they play on Saturday they will know if a convenient draw sends both safely through to the round of 32.
Two of the teams involved in 1982, but this time Algeria would be the beneficiaries.
In another coincidence, Austria and Ukraine went into the final group game at Euro 2020 with both teams on three points - a draw would have done for both.
Austria won that game 1-0, though Ukraine still went through.
The same situation presents itself in Group D of this tournament - Australia and Paraguay, both on three points, can play for a draw.
A similar incident occurred at Euro 2004 for the top two places, and to this day many Italians believe that Sweden and Denmark engineered the result.
If the match was a draw and the teams scored at least twice, Italy were out because they scored fewer goals in matches between the three sides.
HOUSTON (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in six different World Cup tournaments on Tuesday, getting a goal in the sixth minute of Portugal’s match against Uzbekistan.
The 41-year-old Ronaldo made history when João Cancelo crossed it to him and he shot with his right-foot to make it 1-0. He ran toward the bench and celebrated with his teammates after the score.
Ronaldo and Argentina captain Lionel Messi became the only men in history to play in six World Cup tournaments this year. Ronaldo’s scoring streak started in his debut in 2006 and he also netted goals in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022.
While he shares the record for most tournaments with Messi, he stands alone in scoring a goal in each edition after Messi failed to score a goal at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Tuesday's game was the 230th of Ronaldo’s international career, which is the most in history.
This is likely to be the final World Cup for Ronaldo, who won the European Championship with Portugal in 2016 and the Champions League five times with Manchester United and Real Madrid.
The Argentina captain scored two goals against Austria on Monday in the World Cup
Messi has now scored the most goals ever across multiple World cups
Lionel Messi is continuing his historic run at the World Cup!
The Argentina captain — who turns 39 on June 24 — scored both of his team’s goals in a 2-0 win over Austria on Monday, June 22 at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
“Beyond anything I’m so happy for the win,” Messi said. “It was huge, tough and difficult. It would allow us to be relaxed to what’s ahead.”
He added, “All matches in this World Cup are very even, very intense. I’m enjoying this moment and craving to enjoy with my teammates.”
The soccer GOAT is now among a select few building buzz for the Golden Boot, the tournament’s trophy for its top goal-scorer. France’s Kylian Mbappé and Norway’s Erling Haaland are not far behind, having each scored four goals so far in Group play.
Messi’s goals thrilled fans in Texas, who witnessed history as the forward set the record for most-ever men's World Cup goals with 18.
For Messi, the game came days after he scored a hat trick, connecting on three goals against Algeria at Kansas City Stadium.
After Argentina's 3-0 victory during its opening 2026 World Cup match on Tuesday, June 16, Messi explained why he got emotional.
"Why did I cry? It was something completely unrelated to football. I went through some difficult days," Messi said. "But I'm grateful to the entire delegation and my teammates because they were always by my side, giving me a lot of strength to help me get through it."
Two days later, Messi’s family released a statement that Lionel’s 68-year-old father, Jorge, was undergoing treatment for an undisclosed illness.
"He is currently under medical observation, recovering and progressing favorably within his current condition," the family said in a statement regarding Jorge.
The Portland Trail Blazers have reportedly made a decision on their next head coach.
"Just in: The Portland Trail Blazers are hiring Minnesota Timberwolves lead assistant Micah Nori as the franchise's next head coach, sources tell ESPN. Nori -- widely regarded as one of the league's top assistants -- has been in the NBA coaching ranks since 2009 and now takes over in Portland on a multiyear deal," ESPN senior NBA insider Shams Charania posted on X.
Just in: The Portland Trail Blazers are hiring Minnesota Timberwolves lead assistant Micah Nori as the franchise's next head coach, sources tell ESPN. Nori -- widely regarded as one of the league's top assistants -- has been in the NBA coaching ranks since 2009 and now takes over… pic.twitter.com/j5PDc5KlFF
The Micah Nori hire also has a significant impact on the Boston Celtics.
It was reported in May that Celtics assistant Tyler Lashbrook was among the final candidates for the opening in Portland.
Then when the Chicago Bulls hired former Trail Blazers interim head coach Tiago Splitter, it was revealed that Lashbrook was one of the two finalists for the Portland gig.
With the Trail Blazers reportedly going with Nori, Lashbrook can now return to head coach Joe Mazzulla's bench in Boston.
Lashbrook isn't the only member of Mazzulla's staff to fall just short of a head-coaching job this offseason.
It was reported in early June that assistant coach Tony Dobbins was expected to interview for the Dallas Mavericks' vacancy. The Mavericks ended up hiring former University of Michigan head coach Dusty May for the job, according to multiple reports.
Additionally, former Celtics assistant Ben Sullivan interviewed for Portland's lead gig and ex-Boston All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo was reportedly a finalist for the New Orleans Pelicans' head-coaching job.
One former member of the Celtics who did recently land a new opportunity is ESPN analyst and former NBA champion center Kendrick Perkins, who agreed to become the men's basketball General Manager at Jackson State last week.
The Portland Trail Blazers picked Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori as their next head coach on Tuesday, after making the playoffs for the first time in five years under the direction of interim coach Tiago Splitter.
Nori, who spent the past five seasons with the Timberwolves, has interviewed for multiple head coach vacancies including the Chicago Bulls earlier this month, the New York Knicks last year, and the Los Angeles Lakers in 2024.
Nori, 52, was the lead assistant under Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch while the club made the playoffs each season, won five series, and reached the Western Conference finals in 2023 and 2024. Nori, who began his NBA career in 1998 as a scout with the Toronto Raptors, has also been an assistant for the Raptors, the Sacramento Kings, the Denver Nuggets, and the Detroit Pistons. His son, Dante, is a minor league baseball player in the Philadelphia Phillies organization.
Splitter, who was hired last week as head coach of the Chicago Bulls, was promoted from assistant to interim coach when then-head coach Chauncey Billups was arrested in October in a federal takedown of a sprawling gambling operation. Billups has pleaded not guilty to charges of wire fraud and money laundering.
The Blazers went 42-40 with a five-game loss to NBA finalist San Antonio in the first round of the playoffs, the first postseason appearance and first time they finished with a winning record in five years.
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AP Sports Writer Dave Campbell in Minneapolis contributed to this report.
ESPN analyst Matt Miller took to social media on Tuesday to announce that he is lucky to be alive after a serious car accident.
Miller revealed he was involved in the near-fatal accident in Missouri, which led to him being airlifted to Mercy Hospital, where he had surgery to amputate his left arm.
Miller also noted he suffered multiple fractures and broken ribs.
“Last week, I was involved in a serious car accident in Missouri and was airlifted to Mercy Hospital,” Miller said. “I’m deeply grateful for the exceptional care I have received, from the first responders to the doctors, nurses and medical staff. I’m incredibly fortunate to be writing this.”
“As a result of the accident, I sustained significant injuries, including multiple fractures and broken ribs,” Miller added. “I also underwent a life-saving amputation of my left arm. While I have a long road ahead, I’m focused on my recovery and taking things one day at a time.”
Miller also thanked all of those who have reached out to him to offer their love and support in the wake of this scary situation.
“Thank you for the overwhelming support, prayers and kind messages — they have meant so much to me and my family during this time,” Miller added in his statement. “I look forward to continuing my recovery and getting back to ESPN to talk football, including what should be an exciting 2027 NFL Draft class.”
He started out as an NFL Draft contributor before becoming a year-round employee of the company in 2022, serving as an analyst and insider.
Miller made his on-air debut in April of 2023 for Day 3 of the NFL Draft in Kansas City.
He has since appeared on ESPN shows such as NFL Live, SportsCenter and Get Up!, and he provides great NFL Draft content, including news, rumors and mock drafts.
Apr 7, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) returns the ball against Charlotte Hornets guard Sion James (4) in the second quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images
Both of them followed similar paths to Duke, transferring after three years at Tulane, in James’ case, and Wisconsin in Blackwell’s.
James probes Blackwell a bit about his background, what he thought when he got to campus, and some other personal questions.
James also talks about his decision to choose Duke, and that it happened very fast. When he got here, campus was basically a ghost town, because everyone had graduated, and most of the previous team had gone on to the NBA or transferred.
It’s a pretty cool thing to listen to as the pair compare notes and their impressions of Duke, including their experience at the K Academy, and a forecast of several Day 1 injuries.
That seems obvious now. All of the participants are older, and injuries are certainly going to happen.
Anyway, it’s a fun discussion you won’t want to miss.
The first round of the 2026 NBA draft is set to begin on Tuesday, with 30 players expected to hear their names called at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
BYU forward AJ Dybantsa is the front-runner to be the No. 1 pick by the Washington Wizards, while Kansas guard Darryn Peterson is expected to go second to the Utah Jazz. Duke forward Cameron Boozer and North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson are projected to be selected next.
While Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer and Wilson are expected to be the first four players off the board, the first round could be shaken up when the LA Clippers and the Brooklyn Nets are on the clock with the next two picks, with both teams being linked to several prospects.
The draft order was altered a bit late Monday, after the Milwaukee Bucksreportedly agreed to trade two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat for a package of players and picks, including the 13th overall pick on Tuesday.
The trade discussions and rumors will continue to swirl before the Wizards are officially on the clock. Some teams have been linked to wanting to trade out of the first round, while others have been seeking to move up and join the festivities.
The 2026 NBA draft will feature a two-night format for the second consecutive year, with the first round scheduled for Tuesday and the second round for Wednesday.
🐐Historic: Cristiano, first to score at SIX World Cups
With his goal today against Uzbekistan, the Portuguese star now stands alone on a unique list in World Cup history.
He was the only one left to score at this World Cup. Messi, Haaland, Mbappé, and Kane had all already found the net, but nothing is complete without a Cristiano goal.
Like everything surrounding the man from Madeira, his goal is synonymous with history, and this time was no exception.
With his goal against Uzbekistan, Cristiano becomes the first and only player to have scored in six different World Cups.
An unprecedented statistic that no one else has managed to achieve to date, and one that may seem out of reach for the rest of us mortals.
The Nashville Predators, Tennessee Titans and Nashville Soccer Club have partnered to build a massive sports-focused development in Franklin, according to a news release from the lead developer.
Brentwood-based BLVD Capital has proposed plans to build a hockey facility, football, soccer and lacrosse fields, a golf course and driving range at Brownland Farm, which is located near the intersection of Hillsboro Road and Mack Hatcher Parkway. The 233-acre property is currently an equestrian facility.
The project, to be named The Banks at Brownland, would also include a partnership with Christ Community Church to provide a permanent facility for GraceWorks Ministries, a faith-based nonprofit organization serving Williamson County.
“Brownland Farm is a Franklin treasure, and we are pleased to bring forward a potential plan that would allow the property to be used for youth sports and fill a void for these types of facilities in Williamson County,” BLVD Capital Principal Jim Darter said in a news release.
According to the development team, the owners of Brownland are partners on the project and are working to relocate their equestrian facility offsite. Other partners include Landon Gibbs of Altitude Real Estate and David Atchison of The Riverstone Group.
Predators to add ice facility to Middle Tennessee lineup
A 100,000-square-foot hockey facility with two sheets of ice is planned for the mixed-use development. Similarly to facilities in Antioch, Bellevue and across Middle Tennessee, the property would be managed by the Nashville Predators. The Williamson County Commission and Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen will discuss the proposal at a joint meeting on June 29.
Predators CEO Sean Henry said the development vision is focused on investing in sports for all ages in Williamson County.
"It is about creating opportunities for families, building community and enhancing quality of life for generations to come," Henry said in a news release. "We are especially grateful to the leadership of Franklin and Williamson County for their investment in the future of this community.”
Plans also call for 11 fields to be used for flag football, soccer and lacrosse. Youth programming for soccer and football will be managed by the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Soccer Club.
"Access to quality fields and facilities is foundational to growing the game and the next generation of athletes," said Josh Corey, vice president of cause marketing for the Tennessee Titans. "Partnerships like this are how we make sure young athletes have the fields and facilities they need to play."
The development will also include retail, which could include restaurants, a grocery store, fitness, medical offices and more. A construction start is planned for sometime next year.
Molly Davis covers growth and development in Nashville. You can email her with comments, questions and tips at mmdavis@tennessean.com.
The Nashville Predators, Tennessee Titans and Nashville Soccer Club have partnered to build a massive sports-focused development in Franklin, according to a news release from the lead developer.
Brentwood-based BLVD Capital has proposed plans to build a hockey facility, football, soccer and lacrosse fields, a golf course and driving range at Brownland Farm, which is located near the intersection of Hillsboro Road and Mack Hatcher Parkway. The 233-acre property is currently an equestrian facility.
The project, to be named The Banks at Brownland, would also include a partnership with Christ Community Church to provide a permanent facility for GraceWorks Ministries, a faith-based nonprofit organization serving Williamson County.
“Brownland Farm is a Franklin treasure, and we are pleased to bring forward a potential plan that would allow the property to be used for youth sports and fill a void for these types of facilities in Williamson County,” BLVD Capital Principal Jim Darter said in a news release.
According to the development team, the owners of Brownland are partners on the project and are working to relocate their equestrian facility offsite. Other partners include Landon Gibbs of Altitude Real Estate and David Atchison of The Riverstone Group.
Predators to add ice facility to Middle Tennessee lineup
A 100,000-square-foot hockey facility with two sheets of ice is planned for the mixed-use development. Similarly to facilities in Antioch, Bellevue and across Middle Tennessee, the property would be managed by the Nashville Predators. The Williamson County Commission and Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen will discuss the proposal at a joint meeting on June 29.
Predators CEO Sean Henry said the development vision is focused on investing in sports for all ages in Williamson County.
"It is about creating opportunities for families, building community and enhancing quality of life for generations to come," Henry said in a news release. "We are especially grateful to the leadership of Franklin and Williamson County for their investment in the future of this community.”
Plans also call for 11 fields to be used for flag football, soccer and lacrosse. Youth programming for soccer and football will be managed by the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Soccer Club.
"Access to quality fields and facilities is foundational to growing the game and the next generation of athletes," said Josh Corey, vice president of cause marketing for the Tennessee Titans. "Partnerships like this are how we make sure young athletes have the fields and facilities they need to play."
The development will also include retail, which could include restaurants, a grocery store, fitness, medical offices and more. A construction start is planned for sometime next year.
Molly Davis covers growth and development in Nashville. You can email her with comments, questions and tips at mmdavis@tennessean.com.
The Emerald City is set to host its third match of the FIFA World Cup this Wednesday with Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar.
The match kicks off at Seattle Stadium at noon, and officials are expecting the area around the stadium to be packed once again.
There are still some tickets available. On Tuesday, the cheapest seats (with obstructed views) listed on ticket resale site SeatGeek were around $350, while the priciest front-row tickets rang in at around $1K each.
Security will be tight again, and so will the parking. To learn more about getting around Seattle during the World Cup, click here.
After last week’s USA win over Australia at Seattle Stadium, Seattle and the U.S. Men’s National Team will be watching Wednesday’s Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar match closely. If Team USA wins in Santa Clara on July 1, they’ll advance to round 16, which will be played in Seattle. It’s highly probable that the winner of Wednesday’s Group B matchup will advance to play Team USA in that same event. With that said, teams from Groups E, F, I, or J could also face off with Team USA in the first-ever Round of 32.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 07: Ian Machado Garry of Ireland grapples with Shavkat Rakhmonov of Uzbekistan in a welterweight bout during the UFC 310 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 07, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Garry is the betting underdog for their five-round showdown, so why are Islam fans starting to panic?
“The truth is, I have this feeling in my heart that they know I’m the trickiest opponent for them,” Garry told Ariel Helwani. “That’s why the champion of the world, one of the most dominant athletes we’ve ever seen, called out Kamaru Usman to defend his world title fight against. Does that make sense? He knows I’m long, I’m tall. I’m fast. I’m rangy. I understand distance management and control. I don’t get hit very well. It’s never clean, it’s never connected.”
Garry absorbs just 2.86 significant strikes per minute and avoids 52% of incoming fire. By comparison, Makhachev is hit with just 1.45 significant strikes per minute and defends 61% of blows coming his way. No doubt part of that success comes from his punishing top control.
Garry defends 80% of all takedown attempts.
“I’m tricky on the feet, I’m tricky on the ground,” Garry added. “I’m hard to touch, I’m hard to control. I’m hard to predict what I’m going to do. I’m hard to read. All of those are elite, stand up, and grappling skills. So, from my point of view, there is nobody in this division, that is a trickier matchup, for Islam Makhachev. I’m 6’3” — I’m long, I’m tall, I’m beautiful. I know how to use my hands, my feet. I know how to stop the takedown. I stopped 15 of 17 takedowns from Shavkat (Rakhmonov) and Belal (Muhammad). I know what I’m doing in this sport.”
Shavkat was 2 for 10 on takedown attempts (UFC 310) compared to 0 for 7 for Belal (UFC Qatar).
Cristiano Ronaldo is now the only player in history to have scored in six different World Cups.
After opening the scoring against Uzbekistan (Group K), Portugal’s talismanic captain silenced his critics as early as the sixth minute.
Thanks to that goal, he also becomes the Seleção’s joint all-time top scorer at the World Cup. With nine goals, he draws level with the legendary Eusébio at the top of the standings.
Paraguay winger Miguel Almiron will serve a one-match suspension after he became the first player to be sent off for covering his mouth while talking to an opponent.
Almiron committed the offence when addressing Mert Muldur during Paraguay’s win over Turkey last Friday and was shown a straight red card.
FIFA’s disciplinary committee confirmed the suspension on Tuesday, which rules the former Newcastle player out of Paraguay’s final group game against Australia on Thursday.
The new rule was approved at FIFA Congress in April, following a proposal from FIFA in the wake of Real Madrid and Brazil star Vinicius Junior being addressed by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni while the Argentinian’s mouth was covered during a Champions League match in February.
Prestianni was given a six-match ban after admitting using homophobic language. Vinicius’ allegation of racism was found not proven by UEFA’s control, ethics and disciplinary body (CEDB).
Gary O’Neil has challenged Ipswich Town to follow in Brighton & Hove Albion’s footsteps as they attempt to establish themselves as a Premier League force.
The 43-year-old former Bournemouth, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Strasbourg boss was handed the reins at Portman Road on Tuesday after signing a three-year deal to replace Kieran McKenna, and he wasted little time in outlining his vision for the club.
Asked what it could achieve under his charge at his first press conference, O’Neil said: “I think it can become a very, very big club in the English game.
“If you look at Brighton recently and the journey they have been on. I remember them in the Championship under Chris Hughton, and the journey they’ve gone on since then to be established – you’re surprised if they’re not in the top half, top nine in the league.
“I think this place has that potential, to go on and kick to that. We have a few steps along that we need to make, and the first one is to make sure that we don’t only spend one season in this league.
“We need to make sure that this season, we stay in the league, we stabilise, we give ourselves the chance again to improve next summer and start to build.”
Ipswich turned to O’Neil, who was only six months into his reign at Ligue 1 Strasbourg, who he guided to the last four in both Europe’s Conference League and the Coupe de France last season, following McKenna’s announcement that he was to step down after five years.
He did so having guided Town back into the Premier League at the first attempt by finishing second in the Championship behind Coventry.
O’Neil earned his spurs in management scrapping for top-flight survival at both the Vitality Stadium and Molineux, and while he has his sights set higher than that this time around, he is under no illusions that survival is the overriding priority.
He said: “If you asked probably 14 clubs in the division, the first aim will be that, and of course we want to go on from that.
“The beauty and the thing that drew me to this role – because there have been Premier League clubs in the past that I’ve spoken to and decided not to go to – the reason that this one appealed so much is, of course, the history and the size of the club, but also, the ambition and where the club is at.
“It’s not one that’s just looking to achieve safety. The aim is to grow and to achieve more than that. It’s been in Europe before and it’s won in Europe before. It’s a big, big football club that we can do special things with.”
O’Neil admitted his excitement at what lies ahead for he and his young family at a club which boasts a particularly famous celebrity and stakeholder.
He said: “I’m sure they’ll love meeting Ed Sheeran at some point – that will be high up on their list, I would think – so looking forward to all of that and can’t wait to get started.”
Jeremy Doku has described the birth of his son as “one of the greatest blessings” as he prepares to return to the Belgium team at the World Cup.
Belgium confirmed on Monday that the Manchester City winger had travelled to be with his wife for the birth of their son, Praise, and will return to the team ahead of their next fixture against New Zealand.
In a post on his Instagram story on Tuesday, Doku expressed his gratitude for well-wishes as he rejoins the team, who are currently third in Group G.
He said: “Thank you to everyone for the love, prayers and kind messages over the past few days. Shireen and Praise are doing great and my heart is full of gratitude. Welcoming my son into the world is one of the greatest blessings God has ever given me.
“Thank you to the team for the support, now it’s time to get back to football and represent my country on the biggest stage.”
Georgia Tech unveiled the designs for its upcoming $70 million renovation for Bobby Dodd Stadium that will start later this year.
The goal is modernize the stadium with new 12,500 chairback seats, a new videoboard and sound system and significant upgrades to suites and premium areas. This will mark the first major renovation for the 113-year-old stadium since 2003.
“We remain committed to delivering a renovation that positively impacts all fans, preserves capacity at a level to meet demand and maintains the tradition of our historic home,” Georgia Tech vice president and director of athletics Ryan Alpertsaid.
Georgia Tech will have to reduce the stadium capacity to approximately 50,000. That’s higher than the 42,00 capacity that officials initially planned.
In addition to the seats, crews will install new handrails and wider aisles in certain sections. The suites and premium areas will get remodeled as well with Georgia Tech building a new Founders Club on the stadium’s west endzone and a new VIP Members Club on the stadium’s east side.
Georgia Tech says it will announce more improvements throughout the summer that will go into effect this season ahead of the major renovation project.
The project will begin after the 2026 season with a completion date set before the 2027 season starts next August.
He didn't keep his fans waiting too long to accomplish that feat, though. Early in Tuesday's game against Uzbekistan, Ronaldo officially set that record, scoring a goal in the fifth minute of the match to give Portugal a 1-0 lead.
Ronaldo found himself in the perfect spot — just in front of the goal — when teammate João Cancelo delivered a perfect crosser. Ronaldo drilled his kick, sending it past the goalkeeper before he had a chance to dive in front of it.
Ronaldo, 41, has set a number of records across his many years with Portugal. He already holds the most appearances and goals for a player with a men's national team. Entering the 2026 World Cup, Ronaldo had 228 appearances — and counting — with Portugal. After Tuesday's goal, he's scored a record 144 goals with the team.
His time at the World Cup — as you might expect — has been similarly impressive.
Cristiano Ronaldo World Cup stats
Here's how Ronaldo has performed at each of his six World Cups:
2006
• Goals: 1 • Assists: 0 • Minutes played: 482 • Results: Portugal went 4-1-2 over seven games, finishing in fourth place
2010
• Goals: 1 • Assists: 1 • Minutes played: 360 • Results: Portugal went 1-2-1 in four games, losing in the Round of 16
2014
• Goals: 1 • Assists: 1 • Minutes played: 270 • Results: Portugal went 1-1-1 in three games and lost in the group stage
2018
• Goals: 4 • Assists: 0 • Minutes played: 360 • Results: Portugal went 1-2-1 in four games, losing in the Round of 16
2022
• Goals: 1 • Assists: 0 • Minutes played: 290 • Results: Portugal went 3-0-2 in five games, losing in the quarterfinals
2026*
• Goals: 1 • Assists: 0 • Minutes played: 95 and counting • Results: Portugal is 0-1-0 so far
*2026 stats through June 23
Lionel Messi has also shined at historic 2026 World Cup
It's already been a historic World Cup. During Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria, Lionel Messi became the all-time leading goal scorer at the event. He has scored 18 goals — and counting — at his six World Cups. While Messi, like Ronaldo, has appeared in six different World Cups, he did not score a goal for Argentina in 2010, paving the way for Ronaldo to claim the record by scoring in six different World Cups.
Ronaldo has some work to do if he wants to move up the all-time goal rankings at the World Cup. He entered the 2026 World Cup with eight goals under his belt. At least three other players — Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane — all entered the event with more World Cup goals than Ronaldo.
With Tuesday's goal, Ronaldo now has nine goals at his six World Cups. One more would give him double digits at the event, putting him on an elite list of just 16 other players.
What is the controversy surrounding Thomas Partey?
Partey is set to stand trial in the UK on seven charges of rape and one charge of sexual assault. The charges first came about in July 2025 when he was accused of five instances of rape against two women and sexual assault by a third between 2021 and 2022, for which Partey pled not guilty. In February, two more charges of rape were brought about by accusations from a fourth woman for alleged instances in 2020, for which he also pled not guilty. On April 13, a judge at the Westminster Magistrates' Court ruled all eight charges should be tried together, but that the trial could be pushed back until January 2027.
For Partey's case, he "vehemently defends his innocence and denies all charges against him," per a statement by Villarreal when he signed last August. He has also received the backing of Ghana Football Association president Kurt Okraku, who told Ghanian broadcaster Asaase Radio in February that the GFA stands "shoulder to shoulder with him during these challenging times" and that as vice-captain, he was a "key member of the Black Stars." Coach Carlos Quieroz, who took the reigns of the Black Stars in April, defended his selection of Partey to reporters in a press conference ahead of a friendly against Wales on Monday, June 1, saying that "until the court makes a decision, that the presumption of innocence is on the side of all court cases."
Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first player in World Cup history to score in six editions of the tournament after the Portugal captain found the net against Uzbekistan.
Ronaldo, 41, came under fire following a drab performance against DR Congo in Portugal’s opening match but it took him less than six minutes to send his team ahead in the Group K encounter at the Houston Stadium.
Joao Cancelo set up the goal with a fine run down the right flank before squaring a low cross into the penalty area. Ever the poacher, Ronaldo hooked a first time shot towards goal and slotted in just inside the near post to send his team ahead.
Ronaldo made his first appearance at a World Cup in 2006 aged 21 and scored one goal as Portugal reached the semi-finals. He also scored one goal in both the 2010 and 2014 tournaments, where Portugal rather under-performed, before netting four at the 2018 World Cup. Ronaldo then scored one goal at the 2022 World Cup as Portugal reached the quarter-finals.
He then went on to score twice more in Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria yesterday. While Messi failed to score in his five games at the 2010 World Cup, as Argentina were knocked out by Germany in the quarter-finals, the 38-year-old now holds the record for World Cup goals (18) as well as appearances (28).
Ronaldo’s nine World Cup goals remains some way off Messi’s total, but he could feasibly pass Germany’s Lothar Matthaus for the second-most of all time if Portugal reach the knockout stages of the 48-team tournament.
United face two major hurdles in pursuit of Aurélien Tchouaméni
Manchester United’s pursuit of an ideal successor for Casemiro has seen them linked with a move for Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni. However, it appears that taking him to Old Trafford this summer could be a challenge for INEOS.
For the record, the Red Devils were also linked with the Frenchman in the summer of 2022, but Los Blancos won the race. Tchouameni replaced Casemiro at the Santiago Bernabeu, with the Brazilian moving to Old Trafford that year.
The veteran midfielder enjoyed a decent stay at the Theatre of Dreams, and was outstanding in the recently concluded season. However, the 34 year old’s stint with United has come to an end this summer, with recent reports suggesting that he is on his way to Inter Miami.
The situation has prompted United to turn to the market and it appears that they have rekindled their interest in Tchouameni.
Ticks a lot of boxes at Old Trafford
Tchouameni has gone from strength to strength since joining Real Madrid, and has won eight trophies at the Santiago Bernabeu, including the league and the Champions League. The Frenchman registered two goals and two assists in 49 appearances in all competitions last season.
The 26 year old is yet to reach his prime and is already one of the finest defensive midfielders in the world. The Frenchman is not only adept at snuffing out danger and shielding his backline, but he is also assured with the ball at his feet, and has subsequently earned admirers at Old Trafford.
Acclaimed journalist Fabrizio Romano has previously stated that United view Tchouameni as the dream replacement for Casemiro this summer. Recent reports suggest that the Red Devils could have the chance to sign the Frenchman this summer, but the Italian has now provided a contrasting update.
Two roadblocks to United’s Tchouameni pursuit
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano reiterated that United remain very interested in Tchouameni. He said: “I have been telling you guys, if you follow the channel, here on YouTube, you know that very well, in April and in May, several times that in case Man Utd had the possibility to decide the perfect player to replace Casemiro, probably internally the name mentioned was going to be Aurelien Tchouameni.”
“Perfect defensive midfielder, top European experience, elite player, so interest was absolutely, absolutely confirmed.”
However, he pointed out that there are two issues that the Red Devils face regarding a deal for Tchouameni. He said: “The problem of this deal is double. One is that Real Madrid so far are yet to open doors to an exit of Tchouameni, so club-to-club.”
“And then the salary because Aurelien Tchouameni is on a very big salary at Real Madrid, and for Manchester United to match that salary was not part of the plans.”
“So, this is what I should clarify on Tchouameni because there are new rumours, new stories about this. There is no doubt at all that Man Utd dream and love Aurelien Tchouameni. I can guarantee this.”
“They super-appreciate the player and they consider him perfect, but at the same time, to be realistic in terms of transfer fee, it depends on Real Madrid and Real Madrid are yet again to open doors to an exit and then also the salary, it’s a point. So, that’s the reality of the situation of Aurelien Tchouameni.”
Final Thoughts
Tchouameni could be a world-class addition to Michael Carrick’s squad, and also the ideal partner for Kobbie Mainoo. A recent report relayed by The Peoples Person states that Real Madrid could offload the player against his wishes this summer, meaning this saga could becoming increasingly interesting in the coming weeks.
Featured image Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey via Getty Images
With the NBA Draft hours away, HoopsHype has gathered the latest intel on NBA Draft trade talks, what’s next for the Bucks, Heat, Celtics, Pistons, and Blazers, following the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade. Plus, updates on Ja Morant, Tyler Herro, Julius Randle, Trey Murphy III, DeMar DeRozan, the Warriors, Bulls, Timberwolves, Nets, Grizzlies, Hornets, and a quick chat with Grizzlies All-Rookie First Team selection Cedric Coward.
Warriors No. 11 pick trade talks; Trey Murphy III
The Golden State Warriors are keeping all options open heading into the draft with their No. 11 pick.
The Warriors have talked with the Charlotte Hornets about the possibility of swapping draft picks, with Golden State’s No. 11 pick going to Charlotte for Nos. 14 and 18, contingent on certain players being on the board, league sources told HoopsHype. Charlotte has signaled a willingness to move up in the draft, seemingly to leapfrog Oklahoma City, and executives across the league are wondering which player the Hornets could be targeting.
Golden State has also been one of many interested suitors in New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III, and the two teams have discussed concepts involving the No. 11 pick, league sources told HoopsHype. As previously reported by HoopsHype, the Pelicans have searched for a trade into the lottery and are targeting a player. Nate Ament has been mentioned as one potential candidate for the Pelicans.
Before this past trade deadline, several teams, including the Warriors, Pistons, Pacers, Hawks, Trail Blazers, Spurs, and Lakers, called to express interest in trading for Murphy, league sources told HoopsHype.
What’s next for DeMar DeRozan’s future, and will the Kings pursue Ja Morant?
In the midst of a rebuild and over the first apron, barring an unexpected trade, the Sacramento Kings are expected to waive-and-stretch forward DeMar DeRozan, HoopsHype has learned. DeRozan’s $25.74 million expiring contract is only guaranteed for $10 million, which can be stretched over the next three seasons. Should DeRozan enter free agency as expected, the Los Angeles Clippers are expected to have interest in the California native, HoopsHype has learned.
In addition, after The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynskireported the Minnesota Timberwolves are now out of the Ja Morant sweepstakes, another team that was linked to the two-time All-Star this past season is also expected to look for guard help in another direction.
With the Kings projected to take a point guard with the No. 7 pick in the NBA Draft, the chances of the franchise pursuing Morant going forward are unlikely, HoopsHype has learned. This past season, the Kings were willing to acquire Morant if they were incentivized, but Memphis was uninterested in giving up draft compensation to move Morant, a two-time All-Star.
What’s next after the Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster trade?
After over a year of pursuing, Pat Riley finally landed Giannis Antetokounmpo in a blockbuster trade for the Miami Heat. Now, we’ll preview what’s next for the Heat and Milwaukee Bucks, who made the trade, and the Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, and Portland Trail Blazers, who were a part of the trade talks but left with nothing.
Antetokounmpo, one of the game’s top players, is self-explanatory and singlehandedly raises Miami’s chances of competing in the East. His presence will appease fellow Heat star Bam Adebayo, who had grown frustrated with missing the playoffs after two first-round exits following a trip to the NBA Finals in 2023.
Forward Bobby Portis, who remains impactful off the bench and shot 45.6 percent from 3-point range last season, also will join Antetokounmpo in Miami. Portis is owed $14.52 million this upcoming season and has a player option worth $15.60 million for the 2027-28 season.
A few executives who spoke with HoopsHype believe Miami’s All-Star guard Norman Powell could now be a candidate to leave the Heat, and the Detroit Pistons are among the teams who’ll be trying to pry him from South Beach, league sources told HoopsHype.
Andrew Wiggins has a $30.17 million player option for the upcoming season. Executives are waiting to see if Wiggins will exercise his option or decline it with the intention of signing a new multi-year deal with Miami, or if he’ll consider a new destination.
The Bucks landed an All-Star-caliber guard in Tyler Herro, who’s expected to draw trade interest from the Detroit Pistons and other teams while on an expiring $33 million contract. Kel'el Ware, 22, showed promise as a nightly double-double who can stretch the floor beyond the arc (39.5 percent) and has two years of team control before being eligible for restricted free agency. Sixth Man of the Year runner-up Jaime Jaquez Jr. will be eligible for restricted free agency next summer. Kasparas Jakucionis is a 20-year-old prospect with upside. Milwaukee also landed three first-round picks, one pick swap, and one second-round pick.
With Antetokounmpo and Portis gone, all eyes turn to holdovers Myles Turner and Kyle Kuzma as trade candidates for the Bucks. Turner has always known that if Antetokounmpo was ever traded, he’d be a strong trade candidate, HoopsHype has learned. During his Pacers tenure, Turner was linked to the Hornets, Pelicans, and Lakers in trade rumors at various points. Those teams could all make sense now, and possibly the Celtics. Turner, 30, is still owed $83.55 million, including a player option for the 2028-29 season. Kuzma is on an expiring $20.49 million contract and can help a team with scoring. He shot a career-high 49.2 percent from the field last season.
Elsewhere, within league circles, there was palpable chatter about the Pistons hoping to get involved in the Antetokounmpo trade to land Herro, while dangling assets such as Isaiah Stewart, Ron Holland, Duncan Robinson, and draft compensation, league sources told HoopsHype. In addition, the Los Angeles Lakers were linked with trade interest in Kel’el Ware over the past couple of days, sources said.
Will the Pistons make another run at Herro, who’s currently set to join his hometown Bucks? Or will Detroit attempt to pivot by making a run at Powell in free agency or via trade for Trey Murphy III, whom they’ve expressed interest in? If any deal with Detroit ever came to fruition, expect Pelicans executive Troy Weaver to insist on reuniting with Stewart, one of his favorite players from his Pistons tenure.
For Boston, what will be the fallout with Brown? Does he remain with the Celtics after knowing he was involved in trade talks similar to years ago when Kevin Durant talks fell through?
The Portland Trail Blazers made trade attempts to land Antetokounmpo and Brown, but were unsuccessful while trying to use two future first-round Bucks swaps in 2028 and 2030, league sources told HoopsHype. In 2029, the Blazers will also get the best and worst first-round pick between Boston, Milwaukee, and Portland. In addition, the Clippers are a team to keep an eye on for Brown, as mentioned in our previous intel notebook story.
Timberwolves, Nets, Bulls trade intel
The Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets, and Chicago Bulls agreed to a trade that will send Julius Randle and the No. 28 pick in the NBA Draft to the Nets, Nic Claxton to the Bulls, and the No. 33 pick to the Timberwolves, as first reported by ESPN and confirmed by HoopsHype.
Randle is excited to join the Nets and wants to be in Brooklyn, league sources told HoopsHype. After coming to New York amid a rebuilding situation, Randle evolved into a three-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA forward who helped the crosstown rival Knicks reach consecutive Eastern Conference Semifinals appearances before being dealt to Minnesota as part of the Karl-Anthony Towns trade. Randle is owed $33.33 million for the upcoming season and has a $35.80 million player option for the 2027-28 season.
In addition to moving up five spots into the late first round of the draft, another factor in the decision to trade Claxton was the opportunity to free up more playing time for center Day’Ron Sharpe, sources told HoopsHype. Sharpe, the longest-tenured Net going into his sixth season at just 24 years old, impressed Nets brass last season and was lauded by coach Jordi Fernandez for his rebounding prowess. Sharpe is currently penciled in as Brooklyn’s starting center.
Speaking of Claxton, Chicago will absorb the 27-year-old center into cap space. Claxton, who’s known for his switchability and shot blocking on defense and being a lob threat who can handle the ball on offense, is owed $23.32 million this upcoming season and $21.10 million for the 2027-28 season.
Minnesota freed up financial flexibility to re-sign Ayo Dosunmu to a five-year, $112 million contract, as first reported by ESPN. As previously mentioned by HoopsHype, Dosunmu’s range was projected to be somewhere north of $18 million annually and the low $20 million range. Minnesota also opened up the starting power forward spot for former Sixth Man of the Year winner, Naz Reid, and will create more shot opportunities for Jaden McDaniels, who’s been deemed virtually untouchable, as previously noted by HoopsHype.
Cedric Coward: 'Memphis has gotten a bad rap'
Memphis Grizzlies All-Rookie First Team selection Cedric Coward was in New York ahead of the NBA Draft as a player correspondent. Coward chatted briefly with HoopsHype about Ja Morant and where he sees Memphis trending as a team and city.
HH: With this young core and picks No. 3 and 16, where do you see this team’s trajectory?
Cedric Coward: 'I see a team that’s trying to develop talent where we can compete with the Spurs, the Thunder, and teams of that caliber that are championship-level teams. For me, I can focus on what I do on the court on a day-to-day basis and how I treat my own work in terms of making sure I’m on top of it and then that will trickle down to helping me be a leader and making sure they’re putting in their own work with whoever we draft at No. 3. We’re going to have fun at the same time. Memphis has gotten a bad rap. The city has gotten a bad rap. But, ultimately, I love it because it’s a city where if you’re there to work, that’s what there is to do. From there, you venture out, but it’s always work first.'
HH: What are your thoughts on the core of this group?
CC: 'I think every guy we have is ultimately going to play a huge part. It’s tough to say now because we don’t know what the configuration of the team will look like because it’s so early before the draft and free agency. If we were to start the season tomorrow, I’m confident that every guy that we have healthy is going to be a huge contributor. We’ve been training, and I’ve seen in person so much work that hasn’t been seen, because I think it’s best to work in silence and let people be surprised when you’re there. That’s how I’ve always taken it.'
HH: How would you describe Ja Morant, and what could be next for his future?
CC: 'He’s one of my favorite teammates I’ve ever been around. He’s just a standup guy. He’s one of them dudes. When we had the ice storm, he offered to pay for my groceries. I declined it, but the offer was just who he is. He always wants to take care of people. He took care of me as a rookie in certain situations. He’s a good person to be around. He’ll joke around with you. Usually, when you go to teams with superstar-level players, they don’t talk to the rookies. With him and Jaren Jackson Jr., they were open with it from the beginning. That was the first person who texted me when I got drafted. That’s my guy right there. Whatever happens, happens. That doesn’t change how I feel about him.'
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The Detroit Tigers announced a lot of promotions throughout the farm system on Tuesday. Typically, the Tigers start moving prospects from around this point in the year until the post-draft, post-trade deadline part of the calendar, so we should see a fair amount of movement over the next 5-6 weeks. The big moves today were the promotion of outfielder Brett Callahan and infielder John Peck, along with hard-throwing sinkerballer RHP Moises Rodriguez from Double-A Erie to Triple-A Toledo.
You can find more on Callahan and Peck on our midseason farm system update on the front page at Bless You Boys. Callahan in particular has been on a tear and the 24-year-old left-handed hitting outfielder is clearly ready for the next challenge. Peck still has a little more work to do in terms of his plate discipline, but the right-handed hitter can play anywhere on the infield including shortstop. The duo are an athletic, well-rounded pair of players on track to give the Tigers some bench and utility options next year, and if they break out further with the bat they could become future regulars.
Rodriguez throws a hellacious sinker that gets up to 100 mph, though more commonly 98, with a pretty good breaking ball. He generally throws strikes when he needs to, but still needs to command the sinker at least more consistently to push his way into conversation for the Tigers bullpen.
There were plenty of other promotions as right-handed starter Hayden Minton and first baseman Garrett Pennington were promoted from High-A West Michigan to Double-A Erie. Infielder Max Burt will also move up with them to help backfill Peck’s role.
From Lakeland, right-handed starter Charlie Christensen and lefty reliever Eliseo Mota were promoted from Single-A Lakeland to West Michigan. Christensen’s big extension, low arm angle, and nasty slider-changeup combination have given young hitters fits in the Florida State League. He feels like a future reliever, as his sinker is underpowered and relies more on deception than raw stuff, but the 22-year-old out of Central Arkansas, the Tigers’ 13th rounder last summer in the draft, looks like another bargain that is paying off so far. Mota is a 23-year-old reliever who has been punching tickets left and right in Lakeland.
Presumably we’ll get more corresponding moves in the days to come, although some of it may simply be the release of some minor league veteran players brought in to fill out depth roles in the system.
Germany is coming to Foxborough for the knockout stages of the World Cup. Who they’ll play is still being determined by other results.
Here’s what’s been decided:
Group D
Germany has won Group E and clinched the top spot regardless of the result of Thursday’s game against Ecuador.
Round of 32 date/time
Germany will play the knockout round game at Gillette Stadium. It will be June 29 at 4:30 p.m..
Who could they play
As the group winner, they will face a third-place team from Group A, B, C D, or F.
Germany’s most likely opponent is coming from Group D. If there isn’t a draw in Thursday’s game between Paraguay and Australia, the losing team is likely headed to Massachusetts.
But there are still combinations of results that could alter the order of the third place finishers that could send another team to Foxborough to face Germany.
Though the Boston Red Sox have struggled this season, especially when down late in games, the team has been fantastic when holding a lead.
Boston's bullpen has been great this season, boasting a 3.20 bullpen ERA, the third-lowest in the league, but it fell apart in the team's devastating loss to the Colorado Rockies on Monday. Rookie hurler Jake Bennett threw an absolute gem, posting the first scoreless start of his career, striking out nine batters across six innings.
Unfortunately for the Red Sox, Aroldis Chapman, who went into Monday with a blistering 0.83 ERA, fell apart in the ninth inning, allowing four straight hits, handing the Rockies a 3-2 victory.
Chapman had a career-high-tying stretch of 29 consecutive saves before the blown save on Monday. In addition, Boston blew its impressive 30-0 streak when leading games after eight innings this season.
"Jake Bennett pitched possibly the best game of his big league career Monday, only to see the game slip away from Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman in the ninth inning for a 3-2 loss to the Rockies in the opener of a three-game set," MLB.com's Owen Perkins wrote on Tuesday. "It was the Red Sox’s first loss of the season when the team took a lead into the eighth inning. They were 29-0 when leading after seven and 30-0 when leading after eight entering Monday.
"The blown save ended Chapman’s career-high-tying stretch of 29 consecutive saves since he last blew one on July 23, 2025, the second-longest active streak in the Majors. The inning accounted for his first earned runs on the road this season, with the three earned runs exceeding his season total (two) in his 22 previous appearances."
This season has been disappointing for the Red Sox, to say the least, but to lose in such an unfortunate way, especially with Chapman on the mound, stings. Boston will look to bounce back against Colorado before heading back home to take on the New York Yankees later this week.
Espanyol enquire about FC Bayern winger Bryan Zaragoza
Espanyol have enquired about the availability of Bayern Munich winger Bryan Zaragoza as they look to strengthen their wide attacking options this summer, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The newly promoted La Liga side are reportedly keen to add pace and creativity on the flanks, with Zaragoza among the players under consideration.
However, the report states that the biggest obstacle to a potential deal is the 24-year-old's salary. Espanyol are understood to have concerns about whether they can afford the wages Bayern currently pay the Spain international.
Zaragoza remains under contract at Bayern until 2029, meaning the Bundesliga champions are under no pressure to sell - however, as the Bayern higher-ups have claimed multiple times, Zaragoza is among the players Bayern do want to sell this summer.
Zaragoza has played for Bayern Munich on seven different occasions, with the last one being in May 2024.
Harry Kane scored a brace in England's FIFA World Cup opening win against Croatia -Credit:Chris Brunskill/Fantasista, Getty Images
Former England forward Emile Heskey believes Harry Kane has accomplished enough to cement his status as the Three Lions' greatest-ever striker.
Kane wasted no time writing his name in the record books at this year's FIFA World Cup, matching Gary Lineker's total of 10 goals in the quadrennial competition during England's 4-2 opening victory over Croatia. The 32-year-old converted a retaken spot kick in the 12th minute before adding another with a perfectly executed header from a set piece 40 minutes later.
When he takes the field for Tuesday's game against Ghana, Kane will earn his 116th senior cap, surpassing David Beckham for third place on the country's all-time men's appearance list. As he continues displaying no indication of decline, Heskey confidently stated that the Bayern Munich talisman has surpassed fellow iconic England strikers Lineker, Alan Shearer, Michael Owen, and Wayne Rooney.
-Credit:Plumb Images, Leicester City FC via Getty Images
When questioned whether Kane's display against Croatia solidified his position as the finest striker to ever represent England, Heskey told Mirror U.S. Sports: "Yeah, I think so.
"When you look at what he's done, and you look at all the other strikers that came before him that you'd throw into the hat, I think he's done more than them."
Since the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, at least one of Lineker, Shearer, Owen, Rooney, and Kane has spearheaded England's offensive line at every major tournament the Three Lions have reached.
This group of strikers enjoyed considerable success throughout their careers, combining for 249 international goals, 11 top-flight Golden Boots, two World Cup Golden Boots, 11 Player of the Season honors, and three all-time club scoring records, according to ESPN.
However, in Heskey's view, none were quite the complete package Kane has proven to be. "Gary Lineker has come out and said himself that he was more of a penalty-box striker, someone who knew how to put the ball away," the 48-year-old added.
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"But when you look at Harry Kane dropping deep, defending, spraying a ball out wide and then getting in the box, going and winning that header for the second goal - yeah, you've got to put him up there as the best."
Heskey also emphasized that Kane is hardly the sole England forward that rival defenses must account for at the 2026 World Cup.
With Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke lining up alongside Kane - plus Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka available as substitutes - Heskey contended that the Three Lions boast one of the tournament's finest attacking rosters.
"When you look at France as well, that's a strong one too, even though Dembele hasn't had a great start. But yeah, I think we're up there, definitely," he said. "And the funny thing is, when you look at our forward line - we start with Gordon, Kane and Madueke. Which other nation can bring on Rashford and Saka off the bench?
"I don't think there are many that can do that. So in depth, we've got a really strong squad and team."
On Monday, we asked Big Blue View readers which of four free agents they would like to see the New York Giants sign before training camp begins in roughly five weeks. The answer — outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy — has to be considered a stunner.
Fans were given four choices:
Wide receiver Stefon Diggs
Wide receiver Deebo Samuel
Cornerback Trevon Diggs
Van Noy
Van Noy, a 35-year-old with 12 years of experience who would be the No. 4 edge defender on the Giants’ 53-man roster, received 37% of 302 votes.
What may have happened is that the two wide receiver, Stefon Diggs and Samuel, split votes. Diggs got 24% and Samuel 17%, meaning 41% if voters chose a wide receiver.
Still, the heavy support for Van Noy, who had 23.5 of his 57.0 career sacks while playing for Giants head coach John Harbaugh with the Baltimore Ravens over the past three seasons, is a surprise.
Outside of Tyler Herro, Bucks newcomer Jaime Jaquez Jr. is the incoming player who has probably accomplished the most already at the NBA level.
Here is what to know about him:
How old is Jaime Jaquez Jr.?
Jaquez is 25 years old and will turn 26 on Feb. 18 late in the 2026-27 NBA season.
How tall is Jaime Jaquez Jr.?
He is 6 feet, 6 inches tall.
What nationality is Jaime Jaquez Jr.?
Jaquez was born in California, but he holds dual citizenship with Mexico. He represented Mexico in the 2019 Pan-Am Games.
Where did Jamie Jaquez Jr. play in college?
Jaquez was a four-star recruit in the 2019 class at Camarillo High School in California. Jaquez committed to UCLA when Steve Lavin was still the the coach, and Jaquez stuck with that decision when Mick Cronin replaced the fired Lavin in 2018.
Jaquez spent four seasons as a do-everything glue guy for the Bruins, helping them reach the Final Four in 2021. He was a second-team All-American as a senior in the 2022-23 season.
Jaime Jaquez Jr.'s sister plays in the WNBA
Jaquez isn't the only talented hoops player in his family. His sister, Gabriela, was also a star at UCLA and plays for the Chicago Sky in the WNBA after being the No. 5 pick in the 2025 draft.
When was Jaime Jaquez Jr. drafted?
The Heat made Jaquez the No. 18 pick in the 2023 draft.
What are Jaime Jaquez Jr.'s NBA accomplishments?
Jaquez became a rotation player for the Heat quicker than most people anticipated.
He averaged 11.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists in the 2023-24 and was named to the NBA's all-rookie first team. He was fourth in rookie of the year voting.
Jaquez has been a consistent player off the bench for Miami in his three NBA seasons. He averaged 15.4 points, five rebounds and 4.7 assists last season, finishing second in voting for the sixth man of the year award behind the San Antonio Spurs' Keldon Johnson.
Outside of Tyler Herro, Bucks newcomer Jaime Jaquez Jr. is the incoming player who has probably accomplished the most already at the NBA level.
Here is what to know about him:
How old is Jaime Jaquez Jr.?
Jaquez is 25 years old and will turn 26 on Feb. 18 late in the 2026-27 NBA season.
How tall is Jaime Jaquez Jr.?
He is 6 feet, 6 inches tall.
What nationality is Jaime Jaquez Jr.?
Jaquez was born in California, but he holds dual citizenship with Mexico. He represented Mexico in the 2019 Pan-Am Games.
Where did Jamie Jaquez Jr. play in college?
Jaquez was a four-star recruit in the 2019 class at Camarillo High School in California. Jaquez committed to UCLA when Steve Lavin was still the the coach, and Jaquez stuck with that decision when Mick Cronin replaced the fired Lavin in 2018.
Jaquez spent four seasons as a do-everything glue guy for the Bruins, helping them reach the Final Four in 2021. He was a second-team All-American as a senior in the 2022-23 season.
Jaime Jaquez Jr.'s sister plays in the WNBA
Jaquez isn't the only talented hoops player in his family. His sister, Gabriela, was also a star at UCLA and plays for the Chicago Sky in the WNBA after being the No. 5 pick in the 2025 draft.
When was Jaime Jaquez Jr. drafted?
The Heat made Jaquez the No. 18 pick in the 2023 draft.
What are Jaime Jaquez Jr.'s NBA accomplishments?
Jaquez became a rotation player for the Heat quicker than most people anticipated.
He averaged 11.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists in the 2023-24 and was named to the NBA's all-rookie first team. He was fourth in rookie of the year voting.
Jaquez has been a consistent player off the bench for Miami in his three NBA seasons. He averaged 15.4 points, five rebounds and 4.7 assists last season, finishing second in voting for the sixth man of the year award behind the San Antonio Spurs' Keldon Johnson.
If patience is a virtue, then the Indianapolis Colts are the most virtuous team in the entire NFL. Their cup runneth over and that hasn’t shifted even with the change in ownership. It’s clear to see the Colts prefer continuity, which is fine if the results are present to support it. That hasn’t been the case, but there is one human who has benefited hand over fist from this patience and the generosity it has bestowed: Chris Ballard. He is getting long in the tooth, and the early start to the year might prove to be his ultimate test.
There is no easing into the 2026 season for the Colts. The Ravens, Chiefs, Texans, Commanders, and Steelers start things off. It could be worse but not by much. Last year started off easy, too easy. It set a false sense of what was. This year, we are looking at the inverse. The start to the season could devastate fans out of the gate. Patience will be tested. It might be rewarded in the back half, but will the Colts’ patience with Ballard make it that far?
Ballard’s track record is known. It might not seem like it, but it is known to the new owners of the Colts too. Inheriting a team can lead to one of two approaches: clean house immediately or take stock of what you have before making major moves. The Colts aren’t bad, but they aren’t that good either. That is why they have floated mostly towards the middle during Ballard’s tenure. The middle might not cut it this year, and if things go sideways early, he might not be given enough time to find equilibrium.
Chris Ballard has been around a long time. Too long. He has had draft after draft after offseason after offseason to assemble a winning team. It doesn’t all fall on his shoulders but a lot of it does. If the early results go as they very well may, we could be looking at a 1-5 or 2-6 start. All this “patience is a virtue” talk will go out the window. Patience may be a virtue, but it also runs out. The supply is limited, and Ballard is already deep into the reserves.
Darryn Peterson is one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2026 NBA Draft. The Kansas star has the slashing, shooting and scoring to be one of the most dynamic wings in the league. But he fought through cramping issues that limited playing time across his sole season as a Jayhawk, potentially damaging his stock in a stacked class of potential All-Stars.
Fortunately, Peterson's got reassuring bloodlines when it comes to availability. His brother, Darryl Peterson III, appeared in all 50 of the Wisconsin Badgers' football games the last four seasons as a valuable gap-shooting, run-stuffing and pass rushing presence. While that wasn't enough to earn a spot at the 2026 NFL Draft, it landed him on the Los Angeles Rams' radar. They signed the 6-foot-1, 247-pound linebacker as a free agent this spring.
The elder Peterson lacks elite size or speed, but he's got a relentless motor and solid pursuit skills. His durability provides hope his younger brother can figure out the cramping issues that cost him playing time in Lawrence and thrive to the limits of his potential in the NBA.
Who is the Petersons' father, Darryl II?
Darryl II played five seasons at the University of Akron as a 6-foot-5 wing. He made an immediate impact, averaging 13 points per game in his debut season and earning a spot on the MAC All-Freshman team. A 2003 injury stemmed his momentum, cutting back his production and efficiency for a team that improved significantly under newcoach Keith Dambrot. Unfortunately, Peterson exhausted his eligibility before the Zips earned the MAC regular season crown in 2007 and established themselves as a mid-major power through the early 2010s.
Valve confirms that all Steam Machines use single-channel DDR5 memory Valve has launched its Steam Machine, and while it is an interesting piece of hardware, it is fated to have a much smaller impact than it should. The AI industry and rampant datacenter buildouts have driven up prices for many components, with DRAM and NAND […]
Anyone who's looked at storage prices recently knows that they're completely out of hand. I've been waiting to add some storage to my gaming PC for about six months now, and it's getting to the point where I'll have to bite at a deal like this one on the Samsung 9100 PRO.
This high-performance M.2 PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD comes in 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB configurations, with blazing fast transfer speeds and the regular durability you expect from Samsung.
"Regular" (inflated) prices have been cut by up to 49%, and you can now land a 1TB drive for as low as $206.99. Best part? You don't have to be a Prime subscriber to nab the deal.
You can get twice as much storage as the 1TB model for only about $143 more, which really isn't much in this current SSD climate. The price hasn't been this low in nearly five months. This is also the biggest savings at 49%.
Samsung's 9100 PRO is an outstanding SSD for pros, but casual PC users can also reap the benefits of insane transfer speeds. (Image credit: Ben Wilson | Windows Central)
The 9100 PRO was Samsung's first shot at a full-fledged PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSD, and to say the company nailed the execution is an understatement.
It's theoretically capable of hitting unreal 14,800MB/s read speeds and 13,400MB/s write speeds, and although those numbers may drop a bit in real-world practice, it's still an incredibly fast drive.
Our friends at TechRadar reviewed the 9100 PRO when it launched last year, and it was awarded 4.5 stars and a Recommended Award.
The TL;DR? It's an exceptional drive for professionals who frequently deal with oversized files and who don't want any hiccups in their workflow.
If you're looking for a drive that you can use in more of a professional capacity with frequent saves of very large files like video projects or video game packages in Unreal Engine, the Samsung 9100 Pro is the best SSD you're going to get for that purpose and it will absolutely speed up your everyday workflow considerably.
John Loeffler, TechRadar
You do, of course, want to pair this drive with a PC that's capable of running a PCIe 5.0 drive to get the most out of it, but it will function at lower speeds in a PCIe 4.0 system. That's not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you're putting together a new PC piece by piece as sales come and go.
If I do buy one of these drives, I'll most likely go with the 2TB version at $349.99. It's the best value at 49% off, costing less per GB than the 1TB and 4TB versions.
I should also mention that these drives come with a 5-year Samsung warranty to protect your purchase.
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred was a resounding success for Blizzard, even with a lack of season-specific activities for Season 13, so with that in mind, Season 14 has a lot to live up to. Will Diablo 4 be able to keep its hooks in us for its first real season after the release of the expansion? Will the drastic changes to Mythic Uniques make or break the gameplay loop?
Well Season 14, dubbed the Season of Death Awakening arrives on June 30 so we'll find out for ourselves soon. Here's what we know about Season 14 so far, including some changes that have been made from the PTR.
Mythic Uniques 3.0: The revamp that everyone is is skeptical about
(Image credit: Blizzard Entertainment)
The most significant change coming to the game is the overhaul of Mythic Uniques. Instead of being a strict rarity, "Mythic" is now a modifiable quality that can be applied to any Unique item.
You can convert any Unique into a Mythic Unique using the Horadric Cube or the Jeweler.
Based on player feedback from the PTR, crafting is now deterministic; for instance, if you put in a pair of Unique boots, you are guaranteed to receive a pair of Mythic Unique boots back. These items will have their Unique powers increased by 30%, and any affixes added through Enchanting, Transfiguration, or Tempering will now always roll as maximum values.
While you can only equip one crafted Mythic Unique at a time, there is no limit on those acquired through natural drops. Additionally, Blizzard has decided that all Uniques will retain two guaranteed affixes to preserve item identity.
There's been much ado about this change and how it will impact the meta, but I for one am keeping schtum until I've actually tried it out, and I'm cautiously optimistic that it will actually create some wild build diversity.
New Seasonal Content: Pandemonium & The Risen
Blizzard EntertainmentBlizzard EntertainmentBlizzard EntertainmentBlizzard Entertainment
Sanctuary is being ripped apart by Pandemonium Ruptures, which spawn across the overworld and Helltides. By killing guardians, you keep these rifts open longer to earn greater rewards. Yes this is Realmwalker 2.0, the season that didn't go down so well when Vessel of Hatred launched, but it's been tweaked enough that I'm willing to give it another chance.
Defeating a Realmwalker grants access to a Deathtoll Chamber, a specialized mini-dungeon that serves as the best source for Superior Lair Keys, which are required to open the new seasonal Lair Boss’s hoard.
We're also getting a new monster family (aww) called The Risen; you must destroy Orbs dropped by these enemies to prevent the Exarch from executing a powerful attack.
Tower, Leaderboards, and Solo Self Found
Blizzard EntertainmentBlizzard EntertainmentBlizzard Entertainment
It's happening, it's finally happening! The Tower and Leaderboards are graduating from Beta status this season, and a new Solo Self Found (SSF) mode is being introduced.
SSF is a permanent character state for the season where you cannot trade or join parties, but you gain access to exclusive SSF-only leaderboard categories to prove your skill.
Players will earn weekly rewards based on their performance in the Tower, and those who rank high will receive cosmetic Halos and prestige titles. At the start of the next season, players will be granted an Emblem based on their highest rank achieved during this season. Time to show off.
Quality of Life and rewards
Blizzard EntertainmentBlizzard Entertainment
Party play is being streamlined with synced War Plan boards, allowing a party to coordinate their activities more effectively. Additionally, the Obol cap has been increased to 25,000 (no more running back and forth to town), and the Gold cap is now 999,999,999,999. Gold, gold, glorious gooold!
Fans can also look forward to another Diablo 4 x Overwatch collaboration starting June 30. This time, it's Diablo players that can earn the cool skins. We can earn the Kiriko Fox Pet and other themed cosmetics by collecting currency from Elite and Champion monsters.
The new season also offers a refreshed rewards track, including up to 12 Skill Points, 42 Paragon points, and 7 Resplendent Sparks.
When you can pre-download Season 14
(Image credit: Blizzard Entertainment)
If you want to be ready the moment the season starts, the 3.1.0 patch will be available for pre-download on June 25 at 10:00 a.m. PDT for Battle.net, Xbox, and PlayStation.
For more details on class balance and specific affix changes, you can check out the full 3.1.0 patch notes. Which class are you planning to take into the Tower first, and how do you feel about the new, Mythic crafting system?
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
It's come to light that Obsidian Entertainment — the storied, legendary developer known for creating Fallout: New Vegas, The Outer Worlds, and Grounded, Pentiment, Avowed, and The Outer Worlds 2 under Xbox Game Studios — is currently facing a class action lawsuit after allegedly "violating state wage and hour laws."
The case — first opened in October last year, and followed by an amended complaint that was filed in January by plaintiff Victoria Turner, a QA lead that worked on Obsidian's 2025 RPG The Outer Worlds 2 — accuses the Xbox studio of engaging in "a systematic pattern of wage and hour violations under the California Labor Code and Industrial Welfare Commission (IWC) Wage Orders."
Specifically, it's alleged that the developer failed "to pay all wages (including minimum wages and overtime wages)," didn't "provide lawful meal periods or compensation in lieu thereof," and didn't "authorize or permit lawful rest breaks or provide compensation in lieu thereof."
It's also been claimed that Obsidian failed to "reimburse necessary business-related costs," "provide accurate itemized wage statements," "pay wages timely during employment," and "pay all wages due upon separation of employment."
The lawsuit "seeks monetary relief" for Turner and "all others similarly situated in California" where Obsidian is headquartered, with the ultimate goal being "to recover, among other things, unpaid wages, unreimbursed business expenses, benefits, interest, attorneys' fees, costs and expenses, and penalties."
Obsidian Entertainment is well known in the industry for its expansive RPG titles, the latest of which is The Outer Worlds 2. (Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)
Notably, the case covers "all persons currently or formerly employed by any or all Defendants as nonexempt employees in the State of California at any time between October 9, 2021 and the date of class certification." The plaintiff also seeks to include "All members of the Class who separated their employment with any or all Defendants at any time between October 9, 2022 and the date of class certification."
Obsidian's first response to the lawsuit came in early March, with the studio stating that it "denies, generally and specifically, each and every allegation in the FAC [First Amended Complaint]." It also denied "that Plaintiff and/or any putative class members she purports to represent have suffered any injury or been damaged in any sum whatsoever by reason of any act or omission" from the developer or its staff.
Obsidian then argued Turner's case "fails to state facts sufficient to constitute valid claims," and added that "Plaintiff and any putative class member and/or other allegedly aggrieved employees consented to and/or acquiesced in the alleged conduct by Defendant of which Plaintiff now complains."
Essentially, what the studio is saying here is that Turner hasn't provided adequate proof to support the lawsuit's claims, and that the workers it represents voluntarily gave up lunch and rest breaks. The case hasn't progressed since that response, but I and the rest of Team Windows Central will keep an eye on it and report on new developments.
All of this comes amid Obsidian's efforts to restructure itself within Xbox, with the developer enacting plans to shorten development cycles, more frequently work with partner studios, and reuse technology and solutions from previous projects as it builds new ones.
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
As part of the Experimental experience for Windows 11 version 26H2, Microsoft recently released build 26300.8697. While the official announcement focused on fixes and improvements, a more interesting discovery was hiding beneath the surface. A new Search setting that can turn off Bing-powered web results in the Windows Search experience.
Search may finally get a Bing off switch
Windows Search has long mixed local files, apps, and settings with web suggestions, often surfacing Bing results even when users are simply looking for something on their computer. The appearance of a dedicated toggle to remove those web results suggests that the company is exploring a more streamlined Search experience with fewer distractions.
(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)
However, this isn't entirely new. Users in the European Economic Area (EEA) have had similar controls for some time as part of Microsoft's compliance with the Digital Markets Act. What's notable here is that the company now appears to be building the same functionality for all markets.
The story I see is much more than user choice. This appears to be Microsoft acknowledging that not every Windows Search query needs a web result attached to it. Instead of forcing online content into the experience, Windows 11 could soon let users decide what belongs in Search. For many people, that could make finding apps, files, and settings faster and more predictable.
New Search controls reduce clutter
The setting is currently tucked in under Settings > Privacy & security > Search in build 26300.8697. The option is labeled "Web Searches" in the "Show suggested search results" section.
(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)
Microsoft is also testing a separate "Microsoft Store" toggle to prevent Store apps from appearing in Search results. Together, these options would give users more control over what surfaces when searching from the Start menu and Search box in the Taskbar.
Privacy & Security settings are getting reorganized
The same preview build also includes an updated version of the "Privacy & security" page. Microsoft has reorganized the settings into clearer categories and added a new header that provides quick access to Windows Security, along with glanceable information for location, camera, and microphone permissions.
(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)
The company is also adding new entry points for features such as Passkeys and the Custom Dictionary.
Availability of the Search experience
At this stage, the feature is not officially available, and it's not an option you can turn on from the "Feature flags" page either. It was spotted by @PhantomOfEarth inside the Insider build and can only be enabled using ViveTool feature IDs, indicating that Microsoft is still actively developing and testing the experience.
If testing goes as planned, the company could refine the feature through future 26H2 preview releases before deciding on a wider rollout.
Windows Central's Take
I think Microsoft should have offered this option to everyone a long time ago. When I'm using Windows Search, I'm usually looking for a file, app, or setting, not a Bing result. While web integration has its place, it often makes Search feel more cluttered than helpful.
What's interesting is that similar controls have already existed in Europe, so this isn't really a new feature. The bigger story is that Microsoft appears to be testing the same level of control for users across all regions, including the addition of an option to suppress apps from the Microsoft Store in the experience.
I wouldn't consider this a major feature for Windows 11, but it's the type of improvement that can make the operating system feel less intrusive and more focused on what users actually want to find.
What are your thoughts about having the option to remove Bing results from Windows Search on Windows 11? Let me know in the comments.
More resources
Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:
Valve's Steam Machine has finally made its way into the hands of testers, and the resulting reviews have been less than inspiring. Whether it's the high $1,049 starting price caused by a global RAM and storage crisis or the underwhelming performance, I know that a lot of PC gamers are now looking for a quality alternative.
These are the 5 best pre-built gaming PCs I could find during Prime Day that will leave you with some cash left over for new games. Only one is priced high enough to match the Steam Machine's introductory price, but in this case, you get 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.
This is a fairly compact pre-built gaming PC featuring a solid Core i5 CPU and an RTX 5060 GPU that easily beats the integrated graphics in the Steam Machine.
The NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti GPU in this model will absolutely blow away the integrated Radeon graphics in the Steam Machine, and you get full access to all of the DLSS 4.5 goodies.
What's in the Steam Machine, and how does performance compare to these discounted gaming PCs?
The Steam Machine's $1,049.99 price is rather disappointing. (Image credit: Valve)
Valve's Steam Machine runs on a custom AMD Zen 4 CPU with 6 cores, 12 threads, and a 30W TDP. Attached are integrated custom AMD RDNA 3 graphics, with 8GB of VRAM and 28 compute units.
All Steam Machine models come with 16GB of DDR5 system memory, and the introductory models start with a 512GB SSD (upgradeable to 2TB for those with deeper pockets).
Circling back to the custom graphics, testing by our friends at Tom's Hardware revealed that it fails to pull ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 7600 discrete GPU while coming out just ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6600.
How does that performance compare to the GPUs in the pre-built gaming PCs I've rounded up here? Well, the RTX 5060 easily beats the AMD GPU in raw performance and ray tracing abilities.
If you're interested in a pre-built gaming PC with an Intel Arc GPU, the B570 is a closer match to the RX 7600 and the Steam Machine's custom graphics. However, it should better handle ray tracing, and it should also deliver a better experience if you're gaming at 1440p.
As for the CPU, it seems like the Intel Core i5-14400F is the chip of choice for the pre-builts I've selected here. Good news! Despite its relative age, it should absolutely crush the Steam Machine's custom AMD chip.
My advice? Skip the Steam Machine and go for a real gaming PC instead.
Get a PC with a discrete GPU for less than the Steam Machine. (Image credit: Windows Central)
At its starting $1,049.99 price, it's simply outclassed by affordable pre-built gaming PCs with true discrete graphics. It's a shame, because the Steam Machine is a great-looking device.
Unless you're absolutely beholden to the compact form factor and close ties to Steam's storefront, one of these gaming PCs I selected should be a much better value.
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In a rather lengthy interview with Entertainment Weekly, we received a lot of juicy details. From OD getting new information revealed to Netflix's Gears of War movie finally receiving some concrete updates, there's been plenty to unpack. While I've covered most of that elsewhere, it was Xbox's CEO, Asha Sharma's comments about her plans for XBOX's ecosystem that really caught my attention.
What's particularly interesting is that those plans extend far beyond the traditional console experience, so let's take a look at exactly what she had to say.
Within the interview, Sharma outlines her plans for XBOX, stating she wants:
a more open ecosystem to invite more developers, to have more types of games, to invite more players.
"The thing that we've been trying to do the most here is to treat everybody, whether they describe themselves as a gamer or not, [as important]. We try to have a very mainstream product."
Candy Crush is, of course, a huge IP for XBOX, even if many people don't associate it with the brand. Personally, I think that's one of XBOX's biggest issues. Franchises like Call of Duty and Minecraft are among the biggest entertainment properties on the planet, yet neither is strongly associated with XBOX in the minds of many consumers. If you ask me, that's a huge missed opportunity.
Halo x Candy Crush (Image credit: Entertainment Weekly | King | Xbox)
Back to Sharma, however. Following XBOX's Games Showcase, she sat down with Entertainment Weekly and discussed the state of gaming. In particular, she argued that gaming has become increasingly unaffordable.
Gaming is unaffordable in many cases, in terms of how we've traditionally thought about it... because of the attention economy and competing subscriptions.
Asha Sharma - XBOX CEO
She does expand, touching on how difficult the business is, saying:
"It's a really hard formula. It's a really challenging business, but I think it's a really special business."
It does suck to hear the words "gaming is unaffordable," but there's certainly some truth to it. We recently got the price reveal for the new Steam Machine, and to say the reception has been positive would be a stretch. At over $1,000, it's simply too expensive to seriously consider, at least for me.
That said, I do understand the broader point Sharma is making. Between increasingly expensive hardware, competing subscription services, and the constant battle for our attention, gaming isn't as accessible as it once was. Whether mobile experiences like Candy Crush are the answer, however, is another debate entirely.
But let me know your thoughts on Sharma and Green's comments in the comments below, and be sure to take part in our poll!
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
Each week, new games and apps integrating NVIDIA DLSS, NVIDIA Reflex, and advanced ray-traced effects are released or announced, delivering the definitive PC experience for GeForce RTX players. Last week, Valve kicked-off their latest Steam Next Fest, enabling developers to release time-limited demos of their upcoming titles. Many include support for DLSS and other RTX technologies, including two we're highlighting today, which are still playable: the Mortal Shell II Open Beta, and The Sinking City 2 demo.
Additionally, Empulse is out now with DLSS, and Subnautica 2 has upgraded to native DLSS 4.5 Super Resolution.
According to the June update of the TOP500 list, which tracks 500 of the world's most powerful supercomputers, China has taken the number one spot with its LineShine supercomputer. This system is capable of running 2.198 ExaFLOPS when measured on HPL, making it the world's first system to exceed 2 ExaFLOPS in dual-precision FP64 data processing for sustained workloads. It has a theoretical peak performance of 2.736 ExaFLOPS, meaning the system can sustain about 80% of its peak performance. This setup is powered by a massive network of traditional CPUs, with no GPUs or other accelerators contributing to the high FP64 figure. While traditional data centers have shifted toward 8-bit FP8 data formats for AI workloads, scientific HPC systems and supercomputers continue to use the traditional FP64 data. The Chinese LineShine is the first-ever system to sustain over 2 ExaFLOPS of compute capability, surpassing U.S.-based El Capitan, Aurora, and Frontier.
The LineShine comprises 13.79 million ARMv9 cores, spread across 20,480 nodes in a non-uniform memory access (NUMA) configuration. Each node contains two LX2 CPUs, with 304 cores and 32 GB of HBM memory. The CPU uses HBM for fast memory access, then offloads to system DDR memory, which has about 256 GB per CPU. The CPU is split across two dies, each divided into four NUMA domains. Each NUMA domain contains 38 cores running at 1.55 GHz and has 4 GB of HBM assigned to it. Four of these NUMA domains make up a die, and each die is assigned 128 GB of DDR memory. This is likely DDR5, but we haven't confirmed those details yet.
So far, every time Valve has spoken about the possibility of a Steam Deck 2, it has said that it is waiting for a true generational leap in performance, and that that has not yet happened. Following the launch of the Steam Machine, Valve engineer, Pierre Loup-Griffais, commented on the Steam Deck 2 in an interview with IGN, revealing, seemingly for the first time, that things are moving in the right direction for the Steam Deck 2, even if they're not quite there yet. According to the developer, the current crop of mobile CPUs are beginning to show promise in terms of performance, but efficiency is now becoming a bigger problem.
"I'd say we're closer than we were the last time we talked. We're definitely getting there," said Griffais, going on to explain that "I would say that the new chips that are coming out are still in power envelopes that are not quite the right segment that you'd want for a true handheld experience." Going a little deeper into it, he said that "I think a lot of them are more low-end laptop chips or playing in that sort of form factor that are then repurposed for handhelds and maybe not leading to, I guess the trade-off that we would've chosen in terms of power and better life and that and all that."
The class action claims the defendants, which include BP, Circle K, Marathon Petroleum, 7-Eleven, Walmart, and Albertsons, violated California's main antitrust law, the Cartwright Act, writes Reuters.
The issue centers on the Model Capability Initiative, a program Meta rolled out in April to improve its AI systems by collecting detailed workplace activity data from employees. The system tracked inputs such as keystrokes and mouse movements to train models on real-world usage patterns. Participation was required for most...
Samsung has announced its Universal Flash Storage 5.0 chips, a flash-based storage solution designed primarily for smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices. The UFS 5.0 standard delivers a maximum bandwidth of 10.8 GB/s and is positioned as a way to accelerate on-device AI workloads.
Obsidian Entertainment, the Xbox Game Studios team known for Fallout: New Vegas, The Outer Worlds (1/2), Avowed, Pentiment, and more, is facing a class-action lawsuit over allegations that the studio violated California Labor laws to "increase their profits" through these violations, though Obsidian denies them entirely. Initially spotted by GamesRadar+, the suit is being led by Victoria Turner, who previously worked at Obsidian as a QA lead. The suit was initially filed back in October 2025, and was amended this past January 2026, which lists the full spread of allegations against Obsidian. "Through this action, Plaintiff alleges that Defendants engaged […]
Samsung's next-generation NAND Flash for SSDs will offer over 900+ layers, with two stacks bonded together for increased storage capacities. Samsung Wants To Bond Two NAND Cells Together, Forming A Large 900-1000+ Layer Storage Solution For Future SSDs Last month, we reported that Samsung was working towards 1000-layer NAND using brand new materials and bonding technologies. At the VLSI Symposium 2026, Samsung has revealed its full plans on how they aim to achieve that goal. In its latest slide, Samsung states that there's a big demand for high-capacity SSDs, and they are working towards an accelerated roadmap that focuses on […]
The European Parliament has advanced legislation for a digital euro, bringing the EU closer to launching a central bank digital currency, while the U.S. moves to restrict similar efforts. According to a June 23 decision by the European Parliament’s Economic…
SpaceX stock has remained under pressure after Susquehanna initiated coverage with a $170 price target while warning that the company’s valuation depends on aggressive growth assumptions. According to a research note from Susquehanna, the brokerage assigned SpaceX a neutral rating…
Security firm AIR built a fake AI agent skill, pushed it through a popular skill marketplace and an Instagram ad, and says it reached roughly 26,000 agents, including some on corporate accounts.
Every skill security scanner the firm tested it against marked it safe. The payload was harmless by design: it collected the user's email address and did nothing else.
The point was to show
President Trump signed an executive order on June 22 setting hard deadlines for federal agencies to move high-value assets and high-impact systems to post-quantum cryptography.
Key establishment must move by December 31, 2030; digital signatures by December 31, 2031. EO 14409 leaves national security systems on a separate track.
The deadlines matter because of a threat that does not
With the Qingyun H3550, Huawei is introducing a brand-new smartwatch whose design, featuring a rectangular display and a digital crown, is strongly reminiscent of the Apple Watch. The smartwatch is said to feature precise sensors, a 2,500-nit AMOLED display, and a battery life of up to ten days.
EcoFlow has unveiled the Stream 2 series, the second generation of its decentralized plug-in solar solution, now offering up to 5,000 W of power. The company also introduced the OASIS 3.0 energy management platform alongside several other new products.
Demand for Valve’s new Linux mini PC exceeds supply in Japan and Taiwan. This market may view the Steam Machine price as reasonable enough to invest in the console challenger. Lacking a reservation system before its release date, Komodo Station disappointed customers.
Anthbot has introduced the new M5 Pro and M9 Pro robotic lawn mowers, which feature the HoloSense navigation system. By combining LiDAR, RTK/NetRTK positioning, and AI vision, the company promises highly accurate positioning and reliable navigation even in challenging garden environments.
The performance version of Xiaomi's YU7 electric SUV was still much slower when driven by software compared to the record set by a human race driver. Still, it's a new racing category at Nürburgring, that of autonomous, self-driving vehicles.
vivo's next-generation foldable smartphone is set to launch in China on June 26. Ahead of its debut, the company has already opened pre-orders for the vivo X Fold6 and confirmed several of its key specifications.
Now, a fresh leak has surfaced, giving us an early look at the phone's expected pricing, and it doesn’t look good. According to a leaked image circulating on Weibo, the vivo X Fold6 could start at CNY 9,999 ($1,475) for the base model with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
If accurate, the leaked pricing would represent a more than 40 percent increase over the vivo X Fold5,...
Last week, Samsung announced that the Galaxy M47 5G would soon launch in India. The company has now revealed several key specifications of the smartphone while also confirming its official launch date.
The Samsung Galaxy M47 5G will be unveiled in India on June 29. It is confirmed to feature a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection.
It will come with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. On the software front, the Galaxy M47 5G will ship with Android 16-based One UI 8.5 out of the box. Samsung has promised six generations of Android...
Amazon’s Prime Day shopping frenzy is here, and it spans until the end of this week. We’ve been gathering deals across several storefronts and are now presenting you with the best smartphone offers for the UK.
As usual, these offers are subject to stock availability and require an active Prime membership. We’ve split them into groups for easier browsing.
Table of Contents:
Flagships
Foldables
Mid-rangers
Flagships
Xiaomi 17 Ultra
£100 off
Read our review
...
England fans are dreaming of FIFA World Cup 2026 being the tournament where football finally comes home, but first the Three Lions must back up a positive opening Group L fixture, with another against Ghana in Boston.
Thomas Tuchel's men showed in their thrilling win over Croatia why they are among the leading contenders to lift the trophy with an exciting attacking display in Dallas, as Harry Kane's first-half double and goals after the break by Jude Bellingham and substitute Marcus Rashford secured a 4-2 victory. The only concern was a defensive frailty punished by Croatia, who twice drew level before the interval, with Marc Guehi pushing for a start. Another victory seals England's spot in the round of 32, but they must avoid any temptation of looking past today's opponents.
On a six-game winless run, Ghana needed a last-gasp winner to beat Panama 1-0 in their opening game, as Caleb Yirenkyi popped up five minutes into second-half stoppage time to spare their blushes against a nation yet to earn a World Cup point. Tournament football is all about getting the job done, though, and experienced manager Carlos Queiroz – at his record fifth World Cup in a row – will know that better than anyone. The former Man Utd coach is one of several familiar faces in the Black Stars' setup, with Man City forward Antoine Semenyo, Leicester City duo Jordan Ayew and Abdul Fatawu, and Coventry City striker Brandon Thomas-Asante among their options in attack.
So, read on as we show you exactly how to watch England vs Ghana for free from anywhere in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
How to watch England vs Ghana for free
England vs Ghana is available to watch for free in multiple countries, including the UK, Australia, Brazil, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland and Turkey.
🇬🇧 UK: BBC (Full game) | YouTube (First 10 mins only)
Abroad? Can't access your free stream? Unblock your free World Cup stream with Norton VPN — more on that below.
Use a VPN to watch England vs Ghana live streams
It’s the World Cup, and if you’re traveling, you might discover your usual England vs Ghana stream is suddenly unavailable due to geo-restrictions.
Don’t worry, that’s exactly where a VPN can help. A virtual private network lets you connect to servers around the world so you can securely access your usual World Cup coverage as if you were back home.
Watch your free World Cup stream without limits. Norton VPN delivers fast, secure connections with global servers, so you can stream from anywhere with ease.
💰 60-day money-back guarantee 🔓 Unlocks World Cup streams
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Visiting the US from the UK? You can still watch your World Cup stream for free thanks to Norton VPN (try for 60 days).
How to watch England vs Ghana in the UK
UK customers are in luck as they can stream England vs Ghana for free on the BBC. Live coverage is on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
You can also watch live build-up for free on the BBC Football YouTube channel from 8.15pm – plus the first 10 minutes of the game for free. Annoying it cuts out after 10 minutes, so be prepared!
Use Norton VPN to unlock your local stream if you're traveling abroad today.
Don't forget: you require a TV license and a valid UK postcode for an account (e.g. SE1 7PB).
How to watch England vs Ghana in Australia
(Image credit: free)
England vs Ghana will be shown for free in Australia on SBS On Demand.
The streaming platform has every game of the tournament for free, making it the perfect place for your World Cup viewing.
Traveling for work or on holiday? A VPN like Norton VPN can help unlock your free stream.
How to watch England vs Ghana in Canada
(Image credit: Other)
In Canada, TSN will be broadcasting England vs Ghana.
You can live stream via the TSN+ streaming platform, which costs CA$8 per month or CA$80 per year.
Outside of Canada? Use Norton VPN whilst you're traveling away from home to unlock your stream.
England vs Ghana: Match Information
What time does England vs Ghana start?
England vs Ghana kicks-off at 9pm BST / 4pm ET on Tuesday, June 23. That's 6am AEST on Wednesday, June 24 in Australia.
What are the squads for England vs Ghana?
England
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City).
Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Tino Livramento (Newcastle United), Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City).
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa).
Forwards: Anthony Gordon (Barcelona), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).
Ghana
Goalkeepers: Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St. Gallen), Joseph Anang (St Patrick's Athletic), Benjamin Asare (Hearts of Oak).
Defenders: Alidu Seidu (Rennes), Jonas Adjetey (VfL Wolfsburg), Abdul Mumin (Rayo Vallecano), Gideon Mensah (Auxerre), Abdul Rahman Baba (PAOK), Jerome Opoku (Istanbul Basaksehir), Kojo Peprah Oppong (Nice), Derrick Luckassen (Pafos), Marvin Senaya (Auxerre).
Midfielders: Caleb Yirenkyi (Nordsjaelland), Thomas Partey (Villarreal), Abdul Fatawu (Leicester City), Kwasi Sibo (Oviedo), Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City), Elisha Owusu (Auxerre), Augustine Boakye (Saint-Etienne), Kamaldeen Sulemana (Atalanta).
Forwards: Jordan Ayew (Leicester City), Brandon Thomas-Asante (Coventry City), Christopher Bonsu Baah (Al-Qadsiah), Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Ernest Nuamah (Lyon), Prince Kwabena Adu (Viktoria Plzen).
Group L Table
Position
Team
GD
Points
1
England
2
3
2
Ghana
1
3
3
Panama
-1
0
4
Croatia
-2
0
Can I watch England vs Ghana on my mobile?
Of course, most broadcasters have streaming services that you can access through mobile apps or via your phone's browser.
You can also stay up-to-date with all of the key World Cup moments on the official social media channels on X/Twitter (@FIFAWorldCup), Instagram (@FIFAWorldCup), TikTok (@FIFAWorldCup) and YouTube (@FIFA).
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Kaleidescape launches the first 8K movie player certified by the 8K Association
But the new 4K Cinematic format for higher-quality 4K is the exciting bit
$4,995 (about £3,777 / AU$7,180)
Kaleidescape makes some truly spectacular 4K video players, and now there's an 8K version. It's "the world's highest-fidelity movie player," says chairman and CEO Tayloe Stansbury. "It brings movie lovers closer to the filmmaker's intent, with cleaner detail, true-to-life color, and a more natural presentation that dramatically improves the viewing experience of any display."
It's also a world first. The Kaleidescape Strato K is the first 8K movie player that's been certified for 8K by the 8K Association.
That's good, but the fact that it's the first such accreditation points to the problem with 8K. Buying 8K hardware right now is a bit like being the first person in the world to buy a fax machine: who are you going to send faxes to? Similarly, with 8K movie players and 8K TVs, what 8K movies are actually there for you to watch?
That means the Strato K, while impressive, is a bit of a gamble: you're buying hardware in the hope that the 8K movie trickle will become a flood, and I'm just not sure that rain is ever coming.
So the most important new feature might not be the 8K support, but instead a new format that Kaleidescape calls "4K Cinematic".
Here's Kaleidescape's graphic showing how 'Cinematic 4K' compares to other 4K options (Image credit: Kaleidescape)
Kaleidescape Strato K: key features and price
Kaleidescape's 4K Cinematic is a format designed to deliver even better 4K picture quality, and it does that by using less compression. Movies are encoded at around 110Mbps using the HEVC codec. Kaleidescape says that's compared to around 60Mbps for 4K Blu-Ray, and around 17Mbps for standard 4K streaming services.
It's worth noting that those figures aren't the maximum bitrates for the formats — for example Blu-Ray can go up to 144Mbps, though 80Mbps is a more standard ceiling — but are the bitrates typically used in commercial releases.
In addition to the higher bitrate, 4K Cinematic uses 4:4:4 chroma sampling rather than the 4:2:0 of most commercial movie releases, meaning more accurate colors and less 'banding' or other color artefacts.
The downside of those higher bitrates is that you'll need a lot of storage: as FlatpanelsHD notes, the player only has 1TB of storage – equivalent to around seven 4K Cinematic titles, as those are 1.5x the size of normal 4K movies. Like other Strato players it's really intended to be teamed up with the firm's Terra servers.
Kaleidescape will label the higher-quality movies as 4K Cinematic in its movie store and on the Stratos K interface to differentiate them from standard 4K versions. Prices will be from around $10 to $30, and the initial raft of titles includes Top Gun: Maverick, F1: The Movie, Superman, Project Hail Mary, Dune: Part Two; Sinners, Predator: Badlands, Mortal Kombat II, Avatar, Tron: Ares, Thunderbolts, and others.
4K Cinematic supports Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X — but Dolby Vision isn't supported by the Stratos K player in 8K movies, which are SDR or HDR10. The maximum frame rate for 8K is 30 fps via HDMI 2.1.
The Strato K has a recommended retail price of $4,995, which is $1,000 more than the five-star 4K Strato V. We are really looking forward to seeing what the new movie format looks like…
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There's a hidden twist with the configuration of the Steam Machine's RAM
Most devices have a single 16GB stick, but some have a pair of 8GB modules
A single or dual configuration may not make much difference in many cases, but it can in some scenarios — and some gamers really aren't happy about this
You may be aware that the Steam Machine has 16GB of RAM, but what you may not know is that it's likely present as a single stick of 16GB DDR5 memory, rather than the preferable configuration of twin 8GB sticks — although you may get the latter.
Confused? I'll come back to that wrinkle in a moment, but in the main, it seems most Steam Machines have the single 16GB loadout, which as Digital Foundry explains is due to Valve having difficultly securing 8GB sticks of memory.
As Steam Machine engineers Pierre-Loup Griffais and Yazan Aldehayyat said in an interview: "It was quite literally impossible to buy 8GB [sticks], at least at the quantities we're looking to buy mostly because everybody wants higher storage, and that's more profitable, so all the capacity shifted to that."
In short, it was either go with 16GB sticks for the most part — which were in more plentiful supply — or shelve the Steam Machine project.
Why is a pair of 8GB RAM modules better? Because it makes use of dual-channel memory — essentially both sticks working in parallel — for a performance boost, which you obviously can't get with just one stick. So, your next question is likely to be: how much of a difference is there?
A dual-channel setup is nothing like twice as performant for gaming, of course, but there is a (situational) boost, although Valve's engineers argue that, by and large, it's not a noticeable one with DDR5 memory.
Aldehayyat says that these two configurations (single or dual) are "pretty comparable" in actual games, as opposed to certain benchmarks where weaknesses may show up in a more pronounced way for the single stick.
In fairness to Valve, it's true that in a lot of gaming scenarios with the Steam Machine, having all your DDR5 RAM in one block won't make any real difference, at least not one that's noticeable in terms of the smoothness of your gaming experience. That's especially true at higher resolutions where the likes of 4K puts much of the workload on the shoulders of the GPU.
However, in games which are more demanding on the CPU, that's less true, and you may find that the single stick configuration is a drag on performance, possibly hitting you with more stutter (dropping to much lower frame rates more often).
As Digital Foundry points out, an increasing number of games tax the CPU, notably heavyweight open-world titles such as Crimson Desert, or the likes of Baldur's Gate 3 or Cities: Skylines.
Analysis: single or dual lottery — although there's actually a benefit to the latter, too
(Image credit: Shutterstock / Dean Drobot)
Let's return to the RAM lottery twist I mentioned at the outset, which is that as explained by Griffais in a separate Gamers Nexus video (which was flagged by Wccftech), some Steam Machines have a pair of 8GB sticks (if this memory was available in certain regions at the time of production — and it doesn't sound like it was in many cases).
There could be an upside to the single 16GB loadout, mind you, and that's if you intend to upgrade the RAM in the future. With a spare memory slot, you can buy another 16GB stick to easily double up to 32GB down the line — but if you have two 8GB sticks, that can't be done (you'll need to buy two 16GB modules, and entirely replace the existing ones, at a greater cost).
So, if you're worried about all this, should you be opening your Steam Machine to check your RAM configuration, with a view to switching to a pair of 8GB sticks if you have a single 16GB module (while selling the latter)? I don't think that's a great idea, because for starters, Digital Foundry makes it clear that getting to the RAM and replacing it "requires significant disassembly of the machine", and possible risks therein. It's certainly not something a relative tech novice will want to attempt, and honestly, the performance upside of switching to a dual-channel setup (if you have a single RAM stick) is not really worth all the hassle.
Overall, this is a less-than-ideal situation, between the single stick performance catch, and the RAM lottery aspect where you can't tell what hand you'll be dealt with your Steam Machine.
Unfortunately, Valve hasn't had much choice in the matter thanks to the memory crisis. Ruling out using dual sticks in some cases would, of course, have limited supply further, when the situation is already bad enough to have forced the price of the entry-level Steam Machine over a grand.
So, once again, thanks to the giant memory hoover that is AI, PC buyers are getting the short end of the RAM stick (to put it politely).
Predictably, many gamers aren't happy to learn about this. One Redditor complains: "This is absolutely awful. They've done the thing that sh***y prebuilds do, which is have a single stick in single channel memory which affects CPU performance."
Kaspersky warns of a WhatsApp phishing campaign spreading malicious VBScript files disguised as business documents
Running them installs ManageEngine Endpoint Central, giving attackers remote access; filenames localized boosted global reach
Victims span Brazil, India, Mexico, Singapore, UK, Spain, Taiwan, Australia, Russia, Vietnam, and Malaysia; compromise method remains unknown
WhatsApp users beware - there is a phishing campaign ongoing on the platform, seeking to infect your devices with a legitimate, but unsolicited endpoint security platform.
Security researchers Kaspersky recently published a new report detailing a campaign that starts with a compromised WhatsApp account. They could not determine how these accounts got breached but found that they were being used to reach out to the victims’ contacts and share a VBScript file masquerading as business or financial documents.
People who don’t find it strange that their contacts are suddenly sharing business documents, and end up running them, will get ManageEngine’s Endpoint Central, a unified endpoint management (UEM) and endpoint security platform built to help IT teams manage a fleet of desktops, laptops, servers, mobile devices, and other endpoints, all from a single console.
Two scripts, one malware
In this case, however, they wouldn’t be managing anything - they would just be granting remote system access to the attackers. Kaspersky says that the campaign is rather widespread, with victims located across Brazil, India, Mexico, Singapore, the UK, Spain, Taiwan, Australia, Russia, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
One of the reasons the campaign was so successful on an international level is because the filenames are localized in multiple languages, Kaspersky added.
“Based on evidence collected from multiple victims through social media reports and submitted samples, we can conclude that the threat actor had gained access to several WhatsApp accounts and used them to distribute the malicious VBScript files to contacts on the compromised users’ contact lists,” Kaspersky’s researchers said.
“At the time of writing, the exact method used to compromise these WhatsApp accounts remains unknown.”
Downloading and running the malicious files on Windows result in the deployment of two scripts that first disable UAC protections and then deploy the UEM. Kaspersky also stressed that when users open WhatsApp on the web, they must first download the files, but when they open the desktop client, the files can be executed directly via Windows Script Host.
For the Waaagh! There's never been a better time to get into, or get back into, Warhammer than the launch of a new edition. Games Workshop's little sci-fi-themed plastic miniatures are usually prohibitively expensive, but new editions often come with large bundles of miniatures sold at a discount with the core rules of the game, centred around Space Marines fighting a different enemy each time.
This year is no different. With 11th Edition and the Armageddon box set arriving earlier this month, it's the mean, green, chaotic alien foe known as orks that get the spotlight — the set contains full armies of 23 Space Marines and 38 orks, along with core rules and accessories. As someone who used to collect ork models, these Amazon Prime Day discounts are proving too tempting to resist.
Save a cool $50 on the Warhammer 40,000 11th Edition box set, themed around the battle for the planet Armageddon. It's an expensive set, but if you buy its components separately they'll cost you far, far more than $250. Buy the box and split it with a friend. But be quick!View Deal
Although it's a relatively small discount, you save a further £10 by not buying direct from Games Workshop. For 23 Space Marines and 38 orks models, including normally pricey vehicles, this is a steal. You also get the 11th Ed core books. View Deal
I’ll be honest: I’ve yet to be really sold on AI laptops. The problem is, laptop makers like Apple, Samsung, HP, Microsoft, and more have been trying to convince us we need a device capable of local AI tasks by suggesting it can help us write emails (I can do that already) and generate images (a fun distraction initially, but I quickly lose interest – and there’s something about AI-generated images, videos, and music that gives me the ick).
It left me feeling as if even the best AI laptops are more of a gimmick used by companies just trying to get us to buy new devices, rather than something revolutionary.
However, after talking to Dr Liv Grant, a technology influencer, science podcaster, and ‘PhD Queen’, I’m actually excited about the implications of on-device AI in laptops, especially for students.
Dr Liv Grant recently ran a vibe coding workshop with Apple, where she showed students with no coding experience how they can create apps using MacBooks and local LLMs (Large Language Models, the tech that modern AI as we know it is based on) and spoke to me about the laptops she uses and recommends to students.
(Image credit: Getty Images / Moor Studios)
With the Back to School period approaching and Prime Day sales in full swing, students and their parents will be looking for the best student laptops to see them through college and university, so I was keen to get Dr Liv Grant's recommendation.
“I have a MacBook Neo,” she told me, “that’s great for people who are beginning to code. For someone who is learning online and branching into something less data-heavy, such as web developing, it’s a great choice.”
"With on-device AI, you don’t need internet connectivity."
The Apple A18 Pro features an NPU (Neural Processing Unit), which Apple calls the Neural Engine, and is the part of the chip that enables on-device artificial intelligence.
What’s on device AI?
Let’s back up a bit for a minute. You might be wondering what on-device AI means, and what makes it different from online AI chatbots such as ChatGPT.
ChatGPT, Claude and other popular AI chatbots are mainly cloud-based and accessed via the internet. On-device AI means that AI tasks such as image or text generation are performed on the device itself by the NPU using a local LLM.
You don’t need an AI-capable laptop or device to use cloud-based AI tools – all you need is an internet connection. However, devices that can run AI locally offer plenty of benefits, as Dr Liv Grant explained.
“With on-device AI, you don’t need internet connectivity. I’m always working on the go; especially when working at university, I’d work during my commute. The Wi-Fi on public transport can be awful, and it would interrupt my work.”
(Image credit: Getty / lucky sun)
This is probably the most noticeable benefit for many people. If you’re doing important work that requires AI tools, using those tools locally on the device means that if you lose your internet connection, you can still keep working – and you won’t be in danger of losing your work.
Running those tasks locally has privacy and security benefits as well, as you’re not sharing data, files, or any other information with a remote third party, which is the case with cloud-based AI tools. For extremely sensitive data, or even personal things like using AI to help edit family photos, you should use on-device AI.
To ensure a laptop you’re considering buying is capable of on-device AI, you should check to see if it comes with an NPU (or Neural Engine if you’re looking at MacBooks).
The good news is that most modern chips from Intel, AMD, Qualcomm and Apple feature NPUs. Windows 11 laptops with these chips will most likely be labeled as ‘Copilot+ PCs’ – not the best name, but that’s Microsoft for you. Meanwhile, Apple products will be labeled as being ready for Apple Intelligence.
(Image credit: Getty / Moor Studio)
NPU performance is often measured in TOPS (Trillions of Operations Per Second). The higher the TOPS, the faster the NPU will complete AI tasks. Windows 11 laptops with an NPU of 40 TOPS or more can be labeled as a Copilot+ PC, for example.
This is why Dr Liv Grant suggests the MacBook Neo is best for less-intensive AI tasks, as its NPU is capable of around 35 TOPS, while it's also limited to 8GB of unified memory.
So, the MacBook Neo is fine for beginners, but if you have more ambitious plans that require on-device AI, you’ll want to go for a device with an NPU capable of higher TOPS and offering more RAM.
Light as air
Because of that, Dr Liv Grant uses a MacBook Air for the majority of her coding and AI work. It’s a great alternative due to its thin and light design (ideal for people who work while traveling) and its relatively affordable price (the 13-inch MacBook Air with M5 chip starts at $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,799, and again, there’s a student discount that’ll knock $100/£100/AU$160 off the price if you qualify).
It's also far more capable when it comes to day-to-day tasks and on-device AI, thanks to its M5 chip and 16GB of unified memory to start.
While Apple doesn’t officially disclose the TOPS of its chips, we estimate that it’s around 133 TOPS – which, on paper, makes it around four times faster for AI. Combine that with the larger amount of faster unified memory, and the MacBook Air becomes an excellent mobile AI workstation. At Dr Liv Grant’s vibe coding workshop, the participants all used a MacBook Air.
The final tool in Dr Liv Grant’s MacBook arsenal is a MacBook Pro, which she primarily uses for content creation for her extremely popular Instagram and TikTok accounts. For students (or anyone, for that matter)looking for a laptop that can handle complex AI tasks as well as demanding creative workloads, a MacBook Pro might be a wise investment, but it is a lot more expensive.
(Image credit: Getty / lucky sun)
All about the vibe coding
So, what’s the importance of AI for students? While a lot of focus has been on how AI can help students research and study, Dr Liv Grant suggests vibe coding is where it can make the biggest difference, and not necessarily just for programming students.
“Vibe coding is where you use AI or a chatbot tool to help you write code,” explains Dr Liv Grant. “For example, I have an idea for an app to help content creators do a job – a few years ago I’d have had to learn the language, the syntax, the codebase from scratch. With vibe coding you can use AI to help you.”
As Dr Liv Grant is keen to stress, vibe coding isn’t a replacement for traditional coding, and she is familiar with many programming languages. Instead, it’s a tool that can help coders experiment and get creative while still being productive.
"Everyone should use vibe coding."
Dr Liv Grant’s mention of coding languages is an interesting one, as there’s a huge range of languages used. Web developers, for example, might use JavaScript, while someone making Windows 11 apps would use C#, and someone coding for Macs would likely use Swift. Being experienced with one coding language doesn’t mean you’ll be ‘fluent’ in others, and that’s where vibe coding can really help.
“Even if you know what you’re doing, everyone should use vibe coding,” Dr Liv Grant suggests.
In her workshop, students with no coding background used MacBook Airs to create an app. “We made a pomodoro timer app using LLM studio, picked a vibe coding tool such as ChatGPT, Claude, or a local one, and gave it three prompts.”
(Image credit: Getty / Moor Studio)
The AI tool would then give examples of code to use in the desired language. “With the first prompt,” explains Dr Liv Grant, “there were some errors, but those were easy to fix.” This is where a basic understanding of coding and syntax comes in, as Dr Grant used her coding experience to correct any mistakes in the AI-generated code.
The ease of vibe coding combined with more affordable laptops such as the MacBook Neo “opens up the world of coding to so many people – people in lower socioeconomic groups, students, anyone,” Dr Liv Grant told me. “It’s very exciting; students have so many ideas, and vibe coding helps those students realize those ideas without having to learn entire programming languages.
“During WWDC, Red Bull Basement ran a competition for people to pitch their ideas for an AI tool or app. All the entrants were using vibe coding. They didn’t have a background in coding.”
To me, that sounds both exciting and worrying. Exciting because it could mean that new (once-marginalized) voices, ideas, and products come to market. Someone who once might have had a great idea for an app, but never did anything with it as they were unable to code, could now rustle up a prototype with vibe coding.
Similarly, someone without a coding background who needs an app for a specific task could make their own rather than trying to find someone who would do it for them.
However, I’m also worried – could vibe coding mean an influx of slop apps? And what about programmers, will they be out of jobs? Is it even worth becoming a programming student?
“Yes,” says Dr Liv Grant when I ask her if people should still study to become programmers, “but maybe not in the depth we used to learn coding in. Learn basic syntax, how code works,” Dr Grant suggests. Those skills will prove essential to ensuring any vibe-coded project has a base level of quality. As for programming as a career? “It’s going to move more towards how good you are at interacting with AI and how good you are at prompting.”
I left our conversation with a newfound appreciation for how AI can help students, especially when it comes to vibe coding, and how that, combined with more affordable devices like the MacBook Neo (even considering its limitations), could make app developing much more accessible.
It’s certainly an interesting time, and if you or someone you know is considering getting a laptop to vibe code on, I’ve picked some of my top choices below. Make sure you also follow Dr Liv Grant on TikTok and Instagram for more fascinating insights into tech, science and Epigenetics.
If what we talked about here has got you interested in getting a MacBook for vibe coding (and more), then check out these fantastic MacBook Prime Day deals I've hand-picked below.
Prime Day MacBook deals
The MacBook Neo is in stock with all colors at Amazon today, with a small price cut, too. The latest MacBook packs a 13-inch Liquid Retina display, an A18 Pro chip, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and up to 16 hours of battery life, all for under $600. It's no wonder this latest model is already proving to be a bestseller.
A great-value older MacBook Air that still holds its own against the newer model. You get 512GB SSD storage and 16GB RAM together with an M3 chip that still feels fast. This deal knocks 38% off the 13-inch laptop's price.View Deal
With an impressive $150 discount, this Prime Day deal addresses our main complaint about the M5 Air: it's pricier than the previous model. Now, you're getting the latest chipset, 16GB of RAM, and a bigger 512GB SSD for much less, with a price that arguably challenges even the budget MacBook Neo when it comes to outright value.
For creative professionals, the 14-inch MacBook Pro powered by the performance-driven M5 chip is the one to choose. This beast flies through demanding workloads like video editing without skipping a beat.
Real-life experiment shows bug spray can kill Fitbit Airs
It's to do with the chemicals inside the repellent
Spray carefully, as you won't be covered under warranty
Here at TechRadar we've been rather impressed by what the Fitbit Air has to offer, but one unfortunate user has found out the hard way that you shouldn't use bug spray when the fitness tracker is wrapped around your wrist.
The problematic incident was recorded on Reddit (via Phandroid), and it seems that a thorough and protective application of bug spray has eaten into the plastic component of the Fitbit Air, stopping it from functioning.
"Went on a hike this weekend with my Fitbit Air," reads the original Reddit post. "I've had it for 14 days now, and I found out that bug spray will destroy it. I had put some on the cuffs of my hiking shirt and it transferred over to the device and broke down the plastic."
To make matters worse, the user reports that the same fate befell his wife's Fitbit too (though it's not clear if that's also a Fitbit Air). The original post ends with a recommendation to "save your cash for something built better".
The Reddit detectives went straight to work, determining that it was likely the chemical DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) causing the problem. It's widely used in insect repellents, and is pretty harsh on plastics as well as bugs.
And sympathy seems to be in short supply on the Reddit thread. "The documentation very clearly states that it shouldn't come in contact with sunscreens and bug sprays," writes one poster, while another says: "This is on you buddy."
Google isn't being particularly sympathetic either, telling the affected user that the damage counts as environmental or accidental damage, and so isn't covered under the warranty. No replacement Fitbit Air will be forthcoming in this case.
There have been other stories like this in recent days, so it seems a substantial number of people aren't aware about the damage that insect repellent can do. As ever, always read the small print — on both your fitness trackers and your bug sprays.
Gears of War: E-Day studio creative director Matt Searcy says players will "care about the fall of" the game's singular city setting
Searcy says "environmental storytelling" deepens the game's gameplay and exploration
The game is linear, but players will have some freedom in how they explore and complete missions
The Coalition wants players to "care" about Gears of War: E-Day's singular city location by deepening exploration and environmental storytelling.
That's according to studio creative director Matt Searcy, who dived into all the juicy details about the prequel's new mechanics and city setting of Kolana in an interview with TechRadar Gaming at Summer Game Fest 2026.
He said the team wanted E-Day to be different from previous Gears entries in terms of location, explaining that in order to make players care about a city that is going to be destroyed by the Locust Horde invasion.
"One of the big differences between E-Day and other Gears titles, especially Gears 5, is that rather than going from one different location to another to another, from the desert to the forest to the ice glaciers, the whole game takes place in one city, so that has a lot of advantages now," Searcy said.
"There are a lot of distinct districts in the city, so there are tons of varieties, so don't worry, some of them won't look the same. But we really wanted the city to feel like a character in our game. For the first time in a franchise, you're gonna watch something get destroyed, because it's always already destroyed [...] and for you to care about the fall of the city, you have to care about the city, of that place, and to make the stakes higher, we have to be able to go deeper."
To translate this: E-Day is restricted to one location, the city, allowing the studio to "go way, way, way deeper" in terms of world-building and "environmental storytelling."
For instance, players can travel through several areas of the city, such as the Downtown, Historic, and Military districts, and encounter things like abandoned apartments and unfinished meals, showing that people left in a hurry.
Players will also explore areas before they're destroyed, and then when they revisit them later, they will be visually different, with certain environmental assets and items that clue players in if they don't recognize them.
"Throughout the whole game, you start to feel the feeling that the characters are feeling, which is the city falling apart around us, and it's sad," Searcy said.
He later confirmed that the game is still linear, and players can't go off and do whatever missions they choose, but environmental storytelling helped deepen exploration and gameplay in this "intimate journey."
"You're supposed to go over to this place and do this thing that someone's telling you to [do]," he said, "but how you make your way there, across that neighborhood, what you come across; other people fighting, surviving, [you can] help them out on your way through.
"Just what you see in the wreckage in the city, the environmental storytelling, it allowed us to get way more variety in our gameplay than the way that you play the game, but also tell all these stories about Kalona that you might not have otherwise[seen] if we were doing hallway to hallway to hallway."
Oracle now has around 141,000 workers, down from 162,000 in 12 months
The company spent $1.84 billion in severance and related costs last year
Billions to be raised by means of new debt and equity to fund AI plans
Despite recently confirming record revenues of $67.4 billion in its just-closed fiscal year, marking a 17% rise, Oracle has laid off an estimated 21,000 workers during that same 12-month period.
The company confirmed it had around 141,000 workers on the books as of May 2026, but when it made the same report last year, it had around 162,000 employees.
However despite record revenue and drastic cost-cutting measures, share prices are down around 15% in one year largely due to concerns over massive AI-driven capex.
Inside Oracle's massive AI strategy
In a filing, the company noted that the layoffs had been impacted by various factors, including management and product changes, performance issues, other strategic shifts and business acquisitions. But AI also got its fair share of the blame, both directly and indirectly through shifting company priorities and improving internal efficiency.
During the year, Oracle spent an estimated $1.84 billion on severance packages, restructuring and other employee costs, marking a huge increase over the $374 million it spent on restructuring during the previous year.
But that's nothing compared to how much the hyperscaler plans to spend in capex this coming year – most of the $70 billion projection will be allocated toward data centers and other cloud infrastructure.
The biggest risk that investors worry about could be this funding's source though, because current plans include raising around $40 billion if it through new debt and equity instead of operating cash flow. Around $20 billion will likely come from stock issuance (per Reuters) – the company is currently worth an estimated $503.5 billion.
However, recent high-profile deals with the likes of OpenAI and Meta also speak volumes about confidence in the company from a customer point of view.
All of this while generating electricity via higher-cost natural gas fuel cells "with minimal emissions," as the company stated in its fourth-quarter release.
I'm always on the lookout for a tablet deal, and this Amazon Prime Day, I've been seriously considering picking up a discounted Amazon Fire Max 11 to add to my collection. However, after seeing the price of the Lenovo Idea Tab, which has been slashed to just £159.99 (was £219.99) in a new deal, I just can't justify the buy.
The Lenovo Idea Tab is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6300, which is comparable in performance to the MediaTek chip that powers the Fire Max 11. It's a much newer model with a higher resolution 2.5K 90Hz screen, plus superior Dolby Atmos stereo speakers to make streaming even more enjoyable.
It's got double the RAM for smoother multitasking, and even comes bundled with a compatible stylus pen and case. It's an absolute no-brainer when the discounted Fire Max 11 is still much more expensive at £189.99 (was £289.99).
Today's best Fire Max 11 alternative deal
This Lenovo tablet boasts a far nicer, higher resolution screen than the Fire Max 11 with smoother performance thanks to higher RAM. Its processor is similarly fast, and offers the same amount of storage space. You even get a folio case and compatible stylus View Deal
Even with £100 off, the Amazon Fire Max 11 is still the lower-value tablet of the pair. It has lesser specs, with half the RAM and a lower resolution screen, and doesn't come bundled with any extras.View Deal
Another big advantage of the Lenovo Idea Tab is its operating system. The Fire Max 11 runs on Amazon's Fire OS 8, which is based on the now rather ancient Android 11. It's a locked-down OS that basically restricts you to Amazon's limited app store unless you have the technical skills to sideload your own apps.
The Lenovo Idea Tab runs Android 15 with Lenovo's sleek ZUI skin, giving you unrestricted access to all your favorite apps, games, and streaming services.
Don't worry about the build quality either. The Idea Tab has a premium-feeling aluminium alloy frame and a smooth metal back. Having gone hands-on with the tablet in the past, I know firsthand that it feels much more expensive than the budget-friendly price would suggest.
After only two hours of playtime, it's clear that Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy is a breath of fresh air for A Plague Tale fans. It provides an engaging narrative with fresh but familiar ground, suitable for both franchise veterans and newcomers.
It's all thanks to an original story that will leave you wanting more after every discovery — and notably, one that doesn't absolutely require knowledge of previous entries.
Asobo Studio has taken a risky but bold step in a completely different direction with Resonance, and while there is still plenty more to be seen, it's off to a great start in both its narrative and gameplay.
In Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy (set 15 years before A Plague Tale: Requiem), we follow a familiar face that both previous main characters, Amicia and Hugo, encountered. Sophia, labelled a 'fierce young plunderer,' will be center stage as she journeys to uncover the mystery behind her past, while on the run from a gang she left behind.
Unlike anything the franchise has offered before, Asobosets out its stall in Resonance from minute one, focusing on action-adventure aspects to a greater extent, with combat that will not only entertain players but also test their mettle.
Resonance borrows from the best action-adventure games
(Image credit: Asobo Studio)
If you love Tomb Raider and Naughty Dog's Uncharted games, or even Bethesda's Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, you're likely going to have a lot of fun with Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy.
In exploration, you'll be tackling a wide range of puzzles, many of which will require you to look through clues in a notebook (just like you would with Nathan Drake in Uncharted). Set pieces will see Sophia jumping from ledges or shimmying in tight and dangerous spots, all in a fascinating spectacle that left me smiling, ready for more.
Remember those sequences in Uncharted or Tomb Raider that saw either Nathan Drake or Lara Croft finding a key item, only to be stopped by an antagonist, leading to an epic escape? Resonance captures the essence of those moments in its own charming and entertaining way.
(Image credit: Asobo Studio)
Unlike Amicia, Sophia can wield swords and a dagger, pull enemies off of rooftops with a grappling hook, and engage in a brutal and bloody back-and-forth with enemies thanks to the game's parry, dodge, and attack functionality. You'll feel like you can hold your ground against a barrage of enemies, with a character who isn't afraid to make a foe think twice about approaching.
While some areas of sword clashes and fights can feel slightly janky, particularly with dodges or general strafing that feel as though they lack much weight, the melee mostly holds up quite well, featuring multiple skills to unlock and enhance Sophia's capability in combat.
(Image credit: Asobo Studio)
Asobo has seemingly structured Resonance's combat encounters, puzzles, and exploration very well. It doesn't feel like there are too many moments of combat, puzzles, or exploration, as each moment does just enough to keep you engaged and ends before it overstays its welcome.
Perhaps above all, Resonance features one of the best horror-like, thrilling sequences I've seen in a long time, forcing an unarmed Sophia to survive and escape a deadly and terrifying creature that can snatch her life away with very little effort.
It was during this encounter that I realized Resonance has just about everything I hoped it would in a new entry within the series, and I genuinely can't wait to see what more it has to offer when it launches later this year on August 27, 2026, on PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC.
It's nearly time to sit down and enjoy The Bear's last course. Indeed, with its fifth season set to bring down the curtain on the multi-award-winning FX TV Original, you'll want to savor every mouthful before its final end credits roll.
More importantly, though, you'll need to know when and where The Bear season 5 will be released. So, make a reservation, take your seat, and peruse the below menu — no, I'm not this analogy too far, why do you ask? — for more on its official launch date and times.
What time can I watch The Bear season 5?
Ready for one last big speech, Richie? (Image credit: FX Networks)
In North and South America, The Bear's final season will make its bow on Thursday, June 25 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET.
Armed with that information, we can work out when Carmy, Sydney, Richie, and the rest of the gang will be back on our screens in other nations, too.
US — Thursday, June 25 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
Canada — Thursday, June 25 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
UK — Friday, June 26 at 2am BST
India — Friday, June 26 at 6:30am BST
Singapore — Friday, June 26 at 9am SGT
Australia — Friday, June 26 at 11am AEST
New Zealand — Friday, June 26 at 1pm NZST
Where can I watch The Bear season 5?
Here's where you'll be able to catch Carmy and company in season 5 (Image credit: FX Networks)
The comedy-drama TV series will be available to watch on Hulu in the US and Disney+ everywhere else. No matter where you live, then, you'll soon have access to the show's final hurrah on one of the world's best streaming services.
Not signed up to the above platforms, but want to stream The Bear 5 once it arrives? Read our Hulu price and Disney+ price guides to see how much it currently costs to create an account. Or just refer to the price widget below for a quick rundown of each service's various tiers and price points.
How many episodes does The Bear season 5 have?
What lies in store for Natalie, aka 'Sugar', this season? (Image credit: FX Networks)
Unlike the last three seasons, The Bear season 5 won't comprise 10 episodes. Instead, it follows in its debut season's footsteps with just eight chapters.
As for each entry's runtime: at the time of this article's initial publication on Tuesday, June 23, I've seen the first seven episodes, and I can confirm that they last anywhere between 22 minutes and 52 minutes. That's including each installment's end-credits crawl, too.
Lastly, here are the confirmed titles for the episodes I've watched:
It's been 16 years since I first started using a Sony Alpha. First, the NEX-5 (until the display died on the viewfinder-less body) and then the exquisite Sony Alpha a6000. Paired with my 200mm lens, they've been the perfect setup for my bird and astrophotography. But I've struggled with the batteries.
The Sony-brand Lithium-Ion rechargeable batteries that shipped with the NEX-5 worked with the a6000 I bought second-hand (new, the a6000 will run you almost $1,000), but eventually they stopped holding their charge, and I balked at the $70-per battery for the Sony-branded replacements. After all, I could easily find cheap knockoffs on Amazon (Prime Day or not) for as little as $26 for two (including a charge base!).
It's not unusual for me to wait until Amazon Prime Day to pick up a couple more replacements, and so that's how I stumbled on this llano deal. The two packs of batteries and a charging case that includes both a screen readout to tell you the charge level for each battery and a pair of SD card storage slots (not readers!) for just $54.99 is quite a deal.
Granted, the box offers no extra battery power, which means that if you want to charge the batteries, you do have to plug it in, but after that, you can just take the case with you. It's an efficient way to store and transport the batteries and to know at a glance, which one has enough charge for a day of use. The included batteries do, by the way, also support other compatible Sony cameras, including my old NEX-5, the NEX-7, A3000, A5000, A64000, along with other Sony camera models.
It's also worth noting that Ilano ships the same system in multiple versions for different batteries types, covering some of the best Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon and other Sony cameras (I've included shopping links to other Illano versions, further below).
This stylish Sony Alpha camera charging system ships with two batteries and a magnetically sealed case that charges two batteries at once and features an SD-card slot. It works with a wide array of Alpha cameras, including the A6000, A6400, a7r, and the a5100. Just know that while it's a nice, compact, and seemingly portable size, the device only charges the batteries if it's plugged in. At least you get a cool digital readout, and this is a great deal for two battieres and a charging bay.View Deal
The big caveat here is that these third party batteries are not usually as good or long-lasting as Sony originals. One thing to note is that while the llano batteries are listed as 9 volts, the Sony original is a 1,020mAh battery. In my experience with knock-off batteries that are often manufactured in China, they lose their ability to hold a full charge more quickly and dramatically than the Sony batteries.
Part of this has to do, I think, with the less sophisticated charging bases many of them ship with. In all fairness to llano, they usually don't look like this. They're not closable cases with LCD readouts, just one to three open bays where you drop in the batteries.
Ultimately, you will spend less and may have short-term relief for your Sony Alpha battery issues (nothing like having a pocket full of batteries on a long shoot), but you should not expect these batteries to perform long-term, like Sony originals, which, by the way, I have never seen included in Amazon Prime Day sales.
I'm not a fan of the heat; I write this from my local Pret-a-Manger with the eyes of a begrudging barista burning into the back of my neck. Such is the joy of covering Amazon Prime Day in a heatwave.
All this because, despite having some of the best fans in my apartment, I'm cursed to live in a flat with windows only on one side, so there's little hope of beating the heat at home. That doesn't mean you can't keep cool, though, and to help you out I've found the best Prime Day fans, air conditioning and iced treat-making kitchen appliances to keep the heat at bay.
I've actually already shopped some of these deals myself; the first thing in my basket this year for Prime Day is Breville's Iced Coffee Maker. Cheap and cheerful at £21.99 (was £46.99), this single-serve gadget is perfect for my itsy-bitsy kitchen where countertop space is at a premium. It costs less than my weekly spend at Starbucks, too, so the long-term savings stand to be pretty significant!
Check out all the best deals I've found below.
Amazon Prime Day fan deals
Prime Day officially began today (Tuesday, 23 June), but deals on some of our favorite fans are scarce. We saw some discounts as the clock struck twelve, midnight, but unfortunately, many brands had wised up and returned products to RRP by morning.
Beyond that, we've also included our top picks that aren't currently on sale, because you may decide that it's worth paying full price to get some relief from the heat — and right now, we'd agree.
This small yet powerful desk fan is a great buy while it's dropped below £30 for Prime Day. While its smaller size means it won't be the most powerful option out there, it does mean it'll easily fit on a side table or your desk and keep you at a comfortable temperature.View Deal
With £30 off at a range of retailers, the Whisper 2 is back down to its lowest price. This pedestal fan is powerful, operates quietly, and comes with two-axis oscillation. Plus, it looks good. View Deal
Loved by Amazon customers far and wide, Levoit extends its air care products from the best air purifiers to fans, and this one in particular earned praise for its low noise level and good cooling capacity. This smart fan offers 12 fan speeds, four modes, and can be controlled with the VeSync app or voice control.View Deal
The Philips Smart Pedestal Fan Series 2000 is approachably priced at £56.05 right now, offering a cool £13 discount. This follows several other Philips fan models selling out, so act fast if you want a solid fan from a household name.View Deal
Another hand fan to watch this Prime Day is Shark's 3-in-1 ChillPill, which earned a solid score of 4.5 stars in our recent review. Now, only one colourway is on sale right now, and they did inflate the list price to make it look like a big deal, but the actual offer of £10 off on a brand-new product that mists, cools, and fans is still pretty neat.View Deal
We're not really focusing on the 'Hot' part of this right now, but it makes it a useful device for all seasons. This Dyson fan can blast you with air to help beat the heatwave, or create heat waves of its own when winter rolls back around. I have a Dyson Hot + Cool in my bedroom, and it's really useful to have one device that does it all well.
Fans are pretty utilitarian by nature, and even some of the more stylish modern options are pretty plastic-y; that's why I love Russel Hobbs more industrial loft-style floor fan, which is currently £12 off for Prime Day. View Deal
It's quite a different prospect from the tabletop DeskMate, but if you want room-wide cooling, this Govee Smart fan is a top choice. You get 12 wind speeds and 5 special modes, plus app and voice control. We awarded this fan's shorter sibling 4.5* in our Govee Smart Tower Fan review. View Deal
This Dimplex fan is a dead ringer for the Shark TurboBlade (but much cheaper) and works in a very similar way, providing a horizontal or vertical sheet of air to keep you comfortable. It works best at night, blowing a cool blanket over your bed to help you sleep even in sweltering weather.View Deal
This pocket-sized fan will keep you cool and comfortable anywhere this week, and this bundle with a carry case and cross-body strap is now cheaper than buying the fan by itself thanks to this great Prime Day deal.View Deal
At under £30, this little desk fan is a great buy on Prime Day — and I'd know because it's currently sitting on my desk at home. It folds flat so you can take it anywhere, is rechargeable so you can take it indoors or out, and packs a surprisingly powerful punch for something so compact. View Deal
I'd barely call this one a deal with a pitiful 5% reduction, but it's my go-to fan for when the mercury rises. It's powerful and quiet, even on a low to medium setting, blasting out enough cool air without disturbing sleep. I've found that the portability is a huge plus, too. You can use it as a standard tower fan, either plugged into the mains or go cordless for up to 24 hours. View Deal
Earning a fantastic 4.5 stars when we reviewed it, Govee's fan currently holds the title of our best smart tower fan, so we're very happy to see it included in the deals this Prime Day. View Deal
Also consider...
These fans aren't on offer, but with stock being so low and deals so scarce, they're well worth checking out. Many of the models listed below rank among our top recommendations, so give them a whirl!
We've had a lot of hot weather lately, so I think we'd all appreciate having a quality fan on hand. This pedestal model from the top brand Dreo is a good option. Handy features include nine speed options, 120-degree oscillation, and ultra-quiet operation, so you can run it at night in the bedroom to keep cool.View Deal
You may be thinking about upgrading your fan after the recent heatwave, so here's a great low price for the excellent Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo. This portable fan works both indoors and outdoors, weighs under 2.1kg, is easy to carry, and has cooling technology that produces ultra-fine droplets for a refreshing mist. With up to 12 hours of cordless run time, you can use it just as easily by your bed as you can in the garden.View Deal
Dyson's first handheld fan sold out almost instantly last month, so if you're tired of feeling sticky and uncomfortable, this is your opportunity to grab one and enjoy a cooling breeze anywhere. Only the Stone/Blush colorway is available.View Deal
Suitable for use indoors and out, this cordless fan is a great choice for everyday use and on holidays. I love a Shark fan, and the good reviews of its quiet operation and efficient cooling have the TableMate looking like another great example. View Deal
The Pro Mist is the most hardcore option in the FlexBreeze lineup because it comes with the mister attachment and an integrated water tank included. That means it's all set up to envelope you in a cooling cloud whenever and wherever you want.View Deal
It can blow hot or cold, making it an excellent air quality device year-round. Its lowest-ever price was £269, so keep an eye out for a Prime Day discount. Still, for the ultimate cooling experience, it's well worth it. Read more in our Dyson Hot + Cool AM09 review. View Deal
Price increase: Overnigh,t as the heatwave approached, Meaco actually raised the price of its MeacoFan 1056 from £99.99 to £127.99. Then it raised it again during the day today to a shocking £159.94. Boo. However, this is an award-winning fan; specifically, the Quiet Mark, which makes it perfect for use in the bedroom or office. Its multi-directional oscillation is great for cooling the whole room, and it's a lot better looking than your usual desktop fan. View Deal
Prime Day deals — air conditioners
If a fan just isn't cutting it, an air conditioning unit is a reliable way to actually lower temperatures in your home. Unfortunately, AC units are all but sold out now. Below, you'll find the ones still in stock (for now), plus a couple of permanent options, if you fancy getting serious and splashing a bit more cash. We'll update this section with more options if we find any.
A quick PSA on how to choose: for portable units, the spec to focus on is BTU — this stands for British thermal units, and the higher the BTU, the larger the room the unit can cool. Ideally, we'd recommend looking at models with 10,000BTU or above, unless you're only cooling a very tiny room.
Dreo is a trusted name in the aircare world, and this AC unit boasts 12,000 BTU of cooling clout. It's a bit more expensive, but it looks like a stellar option — we're surprised it's still in stock. The only downside we can see is that delivery isn't until early to mid-July. View Deal
This smaller AC unit is only rated 7,500 BTU, which means it's better suited to small rooms. It could still make a big difference in an overly cosy bedroom, though. It's well-reviewed and comes from the respected brand Dreo. Unfortunately, you'll have to wait until after the current heatwave for delivery — but let's face it, there's going to be another one before too long. View Deal
Okay, this one's not portable. But if you happen to be in search of a more permanent solution, installation by British Gas Trusted Partners is included in the price. Yesterday it was discounted by £150; no such luck today.View Deal
Another pricey-but-permanent option, with a small discount to ease the pain. It comes with silent and quiet modes, an A++ energy rating, and installation is included in the price. View Deal
Prime Day deals — Kitchen appliances
Fans aren't the only way to cool down, of course — you can also whip up something frosty in the kitchen. Whether that's a cool iced coffee or an ice cream is a matter of taste, but be sure to keep hydrated alongside your sweet treats!
Below, you'll find a selection of TechRadar-recommended appliances to make cooling drinks or snacks, and some of them are on sale for Amazon Prime Day.
Back at its lowest-ever price at Amazon, the Cuisinart Frost Fusion is a solid competitor to Ninja's various ice cream makers, offering fast frozen drinks and soft-serve ice cream with 6 modes and a slim profile to keep your kitchen counters clear. With £100 off, it's a steal for Prime Day.View Deal
Ninja's Creami ice cream maker is a household favorite ice cream maker, having pretty much revolutionised the scene when it hit the market a few years ago. This isn't the best price we've seen, but it's a sizeable £50 saving nonetheless. View Deal
In June, the Creami Scoop and Swirl dropped to its lowest-ever price of £265 at Amazon, so this £80-off deal is a pretty close call for the best deal we've seen on one of our top summer picks. We scored it 4 stars in our review, praising its delicious results, ease of use, and 13 different settings. View Deal
For the price of four Starbucks iced lattes, you can have cool caffeination at home in less than four minutes. It's not something we've personally tested, but with 2000+ customer reviews on Amazon and a 4.3-star rating, it seems a pretty popular gadget. At almost its lowest-ever price (£17.97 in 2024), this is a steal. View Deal
This weather makes an ice-cold drink extremely appealing right now, and the unique Ninja Slushi just fell back to its Black Friday price at Amazon. This kitchen appliance makes all sorts of chilled and frozen drinks, including juices, cocktails, milkshakes, and more. We loved it in our Ninja Slushi review, praising its ability to make quick and delicious drinks easily in a fun and entertaining package.View Deal
At less than £100, Sodastream's latest streamlined beverage carbonation station is a great way to keep things cool during the impending heatwave if, like me, you get bored of water easily. It's the first time we've seen an Amazon deal on this particular model, so a £60 discount is nothing to sniff at. View Deal
I'm a little tempted by this over £20 price reduction on this well-scoring blender. While it can't chop ice, it creates velvety smoothies out of fresh and frozen fruits hassle-free. On top of this, the build quality and performance impressed us, and the fact that it's even cheaper than it was on Black Friday makes this an even sweeter deal.View Deal
This is one of the first deals we've seen for the new Ninja BlendBoss, so a £35 price cut is a pretty solid start. We scored this small but mighty blender 4.5 stars in our review, praising its convenient integrated 26-ounce travel tumbler and powerful blades, making it perfect for a quick cool smoothie ahead of a busy day in the heat. View Deal
I gave this clever coffee maker a full five stars in my review because it does absolutely everything — including making delicious cold-brew. No more messing around with mason jars in the fridge; just add cold water and coffee grounds, set the program, and wait. It makes hot filter coffee and espresso too.View Deal
Smart locks have come a long way in recent years and are now incredibly easy to install and use. Gone are the days of drilling holes in your door and wondering whether the lock would actually open when triggered. The best modern locks can be fitted over your existing deadbolt, and are fast, quiet, and dependable. They work seamlessly with the rest of your smart home tech, and are so convenient that they just blend into the background.
It can be tricky deciding which one to buy, though, so I've put together a quick roundup of the three best models we've tested in the last year. Smart locks are usually region-specific, so if a particular model is only available in the US, I've recommended a comparable model for UK home-owners — and vice versa.
Best of all, every lock in this listing is on special offer for Amazon Prime Day, with most of them down to their lowest prices ever.
The best smart lock we've tested for homeowners in the US, the Lockly Visage Zeno Series is a good-looking, streamlined device that you'll be proud to have on your front door, and is noticeably smaller than previous models.
It's a piece of cake to install and use as well, particularly when integrated with Apple HomeKit. Our reviewer, Lance Ulanoff, who awarded it an impressive four and a half stars out of five, praised its on-board Wi-Fi, which means you don't need a separate hub, and the way Apple Home Key allows for proximity unlocking; pull up in your driveway, and the lock will open automatically, when the appropriate setting is enabled. It just makes life easier, which is the whole point of a smart lock.
Lance and his partner were impressed by the way FaceID "just works" with the Visage Zeno Series, and fingerprint recognition proved well-implemented as well. It's even quieter than most other smart locks, adding to the whole premium experience.
The Visage Zeno Series is usually one of the more expensive smart locks around, but this Prime Day deal makes it much more affordable. This is the cheapest it's ever been by quite a wide margin.View Deal
There aren't many smart locks with facial recognition for UK homes, but SwitchBot has you covered. Its latest Matter-enabled smart lock is down to its lowest-ever price for Prime Day.View Deal
2. Ultion Nuki 2025
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Our reviewer James Day called the Ultion Nuki 2025 "the most well-rounded smart lock available in the UK right now" when he tested it earlier this year, explaining that it removes the friction that usually turns people off the idea of smart home security. Built-in Wi-Fi means there's no need for a separate hub, it's easy to install, and it responds almost instantly when triggered.
Its app is well-designed too, and support for the Matter standard means it will work nicely as part of a mix-and-match smart home
It carries anti-pick, anti-bump, and anti-drill credentials, meets Police Preferred specification, holds Master Locksmiths Association approval, and is backed by a £5,000 burglary guarantee, which Brisant says it has never had to pay out on.
This particular Nuki lock is designed for UK doors — if you're in the US, take a look at the Nuki Smart Lock & Keypad 2, which is very similar in terms of looks and features, and is now just $198.50 (was $269) for Prime Day.
Amazon has knocked a generous £70 off this premium smart lock for Prime Day, bringing it down to a record-low price (it was £300 for a few days earlier this year, but the price soon bounced back up).View Deal
If you're in the US, this Matter-enabled smart lock is a great option, mounting on top of your existing deadbolt for easy installation. Like the UK model, it's down to a record-low price for Prime Day.View Deal
3. Yale Linus Smart Lock L2 Lite
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Yale is one of the biggest names in smart locks, and is offering great Prime Day deals on locks for all types of doors in the US and the UK.
The Linus Smart Lock L2 Lite is made for the British market and fits over your existing lock cylinder, so there's no need to drill, making it a sensible choice for renters and anyone else who's apprehensive about taking power tools to their front door. It supports Matter-over-Thread, so it'll work nicely with the rest of your smart home devices, and there's no Yale-specific bridge necessary.
In use, our reviewer found it "unremarkable, in the best way". It simply works, responding quickly to app and voice commands, and its auto-unlock feature proved a great time-saver. The motor isn't silent (it whirrs in a business-like manner), but there's no lag, and it's effortless to use.
This easy-to-use smart lock is under £100 for Amazon Prime Day, making it the most affordable option in this guide. It's quick to install, Matter-compatible, and simple to operate, even for smart home novices.View Deal
If you're in the US, take a look at this high-quality smart deadbolt from Yale, which is almost half price in the Prime Day sale. It can be installed on most doors with nothing but a screwdriver, and can be secured in four different ways.View Deal
The Samsung Galaxy Watch9 is probably coming out later this summer. I have no confirmation of exactly what new features are going to be in the watch, but I can tell you that I wouldn't recommend getting it at launch, unless you're a Samsung power user.
In fact, it's probably the perfect excuse to get one of last year's watches in the Amazon Prime Day sales instead.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch8 series (yes, it's always stylized without the space) is comprised of the mainline Samsung Galaxy Watch8, the Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic, and the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025 edition). All of these watches are good, but the Samsung Galaxy Watch8 in particular was labelled "a triumph" when I reviewed it last year, as its slimmer, more comfortable profile and redesigned shape helped it cleave closer to the wrist.
Combine that with its AI-powered features and easy-to-navigate operating system, and it's a really, really good watch, earning 4.5 stars in our review. The Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic was similar, but the extra bulk on it took off half a star, despite the intuitive nature of its rotating bezel.
All these deals are likely so good because of Samsung's annual release cycle. Samsung tends to hold its summer Unpacked event in July or August, at which it unveils its latest crop of phones, the best Samsung watches and other mobile devices. This means that Samsung stops selling its current-gen watches and they drop in price on third-party sites to incentivize people to buy, in order to clear away old stock.
Samsung's severe discounts in the Amazon Prime Day deals indicate that this is going to be the case again this year. We're likely to see the Galaxy Watch9 series rear its head sometime this summer, along with another watch such as the Samsung Galaxy Ultra 2.
However, I wouldn't wait for these watches at the expense of a great deal on the 8 series. The Galaxy Watch8 underwent a major redesign last year, indicating 9 is going to be an iterative generation with smaller design changes.
What's more, if you wait for the 9, you'll end up buying it at full price when it launches. Therefore, if it's only going to be a marginal improvement, you're better off buying a cheap Galaxy Watch8 than you are a more expensive 9.
Convinced? Check out the best Samsung watch deals of Prime Day right now.
Samsung Galaxy Watch US deals
A 4.5-star smartwatch with super-accurate health and activity tracking, as well as AI features. This larger 44mm version has a staggering 38% off, but the smaller 40mm versions start at $229.99 (was $349.99).View Deal
Save an impressive 30% on the Samsung Galaxy Watch8 Classic, with its rotating bezel that lets you scroll through the watch's options in an intuitive way, and resembles that of a classic dive watch. It comes in one size (large, 46mm) with either black and white strap options. View Deal
Samsung Galaxy Watch UK deals
Save 25% on both smaller and larger models with LTE enabled, which means you can add them to your phone's data plan and install an eSIM for phone-free data use using only your watch. Very handy. View Deal
Save a cool 33% on the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra in all colorways, including the fetching Titanium Blue version introduced last year. While it's not the best choice for everyone, its power, longevity (up to 100 hours!) and rugged durability means it's well-made for adventurers and triathletes. Watch out, Garmin. View Deal
AI chatbots are starting to do more than answer questions. They can now order groceries, book services, and interact with apps on your behalf. ChatGPT and Claude have both embraced this new generation of AI "actions," but they don't approach them in quite the same way. To find out how different the experience really is, I asked both chatbots to handle the same Instacart grocery order and watched what happened next.
I decided to try the same grocery order through Instacart using both ChatGPT and Claude.
The shopping list I used was intentionally simple: infant formula, a small container of ice cream, and some fruit. The goal was not to compare prices or delivery times. It was to find out what happens when two competing AI chatbots are asked to perform the exact same everyday task with the same kind of app.
Heading to checkout
I started with ChatGPT. After going to the app list and connecting my Instacart account, I told the AI that I needed infant formula, a small container of vanilla ice cream, and some fruit for delivery. The request was intentionally ordinary because ordinary shopping is where these integrations will either succeed or fail.
ChatGPT responded quickly with product suggestions and put some options into my cart. ChatGPT did not spend much time discussing possibilities. Instead, it seemed determined to move steadily toward a finished cart. Every response felt designed to remove friction and keep the order moving.
The experience reminded me of a shopper who already knows exactly where everything is located. There was very little wandering through virtual aisles. The assistant simply gathered the items and moved on to the next decision. Once the cart was ready, I said I wanted to check out, and a window opened within the chat confirming what I wanted, my payment method, and the delivery address.
A different aisle
Claude approached the same task slightly differently. First, I had to link up my Instacart account to Claude as one of its connectors. I then gave it the identical shopping list and waited to see whether its recommendations would diverge significantly from ChatGPT's. Surprisingly, they did not.
Claude suggested similar formula options, similar fruit choices, and similar ice cream products. The overlap was substantial enough that I suspect most shoppers would end up with nearly identical deliveries regardless of which chatbot they used, unless they were very specific in their request.
The checkout experience, however, followed a different path. When I was ready to check out, Claude provided a link for me to click, which opened a new tab in my browser right at my Instacart cart, with my account already logged in. It was there that I had to review and complete the purchase. Having the list already assembled made the transition smooth, but it was still a transition.
That difference may sound minor, yet it created a noticeably different feeling. ChatGPT felt like it was becoming the shopping destination itself. Claude felt like an extremely capable assistant helping me prepare for a visit to Instacart.
So while the actual shopping recommendations differed very little, the AI chatbots diverge in where they put the cart. ChatGPT's vision of the future keeps the transaction inside the conversation for as long as possible. Claude's version treats the conversation as a guide that eventually leads you to the service itself. If you're a fan of Claude, it probably won't deter you from using Instacart with the AI chatbot, but if you have no real preference based on the platform but want minimal friction, you might prefer the all-inclusive ChatGPT experience.
If I was asked to recommend just one Amazon Prime Day TV deal right now, it would be this one. The LG C5 is easily one of the best TVs I've ever tested, and it's at the top of my most recommended list.
Today's best LG C5 OLED deal
The LG C5 is the ultimate all-around TV, delivering excellent performance for movies, gaming and sports with a full suite of features and superb picture quality. The 65-inch model has dropped to $1,199.99 at Amazon and while this isn't a record-low, it's the cheapest it's been since February. View Deal
The LG C5 covers all the bases, with OLED picture quality and razor-sharp performance for movies, sports and gaming. There's a reason it tops most of our best-of lists. The 55-inch model has dropped to £977.10 at Amazon, a new record-low price. View Deal
Covering all the bases
(Image credit: Future)
As TechRadar's TV tester, the LG C5 covers every base you can think of: be it movies, gaming or sports, it's got it covered. And, it does so by delivering excellent all-around performance no matter what comes its way. It's why I gave it five-stars in my LG C5 review and why it's one of my reference TVs for testing.
The C5's picture quality ticks nearly every box. Its colors are vibrant, meaning coloful movies like Elemental really pop on screen. The oranges and blues throughout the movie looked gorgeous throughout my testing, perfectly balancing accuracy with richness.
As one of the best OLED TVs, the C5 is also brilliant for high-contrast and dark movies such as The Batman. Black tones are deep and inky and the C5 demonstrates punchy highlights, creating strong contrast. Scenes in the Batcave in particular look great. The same is true for black-and-white movies such as Double Indemnity, offering accurate black and white tones with a full range of grays.
Fast-motion movies, sports and games are no bother for the C5 too. During my testing, the C5 easily handled the flight scenes in Top Gun: Maverick with ease. Soccer games showed no signs of judder and appeared smooth throughout, hence why it's one of my top recommendations for a World Cup TV.
As for gaming, the C5 does it all. With four HDMI 2.1 ports that support 4K 144Hz, VRR including FreeSync and G-Sync, Dolby Vision gaming and ALLM, the C5 is more than kitted out to handle any gamer's needs. When I played Battlefield V on the C5, it was a joy to play, with the C5 delivering all the chaotic action perfectly, thanks to its low 9.2ms input lag time. Simply one of the best gaming TVs around.
Amazon’s big Prime Day sale is here, and we’re already seeing some cracking deals – but we've also spotted some cracking bargains on laptops away from Amazon, as rival retailers look to be competitive.
Add to that an ASUS Vivobook 14, which is similarly top-notch value direct from the company, with its price reduced from $590.19 to $449.99.
The trouble with cheap laptops is that they often make compromises with hardware that really hamper the experience.
A budget notebook might, for example, cut corners on the components front by sticking in an old, sluggish processor, or not enough system memory. We quite often see laptops that are under $500 running with the likes of ancient Intel Celeron processors, or a paltry 8GB of RAM, or maybe a tiny amount of slow (eMMC) storage.
That’s very definitely not the case with these Dell and Asus. With the Dell 16, you’re getting a plenty powerful mid-range AMD Ryzen processor as the engine of the portable, and a relatively spacious (for this price level) and speedy SSD.
With the Asus notebook, there’s a springy Qualcomm Snapdragon X CPU and again, for the price, storage (and RAM) isn’t stingy at all.
Let’s dive into the specs in more detail and see how these bargains stand out from the crowd of Prime Day laptop price cuts.
Today’s best deals for laptops under $500
AMD Ryzen 7 260 | 16GB DDR5 | 512GB SSD
The Dell 16 sports a 16-inch Full HD IPS display and an AMD Ryzen 7 250 processor with integrated Radeon graphics, backed up by 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM. You also get a 512GB NVMe SSD, rounding off a good range of components at this price point, plus the Windows 11 laptop itself has nice, clean lines (and trim bezels). At this price, it’s a great buy make no mistake.View Deal
AMD Ryzen 7 7730U | 16GB DDR4 RAM | 512GB SSD
This Acer Aspire Go is one of the most powerful laptops you can buy for less than $500 right now. It looks like a pricing mistake as it sells for less than its worst-specced sibling. It sports an AMD Ryzen 7 7730U 8-core CPU with 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD.View Deal
This is a great price for a relatively modern laptop that has a fast and efficient Snapdragon X CPU. On top of that, you get 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a solid battery life of up to 12 hours, which represents good value for money overall. I like it as a capable, all-around, everyday machine. Just make sure you're aware of the compatibility issues that exist with some softwareView Deal
AMD Ryzen 5 6500H | 16GB DDR4 | 512GB SSD
A small brand sold by Walmart, not an unknown quantity as we reviewed it last year. The N153 is the only one on our list that has a fingerprint reader and a backlit keyboard. Its Ryzen 5 6600H will deliver a solid if uninspiring performance.View Deal
Intel Core i5 120U | 16GB DDR5 RAM | 512GB SSD
The only convertible laptop worth buying under $500, the IdeaPad 5i is a great match for anyone looking for a large screen with a powerful processor capable of playing light games, plenty of storage and the all important 16GB of RAM. Free Microsoft 365 Premium and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for one year makes it a perfect gift for back-to-school.View Deal
For other bargains on quality notebooks, head on over to our roundup of the best laptop deals currently out there, and check out some other options for the Dell Inspiron 15 below.
There have only been a handful of devices that I've tested in nearly 10 years of reviewing gear that I have hated having to give back — and the Garmin MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) is one of them.
It is simply the best golf watch I have ever tested or used out on the course, and I wish I had one myself. It has the best features, the best display, the best design and build, the best and most intuitive controls, and is a thing of beauty while out on the course. It's also the best golf watch that Garmin makes to be used on the daily as a wonderful smartwatch too.
However, it's a seriously premium watch, with a seriously premium price tag to boot. But right now folks in the US and the UK can save a hefty chunk on the fantastic golf watch that might make the difference. Seriously, if you've been at all tempted by the MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) in recent years, then these prices — particularly the UK one — is absolutely worth paying attention to.
US price - A chunky $300 discount on the MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) in the US makes a sizable dent in the watch's price tag, and I think it could be a real tempter for anyone who's been saving up to go premium on their next golf device.
UK price - Folks in the UK have a seriously tempting offer here at First Class Watches, where you can save a huge £700 on the MARQ Golfer (Gen 2)! This is enormous, and I have never seen the premium watch as close to the thousand-pound mark as this. Considering this was a multi-thousand-pound watch not that long ago, this is a great deal for those on the premium device hunt.View Deal
MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) alternatives
If the price tag of the MARQ Golfer (Gen 2) is a bit steep for you still, or you're interested in another premium watch like the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Golf Edition, then you can check out a host of the latest prices and deals on a bunch of my favorite golf watches below.
What’s interesting about asking your AI to find bargains for you on Amazon Prime Day is that it takes into account what it knows about you from previous chats. The AI I use the most is ChatGPT, so that’s the one that knows the most about what I’m actually interested in and might be looking to buy.
I’ve also talked quite a bit to Gemini and Claude though, so I was interested to see what all three recommended for me, and how their advice differed.
I thought I’d start with Gemini, and it did a pretty good job. Interestingly it ignored laptops completely and instead went for three categories: Audio & Wearables, Storage & Creators and Smart Home & Productivity.
For Audio and Wearables, Gemini recommended the Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones, which it claimed were 50% off. “If you've been holding out for premium over-ears to block out the world while working”, Gemini told me “this is likely their lowest price of the year.” When I clicked through to the deal the WH-1000XM5 were actually 20% off, for $198 (was $248) / 36% off for £179 (was £279), which is still not bad, but not as good as Gemini initially said it was.
It also recommended the Beats Solo 4 “if you prefer something lighter for travel or active use”. Again Gemini claimed these were 50% off, and this time it proved accurate with the Beats Solo 4 at $99.95 (was $199.95) / £99 (was £199.95)
Finally, it recommended the Oura Ring 4 “for screen-free health, sleep and stress tracking, the latest Oura ring is heavily discounted at up to 44% off”. The actual deal came in at 48% off for the metallic Oura 4 at $259 (was $499) / 34% off £232 (was £349).
The Beats Solo 4 are wireless on-ear bluetooth headphones with up to 50-Hour battery life. The Amazon Prime Day deal knocks a healthy 50% off the price making them a bargain.View Deal
The Beats Solo 4 are wireless on-ear bluetooth headphones with up to 50-Hour battery life. The Amazon Prime Day deal knocks a healthy 50% off the price making them a bargain.View Deal
ChatGPT’s recommendations for Amazon Prime Day
Next I turned to ChatGPT, which turned in a solid performance that was based more on what I was interested in. It knows I’d been searching for a Copilot+ AI laptop, so it recommended a few, including the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7X 14-inch laptop and the Samsung Galaxy Book6 Pro, however, they weren’t part of the Amazon Prime Day sale.
Generally speaking, ChatGPT seemed less clued into the idea of Prime Day and finding discounts than Gemini did.
Interestingly, ChatGPT did find a couple of Prime Day deals I'd be interested in. It said that I should invest in an Amazon Kindle Scribe, simply because it thought I'd find one useful: “You write constantly, generate article ideas constantly, and are working on a Tai Chi book. Scribe is one of those rare gadgets that actually changes how people capture ideas. Kindle devices are among the heavily discounted Prime Day categories this year.”
I’ve got to admit. I hadn’t considered a Scribe before, but I'm starting to like the idea.
The Amazon Kindle Scribe Colorsoft 64GB has an 11” paper-like color display with front light. Thanks to Amazon Prime Day there's a 24% discount on the latest model.
The Amazon Kindle Scribe Colorsoft 64GB has an 11” paper-like color display with front light. Thanks to Amazon Prime Day there's a 20% discount on the latest model.
One other recommendation that ChatGPT surprised me with, which it described as a "sleeper purchase" was for a 360-degree camera, the Insta360 X4 Air Starter Bundle. Sadly, again there was no Amazon Prime Day deal for it on the US Amazon site, but there was a 26% discount on the UK site with the Insta360 X4 Air Starter Bundle at £289 (was £389).
The idea of a 360 degree camera is that you never need to aim the camera again. You'll always get the shot. All you need to do is hit record, enjoy the moment, and pick the best angles later in the app. I think they're really for capturing live action shots, for when you're doing something dramatic.
It's an interesting idea, but perhaps a stretch too far for me.
Insta360 X4 Air Starter Bundle is everything you need to get started with a 360 camera. It includes the lightweight 165g 8K 360 Camera, invisible selfie stick, replaceable lenses, built-in wind guard and more. Currently 26% off the listed price.View Deal
Claude picks the deals
Finally, I turned to Claude, the AI which knows the least about me. Unsurprisingly it opted for some fairly generic Prime Day deals on tech.
It noted that the Apple AirTag 2 (second-gen) is at its lowest-ever price — a single one for around 17% off, at $24 and a 4-pack for 26% off, at $89.
It also noted that the AirPods Pro 3 are also on sale, at $179.99 (was $249)
The 2nd generation Apple AirTags are a marvelous tracker for your keychain, wallet, and more. They also have a locator with sound, simple one-tap setup with iPhone or iPad. Currently 10% off on Amazon.View Deal
The 2nd generation Apple AirTags are a marvelous tracker for your keychain, wallet, and more. They also have a locator with sound, simple one-tap setup with iPhone or iPad. Currently 15% off on Amazon.View Deal
Which AI knows you best?
But while ChatGPT gave me the best recommendations, both Gemini and Claude found some interesting suggestions for me. Of course, if I told the AI exactly what I was looking for the suggestions would be been more accurate, but the point of the exercise was to see what it thought I'd be interested in.
I think my little experiment proved that the amount of time you spend talking to an AI pays off in the long run, with more personal and useful recommendations that actually reflect what you’re most interested in.
When it comes to finding deals for events like Amazon Prime Day, the fact that ChatGPT knows me best resulted in some surprisingly accurate recommendations for me. Okay, I'm still not 100% sure I've got use for a 360-degree camera, but perhaps I just need to broaden my horizons. I definitely want to get a Kindle Scribe, though.
It looks like Amazon Prime Day is going to be an expensive one for me.
A Milli Erkek Basketbol Takımı'nda Onuralp Bitim, aday kadrodan çıkarıldı.
FIBA 2027 Dünya Kupası Avrupa Elemeleri 1. Tur C Grubu'nda Bosna Hersek ve İsviçre ile karşılaşacak A Milli Erkek Basketbol Takımı'nda Onuralp Bitim, aday kadrodan çıkarıldı.
Türkiye Basketbol Federasyonundan yapılan açıklamada, eleme maçlarının hazırlıklarını sürdürmek için Antalya'ya giden ay-yıldızlı ekipte Onuralp Bitim'in sakatlığı nedeniyle aday kadrodan çıkarıldığı belirtildi.
Grupta 4'te 4 yaparak zirvede yer alan ve ikinci tura yükselmeyi garantileyen milliler, çalışmalarını 26 Haziran'a kadar Antalya'da sürdürecek.
2 Temmuz'da Bosna Hersek'e konuk olacak Türkiye, 6 Temmuz'da İsviçre'yi ağırlayacak.
İstanbul Başakşehir, eski kaptanı Bosna Hersekli futbolcu Edin Visca'yı kadrosuna kattığını duyurdu.
İstanbul Başakşehir, eski kaptanı Bosna Hersekli futbolcu Edin Visca'yı kadrosuna kattı.
Turuncu-lacivertli kulüpten "Evine hoş geldin evlat" başlığıyla yapılan açıklamada, son olarak Trabzonspor'da forma giyen 36 yaşındaki oyuncuyla 1 yıllık sözleşme imzalandığı belirtildi.
2011-2022 yıllarında Başakşehir'de görev yapan ve 2019-2020 sezonunda Süper Lig şampiyonluğu yaşayan Edin Visca'nın transferiyle ilgili şu ifadelere yer verildi:
"2011'de başlayan hikayemizle birlikte sayısız başarılara imza attığımız, Avrupa kupalarında unutulmaz anlar yaşadığımız, kritik golleri ve asistleriyle nice zaferlere yürüdüğümüz ve en önemlisi Süper Lig şampiyonluğu yaşadığımız, kulübümüzün tarihine adını altın harflerle yazdıran Edin Visca yeniden Başakşehir ailesine katıldı. Evine 'Hoş geldin' evlat. Yeniden birlikte, yeniden aynı hedefler için."
Galatasaray'daki geleceği henüz netleşmeyen Mauro Icardi için İtalyan basınından sürpriz bir iddia gündem geldi.
Galatasaray ile sözleşme uzatıp uzatmayacağı henüz belli olmayan Mauro Icardi'nin adı sürpriz bir iddiaya karıştı. Mauro Icardi, eski eşi Wanda Nara ile yaşadığı hukuki süreçte yeni bir gelişmeyle karşı karşıya kaldı.
İtalyan basınından Corriere dello Sport'un haberine göre, Arjantin'de bulunan Icardi hakkında mahkeme tarafından yurt dışına çıkışını engelleyen bir karar alındı. Söz konusu kararın, Wanda Nara'nın avukatları tarafından yapılan başvuru sonrası verildiği ve futbolcunun kızları Francesca ile Isabella'ya yönelik bazı mali yükümlülüklerle bağlantılı olduğu öne sürüldü.
Yine aynı haberde, Galatasaray ile sözleşme görüşmeleri için Türkiye'ye dönmesi planlanan oyuncunun avukatının ülkeden ayrış izni için acil duruşma talep ettiği de aktarıldı.
Birçok İngiliz ekibinin transfer listesinde bulunan Roland Sallai, Singo'nun sakatlık durumu sebebiyle hiçbir yere gönderilmeyecek. Macar futbolcu, yeni sezonda da Sarı-Kırmızılı formayı giyecek.
Wilfried Singo sağlıklıyken Galatasaray'da çok iyi maçlar çıkardı. Ancak sorun şu ki; çok sık sakatlandı. Bunun son örneği de Fildişi Sahili Milli Takımı'nda yaşandı. Galatasaray'da bu yaz satılma ihtimali bulunan isimlerden biri Roland Sallai'ydi... Bugün itibarıyla kesin kalıyor!
3 KULÜP VARDI
İngiltere'den Tottenham, Hull City ve Fulham, Macar futbolcuyla ilgileniyordu. Normal şartlarda Galatasaray Yönetimi iyi bir teklif gelmesi durumunda Sallai'yi satacaktı. Ancak Singo bütün dengeleri değiştirdi. Yeni sezonda sağ bekteki 1 numaralı isim Sallai olacak.
NEREDEYSE SAKATLANMIYOR!
Macar yıldız, Galatasaray kariyerinde sadece 5 maçta sakatlığı sebebiyle forma giymedi. 29 yaşındaki futbolcu, 2024 yazında transfer edilmişti. Bu 5 karşılaşmanın ne kadar az olduğunu şöyle açıklayabiliriz: Roland Sallai, Cim-Bom'da 80 resmi mücadeleye çıktı!
Adı hem Fenerbahçe hem de Beşiktaş'la anılan Alexander Sörloth'a hakkındaki transfer iddiaları soruldu. 30 yaşındaki forvetin yanıtından çok beden dili dikkat çekti.
Atletico Madrid'den ayrılması beklenen Alexander Sörloth, Dünya Kupası'nda gazeteciler tarafından sıkıştırıldı. Norveçli santrfora, "Gelecek sezon seni İtalya'da görme ihtimalimiz var mı?" sorusu yöneltildi. 30 yaşındaki futbolcu, "Yorum yok" yanıtını verirken keyifli şekilde gülümsedi.
SERİE A İHTİMALİ
1.96 boyundaki oyuncunun adı ülkemizden Fenerbahçe ve Beşiktaş'la anılıyordu. İtalya'da ise Juventus ile Milan'ın bariz bir ilgisi mevcut... Alexander Sörloth'un bugün itibarıyla kariyerine Serie A'da devam etme ihtimali, Türkiye'ye göre hayli yüksek...
ORGANİZASYON SONRASINDA
Norveçli yıldızın yeni takımının Dünya Kupası sonrasında belli olması bekleniyor. Bu durum sadece Alexander Sörloth için geçerli değil... Dev organizasyonda yer alan birçok önemli futbolcu da sonraki kulüplerini açıklamak için turnuvanın bitmesini bekliyor.
Fenerbahçe'de başkanlık seçimini kaybeden Hakan Safi'nin futbol aklı Paolo Maldini olacaktı. İtalyan efsane, ülkesi için çalışmaya başlayacak.
Fenerbahçe'de başkanlık seçimi Hakan Safi kazansaydı, "yakın dostum" dediği Paolo Maldini, Kanarya'nın futbol aklı olacaktı. Ancak bilindiği üzere çoğunluğun tercihi Aziz Yıldırım'dan yanaydı. Böylece Hakan Safi-Paolo Maldini birlikteliği hayata geçemeden bitti.
SPORTİF DİREKTÖR OLACAK
La Gazzetta'nın haberine göre; İtalya Futbol Federasyonu'nun yeni başkanı Giovanni Malago'nun milli takım planlaması belli oldu:
Sportif direktör: Paolo Maldini
Teknik direktör: Antonio Conte
İtalya'daki problem sadece milli takımla sınırlı değil. Kulüpler de Avrupa arenasında ciddi problemler yaşıyor.
ZAMAN GÖSTERECEK
Paolo Maldini'nin Milli Takım'da yapacakları merak ediliyor. Ne kadar başarılı olup olmadığını zaman gösterecek. Fenerbahçe konusundaki sorular ise yanıtsız kalacak. Hakan Safi ilerleyen dönemlerde tekrar aday olursa, bir kez daha Maldini'nin kapısını çalabilir.
Beşiktaş'ta göreve getirilen Vincenzo Italiano, Emirhan Topçu'yla ilgili 'Kalsın' raporu vermişti. Ancak 25 yaşındaki stoperi çok sayıda kulüp takip ediyor. Durum epey karışık.
Beşiktaş, 2024 yazında Çaykur Rizespor'a 3.4 milyon euro ödeyerek Emirhan Topçu'yu kadrosuna katmıştı. 25 yaşındaki savunmacının 30 Haziran 2028 tarihine kadar mukavelesi bulunuyor. 1.88 boyundaki stoper, geride bıraktığımız sezonda 21 lig maçına çıktı. Sahada 1.742 dakika kaldı. 1 gol üretti.
KONTENJAN VE KALİTE
Teknik direktörlük görevine getirilen Vincenzo Italiano, oyuncuyla ilgili "Kalsın" raporu verdi. Bu kararın arkasında elbette gerekçeler vardı. TFF, 10+4'lük kontenjanı güncellemezse, Emirhan gibi futbolcuların önemi artacak. Ayrıca eski maçları izleyen Vincenzo Italiano'nun, Emirhan'ı beğendiği kaydedildi.
YÜKSEK TEKLİFLER GELMEZSE
Herkes oyuncunun Beşiktaş'ta devam etmesini beklerken, oyuncuya Suudi Arabistan ve İtalya pazarından ciddi bir ilgi olduğu öğrenildi. Konuyla ilgili karar da verildi. Çok yüksek teklifler gelmediği sürece Emirhan tutulacak. Aksi durumda onun yerine alternatif arayışları başlayacak.
Beşiktaş, Atalanta'dan kiraladığı El Bilal Toure'nin satın alma opsiyonunu kullanmadı. Ancak Malili futbolcunun farklı şekilde kadroda tutulması planlanıyor.
Beşiktaş 2025 yazında Atalanta'dan El Bilal Toure'yi kiralamıştı. Oyuncunun 15 gol atması halinde 15 milyon euroluk satın alma opsiyonu zorunlu olarak devreye girecekti. Malili yıldız bütün kulvarlarda 7 gol üretti. Siyah-Beyazlılar, gol sayısına bakmadan 15 milyon euroyu ödemesi halinde de 24 yaşındaki futbolcunun tapusunu ele geçirecekti.
SÜRE BAKIMINDAN SORUN YOK
Ancak yönetim böyle bir yola başvurmadı. Yine de oyuncudan vazgeçilmediği öğrenildi. Siyah-Beyazlılar, El Bilal Toure'yi yeniden kiralamak istiyor. Konuyla ilgili ilk temaslar da kuruldu. 1.85 boyundaki hücumcunun Atalanta'daki mukavelesi 30 Haziran 2028'e kadar devam ediyor. Yani süre bakımından kiralanmasının önünde engel yok.
BİRAZ BEKLEYECEKLER
Atalanta Yönetimi, konuyla ilgili acele etmek istemiyor. Farklı kulüpler devreye girerse, durum değişebilir. Çünkü Serie A temsilcisinin birinci önceliği El Bilal Toure'yi satmak... Eğer beklenen teklifler gelmezse, Beşiktaş'ın kiralama önerisi değerlendirilebilir.
There are exactly two things every PC has in common: it needs power and it needs to be cooled. Modern-day desktops mostly scale linearly in cost, with higher-end builds typically opting for liquid cooling over conventional air cooling. As such, today, we've rounded up some of the best AIOs we could find as part of Amazon's Prime Day Deals, along with a nice little cameo of tradition at the end. All of these coolers represent great value, and you can't go wrong with any of them.
First up, we have the Cooler Master Elite Liquid 240, a 240mm AIO liquid cooler that comes with two 120mm RGB fans and a similarly RGB-illuminated pump block featuring aa frosted hexagonal design. The supplied Dual Elite 120mm fans can spin between 600 and 2,100 RPM, are designed to remain quiet during operation.
The Elite Liquid 240 supports all the major Intel and AMD sockets currently available. Cooler Master usually sells this for around $60, but you can have it for 33% off today for the white version.
Get a great deal on the Cooler Master Elite Liquid 240 AIO. This 240mm cooler supports modern Intel and AMD platforms and is great for a small form factor build where you can't use a 360mm radiator. There is black, too, but it's not on sale at this time.View Deal
If you're tired of all the RGB bling and just need an AIO that works exceptionally well, look no further than the Arctic Liquid Freezer Pro 360. While you don't get even RGB LED, the performance when we reviewed this cost-effective beast was the strongest AIO we've tested, "bar none." It also had chart-topping noise-normalized performance and a long six year warranty.
One of the best AIO coolers money can buy, and now it's even cheaper than ever before. Making flagship performance, looks, and features more accessible for the masses, all while being backed up with long 6-year warranty. And best of all, no RGBs!View Deal
Maybe you need a deal on a black 240mm AIO. Corsair's iCue Link Titan 240 RX RGB AIO now has a massive price drop and is now found under $80. While it doesn't have a screen, the 2 120mm RGB fans and pump block have enough bling to keep you happy.
The AIO supports a wide range of processors including AMD AM4/5, and Intel's, 115x/1200/1700/1851. The included RX RGB fans run from 0-2,100 RPMs and eliminates noise entirely at low temperatures.
$5 off w/promo cose phaf448
Get an incredible deal on the 240mm Corsair iCUe Link Titan 240EX AIO. Just $80 gets you a high-quality AIO at a hefty discount for Prime Day.View Deal
If you're into these large screens and like the look of the new curved versions, the Tryx Panorama SE 360 ARGB is a solid contender, but it's pricey. Normally $279.99, it's on sale at Newegg for $251.99 and it's lowest price since April 2026.
The 2K 6.67-inch rotatable AMOLED screen is the star of the show with high res, 400 nit brightness screens. It comes with pre-loaded animations or you can use your own. According to our review, it performed well with low noise levels and good noise-normalized performance so you don't need to worry about noise, or keeping your processor cool.
Get one of the coolest looking AIOs at a discount for Prime Day. The Tryx Panorama SE 360 AIO has a huge 6.67-inch rotable AMOLED curved screen, a 280W TDP, and supports AM4/5 from AMD and Intel's 115X/1200/1700/1851 sockets for wide compatbility. View Deal
Before you leave, there's one more thing. If you want the solid cooling while spending as little as possible, then you can't go wrong with PCCooler RT720 TC ARGB. Unlike the options we've discussed so far, this is an air cooler that eliminates many of the complexities of AIO and replaces them with affordable, reliable cooling.
This dual-tower cooler is said to support up to 265W and comes with two 120mm hydraulic-bearing fans (500-2000 RPM) with 3.28mm-H20 for a nice balance of cooling and quiet operations.
For those seeking a great value, it's hard to beat an air cooler. With great aesthetics and solid performance to boot, the PCCooler RT720 TC packs in everything you need to tame your budget build, topped off by a generous 2-year warranty.View Deal
Every cooler on this list is a great choice, offering solid performance at affordable prices that are not often found. Our top pick is the Thermalright Grand Vision because it offers a screen at a price where such novelty is unheard of. However, the options from Cooler Master, MSI, Corsair, and our cameo from Thermaltake will all tame your beastly processors just fine. Make sure to do your research, look at reviews, and don't hesitate to splurge if this is an upgrade you've been holding out on for a long time.
Do you or someone you know have a Nintendo Switch 2? What about accessories for your new console? Whether you want to play with others, increase your storage, or add functionality, you may want some extras to deliver the best gameplay experience possible, and now is the best time to score a big deal on them during Prime Day 2026.
There are many official, licensed accessories alongside third-party extras available at a wide range of prices. It's Prime Day 2026, so now is an excellent time to hunt for deals and the best prices on Switch 2 peripherals and accessories.
One of the most important extras you'll most likely want to pick up is a microSD Express memory expansion card. The least expensive out now is Nintendo's own (SanDisk) 256GB card, but there are other, faster models available for a pittance more (see below). If you know that's what you want, check out our handy list of the best Prime Day microSD Express card deals for the Switch 2. Just be aware that pricing has absolutely skyrocketed, along with RAM, Storage, and video cards, in the last several months, so don't be shocked. Still, we found the best deals that we could.
Other accessories to consider are screen protectors, carrying cases, and peripherals such as controllers, headsets, and cameras, as listed below.
Give your Switch 2 the storage boost it needs. With fast speeds and respectable endurance, the P9 Express from Samsung is one of the best microSD Express cards you can get for your Nintendo Switch 2, with maximum sequential read speeds of up to 800 MB/s.View Deal
The Killswitch Ultra pack from Dbrand combines protective features and ergonomic enhancements to enhance your console experience. Included is the rugged Killswitch protective case/skin, a hard travel cover, 2x screen protectors, thumb-stick grips, and a dock adapter, as the Switch 2's girth increases with the Killswitch cover and will not fit in the standard dock.
The Killswitch skin not only protects against bumps but also increases the thickness of the side Joy-Con grips for a better handheld experience. View Deal
A rugged protective skin that fits around the Nintendo Switch 2, offering limited protection against bumps and scrapes, and also changing the ergonomics of the console in your hands. It also comes with AluminaCore glass screen protector.View Deal
Protect your thumb sticks during travel, and also adapt how your Switch 2 thumb sticks feel when you're gaming. A choice of different sizes of thumb stick covers lets you choose your preference. View Deal
If you're thinking about, or already using a camera for your Switch 2, most of the styles out there are pretty boring. Most are just a camera on a stick, or may even clip to the device. I found something unique, the officially licensed Piranha Plant Camera! Relive your days of Mario and the feared plant that comes out of the pipes, but on your desk - and for less than the price of the official Nintendo Switch 2 camera-on-a-stick.
The Nintendo Switch 2 camera lets you join your friend on screen in party chat for multiplayer fun. The camera sports a 1080p resolution and connects via USB-C.View Deal
If you're tired of the same old camera on a stick for your Switch 2, check out list officially licensed piranha plant camera and change things up. It captures 640x480 resolution at 30 FPS.View Deal
We also added another Switch 2 Pro-class controller on top of the official Nintendo Pro controller. 8bitDo's Ultimate 2 bluetooth controller is one of my kids' favorites. For less than the cost of the Nintendo controller, the Ultimate 2 offers TMY joysticks, switchable hall effect/tactile triggers, vibration and motion control. It is a lower resolution (640x480), however. The best part? It's it's on sale right now.
If you need a new, or another, controller for your PC, Switch/Switch 2, iOS/Android device (Tri mode), GameSir's Super Nova is on sale now at a great price. You get 1,000 Hz polling rate, Anti-drift Hall Effect sticks and trigger, rubberized grips, and RGB lighting with 1,000mAh battery. It comes in three colors, the blue, ping and white, and red and white (pink is the least expensive). GaView Deal
8BitDo's Ultimate 2 Controller is a less expensive replacement for the Nintendo Pro controller. It comes with TMR joysticks and switchable Hall Effect/Tactile triggers, including vibration, motion control, and it's own charging dock.View Deal
Circular plastic steering wheel cases for your Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Cons that help to immerse you in a Switch 2 driving game, such as Mario Kart World. The Joy-Cons simply click into the cases for instant action. View Deal
The Nintendo Switch 2 burns through power quickly, so never be denied game time from a flat battery, thanks to the UGreen Power Bank. A massive 25,000 mAh lets you fully charge your Switch in no time. The charger comes with one 240W USB-C cables and one port outputs a maximum of 140W (200W output total). A handy TFT screen lets you keep tabs on power status and charging speeds.View Deal
Pop the USB-C adapter into your Switch 2 and connect wirelessly to your handheld console for clearer game sounds. The Arctis Nova 3X has a detachable microphone, soft, comfortable earpads and an elastic headband allow for hours of gaming without getting headset fatigue. View Deal
Whether you’re new to 3D printer or a seasoned pro working with these devices for several years, you need the proper set of tools to use and maintain your 3D printing equipment. So, if you don’t have a complete tool kit yet, it’s high time that you got one with the Creality 3D Printer Tool Kit. This 74-piece set is currently on sale for $25.49 on Amazon, giving you a 15% discount from its original $30 MSRP. This is just one of the deals on 3D printing tools and accessories you can get during Prime Day 2026, allowing you to save while building out your kit. We also have a metric ton of deals (yes, that's the official measurement) on 3D Printers in our Best 3D Printer Deals hub.
The Creality tool set comes with almost everything you need. It comes with a multi-functional screwdriver with 34 different screwdriver bits, including Philips, flathead, hex, Torx, Pentalobe, and tri-point. A universal swivel hose is included, making it easier to reach tight spaces without needing to disassemble everything around it or contort your arm into weird shapes. You also get a socket wrench, a multifunctional wrench, and an open-ended wrench for handling various nuts and bolts. When you need to clean up your 3D printer, you’ll find one needle and several nozzle cleaners for removing residual filament included in the kit, as well as a spatula and plastic blade for cleaning up surfaces.
The Creality 3D Printer Tool Kit comes with 74 tools that will help you use and maintain your 3D printer. It's also great for finishing off your 3D prints with accessories like the chamfer knife, engraving knife, and various files.View Deal
Aside from 3D printer maintenance, you also get several items useful for working on your projects after they come out of the 3D printer. These include a chamfer knife with a 360-degree rotating head, an engraving knife, and various files. You also get a pair of bent and straight tweezers for picking out stray fibers, plus a nipper for cleanly cutting small items. There are also several more items that we haven’t mentioned, so you should check out the deal if you want to see everything that’s included.
The best thing about this toolkit is that everything comes inside a simple storage bag that unrolls flat on your desk. That way, you can keep your tools organized while you’re working and ensure that you don’t lose one at the end of the day. And when you’re done with everything, you can just fold it back into a bag with a carrying handle, and you can easily stow it away in a drawer or your toolbox. So, if you’re planning to buy one of the best 3D printers this Prime Day 2026, consider adding this Creality 3D Printer Tool Kit to your cart as well.
SSDs are insanely expensive, but if you act quick, you can score a sweet deal on this 4TB Samsung 9100 Pro NVMe SSD. It's selling for well over $1,000 normally, but B&H has the drive on sale for $800, with an additional $340-off coupon applied at checkout, bringing the price down to just $460.
It is hard to overstate how good of a deal that is right now. Even among our best Prime Day SSD deals, most 4TB drives are far more expensive. For context, Samsung's 990 Pro is $950 right now, and that's on sale. This is a brand new Samsung drive, as well, fit with the full speed of PCIe 5.0.
At its current price, the 9100 Pro 4TB comes out to around $0.12 per gigabyte of storage, which is excellent considering current SSD prices. Most drives come out to $0.15 per gigabyte or higher, and that's after a sale.
This is an insane deal with the in-cart coupon added — grab it while it's hot!
This 4TB SSD features the PCie 5.0 interface and blasts out 14,800 / 13,400 MB/s of sequential read/write throughput, delivering top-tier performance within a reasonable power envelope that doesn't require bulky heatsinks. View Deal
The 9100 Pro is Samsung's PCIe 5.0 replacement for the legendary 990 Pro, and as you can see from the results we gathered in our Samsung 9100 Pro review below, it lives up to its predecessor.
FutureFutureFuture
Although most builders are fine with a PCIe 4.0 drive, we're in a strange situation where this stronger PCIe 5.0 option is cheaper, at least at 4TB. High-capacity SSDs have been hit hardest by price increases, with drives now often retailing above $1,000.
There's a good chance this deal will sell out quickly. Make sure to secure your drive at B&H before the deal's over.
If you have been eagerly saving to purchase a flagship GPU for your gaming rig, now might be the right time. The Gigabyte Gaming OC GeForce RTX 5080 is available at a limited-period discount of $250 on Newegg, bringing the price down from $1,449.99 to $1,199.99. The discount is applicable by using the promo code ‘SQGIG753S2’ at the time of checkout (There is also a "click to generate code" button on the Newegg page).
The Nvidia RTX 5080 is one of the best graphics cards that you can get, but ever since its launch, the GPU has rarely come close to its MSRP of $999. It is currently the second most powerful Nvidia Blackwell consumer GPU with 16GB of GDDR7 VRAM using a 256-bit memory bus, and a memory bandwidth of 960 GB/s. It also features a total of 10,752 CUDA cores, a base clock of 2.3 GHz, which can further boost to 2.62 GHz.
The Gigabyte Gaming OC GeForce RTX 5080 is a factory-overclocked graphics card based on Nvidia's Blackwell architecture, featuring 16GB of GDDR7 memory and support for the latest technologies such as DLSS 4.5 and Multi Frame Generation. View Deal
The Gigabyte Gaming OC model of the RTX 5080 comes with a triple cooling fan configuration, along with server-grade thermal conductive gel to cool the internal components. It also features RGB lighting around the fans, a dual-BIOS feature, and the ability to boost even higher at 2.73 GHz. The company also offers up to four years of warranty on this GPU after online product registration.
We tested the RTX 5080 and found that it delivers great performance at 4K ultra settings, offering an average of 65 FPS and over 100 FPS at 1440p ultra. Notably, the gains are a lot when compared to the RTX 4080 Super by only 9% at 4K Ultra, and even less at 1440p and 1080p resolutions. That said, the RTX 5080 is one of the best in the business as it offers support for Nvidia’s latest technologies, including DLSS 4.5 with multi-frame generation and upgraded ray tracing hardware for a more fluid and visually appealing gaming experience.
Tom's HardwareTom's Hardware
While we have seen a few RTX 5080 cards briefly dip below the $999 MSRP, the Gigabyte Gaming OC GeForce RTX 5080 at $1,199.99 is one of the lowest-priced RTX 5080 models currently available. Don’t forget, you need to login to your Newegg account to use the above-mentioned promo code during checkout.
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England and Ghana will face against each other in Matchday 2 of the FIFA World Cup group stage. Here’s everything you need to know to watch this exciting showdown live in the United States.
Here are all of the details of where you can watch England vs Ghana on US television and via legal streaming:
England enters this second group stage match with sky-high confidence after a statement win against Croatia. The Three Lions dismantled their toughest group opponent in a 4-2 victory, showcasing the attacking firepower that many fans have been waiting to see on the world stage. Under Thomas Tuchel, the team has seemingly shed its cautious approach, playing with a freedom and urgency that makes them a formidable threat. Securing another three points here would all but guarantee them the top spot in Group L, allowing for key players to be rested in the final match.
Ghana, on the other hand, arrives on the back of a dramatic and somewhat fortunate win against Panama. The Black Stars were outplayed for large stretches of the match but snatched a victory with a goal in the 95th minute. While the three points are invaluable, their performance raises serious questions about their ability to compete with an elite side like England. A draw would be a monumental result and put them in a prime position to advance to the knockout stages, but they face an immense challenge against a clinical and motivated English squad.
Tactical Analysis & Match Context
The opening matches for these two teams painted a picture of two vastly different trajectories. England’s dominant performance against Croatia was a declaration of intent, as they controlled the game and created numerous high-quality chances, exceeding their expected goals (xG) and looking every bit like a tournament contender. In stark contrast, Ghana struggled to impose themselves against Panama, ceding 62% of possession and looking vulnerable defensively before a moment of late magic saved them.
The tactical clash is set to be a classic matchup of a possession-heavy powerhouse against a deep-lying counter-attacking side. England will undoubtedly dictate the tempo, looking to use the creativity of players like JudeBellingham and Bukayo Saka to break down a compact Ghanaian defense. Ghana will likely aim to absorb pressure, stay organized, and exploit any opportunities on the break with the pace of forwards like Antoine Semenyo. The key battle will be in the final third, testing whether England’s patient build-up can unlock a disciplined low block.
For England, the motivation is clear: win the game, secure passage to the next round, and win the group with a perfect record. A decisive victory would build crucial momentum ahead of the knockout rounds. For Ghana, the objective is survival. Having already secured three points, any result here is a bonus. They will be organized and determined, hoping to frustrate England and perhaps steal a point that would feel like a victory and significantly boost their chances of advancing.
Head-to-Head Record & Historic Trends
Historically, there is very little to separate these two nations, as they have only met once before. Their lone encounter was an international friendly back in 2011, which ended in a 1-1 draw at Wembley Stadium. This World Cup fixture will be their first-ever competitive meeting, adding a fresh chapter to their limited history.
When looking at their records against opponents from the same confederation, a clearer picture emerges. England boasts an impressive unbeaten record against African (CAF) nations at the World Cup, with four wins and four draws in eight matches. Their most recent such encounter was a convincing 3-0 victory over Senegal in the quarterfinals of the 2022 tournament, highlighting their comfort in these matchups.
Ghana‘s record against European competition is more mixed. In seven World Cup games against UEFA teams, they have managed two wins, one draw, and four losses. Their last game against a European side at the tournament was a narrow 3-2 defeat to Portugal in 2022. These trends suggest England holds a significant historical advantage when facing teams from Africa on the biggest stage.
Squad News & Projected Lineups
Both teams come into the match with some key personnel updates, as England remains largely healthy while Ghana deals with a potential issue in a crucial position.
For England, the squad is in excellent shape with no new major injury concerns following the win over Croatia. Tino Livramento was replaced in the squad by Trevor Chalobah before the tournament, but Thomas Tuchel has an otherwise full-strength roster to choose from. After an impressive cameo from the bench, Bukayo Saka is widely expected to be promoted to the starting lineup, adding more directness and pace to the attack.
Ghana faces a significant concern with their number one goalkeeper, Ati-Zigi, who was substituted at halftime against Panama due to a head injury and remains a doubt for this clash. However, they are set to receive a massive boost in midfield, as Thomas Partey is expected to be available after resolving visa issues that kept him out of the opener. His presence will be vital for their defensive structure.
England Projected XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; O’Reilly, Konsa, Stones, James; Anderson, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Rashford; Kane. This lineup provides a perfect balance of defensive solidity and attacking flair. Declan Rice will anchor the midfield, giving Jude Bellingham the freedom to surge forward and support the attack. With Harry Kane in lethal form after his brace against Croatia, and flanked by the pace of Saka and Rashford, England possesses multiple avenues to goal.
Ghana Projected XI (4-3-3): Asare; Mensah, Opoku, Adjetey, Senaya; Sulemana, Partey, Yirenki; Semenyo, Ayew, Nuamah. With Partey expected to return, Ghana will likely deploy a compact 4-3-3 designed to frustrate England. Partey’s role will be to shield the back four and disrupt England’s rhythm. The attacking trio will be tasked with working tirelessly off the ball and providing a quick outlet for counter-attacks, hoping to catch the English defense off guard.
More details on how to watch
The England vs Ghana match is available on Fubo. You can watch on a variety of devices, including computers, smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs. Compatible devices include Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.
In addition to the World Cup, Fubo gives you access to a wide array of other top soccer competitions. Subscribers can enjoy leagues such as Liga MX, LaLiga, and various cup tournaments from around the globe.
A subscription to Fubo costs $14.99 per month or is available as part of a larger bundle. This gives you comprehensive coverage of the tournament and much more, providing excellent value for soccer fans.
If you’re abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as Nord VPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming.
The Milan winger’s absence from the expected starting lineup has raised questions among supporters as Portugal looks for a response after a disappointing opening result.
Rafael Leao‘s status is dominating headlines as Portugal gears up for its must-win 2026 World Cup match against Uzbekistan. The Milan winger’s absence from the expected starting lineup has raised questions among supporters as Portugal looks for a response after a disappointing opening result.
Portugal entered the match needing improvement after being held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in the opening Group K fixture. Uzbekistan, meanwhile, arrived after a 3-1 defeat against Colombia in its first-ever World Cup appearance, making the Houston encounter an important moment for both national teams.
The pressure is especially high on Roberto Martinez’s side. A victory would help Portugal recover momentum and keep its qualification hopes under control, while another poor performance would increase the criticism surrounding the squad and its attacking decisions.
The Selecao das Quinas dominated possession against DR Congo but struggled to turn control into goals. The national team completed a huge number of passes and created pressure, yet the final product was missing as DR Congo defended strongly and punished Portugal with an equalizer.
The biggest discussion after the match focused on Cristiano Ronaldo. The 41-year-old captain played the full match but failed to make the expected impact, increasing debate over whether Portugal should adjust its attacking setup. However, the Portuguese national team’s challenge is finding the right balance between respecting Ronaldo’s importance and creating a more effective attacking structure.
Why Rafael Leao is not starting against Uzbekistan
Rather than nursing an injury, Leao’s drop to the bench represents a deliberate tactical shift for the national team. Roberto Martinez has chosen a different attacking approach after the problems Portugal experienced against DR Congo, with the manager looking for more directness, movement, and balance in the final third.
The 27-year-old winger remains one of Portugal’s most dangerous attacking players, but his role has become complicated by the competition for places. Martinez has options, including Pedro Neto, Francisco Conceicao, Bernardo Silva, and Bruno Fernandes, forcing the coach to make difficult choices.
Against DR Congo, Portugal lacked the speed and unpredictability in attack despite controlling the match. The coaching staff seems to believe other profiles may better suit the plan against Uzbekistan, especially against a team expected to defend deeply and counterattack.
Rafael Leao of Portugal reacts after the team’s defeat
Leao’s quality is undeniable, but Portugal needs immediate results. With the pressure increasing after the opening draw, Martinez has prioritized players he believes can provide more tactical discipline and attacking intensity from the start.
Portugal knows what’s at stake, but Uzbekistan has other plans
Portugal knows the importance of the match. A win would put the national team back into a strong position in Group K, while anything less would increase pressure heading into the final group-stage fixtures.
For Uzbekistan, this is another chance to prove that its World Cup debut is more than a celebration. The national team wants to show it belongs among the world’s best, while Portugal needs a performance that reminds everyone why it entered the tournament as one of the favorites.
What is Ghana's current FIFA World Ranking for the 2026 World Cup? See where the Black Stars stand ahead of their massive Group L clash against England.
The Ghana FIFA ranking has dramatically transformed into the tournament’s biggest talking point as the Black Stars gear up for today’s high-stakes Matchday 2 battle against England.
Standing at a live, updated position of 65th in the world, Carlos Queiroz’s squad enters the Gillette Stadium in Foxboro riding the most significant single-match coefficient spike of any nation at the global finals.
The African representatives earned their massive statistical surge courtesy of a historic, theatrical opening-night victory. A 95th-minute winner from Caleb Yirenkyi secured a 1-0 triumph over a Panama side that entered the tournament a full 39 places above them, forcing the live boards to heavily reward the underdogs with an immediate eight-place vault.
Now, facing the group’s top seed, testing that newly forged momentum will define who takes complete control of Group L.
Evaluating the Group L hierarchy
While Ghana’s live leap to 65th has completely altered their momentum, they face a staggering structural gap against an England team that comfortably commands 4th place globally. Despite that profound baseline gap on paper, the opening-round results have turned Group L into a direct shootout for early qualification.
Group L standings & rankings
Country
Live FIFA Rank
Matchday 1 Result
Points
Goal Diff.
England
4th
Won 4–2 vs Croatia
3
+2
Ghana
65th
Won 1–0 vs Panama
3
+1
Panama
40th
Lost 0–1 vs Ghana
0
-1
Croatia
15th
Lost 2–4 vs England
0
-2
Historic context
To place Ghana’s current 65th position into context, the Black Stars are attempting to work their way back toward the standard of their historic golden generation. The nation achieved its absolute pinnacle in February 2008, when a sensational international cycle propelled them to an all-time high of 14th in the world.
Conversely, their lowest structural floor occurred during a severe competitive valley in June 2004, when they plummeted to 89th globally.
Uzbekistan’s newly revealed FIFA ranking adds extra excitement ahead of their second group-stage match against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in Houston.
Portugal and Uzbekistan meet in a crucial 2026 World Cup Group K battle with both national teams searching for a result that could define their tournament journey. Uzbekistan’s newly revealed FIFA ranking adds extra excitement ahead of their second group-stage match against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in Houston.
The match arrives at a difficult moment for both teams. Portugal entered the game under pressure after a disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo, while Uzbekistan suffered a 3-1 defeat against Colombia in its first-ever World Cup appearance, but showed enough quality to suggest it could create problems.
The match against Portugal carries huge emotional importance for Uzbekistan, which is experiencing the World Cup stage for the first time. Fans who once supported traditional giants such as Brazil, Spain, or Portugal are now watching their own national team compete against the world’s best.
The defeat against Colombia was painful, but Uzbekistan showed resilience. After falling behind, the national team fought back through Fayzullaev’s historic equaliser before Colombia’s quality eventually decided the match. “When a small team like ours has worked as we worked today, to lose 3-1 is too much,” head coach Fabio Cannavaro said after the game.
Head coach Fabio Cannavaro of Uzbekistan speaks during the training and press conference of Uzbekista
Cannavaro, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, has encouraged his players to show more courage against the Selecao das Quinas. The challenge will be enormous, but Uzbekistan knows that another strong performance could change how the world views the team.
Uzbeikstan’s current FIFA ranking before Portugal clash revealed
Uzbekistan has become one of the biggest stories of the 2026 World Cup after making history by qualifying for its first-ever tournament. The national team arrived on the global stage with growing confidence after years of development, and its progress has been reflected in its international standing.
Before the World Cup began, Uzbekistan was ranked 50th in the FIFA Men’s World Rankings with 1458.73 points, marking one of the highest positions in the country’s history. However, ahead of the clash with Portugal, the White Wolves have moved down to 54th place with 1444.48 points, dropping four positions after the opening tournament results.
Team
FIFA Ranking Before World Cup
Current FIFA Ranking
FIFA Points
Portugal
7th
9th (-2)
1,755.09
Uzbekistan
50th
54th (-4)
1,444.48
Despite the ranking change, Uzbekistan remains one of Asia’s most improved soccer nations. The team currently sits among the top-ranked sides in the Asian Soccer Confederation and has become the leading force from Central Asia.
The rise has been supported by a strong generation of players, including Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov and attacking talent Abbosbek Fayzullaev, who scored Uzbekistan’s first-ever World Cup goal against Colombia. Their emergence has helped transform soccer expectations inside the country.
Abbosbek Fayzullaev #22 of Uzbekistan celebrates a goal.
Portugal vs Uzbekistan: Historic meeting
The match will also mark a new chapter between the two nations. Portugal and Uzbekistan have never faced each other in a senior international match, making this World Cup clash their first competitive meeting.
For Portugal, victory would put the team in a much stronger position to qualify for the knockout stage and ease the pressure surrounding Martinez’s squad. For Uzbekistan, a positive result would represent another historic moment after finally reaching the World Cup.
The ranking gap shows the difference in experience between the two teams, but Uzbekistan’s journey to the tournament has already proven that it cannot be underestimated. Against Portugal, the White Wolves will
shared the ring with a who’s who of boxing stars over the years but one stands out to him as the clear best. De La Hoya competed professionally for over 15 years from 1992 to 2008, becoming a six-division world champion in the process. During the mid to late 1990s he was regarded as the […]
FIBA'nın 2027 Dünya Kupası Avrupa Elemeleri güç sıralamasında, EuroBasket 2025 finalist kadrosunu büyük ölçüde koruyan Türkiye, Alperen Şengün liderliğinde ilk sıradaki yerini korurken, onu Fransa, İspanya, Sırbistan ve Polonya takip etti.
Son dakika Fenerbahçe transfer haberleri: Yaz transfer döneminde kadrosunu güçlendirmek isteyen Fenerbahçe'de hareketli günler yaşanıyor. Sarı-lacivertliler, kariyerini Süper Lig'de sürdüren iki futbolcudan...Devamı için tıklayınız
Azərbaycan təmsilçisi “Zirə”nin Avropa Konfrans Liqasındakı rəqibi olan Kutaisi “Torpedo”si Gürcüstan çempionatında növbəti oyununu keçirib.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, Kutaisi təmsilçisi öz meydanında “Spaeri” ilə qarşılaşıb.
19-cu tur çərçivəsində baş tutmuş bu görüşdə qalib müəyyənləşməyib. Tərəflər meydanı qolsuz bərabərliklə tərk ediblər – 0:0.
Ardıcıl 3 oyun idi uduzan “Torpedo” məhz bu heç-heçə sayəsində uğursuz gedişata son qoyub. Komanda 4 oyundur qələbəyə həsrətdir.
“Zirə”nin rəqibi cari mövsümdə keçirdiyi 19 oyunda 7 qələbə qazanıb, 6 heç-heçə edib, 6 məğlubiyyətə üzülüb. 30 qol vurmuş komanda öz qapısından 19 top buraxıb. 27 xalı olan Kutaisi təmsilçisi 10 iştirakçı arasında 4-cü pillədə qərarlaşıb.
Qeyd edək ki, Azərbaycan təmsilçisinin Gürcüstan klubuna qarşı ilk oyunu iyulun 8-də “Sumqayıt Arena”da baş tutacaq. Bu komandaların cavab görüşü isə iyulun 16-da Kutaisidə təşkil ediləcək.
Portuqaliyalı hücumameyilli yarımmüdafiəçi Filipe da Silva Tavares Vieyra (Vieyrinya) bundan sonra “Zirə”nin uğurları üçün çalışacaq.
Arena.az bu barədə paytaxt klubunun mətbuat xidmətinə istinadən xəbər verir.
29 yaşlı futbolçu 2 illik müqavilə bağlanıb. O, yeni klubuna azad agent kimi qoşulub.
Vieyrinya “Feyrense” və “Portu” klublarının yetirməsidir. O, karyerası ərzində “Feyrense”, “Sanxoanense”, “Salqeyruş”, “Qondomar”, “Akademiko Vizeu”, “Espinyo”, “San Joao de Ver”, “Beyra Mar” kimi klublarda çıxış edib. Portuqaliyalı futbolçu 2024-cü ilin yayından Kiprin “Olimpiakos” (Nikosiya) klubunda çıxış edirdi. O, sözügedən komandanın heyətində meydana çıxdığı 60 oyunda 12 qol vurub, 4 məhsuldar ötürmə verib.
Xatırladaq ki, “Zirə” daha öncə Amin Seydiyev, Maykon Kleyton və Ayxan Hüseynovu da heyətinə qatmışdı. Eren Aydın, Davit Volkov, Aydın Bayramov Elçin Əlicanov, Enrike Kustodio və Qismət Alıyevlə yeni müqavilə imzalanıb. Ceyhun Nuriyev, Stefan Akka, Eldar Quliyev, Leroy Mikels, Rüfət Abdullazadə, Tyaqo Silva, Anatoli Nuriyev və Ayron Qomis isə komandanı tərk ediblər.
Banks across Europe and South Korea will study whether regulated euro and won stablecoins can enable real-time cross-border foreign exchange settlement.
Bitcoin stayed volatile while bulls tried to preserve support at local lows while stocks prepared for Micron forward earnings and digested Asia losses.
Fransa millisinin futbolçusu Kilian Mbappe açıqlama verib.
Futbolpress.az “Le Parisien” nəşrinə istinadən xəbər verir ki, fransalı hücumçu argentinalı futbolçu Lionel Messi ilə qol yarışında olmadığını deyib:
“Messi qollar vurur və həmişə də vuracaq. Onun etdiklərinə baxsaq, daha çox şey etməliyəm. Diqqətim Messidə deyil. Fikrim özümdə və komandamdadır. Millidə faydalı olmaq üçün əlimdən gələni edirəm”.
Mbappe dünya çempionatlarının əsas mərhələsində 16 qol vurub. O, daha iki qol vuracağı halda, bu göstəricidə rekordçu olan Lionel Messiyə çatacaq.
“Real”dan ayrılan Alvaro Arbeloanın yeni iş yeri məlum olub.
Futbolpress.azxəbər verir ki, mütəxəssis “Fulhem” klubunu çalışdıracaq. Bu barədə “The Athletic” nəşri məlumat yayıb. İspan mütəxəssisin yaxın zamanda Premyer Liqa təmsilçisi ilə müqavilə imzalayacağı bildirilib.
“Lester”in futbolçusu Vut Faes karyerasını Türkiyədə davam etdirə bilər.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, “Fənərbağça” müdafiəçinin xidmətində maraqlıdır. Bu barədə “TRT Spor” məlumat yayıb. İstanbul klubu yaxın zamanda belçikalı üçün danışıqlara başlamağı planlaşdırır.
28 yaşlı müdafiəçi ötən mövsümü icarə əsasında “Monako”da keçirib. Onun “transfermarkt”da dəyəri 10 milyon avrodur.
“Qalatasaray” “Selta”nın futbolçusu İlayş Moribanı transfer etmək istəyir.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə AS nəşri məlumat yayıb. İspaniya klubu türklərin 15 milyon avroluq təklifini rədd edib. “Selta” Moriba üçün 20 milyon avro istəyir.
“Barselona”nın yetirməsi olan yarımmüdafiəçi 2025-ci ildən “Selta”da çıxış edir. O, başa çatan mövsümdə La Liqada 36 oyunda 2 qol vurub, 3 məhsuldar ötürmə edib.
Shopify is introducing Campaign Autopilot, a new AI-powered marketing tool that automatically creates, manages and optimizes campaigns across multiple channels, reducing the need for merchants to manually manage advertising and email marketing.
The feature is launching in early access and is available directly within the Shopify admin.
What’s happening. Campaign Autopilot uses AI to plan and run marketing campaigns on behalf of merchants across channels including Meta, Shop Campaigns and email.
Additional channels are already on the roadmap, including ChatGPT Ads, Microsoft Advertising and Snapchat.
Rather than requiring merchants to build campaigns manually, the system handles campaign creation, budget allocation and ongoing optimization automatically.
Why we care. Campaign Autopilot lowers the barrier to running multi-channel marketing campaigns by automating much of the work traditionally handled by agencies or in-house specialists. Instead of managing separate campaigns across Meta, email and other channels, merchants can set a budget and goals while Shopify handles campaign creation, optimization and budget allocation.
How it works. Merchants set a monthly budget, choose which channels to connect and define approval rules and guardrails.
From there, Campaign Autopilot:
Creates and launches campaigns.
Allocates budget across channels.
Adjusts spending based on performance.
Recommends email automations.
Monitors results and makes ongoing optimizations.
Merchants can approve campaigns before launch, modify budgets or pause activity at any time.
What’s different. Shopify is positioning Campaign Autopilot as an alternative to traditional campaign management tools and agency-led marketing.
The company says the system leverages performance data and patterns across millions of Shopify stores to inform recommendations and budget decisions.
Campaign Autopilot also operates separately from existing campaigns, meaning merchants already running Meta or Shop ads won’t see those campaigns altered.
The bigger picture. Shopify is increasingly embedding AI into merchant workflows, moving beyond ecommerce infrastructure and into growth and customer acquisition.
The launch reflects a broader industry trend toward autonomous marketing systems that can execute campaigns with limited human involvement while continuously optimizing performance.
What to watch. Shopify plans to expand channel support in the coming months, including integrations with ChatGPT Ads, Microsoft Advertising and Snapchat.
The company also says merchants can use its AI assistant, Sidekick, to review recommendations, trigger actions and monitor campaign performance.
First spotted. The update was spotted by Digital Marketing Consultant Susan Richards-Benson who suggested this feature for smaller ecommerce brands on Linkedin.
Since its inception in 2015, the Search Engine Land Awards have recognized exceptional marketers on an annual basis — showcasing outstanding work, providing well-earned exposure in coverage and interviews, and bestowing upon them the highest honor in search.
While there’s no single formula for creating a winning entry, our judges have seen enough submissions over the years to know what separates the truly exceptional from the merely good. The strongest applications don’t just share results, they tell a story. They provide context, demonstrate strategic thinking, and clearly communicate why the work mattered.
And because great advice shouldn’t be gatekept, we thought we’d bring some of those insights directly to you.
We asked several of this year’s Search Engine Land Awards judges to share their best advice for prospective entrants. From common mistakes to avoid to the elements that consistently stand out, their insights offer a valuable look inside the judging process and can help you build a stronger, more compelling submission.
Keep reading for a roundup of fresh insights from some of our judges. (And see the complete list of 2026 judges here!)
“A great entry is a story with a goal, an action, and a measurable outcome that ties back to it. Tell that story as well as you can, and include a deck that makes it easy to see exactly what you accomplished.”
– Amy Hebdon, Founder, Paid Search Magic
“Explain your tactics. Many entries just say “we used best practices”. Everyone’s best practices and tactics differ. Explaining the process that lead to your results will highlight your creative thinking, problem solving, and uniqueness. Showing your insights and thought processes helps your entry standout and showcase your company’s competitive edge.”
– Brad Geddes, Co-Founder, Adalysis
“I look for SAY which stands for: Situation, Action and Yield. Applicants should write a clear example of the situation, what they did and the result achieved over the time period,”
– Jo Juliana Turnbull, Growth Marketing Senior Manager, Holafly
“Show me the humans behind the metrics. We’re in a time where AI is reshaping search at a pace none of us have seen, and that shift matters…but the applications that rise to the top will lead with empathy, not just analytics. I want stories where I can see how your work built genuine trust with real people, not simply visibility in search and AI engines. I’m especially drawn to entries that embrace a wellness-based approach to their craft, and to teams who pair their quantitative wins with qualitative insight: the quote, the aha moment, the change in how someone felt about a brand or experience. Tell me how you held the human at the center – as strategy. If your project made people feel seen, understood, or genuinely helped, lean into that. Those are the stories I’ll be looking for.”
“Clearly state the challenge you solved, and back it up with data. Explain the strategy behind the tactics you used and the results they drove. Tell me not just what happened, but what impact did it have on your campaigns? What did you do differently as a result?”
– Melissa Mackey, Director of Paid Search, Compound Growth Marketing
“Evidence: charts, analytics, screenshots. Be detailed, specific, and share data.”
– Barry Schwartz, Editor, Search Engine Land
“Tell a story. Numbers get you in the room, but the story is what stays with the judges. I want to know what the problem was, why it was hard, what you tried, and what finally worked. That arc, the messiness of real work, is what separates a memorable entry from a forgettable one. The submissions that stick with me are the ones where I can feel the thinking behind the decisions, not just the outcome. You did great work this year; now, make the judges feel the weight of what you solved before you show them the numbers.”
– Ameet Khabra, Founder, Hop Skip Media
“The two main things all award-winning entries share are that they explain the whys behind the hows, and they bring receipts (data to back up claims). If you can’t share the data behind your entry (budgets, revenue, etc.), you are putting yourself at a distinct disadvantage and may end up wasting the entry fee. A lot of people submit the same practices – if you can distinguish yourself by showing innovative thinking, you’ll do well!”
– Navah Hopkins, Product Liaison, Microsoft
“Give me all the data you can. Show the numbers and the real impact of whatever you did; conversions, ROI, and whatever monetary increases you were able to cause.”
– Celeste Gonzalez, Content Implementation and Product Specialist, Lastmile Retail
“Show me something I haven’t seen before, then prove it worked. The applications that land are the ones with a genuinely unexpected approach backed by numbers that make the result undeniable.”
– Adam Tanguay, Head of Growth, Jordan Digital Marketing
“I am looking for an approach or strategy that challenges the norm of SEM. A unique approach that focuses on achieving the business goals by way of campaign structure across Brand, Non-Brand, Performance Max, Conquesting, and general upper-funnel tactics. An advanced way of thinking about the target audience, messaging, conversion goals, etc. that helps show a sophisticated way of managing the campaigns & overall strategy to exceed business goals.”
– Matt Devinney, Director, Client Partner, Tinuiti
“I am looking for projects that break new ground with innovative takes on SEO, and are backed up by data and numbers-driven insights every step of the way.”
– Olya Ianovskaia, Founder and Lead Consultant, MycoMinds SEO
“Make your entry easily readable. We are going to need to go through several entries – I know the entries could be quite technical (and the quality of that will take precedent), but I am more likely to vote for you if I enjoyed reading your entry.”
– Anu Adegbola, Paid Media Editor, Search Engine Land
“My #1 piece of advice is to showcase strategy that truly breaks new ground. Award-winning applications demonstrate innovation that anticipates where SEM is heading, whether that’s leveraging AI in novel ways, pioneering audience-targeting approaches, or developing unique cross-channel integration. But innovation alone isn’t enough. The most compelling entries connect these forward-thinking strategies directly to measurable business outcomes, providing clear evidence of how your work translated to client growth metrics that matter. We’re looking for that perfect balance: creative execution that pushes boundaries while delivering documented ROI that proves your approach wasn’t just innovative—it was transformative.”
YouTube is expanding its suite of creator marketing and campaign intelligence tools with new Gemini-powered features designed to help brands identify trends, understand creator audiences and improve campaign performance.
What’s happening. Google is introducing several new insights and optimization tools across YouTube and Google Ads that give marketers more visibility into trends, creator performance and audience behavior.
The company says the new capabilities are intended to help advertisers make better creative and media planning decisions in an increasingly AI-driven marketing landscape.
Why we care. These updates provide deeper visibility into what’s trending on YouTube, which creators are resonating with audiences, and how their brand is performing across both paid and organic content. That can help marketers make smarter decisions about creator partnerships, campaign planning and creative strategy.
What’s new:
More detailed trend insights.
Google Ads’ Insights Finder is gaining expanded trending insights in the U.S., providing advertisers with a more granular view of what’s gaining traction on YouTube.
Brand Pulse data comes to Insights Finder.
Select Brand Pulse metrics are now being integrated into Insights Finder, allowing brands to evaluate both their paid and organic presence in a single location.
New creator insights API.
The new Content & Creator Insights API gives agencies and partners deeper information about YouTube creators and their audiences, helping improve media planning and creator selection.
Gemini-powered creative recommendations.
Google says Gemini will soon provide creative optimization tips for Demand Gen campaigns, including recommendations on visuals and creative elements that may improve performance.
The bigger picture. As creator-led content becomes increasingly influential in purchase decisions and brand discovery, advertisers are looking for better ways to identify emerging trends and measure creator impact.
Google is betting that AI can help marketers surface those insights faster and make campaign planning more efficient.
There’s a trap door waiting for DTC brands that invest in Google Ads that makes your dashboards look amazing, but absolutely wrecks your P&L.
It’s the danger of recycling traffic from Meta.
Thanks to the overlap between paid search and paid social traffic, running Google as a standalone channel is incredibly difficult if you don’t know how to set it up. Ad platforms refuse to share data with one another, and they love to claim credit for the same conversion — even if those sales would’ve happened without the influence of ads.
The DTC brands I speak to are often proud to show off their new customer numbers: month-over-month growth, a steady upward trend, and a fantastic dashboard. But when we go deeper into the data, we often find that a big chunk of those “new” customers are:
Conversions that would’ve happened because of brand or content efforts.
Customers who aren’t truly incremental because they consumed ads on multiple platforms.
The same people signing up with multiple email addresses.
You could argue that these overlapping sales still count as revenue, and they do. But when you look at the contribution margin from those sales, they cost far more than they should and erode actual profit.
In other words, you lose money when you run ads on both platforms without guardrails.
But that doesn’t mean you need to stop or limit yourself to one channel. Instead, you need a better system for measuring actual customer acquisition.
PSA -> removing brand searches from a PMAX campaign doesn’t change the audience you’re targeting
it’s still warm traffic (either existing or already multiple touchpoints)
You’re thinking about it wrong
Very common
— Collin Schmelebeck (@SchmelebeckPPC) July 24, 2025
Why the new exclusions matter
If you’re spending five figures or more on Meta, TikTok, AppLovin, or any other top-of-funnel channel, you’ll want to minimize overlap with other channels to drive actual new customer acquisition.
Here’s what that looks like:
Someone sees your ad on Facebook or Instagram.
They visit your site, browse, and leave without buying.
A while later, they search for your brand on Google or get retargeted on YouTube.
Performance Max swoops in, grabs the conversion, and reports strong ROAS.
You may have won that order anyway, but now Google and Meta both want credit for it.
Now you’re paying two or more platforms to recycle a conversion that you might have earned with just one.
1/6 Stop guessing what drives your Performance Max results and start taking control with our latest updates.
Ever since Performance Max launched, there wasn’t much you could do about this. It’s been a bit of a black box that automatically goes after the warmest traffic it can find: branded search, site visits, email subscriptions, and existing customers.
It lets you bid more for new customers, but you can’t really stop the campaign from defaulting to easy mode.
A while ago, Google began letting you exclude people searching for your brand on Search and Shopping. Performance Max still targeted warm audiences through YouTube, Gmail, and the Display Network.
The latest round of updates from Google has finally addressed this problem. You can now force Performance Max to focus on net new customer acquisition through a combination of brand exclusions, audience exclusions, and Customer Match data.
First-party audience exclusions, announced in March, are the final piece that makes this possible (though not foolproof – customer list matching is never perfect).
A four-step framework for net new customer acquisition
Here’s a four-step framework we’re using at my agency to help clients maximize incrementality.
Google PMax is probably taking credit for conversions your Meta Ads created.
Here's the 4-step framework to force it into real new customer acquisition: https://t.co/BmgDYpLzoL— Menachem (Google Ads) (@MenachemAni) April 28, 2026
Step 1: Exclude your brand
This one has been around for a while, but it’s the foundation, so we have to start here.
For smaller brands, brand exclusions usually aren’t necessary. But once you’re spending real money and seeing more than 15% to 20% of your cost or revenue coming from brand searches, it’s time to take action.
There are two parts to this.
Go into your campaign settings and add a brand exclusion. If your brand isn’t already on the list, click New brand list, create one, and add your brand. Google will do its best to block branded queries from this list.
Because brand exclusions aren’t foolproof, go to the Keywords tab inside the campaign and add your brand name as a phrase match negative keyword. Add a few common variations, too. This catches anything the brand list misses.
If you’re excluding brand terms from Performance Max, you need a dedicated brand Search campaign and a brand Shopping campaign to capture those searches. Otherwise, you’re just leaving money on the table for competitors.
Step 2: Exclude website visitors and email subscribers
Even if you blocked brand searches, Performance Max would still retarget people who visited your website, opened your emails, or interacted with your brand on YouTube, Gmail, Discover, and Display. So even with brand exclusions in place, a big chunk of your spend still went to warm traffic.
Now you can change that. Go to your campaign settings and find the new audience exclusions option. Then build a few remarketing lists:
All website visitors: Set this up through the Google Ads pixel or Google Analytics. It captures anyone who has visited your site.
Email subscribers: Connect Klaviyo (or whatever ESP you’re using) directly to Google Ads. The benefit of the Klaviyo integration is that the audience updates in real time, so new subscribers are added automatically.
Once you exclude these audiences, Performance Max can only go after people who haven’t interacted with your brand in any meaningful way. What we typically do, and what I recommend, is to come up with an engagement metric that fits each account’s business goal, such as cart adds rather than visitors from the past seven days.
What a change from how this campaign type used to work.
Same idea as Step 2, but specifically for people who have already bought from you. You can do this two ways.
Through a pixel-based audience that captures anyone who has triggered the purchase event.
By uploading your customer list directly. Shopify now lets you set up Customer Match lists right inside the Google Shopping app, and Klaviyo can do this, too.
Add these audiences to the exclusions section of your campaign, and you’re done.
A small caveat to keep in mind: audience matching is never 100%. If you upload a customer list of 1,000 people, Google might only match 900 of them. So you’ll still see some level of bleed. But going from “the campaign is targeting all my existing customers” to “the campaign is targeting maybe 10% of them” is still a huge win.
Step 4: Use ‘New Customer Bidding’ in campaign settings
The last piece is to tell the campaign explicitly that you want new customers.
In your campaign settings under customer acquisition, you’ll see two options: bid only for new customers, or bid higher for new customers. Both require you to connect a customer list (which you’ve probably already done by Step 3).
The “only new customers” option is the most aggressive setting. The campaign simply won’t bid on existing customers. Combined with the audience exclusions from Steps 2 and 3, this gets you as close to pure new customer acquisition as Performance Max will allow.
The “bid higher for new customers” option is more flexible. You set a dollar value that represents the additional value of a new customer, and the system bids more aggressively when it thinks an auction will result in one.
Here’s where you need to be careful. If you tell Google a new customer is worth an extra $100, and you get a $200 sale from a new customer, Google will report it as $300 in revenue. That extra $100 is a fictional reporting value, not real revenue. It will inflate your ROAS numbers and distort your target ROAS bidding.
Our recommendation is to use a small placeholder value, such as a penny or a dollar, when you want to nudge the system toward new customers without distorting your reporting. Or use a number that genuinely reflects the lifetime value premium of a new customer to your business.
What to expect from this approach
It’s still early, so we can’t draw firm conclusions yet. But based on my experience managing PPC for ecommerce brands, here’s what I expect to happen.
Many advertisers who walked away from Performance Max did so because it was simply recycling Meta traffic. By splitting it out, you force it to go after net new traffic.
This will likely benefit brands that don’t have a ton of video creative for YouTube, which is another platform where brands try to drive net new acquisition at the awareness stage.
One of the big differences between Performance Max and Demand Gen is that the former is much more conversion-focused. Any brand considering excluding branded Search and Shopping from Performance Max should also consider this tactic, as it tends to over-index on hot traffic.
In terms of outcomes, I expect the reported ROAS attributed to Performance Max to be lower than what you may have seen in the past.
But when you look at the breakdown of new versus returning customers, it should align much more closely with new customer acquisition. Without advanced configuration, it might be a 60/40 split, even in the best situations.
Limitations and realistic expectations
Nothing about this is foolproof. Audience exclusions don’t match perfectly. Brand exclusions don’t catch every variation. Customer Match has its gaps. So even with all four steps in place, some percentage of your spend will still hit warm audiences.
But for the first time, you actually have the levers to push Performance Max into upper-funnel territory. You can make it work like a real prospecting channel instead of a retargeting channel that takes credit for demand created elsewhere.
This matters most for brands spending heavily on Meta, TikTok, or other channels and wanting Google to actually grow the customer base rather than recycle the traffic those channels generate. If you’re seeing strong ROAS in Performance Max but flat new customer numbers month over month, this framework is for you.
If you’re a smaller brand still trying to find product-market fit or build initial momentum, this is probably overkill. Let Performance Max do its thing and pick up conversions without too many restrictions.
But once you’re scaling and the question is no longer “Can we be profitable?” but “Can we be profitable while growing the customer base?” these settings become some of the most important levers you have.
Google’s giving you more control over PMax. Use it.
The conversation around brand versus non-brand is everywhere. You can’t throw a dart at a paid media conference without hitting someone with a strong opinion on it. But for some reason, almost no one seems to be testing this new option.
I just finished auditing an account spending $100,000 a month on Search with no Performance Max or Shopping, so they get purely new customer acquisition. We looked at their numbers and said maybe now’s the time to try this, exclude all these segments, and let it rip.
So here’s when I recommend implementing this test: if your ad spend is high enough (it doesn’t need to be $100,000 a month or anywhere near it), or you’re revisiting Performance Max. Your hypothesis should be that this approach increases the proportion of actual new customer conversions.
I think you’ll find that the needle moves further than you think.
AI has made SEO teams ambitious about what they can automate. Tasks that previously required engineering support can now be solved with the help of Claude or ChatGPT.
That’s exciting, but it also creates a new problem: thinking you can automate everything. In modern language, that often comes down to one question: Should we build or buy this new tool?
This build-versus-buy dilemma has never been simple, and AI has made it even more complicated. The challenge goes beyond cost. It involves security, maintenance, data access, internal capabilities, workflow fit, and whether a custom solution will remain maintainable, reliable, and useful six months from now.
How AI lowers the barrier to building
AI has lowered the barrier to experimentation. Even without technical knowledge, you can now create a custom GPT, build a workflow, connect data sources, or create an internal AI assistant.
But that doesn’t mean the same person can build and maintain a tool that will remain reliable over the next few years.
In most cases, AI can help SEO teams analyze data, identify patterns, summarize information, and recommend actions. It can save a lot of time, and teams that ignore AI are clearly falling behind.
But, at least for now, AI isn’t doing truly creative work in the same way humans do. It works from existing patterns and predicts likely outputs. That may change in the future.
AI also comes with hidden costs. Internally built tools are often treated as free because the invoice usually doesn’t sit with the SEO team. But that doesn’t mean token usage, API calls, infrastructure, engineering time, security reviews, and maintenance don’t cost money.
We are already seeing this effect. Reuters has described it as “corporate AI sticker shock,” with companies struggling to forecast usage-based AI costs. TechCrunch also reported that Uber introduced AI spending caps after blowing through its annual AI budget in four months.
Today, marketing teams aren’t the heaviest AI users, especially compared with engineering teams. But that can change quickly.
And when usage grows, the bills will grow too. That will naturally make companies ask which AI tools and AI-powered workflows create value and which ones only consume budget.
Before deciding whether to build or buy, SEO teams need to define what they really need.
Different ways to use AI and automation
Many teams group these solutions together, but they vary significantly in cost, complexity, and maintenance requirements.
A custom tool: A more complex internal system that usually needs engineering support. It is often more about automation, but it can have an artificial intelligence aspect.
A custom workflow: A repeatable process built with different tools, such as a custom GPT, Claude project, spreadsheet, reporting template, and so on. It often includes automation, for example, a scheduled task in an AI tool, and it usually has an artificial intelligence layer.
A custom layer on top of SaaS: Using data from existing tools and shaping it into your own reporting, prioritization, or recommendation workflow.
A true AI agent: A system that can take more autonomous actions. For example, it can scan your Slack and follow up with people you are still waiting on.
These aren’t the same, but people often label them incorrectly. Calling everything an “AI agent” creates confusion and can lead to wrong estimates about cost and complexity.
Look for repetitive, context-rich tasks
We’re still experimenting. Most of what our team has built focuses on daily tasks that require a lot of manual work.
For example, we’ve created a custom GPT that evaluates whether our content matches our personas and their pain points. The goal is not to replace the human copywriter or reviewer. It is to determine whether a piece remains generic and whether a few additions can make it more relevant.
We are also using AI for translations, monthly reporting, and a weekly summary that combines meeting notes, Slack, and Jira, and helps me see whether I have missed adding a task to Jira or where I still need to follow up.
One of our latest workflows transforms recorded internal meetings into organized landing page briefs.
These types of tasks are good candidates for AI-powered custom workflows because they rely on internal context, repeatable processes, and company-specific knowledge.
One example from our team was a prompt tracking tool that my colleague vibe-coded. It worked well as a starting point. But the data presentation was not perfect, and it was hard to create a trend graph without additional manual steps.
Soon, it became a maintenance burden because every external change in any of the LLM tools required fixes, for which we needed engineering help.
The real issue was reliability. For AI visibility and prompt tracking, we needed consistent data in one place, presented in a way we could analyze over time. That is why we moved to a specialized platform like Peec AI instead of continuing to maintain our own version.
That experiment was still valuable. It helped us understand the problem, the complexity, and the features we actually needed from an external vendor.
And this is one of my pieces of advice: whether you want to build a tool internally or buy one, always test what is already available on the market. Only then will you really understand what you actually need. You may think you need 10 features, only to realize you use only three.
For business-critical tools such as rank and AI visibility tracking, and website crawling, small SEO teams without dedicated technical support should usually be careful about building from scratch. If the data is fundamental to decision-making, reliability should be your main decision factor.
Use AI where your data already lives
Buy the crawler, rank tracker, or AI visibility platform. Then focus your internal efforts on connecting data from these tools to custom information, such as your GA and GSC accounts or even CRM data. Once connected, create reports that combine all these sources and enable you to analyze everything in one place.
MCP connections are also worth considering. The Model Context Protocol is an open standard for connecting AI applications to external systems, data sources, tools, and workflows. With MCP servers, you can analyze data from your primary tools directly using AI, taking your current workflows to the next level.
This doesn’t mean you’re required to learn how to code. But they need to know enough to ask the right questions.
If a tool connects to an internal knowledge base, customer data, or proprietary research, you should be aware that this could pose a security risk. And it might turn out that it is better for the company to dedicate an engineer to support you rather than risk exposing sensitive information.
You should also understand what the final cost will be for your company when you decide to go with a custom tool. Custom tools aren’t free just because the invoice doesn’t sit with SEO. Engineering time, security reviews, AI tokens, and API usage are all part of the cost.
Before asking leadership for a tool, SEO teams should be able to explain the workflow problem, the expected value, the cost of buying compared with the estimated cost of building, and what might happen if nothing is done.
The best requests don’t start with: “We need this tool.”
They start with: “Here is the problem, here is why it matters, here is what we’ve tested, and here is the best way we think we can solve it.”
How to prioritize what to build first
There’s no single prioritization matrix that will work for every situation.
A website crawler, a content evaluation tool, a report builder, or a competitive intelligence system can’t be judged by the same criteria.
If you are in a situation where you think you need more than one tool, start by mapping your current workflow and what your ideal situation looks like.
Once you do that, the patterns will be clear. Often, your strongest priorities will fall into two groups.
The first are tools that can support revenue creation. SEO teams are usually part of the marketing organization, and marketing is expected to bring visibility or leads. If a tool can help identify content opportunities, improve conversion rates, increase AI visibility, or surface gaps versus competitors, it can be seen as a priority.
The second group is workflows and tools that can help you minimize repetitive manual work. This category may not create revenue, but it will give your team time back to focus on more strategic work.
Don’t forget that quick wins also matter. Stakeholders don’t want to wait three months before seeing results. A smaller project that can bring value in three weeks will help you build trust and make it easier to get support for bigger initiatives.
Cross-team value should also be part of your decision.
SEO problems are often not just problems for your team. Competitive intelligence, for example, matters to PPC, ABM, content, product marketing, and sales, too. If several teams share the same pain, the business case becomes stronger.
So don’t be afraid to act as a cross-team synchronization layer when needed. Talk to the same teams you have already worked with, and try to understand their workflows and pain points, and where your needs overlap.
And remember, the best tool is not always the most ambitious one. Starting with something small is often the smartest move.
Google has confirmed that it has expanded access to the new Google Search Console AI performance reports to more users. Google’s John Mueller wrote on Bluesky, “We’re just rolling these out incrementally to sites, and reviewing the feedback along the way. I know everyone wants the new shiny thing immediately… but first, patience.”
AI performance report. The report shows you how well your content and websites are performing in AI responses, AI Mode, and AI Overviews in Google Search. The reporting includes impressions, pages, countries, devices, and dates, but does not include click data.
Expanding access. This morning, I spotted a number of SEOs posting that they are now seeing the report, and that it is not restricted to sites in the United Kingdom. Some are seeing the report for sites in the United States, India, Switzerland and so forth.
And as I quoted above, John Mueller from Google confirmed the search company is “rolling these out incrementally to sites.”
What it looks like. Here is a screenshot of this report:
Why we care. Site owners and publishers have been asking for controls over whether and how their content is shown in Google’s AI features since Google launched these a couple of years ago. Well, Google is rolling out this feature to more of its users today. It is unclear how soon everyone will gain access to these controls, but I am surprised that Google expanded access this quickly. Specifically within 20 days from its first release.
Many budget allocation strategies assume that every channel follows the same pattern: the first dollar is the most productive, and each additional dollar yields a slightly lower return.
The charts below show what that pattern looks like.
The log shape means that the first dollar is the most productive, and each subsequent dollar is worth a little less. When every channel looks like that, the game plan is to spread the budget to as many channels as possible and equalize the marginal CPAs to maximize profit.
But not every channel looks like that. Some have a warm-up region where the early spend is the least efficient, not the most. On those channels, the logic above breaks, and so does the “test small, scale the winners” playbook that most of the industry runs on autopilot.
The difference comes down to one question about the channel: Is the response curve C-shaped or S-shaped?
The answer can change how you approach channel testing and channel measurement, including any MMM analysis. Moreover, Google has been incorporating more S-shaped campaign types, and after its Google Marketing Live announcements, this trend seems set to continue.
The two shapes — and the only part that matters
The response curve plots output (conversions, revenue) against input (spend). This generally results in two types of curves in marketing.
C-shaped (concave): Diminishing returns from the very first dollar. A log or power curve. Picture the top-left quarter of a circle: steep at the start, flattening as you go.
S-shaped (sigmoid): A slow, inefficient start, then an inflection point where it gets steep, followed by a flattening into saturation. A logistic curve.
The response curve itself isn’t what you allocate against. You allocate against the marginal curve, the derivative, which answers the question: “What did the next dollar buy me?” That’s where the shapes diverge in a way that matters.
For a C-curve, marginal return is highest at the first dollar and falls in only one direction. Marginal CPA rises from the first dollar onward. If conversions are a*ln(s), marginal conversions per dollar are a/s, so marginal CPA is s/a, climbing in a straight line as you scale. There’s no warm-up. The cheapest conversion you’ll ever buy is the first one.
For an S-curve, marginal return starts low, rises to a peak at the inflection point, then falls. Marginal CPA is U-shaped. It’s expensive at the start, bottoms out around the inflection point, then climbs into saturation.
That region of increasing marginal returns is the whole story. It’s the difference between a channel where small budgets are productive and one where they are wasted.
Say your CPA goal is $50. Here is an S-shaped channel, modeled as Conversions = 1000 / (1 + e^(-0.25(s – 20))), with spend in the thousands and the inflection at $20,000/month:
Run the $10,000 test that a sane person runs before committing real budget. Average CPA comes back at $132, marginal around $94. If those two metrics are all you look at, you conclude that this channel can’t hit $50, so let’s kill it.
That verdict is wrong. At $20,000 to $25,000, the channel is running at an average of $32 to $40, and the marginal dollar in the $15,000 to $25,000 band costs $18. That’s not “barely viable.” In that band, it’s the best marginal buy you have. The small test fell within the warm-up and reversed the conclusion.
In a C-shaped channel, the small test would have shown you the best the channel can do. On an S-shaped channel, it shows you the worst.
This is the trap. The standard playbook is “test small, scale what works.” On S-curves, small tests systematically condemn channels that would’ve worked at scale because the test is structurally stuck in the inefficient region.
The optimization is convex. There’s one global optimum, the equimarginal rule from the marginal-CPA post applies cleanly, and the solution is usually interior, meaning lots of channels get funded.
Even a small allocation is productive because the first dollar is the best dollar. Run many channels lean, reallocate continuously at the margin, and pull back the instant marginal CPA crosses your goal.
S-shaped channels, go deep or skip
The optimization is non-convex. A small allocation can be strictly worse than zero because below the inflection your marginal return sits under your target, and you’ve sunk money to get nowhere.
The decision isn’t “how much.” It is binary: commit past the threshold, or don’t fund it at all. There’s a real minimum viable budget, and it’s often above normal test budgets. You can’t sprinkle an S-curve and expect efficiency, and you can’t evaluate one on an underfunded test.
Those two rules can look like they fight each other, but that’s only true to a certain point. Past the inflection, an S-curve is concave, so the equimarginal rule governs it exactly as it governs a true C. The S-specific instruction — commit a block instead of sprinkling — is only about the trip from zero to past the inflection.
Shape is therefore mostly a launch-and-evaluation problem. Getting a new prospecting channel into its efficient range requires a committed block and patience with ugly early numbers. Once it clears the inflection, you manage it at the margin like everything else, right up until you consider cutting it hard, where shape matters again because the downside is a cliff, not a ramp.
This is the part that’s genuinely counterintuitive, and it echoes the original marginal-return point: The right move isn’t always the one that looks most efficient at a small scale.
Which channels are which?
The historical default was concave. Simon and Arndt reviewed more than 100 studies and concluded that advertising follows the law of diminishing returns, a concave response.
The dissent came later: Vakratsas, Feinberg, Bass, and Kalyanaram found that threshold effects do exist and that response is not necessarily globally concave. Their explanation for why thresholds were so hard to find is the useful part. Mature accounts already operate inside the effective range, so the warm-up never shows up in the data, and most studies fit a concave model (the double-log) that can’t reject an S-curve even when one is present.
The platform shift has made the threshold visible again. Here is a fuller map, ordered roughly from C to S. The shape column is an inference from how each system targets and learns, not a measured constant, and the right shape for your account still has to be measured.
Two rows do most of the work.
AI Max is the live example of a channel migrating from C toward S. Swapping explicit keywords for broad and keywordless matching means it needs conversion volume to learn which queries convert, so below a data threshold it explores badly (Search Engine Land, ‘AI Max for Search,’ 2025). The mixed independent results fit that: Google reports about 14% more conversions on average and up to 27% for exact-match-heavy campaigns, while independent testing reports 84% of advertisers seeing neutral or negative results (ALM Corp, January 2026). Much of that spread is accounts that turned it on without the conversion volume to clear the learning region.
Performance Max is the trap, because its curve is a composite. It blends a harvesting layer (branded, retargeting, Shopping against existing intent) with a prospecting layer (keywordless expansion across surfaces). The harvesting layer is a cheap C that pays off on the first dollar. The prospecting layer is the S underneath.
Blended, the early efficiency looks great, because you are mostly skimming demand you already had, and the average hides the prospecting warm-up entirely. That is also why the platform is glad to optimize it for you: the blend flatters the headline number. You can’t read PMax or run the shape analysis on it until you split the harvesting from the prospecting.
The throughline runs in two layers. Rules-based auctions capture the best inventory first, which yields concavity; machine-learning systems must be fed before they are efficient, which introduces a threshold. Underneath both, harvesting existing demand is concave and mostly non-incremental, while creating new demand is the S-shaped part where the real growth and the real warm-up cost both sit.
Average versus marginal: total over spend, or the slope where you stand.
What you allocate against is marginal incremental return, the slope of the incremental curve at your operating point. A holdout fixes the first axis only. Time-sliced marginal CPA on attributed data fixes the second only. A multi-cell scaling test gets both, at a cost.
MMM (method 1) estimates the whole curve from aggregate data and sidesteps click attribution entirely, but pays in identifiability and modeling assumptions instead. Most arguments about ‘what is working’ are two people standing on different axes.
There are two major cautions, and I would flag both as genuinely unsettled rather than settled facts.
Separating a true S-curve from “concave with a high half-saturation point” is hard, because a concave model will fit S-shaped data well enough to hide the inflection (this is the Vakratsas point, and it applies to your own dashboards as much as to academic studies).
The learning phase may be a one-time fixed cost to train the model rather than a permanent feature of the steady-state curve. If it is transient, the channel may behave concavely at the margin once it is trained, and the S you measured was a startup artifact. The truth is probably a mix: a one-time training cost, plus an ongoing minimum-volume requirement to stay efficient. Treat every shape call as provisional and re-check it.
One more failure mode, and this one is not unsettled science but a matter of where you are standing on the curve. An S only looks like an S if your data spans the inflection.
Above the inflection, an S is concave, mathematically identical to a C. Look at only the $20,000-and-up rows of the table above: marginal CPA rises monotonically from $18, a textbook C-curve, and the convex warm-up is invisible because you are no longer operating in it.
Established accounts usually sit past the inflection, which is exactly why Vakratsas found thresholds so hard to detect, and why you can run an S-shaped channel for years, correctly, while believing it is concave. The tell arrives the day you cut hard and fall off the inflection instead of easing down a slope.
When to go wide and when to go deep
The marginal-return post told you to equalize marginal CPAs across the program. That rule is still correct, but the shape of the curve tells you how you’re allowed to get there.
On C-shaped channels, you can get there by sprinkling, because every dollar is productive and breadth is the natural answer.
On S-shaped channels, you have to commit a block of budget past the inflection before the channel earns its place, and then concentrate rather than spread.
Lay the harvest-versus-create cut on top. Harvesting channels (branded, retargeting, non-brand search) are your C-curves: fund the first dollars, then cap them early, because they saturate fast and most of the tail isn’t incremental, no matter how strong the attributed ROAS looks.
Prospecting channels (Meta, YouTube, LinkedIn, the expansion half of PMax) are your S-curves and your only real source of incremental growth: commit past the warm-up or don’t start, and judge them on incremental lift rather than attributed CPA, or you’ll kill the thing that was working.
Classic search rewards going wide. PMax, AI Max, and Meta prospecting reward going deep on fewer bets and giving each enough volume to clear the warm-up. Run an S-curve like a C-curve and you’ll starve it, read the underfunded result, and kill a channel that would’ve been one of your best.
SASSUOLO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 08: Yann Bisseck of FC Internazionale celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and FC Internazionale at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on February 08, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
The talks are at an early stage, but Bisseck is certainly on their wish list, particularly because he is German and can bolster the number of Die Mannschaft players in the squad.
It is also noted that the player would love to wear the Bayern Munich jersey in the future, although there is plenty of competition from Premier League clubs too.
Inter paid €7.2m to buy Bisseck from Austrian side Aarhus in 2023 and he has flourished, making 36 appearances this season with three goals and three assists on the way to winning the Scudetto and Coppa Italia.
Any decision from Bayern Munich will depend first on whether they manage to sell South Korea international Kim Min-jae, who has been linked with a potential return to Italy after making his mark with Napoli.
There could be a reunion with his then-Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti, who is now at Juventus, with Manchester United also in the running.
Milan forward Rafael Leao is on the Portugal bench, but Joao Felix and Cristiano Ronaldo seek the first World Cup win of 2026 against Fabio Cannavaro’s Uzbekistan.
Both teams had a difficult start to the tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada, so are eager to get their first victory this evening.
Portugal stuttered to a surprising 1-1 draw against Congo DR, with Yoane Wissa cancelling out the early Joao Neves goal.
Former Juventus player Cristiano Ronaldo came in for a lot of criticism from some of the Portuguese fans due to his performance, but coach Roberto Martinez sticks with the legend in his starting XI.
Instead, both Milan’s Rafael Leao and Francisco Conceicao of Juventus remain on the bench, but the big shock is former Milan flop Joao Felix stepping in, sending Bernardo Silva to the touchline.
MUNICH, GERMANY – JUNE 04: Francisco Conceicao of Portugal celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Nations League 2025 semifinal match between Germany and Portugal at Munich Football Arena on June 04, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
Uzbekistan are in their first ever World Cup and their coach is Italian Cannavaro, who of course lifted this trophy as a player for the Azzurri in 2006.
His opener was a 3-1 defeat to Colombia, but the third goal was only scored deep into stoppages, having temporarily drawn level.
TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN – MARCH 30: Fabio Cannavaro, Head Coach of Uzbekistan, reacts during the international friendly match between Uzbekistan and Venezuela on March 30, 2026 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. (Photo by Anvar Ilyasov/Getty Images)
Like Martinez, Cannavaro is also making some changes to the starting XI, with ex-Roma and Genoa striker Eldor Shomurodov still wearing the captain’s armband.
Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov plays in the back three, but there are quite a few other adjustments, including new goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov.
Portugal vs. Uzbekistan line-ups
Portugal: Diogo Costa; Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Veiga, Nuno Mendes; Joao Neves, Vitinha, Fernandes; Pedro Neto, Ronaldo, Joao Felix
Sport Mediaset claim that Paolo Maldini is leaning towards turning down the role of technical director of the Italy squad, if offered by FIGC President Giovanni Malagò.
There had been multiple reports over the last few days that the new President of the Italian Football Federation identified Maldini as the ideal figure to take control of the Nazionale.
This would be in a role that so far does not exist within the Italian national team, that of technical director, moulding the position around the former Milan legend.
Maldini not eager for Italy role
NAPLES, ITALY – JULY 12: Paolo Maldini AC Milan Technical director and Stefano Pioli AC Milan look on coach before the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and AC Milan at Stadio San Paolo on July 12, 2020 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
However, Sport Mediaset report this afternoon that Maldini has taken it into consideration and is leaning towards turning down the proposal.
The ex-player had 126 senior caps for his country and won everything possible at club level for Milan, then went into a directorial role at San Siro in 2018.
He was sacked as technical director in June 2023 amid controversy, and arguably the side has never quite managed to recover any kind of stability.
Paolo Maldini meeting with Fenerbahce Presidential candidate Hakan Safi (Instagram)
Maldini refused several other interesting jobs since then, and was most recently ready to help run Fenerbahce if Hakan Safi won the election, but missed out to Aziz Yildirim.
Juventus could use Khephren Thuram as the key to unlocking Paris Saint-Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani, claim reports in Italy, though he is also a Premier League target.
The Bianconeri are eager to reunite with Kolo Muani, who had already been in Turin on loan for seven months in 2025 at a cost of €3.6m.
They were unable to agree on a permanent transfer, with the same true of Tottenham Hotspur at the end of this season, so Juve are back in for his signature.
Kolo Muani in, Thuram out?
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – JULY 01: Randal Kolo Muani #20 of Juventus FC reacts during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 match between Real Madrid CF and Juventus FC at Hard Rock Stadium on July 01, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
The €35m asking price is still too steep for a club that failed to qualify for the Champions League and needs to tighten their belts, but a partial exchange could be the solution.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, coach Luciano Spalletti is ready to sacrifice France international midfielder Thuram in order to get the centre-forward.
Thuram in turn would be more than open to the switch, as he feels Champions League winners PSG give him a better chance of getting into the France squad more regularly.
He had been purchased from OGC Nice for €20.6m in the summer of 2024 and his value on the transfer market has practically doubled in that time.
epa11938736 Juventus’ Khephren Thuram celebrates after scoring the 1-0 goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Juventus FC and Hellas Verona FC at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, 03 March 2025. EPA-EFE/ALESSANDRO DI MARCO
There is also interest from the Premier League, with Liverpool, Manchester United, Nottingham Forest and Sunderland all linked.
Paris Saint-Germain could see Thuram as the heir to former Napoli midfielder Fabian Ruiz, whose contract is due to expire in June 2027.
New Milan coach Ruben Amorim is expected to arrive in Italy on July 6 to begin work, with the first training session of pre-season on July 13.
The 41-year-old tactician was formally appointed last week with a contract to June 2028, his first experience since he was sacked as manager of Manchester United on January 5.
Amorim reboots career at Milan
Ruben Amorim appointed Milan head coach (Source: acmilan.com)
Precisely seven months on from that date is when he will formally start work in his new club, as La Gazzetta dello Sport and MilanNews claim that the schedule is set for him to arrive at Milanello on July 6.
It will be an opportunity to inspect the facilities at the training camp and meet the directors in person, although he is expected to return to Portugal for a few days to finalise the paperwork for this big move.
Players are due to arrive at the ground for pre-season tests on July 12, followed by the first training session a day later.
Chelsea defender Malo Gusto has been linked with a move away from the club this summer, and Manchester City are keen on the player.
According to a report from Hooligan Soccer, the player’s representatives are in contact with clubs like Manchester City and AC Milan regarding a summer move.
Gusto is not a guaranteed starter at Chelsea, and it would make sense for him to move on. When fit, Reece James is expected to start for the Blues.
Manchester City have been using Matheus Nunes as a right-back, but he is better suited to a central midfield role. Gusto recorded eight goal contributions last season. The Chelsea defender would be a specialist acquisition.
Manchester City are set to appoint Enzo Maresca as their manager, and he has already worked with gusto during his time at Chelsea. He knows the player well, and he might be able to bring out the best in the French defender. It remains to be seen whether Manchester City can finalise an agreement with Chelsea.
The player could cost around $75 million (£57m). Manchester City are one of the wealthiest clubs in the world, and they have the resources to get the deal done.
Given that he is not a guaranteed starter at Chelsea, they are likely to be open to a deal. The player will be hoping to play more often at this stage of his career as well, and joining Manchester City would be ideal. They are one of the biggest clubs in the world, and he would get to play under his former manager.
The deal could be ideal for all parties, and it remains to be seen how the situation develops.
He has a contract with Chelsea until 2030. Manchester City will have to meet their demands in order for the move to go through.
Tottenham are looking to sign the Manchester City attacker Savinho during the summer transfer window.
According to a report from RTI Esporte, the London club has already opened initial talks with the players, their representatives, and the City football group. They are hoping to get the deal done, but talks are currently in the preliminary stages.
Tottenham representatives met with Manchester City recently, but they are not the only club keen on the Brazilian. Arsenal are also interested in the player. Having said that, talks with Arsenal have not progressed yet.
The player will cost around €50 million, and it seems that Tottenham could be the best-placed club to sign the player this summer. They need more quality on the flanks, and Savinho would be an excellent investment. He can create opportunities with his pace and flair, and he is versatile enough to operate on either flank. He could be an asset to Tottenham in the long term.
The Brazilian has struggled for opportunities at Manchester City, and joining the London club would help him play regularly. It could improve him as a player.
It will be interesting to see if Arsenal decide to press ahead with a move for the player in the coming weeks. They need more quality on the flanks as well. The Brazilian is well settled in English football now, and he could make an immediate impact.
The asking price is quite high for a player who is not a guaranteed starter for Manchester City. It remains to be seen whether Tottenham or Arsenal can convince the Premier League club to lower their demands for the Brazilian.
Tyler Herro, center Kel'el Ware, forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. and second-year guard Kasparas Jakučionis are headed to Milwaukee, along with three first-round draft picks (including the No. 13 selection in the tonight’s 2026 NBA Draft), one pick swap (2030) and a 2033 second-round selection.
The trade moved Miami into the upper tier of contenders by the odds, but oddsmakers have questions on the team’s true contender status.
The Heat had 30-1 odds to win the 2026-27 NBA championship at multiple sportsbooks, and moved up to 18-1 after the deal. That moves them squarely into the fifth-best odds to win the title, behind favorites San Antonio and Oklahoma City (+260), Boston (+650) and the New York Knicks (+750). The Detroit Pistons, Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers are behind them at 25-1.
“I think the Heat have some more moves to do,” Halvor Egeland, BetMGM risk manager, told Yahoo Sports. “The spacing will be tough on Bam [Adebayo] and Giannis. They’ve certainly become contenders in the East, but they’ll need to figure out that roster ahead of the season if they want to be a legitimate title contender.”
Miami moved to third-best odds (+650) to win the East, behind the Celtics (+240) and Knicks (+275). Boston’s title odds were already high at sportsbooks, so the Celtics not landing Antetokounmpo only moved them back slightly from +550 to +650.
“I think it was a good deal for both the Heat and Bucks,” Thomas Gable, sportsbook director at The Borgata in New Jersey, told Yahoo Sports on Tuesday morning. “The Heat have a formidable starting five now. Bucks have to rebuild and received plenty of picks and could always move Herro as well.”
CROMWELL, Conn. — Tiger Woods made his first public appearance since his car accident and subsequent DUI arrest in March.
The 15-time major champ was at TPC River Highlands on the Tuesday of the Travelers Championship to introduce PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp ahead of his press conference to detail strategic changes coming to the PGA Tour in 2028. After some brief remarks from Woods, Rolapp took the podium and began his speech and Q&A in the course's clubhouse with the following message.
"Thank you, Tiger," Rolapp said. "I think I speak for all of us, glad to see you back."
Dressed in a navy suit, Woods watched from the side of the room with outgoing PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan as Rolapp detailed the extensive planned changes to the PGA Tour's structure.
Woods also wore a serious expression for most of the proceedings. However, he did crack a smile and shook his head when reporter Bob Harig asked Rolapp about eligibility questions and whether "would it be fair to assume that you're going to consider one such as having won 80 PGA Tour events or more to be considered among those career achievements to be eligible for those tournaments?"
"I think all those eligibility questions we're in the middle of answering," Rolapp responded. "I think it would be premature to speculate or to give you part of the answer."
"Over the past eight months, the Future Competition Committee has spent a lot of time on a very important and fundamental question: How do we build the strongest possible version of the PGA Tour? This work was never about any one player or person. It was about bringing together different perspectives, having honest, hard conversations, and thinking boldly about what is best for the game that we all love.
"It has been a privilege to work with all the committee members and especially my fellow player directors. I'm proud of the work we've done and am grateful to everyone who's contributed along the way. We have to look forward and beyond today and over the horizon to set up the PGA TOUR and our sport for the future generations of players and fans."
Woods briefly came back on the podium with Monahan when PGA Tour Enterprise chairman Joe Gorder announced Rolapp would be succeeding him as commissioner. Woods flashed a big grin and patted Monahan on the back as he took the microphone.
Golf fans hadn't seen much of Woods since his March 27 car crash in Jupiter Island, Fla., which led to him being charged for suspicion of driving under the influence. Four days later, Woods announced on social media he was "stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health."
Woods hasn't played in an official PGA Tour event since the 2024 British Open, but has been involved in the PGA Tour's planned changes. The 50-year-old has chaired the PGA Tour Future Competition Committee since it was formed last August.
"It's great to see him back," Rolapp told reporters on Tuesday after his presentation. "Tiger's been involved throughout the process and is contributing meaningfully. It's awesome to see him back in great form. So we're really excited."
Mumbai: In a heartening development, former India and Mumbai fast bowler and ex-national selector Salil Ankola has overcome severe depression, for which he had been undergoing treatment at a rehab centre near Pune for the past month-and-a-half, and is keen to resume work now. "I'd love to resume work again. I'm really open to any cricketing assignment-coaching or anything related to the sport. I'm going out now. I've got a couple of meetings. I'm starting some coaching work here (in Trinity Academy in Pune). I'll be discharged (from the rehab centre) in 10-15 days. I've been staying with Ria (his wife). It's good to be back in the game again. I'm feeling great now. I've become much fitter now- I've lost about 10 kgs, as I was working out in a good gym there (in the rehab centre). I'm absolutely fighting fit. Most importantly, I am in a good frame of mind as well," Ankola told TOI from Pune on Tuesday.
Talking about his tough period, Ankola said, "(Getting admitted to the rehab centre for severe clinical depression) was one of the best decisions I took. I needed that time for myself. I wasn't feeling good, which is the most important thing. I spoke about it with my wife, who suggested that I should (check into a rehab centre for treatment). I had to do this in the middle of my IPL commentary stint. In these kinds of things, you've to leave everything and (undergo treatment).
Salil's wife Ria Ankola said, "Salil is doing much better. I met him yesterday in Pune. The doctors are very happy with his progress. He is fit to resume work now. They are saying that he will be discharged and be back home very soon. I must thank all his friends and well-wishers for being there for him and being so supportive and helping us throughout.”
“Basically the whole thing is that he has battled depression very nicely and has been declared fit to work and take up new cricket assignments with immediate effect. He's starting with coaching assignments in Pune from today. For now, since the assignment will be in Pune, and he was already in Pune, he will stay back here until he completes his assignments. Salil is very happy and excited to start working again and is looking forward to more coaching assignments in India and abroad," she added. On May 6 2026, TOI had reported first that Ankola had been suffering from severe depression and was admitted to a rehab centre near Pune.
Ankola was appointed as the national selector on January 7, 2023, and was in the post till Aug 2024. He was also Mumbai's chief selector from 2021-23.
The 58-year-old has been commentating in domestic cricket and in the IPL for the past few years.
Ankola played a solitary Test for India against Pakistan at Karachi in 1989, and was the other debutant in the match besides legends Sachin Tendulkar and Waqar Younis. He took two wickets in that match. He had also played 20 ODIs, capturing 13 wickets. A key pacer for Mumbai in the 90s, Ankola featured in 54 first-class matches in which he took 181 wickets, with best figures of 6-47.
The Philadelphia Eagles now have all eight members of the 2026 draft class under contract before training camp after inking Markel Bell. The third-round pick has signed his rookie deal with Philadelphia, according to Tom Pelissero, who reported the agreement through Bell’s agents, Marlon Moore, Trey Robinson, and Connor Mullins of AthEliteAgency. The move gets the rookie offensive tackle officially settled before one of the most important development stretches of his first NFL season.
Bell was selected by the Eagles with the No. 68 overall pick in the third round of the 2026 NFL draft after a college career that included stops at Holmes Community College and Miami. He played in 12 games and made five starts for the Hurricanes in 2024 before becoming Miami’s full-time starting left tackle in 2025, giving Philadelphia a massive developmental tackle with starting experience at a major college program.
The Eagles have long prioritized offensive line depth, and Bell fits the organizational profile. At 6-foot-9 and more than 340 pounds, he brings rare size to a position group still led by Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson. Philadelphia does not need Bell to become an immediate starter, but the franchise has consistently invested in young linemen with traits, length, and developmental upside.
The Eagles have signed third-round pick OT Markel Bell, per his agents Marlon Moore, Trey Robinson and Connor Mullins of @AthEliteAgency.
His signing also allows Bell to enter camp without contract uncertainty. That matters for a rookie tackle who will need every rep he can get under offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland. Bell’s early work will likely center on refining his hand placement, pad level, and footwork while adjusting to NFL pass rushers, who will test his ability to handle speed, counters, and leverage despite his size advantage.
Bell also gives the Eagles another option behind their established starters. Johnson’s return from injury, Mailata’s continued dominance, and the health of Cam Jurgens and Landon Dickerson will shape the offensive line outlook, but Bell’s development could become important beyond 2026. Philadelphia has built one of the NFL’s best offensive lines by planning ahead, and Bell represents another long-term investment in that approach.
The rookie tackle already saw valuable offseason work with the second-team offensive line, giving the Eagles an early look at how he handles the speed and complexity of the professional game. Training camp will raise the intensity, especially once pads come on, and one-on-one pass-rush drills begin.
Bell may not be counted on to start right away, but his physical tools make him one of the more intriguing rookies on the roster. With his contract completed, the next step is simple: stay healthy, stack reps, and begin proving he can become part of the Eagles’ offensive line future.
Newport County have signed forward Yahya Bamba from non-league Forest Green Rovers for the 2026-27 season.
Bamba, 27, went on loan to Brackley Town in January and now makes a permanent switch to Rodney Parade. Brackley were relegated from the National League at the end of last season.
The new recruit, who is able to operate across the front three, told the Exiles website: "I'm a very direct player. I love one-v-one situations, very pacey, and I like to get fans off their seats."
Bamba's arrival follows that of fellow forward Shaquille Gwengwe from Southern League Premier Division South side Poole Town.
New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson is expected to help the team contend for a Super Bowl in 2026 with steady play in the ground game, but will he also be an attractive option for fantasy football owners in dynasty leagues?
According to ESPN’s Eric Moody, Henderson is a player worth the price to trade for in dynasty leagues this year as he approaches his age 24-season in the NFL.
”The flashes Henderson showed last season, even with Rhamondre Stevenson still involved, were real,” Moody said. “Henderson stockpiled 1,132 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns, averaged 5.1 yards per carry and had three games with 28-plus fantasy points. Stevenson will have a role, but his fumbling issues could create an opening for Henderson to push for more work.”
Henderson has the makings to be a volume rusher in the league, with a combination of speed, power and the ability to break free into the open field that will enable him to produce several 1,000-yard rushing seasons in the near future with the right amount of carries.
He recorded 911 rushing yards in 2025. If Stevenson is moved in the coming years, Henderson may be in line to greatly exceed the 206.2 fantasy points he earned in dynasty PPR leagues last season and the 171.2 he earned in non-PPR leagues.
Just a few days ago, the New York Jets all but announced that they had no interest in Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby, who announced last week that he will be part of the NFL's Supplemental Draft next month.
Jets quarterback Geno Smith was accused by his girlfriend and the mother of his child of domestic abuse on Father's Day, saying he beat her up.
The woman in question says Smith refuses to release security footage between him and her to the police, and she also accuses Smith of not taking care of their special needs son in a message she posted on Instagram.
Smith was expected to start for the Jets this season, but with these new allegations, has he opened the door for the Jets to pursue Brendan Sorsby?
Head coach Aaron Glenn refused to comment on the possibility of the Jets drafting Sorsby, saying he wants to concentrate on this year's team. The Jets did draft rookie quarterback Cade Klubnik out of Clemson, but he's injured.
So now, the door is open for the Jets to take a look at Sorsby; at this point, what do they have to lose? Smith may be headed for trouble, and with Klubnik hurt, the Jets may be foolish not to at least take a look before someone else does.
They already made the mistake of not moving up in the draft for Ty Simpson and let the LA Rams draft him; now it's their chance to correct their mistake by taking a chance on Sorsby.
The Baltimore Ravens have never hidden their philosophy when it comes to building a football team. Everything begins up front. For years, this organization has invested heavily in the trenches. Understanding that, successful rushing attacks and clean pockets rarely happen by accident. That's one reason the organization was drawn to Vega Ioane, a prospect whose game reflects many of the traits the Ravens traditionally value.
He's big. He's powerful. He's experienced. More importantly, he combines those qualities with a level of athleticism that isn't always common for a player carrying more than 320 pounds. There is still development ahead, as there is for every rookie offensive lineman. Yet several aspects of Ioane's game already resemble what NFL coaches want from a starting guard. That's why he enters training camp as one of the more intriguing young offensive linemen in Baltimore's system.
Offensive linemen rarely receive the same attention as quarterbacks or wide receivers from the general public. Winning teams know how important they are. That's one reason the Ravens were intrigued by Vega Ioane. The former college standout possesses several qualities that should help ease his transition to the professional game.
Built like an NFL guard
Some prospects look the part immediately. Ioane certainly does. At 6-foot-4¼ and 320 pounds, he owns the prototypical frame teams seek along the interior offensive line. His size allows him to anchor effectively against power rushers while generating movement in the running game. The physical foundation is already in place.
Power with surprising body control
Ioane's strength jumps off the film. What's equally impressive is how well he carries it. He plays with excellent balance, body control, and core strength. That allows him to maintain leverage throughout a rep. After dropping weight before last season, he became more mobile without sacrificing the power that made him effective in the first place. That combination is difficult to find.
Outstanding pass protection
Many college guards arrive in the NFL needing significant development as pass blockers. Ioane enters with a strong resume. He posted an impressive stretch in which he allowed zero sacks over two seasons. His awareness, anchor, and technique consistently showed up against quality competition. Quarterbacks appreciate linemen who keep the pocket clean. Ioane has made a habit of doing exactly that.
Mobility adds another dimension
Despite his size, Ioane moves well. He's effective pulling across formations, locating defenders in space. He leads ball carriers through running lanes. That versatility makes him valuable in multiple offensive systems. Whether the Ravens ask him to move people off the line of scrimmage or operate in space, he has demonstrated the ability to do both.
Experience matters
Physical traits create opportunities. Experience helps players capitalize on them. Ioane arrives in Baltimore having started numerous games and faced a wide variety of defensive looks. That experience should help shorten the learning curve as he adjusts to NFL competition. The Ravens still have work to do developing him, but the foundation is impressive. Ioane already possesses many of the traits teams look for in future starting guards.
Final analysis
Training camp will reveal how quickly Ioane can translate those traits into production against NFL competition. Nothing is guaranteed, especially for rookie offensive linemen. Still, the Ravens have built their reputation by identifying players who fit their culture and developmental model. Ioane checks many of those boxes already.
He possesses the size to hold up against NFL power, the strength to create movement in the running game, the athleticism to operate in space, and the experience to handle the position's mental demands. Baltimore still has work to do polishing his game, but the foundation appears solid. If the Ravens have found another long-term answer in the trenches, it won't be because Ioane lacked the tools. It will be because he arrived with many of them already in place.
Rade Bogdanović made racist comments on Serbian TV -Credit:RTS
Rade Bogdanovic has issued an apology after his racist remarks on Serbian TV during FIFA World Cup coverage sparked widespread outrage. The former Atletico Madrid striker claimed that: "Black players lack concentration beyond 60 to 80 minutes," while Belgium were held to a scoreless tie by Iran.
The comments emerged as he analyzed Belgian defender Nathan Ngoy's red card 66 minutes into the match, the 23-year-old receiving an early dismissal after bringing down Mehdi Taremi as the last man back. And speaking on RTS, Bogdanovic delivered an extremely controversial opinion.
He said, via The Mirror: "I have always said those players – and I'm really not racist – but Black players lack the concentration to last more than 60 to 80 minutes. I played with them.
-Credit:Liza Rosales/ISI Photos, ISI Photos via Getty Images
"Sometimes we had to protect our own players from making mistakes. Modern football doesn't allow this kind of error at World Cup level."
The program's presenter immediately challenged Bogdanovic's remarks, yet the 56-year-old remained steadfast in his position, adding: "The majority lack concentration." Despite online criticism, RTS still featured the former Werder Bremen striker in their lineup for the subsequent day's game between Argentina and Austria.
However, Bogdanovic has since expressed regret for his language. He told Reuters: "I sincerely apologize for my statement regarding Black football players."
RTS also released a separate apology, stating: "We would like to take this opportunity to apologize, as a broadcaster, for the statement made in our programme concerning members of a particular race."
This follows FIFA's intensified efforts against discrimination last week to commemorate the International Day for Countering Hate Speech. The governing body implemented 'high-impact stadium activations' throughout Atlanta, Guadalajara, Los Angeles, and Vancouver to deliver a "rallying cry" aimed at ending discrimination and "protect football."
To listen to the latest episode of 'All Out Soccer' - CLICK HERE
National captains exchanged special commemorative pendants displaying the native languages of competing nations on one side, alongside an English translation reading: "WE PLAY TOGETHER. WE STAND AGAINST HATE," on the reverse.
Addressing the initiative, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said: "Hate speech has no place in football or in society. On the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, we reaffirm our tireless commitment to eradicating discriminatory abuse in all its forms.
"When players, coaches and match officials are targeted, it is an attack on football itself. We have a duty to protect them, and a duty to protect followers from hateful abuse and from the idea that such behavior is acceptable.
"That is why we have strengthened the FIFA Disciplinary Code, launched the No Racism campaign and empowered players, coaches and match officials through the No Racism gesture. Hate speech is a systemic challenge that requires strong alliances to confront.
"Through FIFA's Social Media Protection Service and with the support of partners such as @tiktok, we are working together to tackle hate, help make digital spaces safer and ensure that respect always has a place in our beautiful game and online."
-Credit:Dean Mouhtaropoulos, Getty Images
FIFA have also introduced a new regulation at this summer's tournament, whereby any player caught covering their mouth while communicating with others on the field faces an immediate red card, regardless of intent or context.
Paraguay's Miguel Almiron became the first player dismissed under the new rule, covering his mouth mid-conversation during his nation's game against Turkey last week. Almiron made the gesture as he passed Mert Muldur, following the separation of both sides after a brief altercation.
The assistant referee was immediately alerted, and Almiron was given his marching orders. Reflecting on the incident at full time, Paraguay head coach Gustavo Alfaro stated: "According to the law, if you cover your mouth you're sent off. Red card.
"There's nothing I can do about that. Unfortunately, we can't issue a new opinion on this. He [Almiron] apologized to the players for his mistake. He knew about the situation he had left his teammates in with his actions."
The exact words exchanged by Almiron remain undisclosed, and the player will now be absent for Paraguay's final group stage game against Australia on Saturday, June 26.
For years, the Florida Swing has been ingrained into the PGA Tour calendar. But now, there are questions about how the calendar will roll out, beginning in 2028.
The Championship Series and Challenger Series will utilize separate points lists, with each rewarding winning, top finishes and prioritizing making the cut. Players will earn points only within the series for which they are eligible.
The Championship Series will utilize a single points system across every event, unlike it is today with four types of events offering different point allocations. The Challenger Series will award points in a consistent manner, with elevated points offered for majors as well as events played during Championship Series off weeks. Championship Series players will not be eligible for Challenger Series events.
But how will promotion and relegation work? Let's break it down:
PGA Tour Championship Series promotion
Twenty additional spots, at a minimum, will go to the top finishers from the Challenger Series, players who distinguish themselves across a schedule of at least 20 events.
Challenger Series players who finish inside the top 20 in the season-long points race will have Championship Series membership for the entire subsequent season. Those players will have guaranteed entry into every regular season event outside of the majors and the Players, which may maintain their own eligibility. Championship Series eligibility is the same for each event, so players on the Championship Series are guaranteed access to every event. Criteria for additional spots on the Championship Series will be announced at a later date but will include tournament winners, medical extensions and career milestones.
Challenger Series players who finish outside the cutoff for promotion will still have an opportunity for promotion via the “last chance” series, a collection of four to six events played in the fall with a limited number of Championship Series spots available to top finishers.
In-season promotion
The other in-season promotion option is winning a major championship. Entry criteria for each major will be determined by the respective organization, meaning that Challenger Series participants could qualify for majors despite those events appearing on the Championship Series schedule. Should a player who is not a Championship Series member win a major, he would earn an immediate promotion to the Championship Series. Additionally, if a Challenge Series player wins two events, he will automatically be promoted to the Championship Series.
Relegation to Challenger Series
The top-90 players from the season-long points list (out of about 130 players) will retain Championship Series membership. Those who fail to retain membership could retain it via the “last chance” series. Eligibility for those events will include players relegated from Championship Series, Challenger Series players and other categories to be determined.
Championship Series players who fail to regain their status via the “last chance” series will be eligible for the Challenger Series the following year.
Challenger Series promotion
The PGA Tour’s annual qualifying tournament, known as Q-School, will conclude prior to the beginning of the “last chance” series and will offer the opportunity for players to earn access to the Challenger Series in addition to pathways developmental properties.
There will also be relegation out of the Challenger Series, the details of which will be released at a later date.
Cameron Jourdan is an assistant editor of Golfweek, covering college and amateur golf, the PGA Tour and plenty more. Follow Cameron on X/Twitter (@Cam_Jourdan) or Instagram (@GolfweekJourdan).
For years, the Florida Swing has been ingrained into the PGA Tour calendar. But now, there are questions about how the calendar will roll out, beginning in 2028.
The Championship Series and Challenger Series will utilize separate points lists, with each rewarding winning, top finishes and prioritizing making the cut. Players will earn points only within the series for which they are eligible.
The Championship Series will utilize a single points system across every event, unlike it is today with four types of events offering different point allocations. The Challenger Series will award points in a consistent manner, with elevated points offered for majors as well as events played during Championship Series off weeks. Championship Series players will not be eligible for Challenger Series events.
But how will promotion and relegation work? Let's break it down:
PGA Tour Championship Series promotion
Twenty additional spots, at a minimum, will go to the top finishers from the Challenger Series, players who distinguish themselves across a schedule of at least 20 events.
Challenger Series players who finish inside the top 20 in the season-long points race will have Championship Series membership for the entire subsequent season. Those players will have guaranteed entry into every regular season event outside of the majors and the Players, which may maintain their own eligibility. Championship Series eligibility is the same for each event, so players on the Championship Series are guaranteed access to every event. Criteria for additional spots on the Championship Series will be announced at a later date but will include tournament winners, medical extensions and career milestones.
Challenger Series players who finish outside the cutoff for promotion will still have an opportunity for promotion via the “last chance” series, a collection of four to six events played in the fall with a limited number of Championship Series spots available to top finishers.
In-season promotion
The other in-season promotion option is winning a major championship. Entry criteria for each major will be determined by the respective organization, meaning that Challenger Series participants could qualify for majors despite those events appearing on the Championship Series schedule. Should a player who is not a Championship Series member win a major, he would earn an immediate promotion to the Championship Series. Additionally, if a Challenge Series player wins two events, he will automatically be promoted to the Championship Series.
Relegation to Challenger Series
The top-90 players from the season-long points list (out of about 130 players) will retain Championship Series membership. Those who fail to retain membership could retain it via the “last chance” series. Eligibility for those events will include players relegated from Championship Series, Challenger Series players and other categories to be determined.
Championship Series players who fail to regain their status via the “last chance” series will be eligible for the Challenger Series the following year.
Challenger Series promotion
The PGA Tour’s annual qualifying tournament, known as Q-School, will conclude prior to the beginning of the “last chance” series and will offer the opportunity for players to earn access to the Challenger Series in addition to pathways developmental properties.
There will also be relegation out of the Challenger Series, the details of which will be released at a later date.
Cameron Jourdan is an assistant editor of Golfweek, covering college and amateur golf, the PGA Tour and plenty more. Follow Cameron on X/Twitter (@Cam_Jourdan) or Instagram (@GolfweekJourdan).
The hockey season may have just ended, but the Pittsburgh Penguins are already giving fans something to look forward to.
The team just announced its 2026 preseason schedule.
The Penguins will play four preseason games and participate in a Prospect Tournament.
The preseason schedule includes two home games at PPG Paints Arena and two road games, with the Prospect Tournament held in Detroit.
The four-game preseason slate will feature contests against Buffalo and Detroit in Pittsburgh and road games against Columbus and Buffalo.
The Penguins will open their preseason at PPG Paints Arena with back-to-back games. They will face Buffalo on Monday, Sept. 21 and Detroit on Tuesday, Sept. 22.
Then, the team will travel to Columbus to play the Blue Jackets on Thursday, Sept. 24, at Nationwide Arena.
The preseason will conclude on Saturday, Sept. 26, against the Sabres at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.
All four preseason games will be broadcast on 105.9 The X.
The Prospect Tournament will be held from Sept. 11-14.
It took a while, but the Edmonton Oilers and Mike Babcock are official.
He was announced Tuesday as the Oilers' new head coach, replacing Kris Knoblauch, and his task is immediately clear: Maximize Connor McDavid.
Babcock comes to town with a strong resume, one that also included a question mark that had to be solved before he could be hired.
Babcock has coached for the Ducks, Red Wings and Maple Leafs.
He was hired in 2023 to work for the Columbus Blue Jackets, but the NHL investigated him after Babcock resigned without coaching a game.
"He left the Blue Jackets less than three months into the job after his requests to look at personal photos from players' phones drew criticism," ESPN's Emily Kaplan wrote last week.
The NHL's investigation of Babcock was completed last week.
"The League has completed its review of Mike Babcock's tenure in Columbus, and of certain alleged conduct associated therewith," the NHL said in a statement. "Our investigation has concluded that, even in a light least favorable to Mr. Babcock, there is no current basis to restrict his employment in the League."
Now that the Oilers have made this decision, it all comes down to what Babcock can do with McDavid.
What does Mike Babcock hire mean for Connor McDavid?
This is the kind of hire a team makes to win immediately.
Babcock comes with baggage, but he also comes with strong coaching acumen. The Oilers don't have time to waste.
McDavid has two years left on his current contract. He has yet to win a Stanley Cup in Edmonton. And if it doesn't happen in 2026-27, questions will already start being asked about the potential for a trade.
It's not clear if McDavid himself has any strong feelings on Babcock. He's probably more worried about getting a good enough roster and depth to compete with the best teams in the Western Conference.
This was Edmonton's next step, and the coaching box has been checked off. Now, they've got to get their roster moves right, because they can't afford not to win with McDavid.
The Titans made it clear last week that they expect defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to continue playing at a high level.
Simmons signed a three-year, $105.8 million contract extension that puts him under contract in Tennessee through the 2030 season. The concern when signing a veteran player to a long-term deal is that they won't be able to maintain the same level of play, but Simmons believes that the decision to hire head coach Robert Saleh will help him do more than maintain his current production.
"It's kind of my first year playing in an attack defense," Simmons said, via the team's website. "That's my game. I like to play on the other side of the line of scrimmage . . . I love this type of defense, to be able to be on the other side of the line of scrimmage each and every play. It demands you to make plays. I love this philosophy, and think it will help me make a lot more plays in the backfield, and it will help this team for sure."
Simmons set career highs with 11 sacks and 17 tackles for loss last season without playing in an "attack defense," so the prospect of turning him loose more often is one that's likely to lead others to match his excitement about what this shift in philosophy will mean for his productivity in 2026.
Journalist: Chelsea await Real Madrid approach as £120m transfer battle commences
Chelsea Transfer Plans Take Shape as Fernandez Interest Emerges
Chelsea’s summer transfer strategy is beginning to come into focus, with incoming business, potential departures and questions over squad management all competing for attention ahead of a pivotal campaign. The Athletic has reported on the picture of Chelsea’s summer.
Reports linking Enzo Fernandez with a move to Real Madrid have inevitably generated headlines, particularly following Marc Cucurella’s £51.7 million switch to the Spanish giants. Yet, despite the speculation, Chelsea remain relaxed about the situation.
Fernandez Valuation Sends Clear Message
Chelsea continue to view Fernandez as one of the club’s most important assets. While he has not been placed on an untouchable list, the valuation attached to the Argentina international speaks volumes.
A reported asking price of £120 million effectively communicates Chelsea’s position. The midfielder remains highly regarded internally, and significantly, there has been no formal approach from Real Madrid at this stage.
In modern football, every player has a value. Chelsea’s stance appears less about encouraging a sale and more about ensuring any interested club understands the scale of investment required.
The departure of Jimmy Jay Morgan to West Bromwich Albion, where he has signed a four year contract, represents a more straightforward piece of business and reflects Chelsea’s willingness to allow young players to pursue opportunities elsewhere when pathways become limited.
Squad Management Becomes Key Challenge
Without European football next season, Chelsea face a unique challenge.
A reduced fixture schedule means fewer opportunities for fringe players and emerging talent. Keeping a large squad satisfied becomes considerably more difficult when there are fewer matches available for rotation.
Recent criticism surrounding the handling of unwanted players has also increased scrutiny on Chelsea’s decision making. Those labelled by outsiders as part of a so called “bomb squad” have often become symbols of wider concerns about squad planning.
Selling players early in the window would help address those concerns. It would also generate valuable revenue that could be reinvested into priority targets.
There is also an element of patience required. New head coach Xabi Alonso will want the opportunity to assess players firsthand before final decisions are made on several individuals.
Lacroix and Rogers High on Recruitment List
Chelsea are targeting at least two experienced additions from Europe’s leading leagues.
Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix remains one of their leading centre back targets. Palace are under no pressure to sell, particularly after failing to replace Marc Guehi when he joined Manchester City earlier this year.
Photo IMAGO
Chelsea also continue to pursue Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers. Competition from Arsenal and Paris Saint Germain complicates matters, but interest remains strong.
Alongside those pursuits, Valentin Barco is expected to arrive from Strasbourg, while Geovany Quenda and Emmanuel Emegha will formally complete previously agreed transfers.
Goalkeeper Mike Penders is also set to challenge Rob Sanchez for the number one position.
Significant Outgoings Still Expected
Chelsea’s squad remains crowded and departures are inevitable.
One striker is expected to leave, with Liam Delap attracting Premier League interest after a difficult campaign. Nicolas Jackson’s future remains uncertain, while Marc Guiu could also move on.
Trevoh Chalobah continues to attract enquiries, although Chelsea value him highly and are not actively seeking a sale. Axel Disasi appears more likely to depart following an encouraging loan spell at West Ham United.
Elsewhere, Filip Jorgensen has requested a move, Gabriel Slonina could leave on loan or permanently, and David Datro Fofana remains available for transfer.
For Chelsea, the coming weeks may be defined less by who arrives and more by who leaves. Creating balance within the squad could ultimately prove just as important as adding new talent.
Our View – EPL Index Analysis
From a Chelsea supporter’s perspective, the most encouraging aspect of this update is the club’s apparent willingness to be selective rather than reactive.
The £120 million valuation attached to Enzo Fernandez suggests Chelsea are not looking to cash in on one of their biggest stars. If Real Madrid genuinely want him, they will have to pay a premium. That feels like a healthy position for the club to take.
The bigger issue is squad size. Without European football, carrying a bloated squad creates problems both financially and culturally. There are simply not enough minutes available to keep everyone engaged.
The pursuit of Maxence Lacroix and Morgan Rogers also makes sense. Both players have already demonstrated they can perform consistently at a high level. Chelsea supporters have seen enough development projects over recent years. There is a growing appetite for players who can contribute immediately.
Questions remain around the striker department. Liam Delap, Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu all face uncertain futures, while Joao Pedro appears likely to remain central to plans. Getting those decisions right could have a major impact on Chelsea’s league position next season.
There is also intrigue surrounding Xabi Alonso. His assessment of the current squad may differ significantly from previous management teams. Several players currently viewed as expendable could yet earn fresh opportunities.
Ultimately, Chelsea’s summer feels less about dramatic headline signings and more about building a coherent squad. If the club can trim the numbers effectively while adding quality in key areas, supporters will have every reason to feel optimistic heading into the new campaign.
Heisman Trophy winner. National champion at Florida State. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, taken by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. An 11-year NFL veteran with five different teams.
But it’s the other qualities — the infectious energy, the unapologetic authenticity, the off-the-cuff humor — that have made his latest act feel like a natural extension. Even while still an active NFL quarterback, Winston has slid comfortably into the media world.
Now, he’s taking that personality to a global stage, entertaining audiences as a Fox Sports digital correspondent at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“If there’s one thing about me it’s I’m gonna get you right #usa #fifaworldcup #soccer #WorldCup #JameisOnFox,” Winston posted recently on social media — a message that, like much of his career, lands somewhere between confidence, charisma and pure Jameis.
Why is Jameis Winston so popular on the microphone?
Tallahassee resident David Ross, a two-time World Series winner and former Chicago Cubs manager, has also discovered a new career behind the microphone.
Ross rejoined ESPN in March 2026 on a multi-year deal following his managerial tenure with the Cubs. He serves as a baseball analyst for both game and studio coverage. He originally served as an ESPN analyst from 2017 to 2019 before leaving to manage the Cubs.
"I think authenticity is the key," Ross told the Tallahassee Democrat when asked about Winston's popularity. "I think he is organically himself, which is a fun, knowledgeable guy. His infectious personality comes through very easily."
FSU fans wholeheartedly agreed as the Tallahassee Democrat posed a question on Facebook about Winston's broadcasting success.
"Authenticity!" said Laci Swann, wife of former FSU basketball star Isaiah Swann.
"You can tell he genuinely enjoys sports. Gonna make a fortune when he retires and goes into media," said Lawrence Steed.
"Jameis is who he is. Camera and mic or not. He can do anything with that personality, ability to relate to people, and his work ethic. He walked me to my car the night I met him after a late game at Howser, and was amazed by my hand controls. He and his family have been wonderful to me ever since," said Mason Hall Morris, a longtime FSU baseball fan who has been in a wheelchair since childhood by spina bifida.
"Vibrant personality, well spoken, upbeat, high energy," Frank Johnson said.
"He is hilarious," Dale Brown said.
Where is Jameis Winston next at the World Cup?
Winston is a recurring guest on the FOX Sports YouTube Channel "Always On" livestream, which broadcasts continuously for 39 straight days through July 19. He makes sporadic, viral field reports during the FIFA World Cup Live pregame and postgame blocks on FOX and FS1.
FoxSports explained in a story that "if there’s one thing Winston has accomplished throughout this World Cup, it’s proving that he truly is a man of the people."
Earlier in the World Cup, Winston was spotted helping Japanese fans clean up the Dallas Stadium stands (a tradition that was spotlighted after the team's first World Cup in 1998) following Japan's thrilling 2-2 draw with the Netherlands.
The FOX Sports broadcast team, featuring Rob Stone, couldn’t contain their excitement for Winston as the feed shifted over to him in the crowd, according to the story.
"Jameis Winston is working with the Japanese national team to clean up Dallas Stadium," Stone said. "He’s a man of the people. Show me a number one draft pick in NFL history who takes out his own garbage bag and cleans up inside the stadium."
The Japanese promotion recently announced a handful of bouts for
the Aug. 11 event. Rizin 54 takes place at Toyota Arena Tokyo in
Tokyo, Japan, and is headlined by a featherweight showdown between
Kleber
Koike Erbst and Kyomo Akimoto.
A former Bellator
MMA bantamweight champion, Mix was victorious in 20 of his
first 21 professional outings prior to signing with the
UFC. The 32-year-old New York native dropped a pair of
lackluster decision against Mario
Bautista and Jakub
Wiklacz before being released from the Las Vegas-based
promotion. “Patchy” moved to 145 pounds at Rizin 52, where he
suffered his third consecutive setback in a second-round stoppage
loss to Kyoma
Akimoto. He will return to 135 pounds against Sato.
The 38-year-old Sato is a veteran of 58 pro fights dating back to
2008. The former ONE
Championship and Shooto
competitor has won three of his last four starts and is coming off
a first-round submission victory against John
Sweeney at Rizin 52.
So much respect for Sato but I’m coming back to bantamweight to
prove myself. Fully dedicated and with so much vengeance. This
story is far from over and this is how I’ll earn my shot at the
[Rizin] bantamweight title,” Mix wrote on social media.
“Everything is in my hands, I’m ready to show my true form.”
So much respect for Sato but I’m
coming back to bantamweight to prove myself. Fully dedicated and
with so much vengeance. This story is far from over and this is how
I’ll earn my shot at the @rizin_PR
bantamweight title‼️
Every NBA Draft has misses, but a select group of picks changed franchises for all the wrong reasons.
The 2026 NBA Draft is set for Tuesday, June 23, and Wednesday, June 24, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. The first round on Tuesday begins at 8 p.m. ET and will be televised on ABC and ESPN and streamed on the ESPN app. The second round on Wednesday starts at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN and the ESPN app.
This list looks at the all-time biggest busts in NBA Draft history, weighing draft slot, expectations at the time, who was passed over and how little value the player actually delivered compared to that investment.
1. Darko Milicic, No. 2 pick in 2003
The defining modern draft bust is Darko Milicic going second overall in 2003, sandwiched between LeBron James and a run of future Hall of Famers. The Pistons chose Milicic over Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade in what is widely considered one of the greatest drafts ever.
Milicic stuck around the league for several seasons as a role player with six teams. But his career averages of 6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game never came close to justifying his slot or the talent left on the board. His selection did not derail Detroit, which still won a title in 2004, but it probably cost the franchise a decade of star-level talent on the back end of that era.
2. Anthony Bennett, No. 1 in 2013
Anthony Bennett might be the purest bust on this list. The first pick in 2013 out of UNLV, Bennett was a surprise choice and quickly looked overwhelmed. He struggled with conditioning, confidence and finding any consistent role in the league.
Within four seasons and four teams he was out of the NBA, which is almost unheard of for a recent top overall selection. The 2013 class did not have a LeBron-level sure thing, but the Cleveland Cavaliers still had better options than a player who would not even reach solid-rotation status. Bennett finished his career averaging 4.4 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.
3. Sam Bowie, No. 2 in 1984
Sam Bowie is the classic cautionary tale about drafting for positional need over transcendent talent. The Portland Trail Blazers took Bowie second overall out of Kentucky in 1984, one pick after Hakeem Olajuwon and one pick before Michael Jordan. Bowie had a skill set that teams coveted in a big man, but chronic leg injuries limited him and turned the pick into a historical reference point for front-office regret.
Bowie had some productive stretches when healthy, but he will always be remembered as the player taken instead of Jordan. He played 10 years in the league with three teams, averaging 10.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Bowie is proof that sometimes a bust is as much about who you are not as who you are.
4. Greg Oden, No. 1 in 2007
Greg Oden is the most sympathetic name here. By talent and college dominance at Ohio State, he deserved the hype as a franchise center when Portland took him first in 2007. Injuries stole almost his entire career before it ever started.
What pushes Oden toward the top of bust lists is the context. The player taken right after him was Kevin Durant, a future MVP and one of the best scorers in league history. Oden’s body never let him show what he might have been, but in draft-history terms, Portland’s choice was devastating. Oden wrapped up a 105-game career with Portland and the Miami Heat averaging 8 points and 6.2 boards.
5. Kwame Brown, No. 1 in 2001
Kwame Brown had a 12-year career as a physical big, but that resume never matched the expectations placed on the first high schooler taken No. 1 overall. Drafted by the Washington franchise in 2001, Brown became a symbol of how hazardous it can be to project teenagers into franchise-cornerstone roles.
He carved out years as a rotation big, yet the combination of his draft position, the market and the pressure of playing early in his career next to Jordan turned him into one of the league’s most famous disappointments. Brown played for seven teams, recording 6.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per contest.
6. Hasheem Thabeet, No. 2 in 2009
Hasheem Thabeet was taken second overall out of UConn by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2009 largely on the strength of his size and shot-blocking potential. The league was already shifting toward more mobile, versatile bigs, and Thabeet never caught up. He struggled to adapt defensively away from the rim and did not offer enough on offense to compensate.
What makes the pick so painful is that the Grizzlies passed on future stars like James Harden and Stephen Curry. Even in a deep draft, they landed on a player who could not secure a consistent rotation role. Thabeet averaged 2.2 points and 2.7 rebounds during a five-year career with four teams.
7. Adam Morrison, No. 3 in 2006
UConn’s Adam Morrison entered the 2006 draft out of Gonzaga as one of the most talked-about college scorers in the country. The Charlotte Bobcats took him third overall, hoping his shooting would translate immediately. Instead, he struggled with the speed and physicality of the NBA game and later had injury issues that wiped out key development time.
Morrison won titles as a deep reserve with the Los Angeles Lakers, but his own trajectory never approached what the Bobcats envisioned when they invested such a premium pick in his offense. Morrison averaged 7.5 points per game in three seasons with Charlotte and Los Angeles.
8. Jay Williams, No. 2 in 2002
Jay Williams is another case where tragedy, not talent, defined the bust label. Drafted second overall by Chicago in 2002, the Duke star showed flashes of being a dynamic point guard as a rookie, averaging 9.5 points and 4.7 assists per game. A serious motorcycle accident the following summer effectively ended his playing career.
From a cold draft-value standpoint, the Bulls got almost nothing from a No. 2 pick. From a human standpoint, this is one of the toughest stories in league history.
9. Michael Olowokandi, No. 1 in 1998
Michael Olowokandi became the face of a struggling Los Angeles Clippers era. Taken first overall in 1998, the 7-footer had the physical tools that front offices coveted in big men of that time. The problem was that his skill development and feel never caught up.
The Clippers passed on multiple future All-Stars, including Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce, at the top of that draft, and Olowokandi’s uneven play compounded the perception that the franchise could not get the big decisions right. Olowokandi stuck around for nine years, averaging 8.3 points and 6.8 rebounds for three teams.
10. Markelle Fultz, No. 1 in 2017
Markelle Fultz is a more complicated, ongoing case. As a prospect, he had the size, shooting and pick-and-roll ability to justify being the top pick in 2017. After the Philadelphia 76ers traded up to select him, his shot suddenly broke down, injuries mounted, and his confidence clearly suffered.
The fact that Jayson Tatum went third overall, after being on the board when Philadelphia traded down and back up in the process, makes the miss more glaring. Fultz rebuilt parts of his game in later stops, but relative to his draft slot and the player taken behind him, he remains on any serious bust list. He played in five games for the Raptors in 2025-26. Fultz is averaging 10.5 and 4.3 points over nine years and four teams.
11. Derrick Williams, No. 2 in 2011
Derrick Williams went second overall to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2011 after a breakout run at Arizona. He offered size and athleticism at the forward spots, but his game never fully translated. He bounced around the league as a tweener without a clear identity, never locking in as a starter on a good team.
In a draft that produced Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, Klay Thompson, Jimmy Butler and others, using the second pick on a player who topped out as a role piece lingers as a missed opportunity. Williams played seven years for six teams, turning in averages of 8.9 points and 4 rebounds.
12. Jonathan Bender, No. 5 in 1999
Jonathan Bender was one of the original “unicorn” ideas, a 7-footer with perimeter skills. The Indiana Pacers traded for him on draft night in 1999, betting that his combination of length and shooting would eventually reshape their offense.
Persistent knee injuries limited him to short flashes and never allowed him to log heavy minutes consistently. Bender’s talent was obvious, but the Pacers never got the payoff they hoped for from such a high-upside swing. In eight seasons, Bender averaged 5.5 points and 2.2 boards.
13. Marvin Williams, No. 2 in 2005
Marvin Williams had a respectable 15-year career as a starter and rotation forward, so by pure production he does not fit the traditional bust mold. What puts him on lists like this is context. The Atlanta Hawks took the North Carolina product second overall in 2005, ahead of All-Star point guards Chris Paul and Deron Williams.
On a team that badly needed a lead guard, passing on two of the era’s defining floor generals for a complementary forward is the kind of decision that echoes for a decade. Marvin became a solid pro on the wrong team at the wrong draft slot. He finished his career averaging 10.2 points and 5.2 rebounds for four teams.
14. Tyrus Thomas, No. 4 in 2006
Tyrus Thomas rocketed up boards after a strong NCAA Tournament showing with the LSU Tigers, and the Bulls acquired him at No. 4 in a draft-night deal in 2006. He had elite-level athleticism and shot-blocking timing, but the offensive polish never followed.
Thomas showed flashes as an energy big, yet his development plateaued quickly. Chicago and later Charlotte invested starter minutes and money trying to unlock more, but it never fully arrived, leaving that high pick feeling wasted. Thomas averaged 7.7 points and 4.8 rebounds for three teams during an eight-year career.
15. Nikoloz Tskitishvili, No. 5 in 2002
Nikoloz Tskitishvili was a pre-NBA-ready stretch forward experiment before the league fully embraced that archetype. The Denver Nuggets grabbed him fifth overall in 2002 on the promise of size and shooting. He struggled on both ends from the moment he arrived and never carved out a steady rotation role.
His selection became a shorthand example of how risky it can be to draft based on workouts and theoretical upside, especially with limited high-level game tape available. Tskitishvili recorded just 2.9 points and 1.8 rebounds over four seasons with four teams.
Cannot express here how grateful I was to be part the Buffalo Bills media tour — along with Matt Warren — of the new Highmark Stadium before the ribbon cutting ceremony that featured Terry Pegula, Mary Wilson, Kathy Hocul and other prominent on Tuesday morning.
Below you’ll see the images and videos we took inside the stadium.
View from main entrance inside Bills new stadium
The wall of glass directly under Entry 6 — where the Highmark Stadium logo is most prominent — provides a very welcoming look into the stadium.
Video inside concourse looking at field inside new Bills stadium
While it doesn’t exactly do it justice, this video demonstrates just how intimate and enclosed the new Highmark Stadium feels, and the 360-degree view of the field as you’re inside the main concourse.
Pollock has established himself as one of rugby’s most exciting back row talents and looks set to take on the Springboks at Ellis Park on Saturday 4 July after being named in Steve Borthwick’s squad.
The 21-year-old has attracted attention for his on-field antics as well as the consistent performances that quickly earned him international and British and Irish Lions recognition, and has faced criticism from some South Africans.
South Africa’s Siya Kolisi has led the Springboks to two World Cup wins (PA Wire)
2007 World Cup winner Schalk Burger described Pollock as a “TikTok dancer” who “plays a bit of rugby on the weekend” last year, with Pollock admitting after the Gallagher Prem final that he was not sure why he had attracted such comments.
Erasmus believes that, like his double World Cup-winning captain Kolisi, Pollock may always draw the spotlight – but said people should instead focus on his “exceptional output”.
“He's like Siya,” Erasmus explained. “People make a big deal about certain players, but I don't always think the players themselves want that attention.
“What counts is what they do on the field, and recently, he’s been doing that. If I were coaching him, I'd only look at his output, and that has been exceptional.”
Rassie Erasmus has been impressed by Henry Pollock (Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)
Steve Borthwick’s side ended the Six Nations on a run of four consecutive defeats to finish fifth in the tournament table, and face a demanding summer tour with matches against Fiji (at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium) and Argentina in Santiago del Estero to come later in July.
“The England squad is good – their average age is about 27, and Test caps around 32, so it's a young yet experienced squad,” said Erasmus.
“There are a few older players in their 30s, which brings the experience, but the young guys will add fearlessness into a team that was in the World Cup semi-final (in 2023), and who have competed really well off the back of the Premiership.
“It's a very competitive squad, and we know we'll have to work really hard against them at Ellis Park next week if we want to get a win.
“Tactically, Steve [Borthwick] is someone who works with numbers and chases trends, and that's always difficult to prepare against. If I say we know exactly what they'll do next Saturday, I'd be lying.”
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 20: Brian Rolapp, Chief Executive Officer of the PGA TOUR, speaks to the media prior to the TOUR Championship 2025 at East Lake Golf Club on August 20, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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The PGA Tour announced Tuesday that on the recommendation of the Future Competition Committee, the PGA Tour is going to look much different starting with the 2028 season.
The new model used by the PGA Tour will be a two-tiered structure where players will move between the PGA Tour Championship Series and the PGA Tour Challenger Series. The two series will have a promotion and relegation structure based on performance.
“From day one, the focus of the Future Competition Committee has been to build the best version of the PGA TOUR, and to do so in a way that reflects the voice of our players and the expectations of our fans,” said PGA TOUR CEO Brian Rolapp. “The result is a new competitive model grounded in meritocracy, with clearer pathways, higher stakes and more consistency when the best players compete together.”
PGA Tour’s CEO Brian Rolapps Letter to Fans:
PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp penned a letter to fans about the new structure coming up in 2028. Below is the entirety of the letter.
Written by Brian Rolapp
Today marks a pivotal moment for the PGA TOUR as we move forward with a new competitive system, starting in the 2028 season.
Throughout this process, we have listened closely to players, partners and our fans. You told us you wanted to see the best players in the world competing against one another more often. You wanted clearer stakes as the season unfolds. And you wanted a more dramatic finish to the season that rewards excellence and makes every tournament matter.
This new model is our response.
One TOUR. Two compelling series of events, played at the most worthy courses, for the highest stakes, culminating in a true postseason that crowns the best golfer in the world.
Every event serves a distinct purpose, contributing to one unified objective—to be the strongest, most compelling golf platform in the world, for the benefit of our fans, partners and players.
While our competitive model is evolving, we remain committed to making a positive impact. Since 1968, the PGA TOUR has been guided by the belief that golf can be a force for good. As the PGA TOUR grows, so will our ability to support the communities where we play.
Today's announcement represents meaningful progress, but our work is far from finished. We will continue refining elements of the model and sharing public updates as we move toward implementation.
Thank you for your passion for the PGA TOUR and for the game of golf. Your feedback helped shape this work, and we will continue listening as we build the strongest, most competitive golf platform in the world.
PGA Tour Championship Series
The Championship Series is meant to create a consistent playing schedule for the best players in the world. Under this model, the PGA Tour has announced that they have already lined up 10 of the initial events and expect about 15 events in total. All with prize purses of at least $20 million. Once the four majors, the Players Championship, Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup and possible other events are scheduled, the premier players in the world will be playing 23-24 events for a season.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 24: Tommy Fleetwood of England celebrates with the Fedex Cup trophy after winning the final round of the TOUR Championship 2025 at East Lake Golf Club on August 24, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
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These events will feature a 120-player field and feature 36-hole cuts for the top-65 players and ties. The schedule is expected to run from February - August. Events will have no alternate lists and no sponsors exemptions.
The PGA Tour Championship Series will also see a change to the postseason portion of the tour’s season. These changes include bringing match-play back and moving the Tour Championship around to various prestigious golf courses, including many that the tour will play for the first time such as Pine Valley Golf Club in New Jersey, Cypress Point Club in California and Seminole Golf Club in Florida. According the the PGA Tour’s press release, many of these courses will be new to the PGA Tour schedule and allow fans to see a variety of new courses.
PGA Tour Challenger Series
The PGA Tour also announced that the Challenger Series will be played at the same time as the Championship Series. It will feature 144-player fields and will again have a 36-hole cut to the top 65 players and ties.
There will be some Challenger Series events played on off weeks for the Championship Series, there are currently approximately seven events of this nature scheduled so far. Players from the Championship Series will not be allowed to compete in these events.
There will be an independent points system for the Challenger Series. Points will not flow between the two-tiers. This is supposed to be more intuitive for fans and media, while keeping competitive outcomes and retention rates consistent.
The main factor for the implementation of the Challenger Series is that it has a clear path to the Championship Series. The top 90 finishers will be fully exempt for the Championship Series for the following season, while those who fail to retain membership may risk relegation to the Challenger Series.
The PGA Tour also announced that a minimum of 20 players from the Challenger Series will be promoted to the Championship Series for the following season. So there is a clear path to promotion for players who play well on the Challenger Series.
Challenger Series players will also have two ways for automatic promotion to the Championship Series - winning multiple Challenger Series events in a season or by winning a major championship.
SOUTHAMPTON, NEW YORK - JUNE 21: Wyndham Clark of the United States celebrates with the U.S. Open Championship Trophy after winning the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 21, 2026 in Southampton, New York. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
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Promotion and Relegation
Once the normal season concludes, there will be a series of events played in the fall, currently slated to be 4-6 events. Here Championship Series players will have the opportunity to improve their standing, or in some cases, retain their spot on the Championship Series and avoid relegation to the Challenger Series.
There will still be a traditional Q-School to provide access for players to get into the new “ecosystem” that the PGA Tour is establishing. Besides the Challenger Series, the PGA Tour is continuing to work on pathways for players in development.
“This model positions the PGA TOUR for the future,” Rolapp said. “Our focus now shifts to finalizing the details and preparing for implementation in 2028.”
Statement From Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods, who has been outside the country seeking treatment after a DUI arrest in March, returned in time to approve these major board changes.
"This work was bigger than any one player or person -- it was about designing the strongest possible version of the PGA Tour for the future generations of fans and players," Woods, chairman of the Future Competition Committee, said in a statement. "From the beginning, the committee's focus was on delivering a better experience for our fans, while creating a model that best sets up the tour, its players and its partners for long-term success and stability."
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MICHIGAN - JULY 22: Tiger Woods of the United States talks with spectators near the putting green on day one of the 76th U.S. Junior Amateur Championship on the North Course at Oakland Hills Country Club on July 22, 2024 in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. (Photo by Raj Mehta/Getty Images)
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This article was originally published on Forbes.com
For years, offseason optimism around the New York Jets felt temporary.
A splash signing here. An exciting draft pick there. Maybe a promising training camp performance would generate headlines before reality eventually arrived during the regular season.
CBS Sports pointed to the work of general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn:
"Second-year general manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn oversaw significant roster turnover this offseason, starting in free agency. Specifically, the Jets added a ton of new faces to their defense during free agency, which included former ageless linebacker Demario Davis and former All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. The Jets also found their new starting quarterback in free agency in former Pro Bowler Geno Smith."
That alone would have generated excitement. The praise didn't stop there. Much of the offseason buzz surrounding the Jets stems from what many believe was one of the stronger draft classes in the NFL.
CBS Sports specifically highlighted first-round selections David Bailey, Kenyon Sadiq, and Omar Cooper Jr. as reasons for excitement. The additions of Sadiq and Cooper should provide valuable support for Geno Smith while simultaneously giving the offense additional playmakers for the future. The positive reviews have become almost routine.
Whether the source is national analysts, local observers, or former players, the conversation frequently returns to the same conclusion: the Jets appear to have added both talent and depth throughout the roster. That's exactly what rebuilding organizations hope to accomplish.
OTAs and minicamp have added more Jets fuel to a fire that should burn all summer
The optimism generated by free agency and the draft didn't disappear once players arrived for offseason workouts. If anything, it intensified. Reports from organized team activities and mandatory minicamp consistently highlighted positive energy around the building.
Veterans have embraced Aaron Glenn's leadership style. Younger players appear eager to compete for opportunities. The overall atmosphere feels noticeably different than it did during previous offseasons. Of course, positive June practices don't guarantee September victories. The Jets understand that as well as anyone. Still, building confidence and establishing culture are important steps in the process.
Excitement will continue growing for the Jets
Nobody should confuse optimism with certainty. The Jets still have questions to answer. They must prove they can consistently win games. They need young players to develop. Geno Smith must show he can stabilize the quarterback position while helping the organization move forward. Those challenges remain.
However, it's becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the momentum that has formed around this team. Mougey and Glenn inherited a roster that needed significant work. Since arriving, they've aggressively reshaped it through free agency, the draft, and player development. National outlets continue praising the strategy, and the feedback from offseason practices has largely reinforced those opinions.
Whether that translates into immediate success remains to be seen. What seems clear is that the Jets have finally given their fan base something it hasn't consistently enjoyed in recent years: a reason to believe the organization is moving in the right direction. Training camp can't arrive soon enough.
Ahead of Game 5, Knueppel spent time with New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson, asking him about what it takes to win. Following the discussion, Knueppel spoke to the New York Post, explaining what he learned from the newly crowned NBA champion. “He’s not afraid to be like, ‘I’m going to go make a play. I’m going to make an aggressive play. And if I make a mistake, it’s going to be an aggressive mistake,’” Knueppel said. “He’s not afraid to lose, and to win, you can’t be afraid to lose.”
Although Knueppel didn't get any playoff experience of his own this season, learning such a lesson from one of the NBA's most clutch performers will certainly go a long way for Knueppel as he continues to develop during his sophomore season with Charlotte.
Confirmed: Barcelona announce first summer sale as La Masia graduate departs
FC Barcelona have officially announced the departure of goalkeeper Inaki Pena, who has signed for Greek club Panathinaikos.
The 27-year-old La Masia graduate, who spent the last season away on loan, will leave the Blaugrana on a permanent transfer.
“FC Barcelona and Panathinaikos FC have reached an agreement for the transfer of goalkeeper Inaki Pena to the Greek club,” the club statement read.
Pena has been at Barcelona for 14 years now, having joined La Masia from the Villarreal youth academy back in 2012.
During his time at the club, he had two loan spells away at Galatasaray in the second half of the 2021/22 season and Elche during the previous campaign.
He leaves Barça after making 45 first-team appearances in which he conceded 64 goals and kept ten clean sheets.
While the statement does not mention it, Barcelona will receive a €3 million transfer fee for Pena, who had one year left on his contract. In addition, the Catalans will also retain a future sell-on percentage.
The goalkeeper will be signing a three-year contract with the Greek giants.
World Cup 2026: Portugal vs. Uzbekistan official line-ups, Leao benched against Cannavaro
Milan forward Rafael Leao is on the Portugal bench, but Joao Felix and Cristiano Ronaldo seek the first World Cup win of 2026 against Fabio Cannavaro’s Uzbekistan.
Both teams had a difficult start to the tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada, so are eager to get their first victory this evening.
Portugal stuttered to a surprising 1-1 draw against Congo DR, with Yoane Wissa cancelling out the early Joao Neves goal.
Former Juventus player Cristiano Ronaldo came in for a lot of criticism from some of the Portuguese fans due to his performance, but coach Roberto Martinez sticks with the legend in his starting XI.
Instead, both Milan’s Rafael Leao and Francisco Conceicao of Juventus remain on the bench, but the big shock is former Milan flop Joao Felix stepping in, sending Bernardo Silva to the touchline.
MUNICH, GERMANY – JUNE 04: Francisco Conceicao of Portugal celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Nations League 2025 semifinal match between Germany and Portugal at Munich Football Arena on June 04, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
Uzbekistan are in their first ever World Cup and their coach is Italian Cannavaro, who of course lifted this trophy as a player for the Azzurri in 2006.
His opener was a 3-1 defeat to Colombia, but the third goal was only scored deep into stoppages, having temporarily drawn level.
TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN – MARCH 30: Fabio Cannavaro, Head Coach of Uzbekistan, reacts during the international friendly match between Uzbekistan and Venezuela on March 30, 2026 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. (Photo by Anvar Ilyasov/Getty Images)
Like Martinez, Cannavaro is also making some changes to the starting XI, with ex-Roma and Genoa striker Eldor Shomurodov still wearing the captain’s armband.
Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov plays in the back three, but there are quite a few other adjustments, including new goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov.
Portugal vs. Uzbekistan line-ups
Portugal: Diogo Costa; Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Veiga, Nuno Mendes; Joao Neves, Vitinha, Fernandes; Pedro Neto, Ronaldo, Joao Felix
📋 Portugal make two changes for the decisive match against Uzbekistan
Portugal play their second — and already decisive — match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup this Tuesday (23), at 2pm, against Uzbekistan at the Houston stadium in the United States.
The clash, valid for Group K, is crucial for qualification and, in theory, the easiest one for the Portuguese team in the group stage.
Lineups
🇵🇹 Portugal
Head coach: Roberto Martínez
After a disappointing debut with a draw against DR Congo, Portugal went through a turbulent week, marked by controversy and expectations over Cristiano Ronaldo’s performance.
Martínez will have Ruben Dias back in defense. And João Félix comes in for Bernardo Silva.
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
Head coach: Fabio Cannavaro
Making their World Cup debut, Uzbekistan are trying to become another surprise package at this tournament. In their opener, they were beaten 3-1 by Colombia. So taking points off Portugal is essential to keep any hope of qualification alive.
Match Info
📍 Venue: Houston, USA
⏰ Kick-off: 2pm (Brasília time)
📺 Where to watch: CazéTV (live updates on OneFootball)
Kingston Flemings: I can remember the accident, but I was too little to remember some specific details, so what I’m able to tell you about it mostly comes from what my parents have told me. I was with my family at my aunt’s house, outside playing with my cousin. My aunt lived on a cul-de-sac, and there aren’t too many cars that come through, so we were throwing this little rubber ball to one another across the street. At one point, I ran to get the ball, and there were two cars parked side-by-side on the street and … I couldn’t see that one of them was backing up right then. A neighbor told my mom at the time that he was out front and saw it all happening almost like it was in slow motion. He was trying to signal to the driver to stop in time. But….
Kingston Flemings: I ended up running into the back door of this big Nissan Armada as it was moving, falling on my butt, and then … the back tire ran over my body, basically. Like right at hip level. All the kids playing outside ran in the house screaming and yelling for help. And we have a really big family, so my dad and mom, they were kind of used to hearing kids saying that something was “AN EMERGENCY!!!!!!!!!” and then it being nothing, but this time it was like…. “No. No! No!! For real!!! Help!!!! Kingston got run over.”
The Portland Trail Blazers are hiring Minnesota Timberwolves lead assistant Micah Nori as their next head coach, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Tuesday.
Just in: The Portland Trail Blazers are hiring Minnesota Timberwolves lead assistant Micah Nori as the franchise's next head coach, sources tell ESPN. Nori -- widely regarded as one of the league's top assistants -- has been in the NBA coaching ranks since 2009 and now takes over… pic.twitter.com/j5PDc5KlFF
As matches continue in the 2026 World Cup, the competition heats up. Gillette Stadium will host a match between England and Ghana.
England made it to the quarterfinals in 2022. The nations attempts their first World Cup win since 1966. Harry Kane and Declan Rice look to lead one of the oldest national teams in the tournament to championship glory.
This is Ghana's fifth World Cup appearance since 2006. The Black Stars attempt to repeat and surpass their incredible run during the 2010 World Cup where they made it to the quarterfinals. The team is led by Mohammed Salisu, Antoine Semenyo, and Inaki Williams.
The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game, including how to watch the match and kickoff times.
This match will be broadcast on Fox with streaming options available on its dedicated platforms.
The best place to catch the match is on streaming service fubo, with new customers able to sign up a for a FREE trial.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to run from June 11 through July 19, 2026. It will be the first World Cup hosted across three countries: the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Where is the 2026 FIFA World Cup being played?
The 2026 World Cup will be played across 16 host cities in North America, with matches taking place in the United States, Canada and Mexico. It will be the first men’s World Cup hosted by three countries.
The 16 host cities are Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle in the United States; Toronto and Vancouver in Canada; and Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey in Mexico.
How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 teams, expanding from the 32-team format used in previous tournaments. The larger field also means more matches, more knockout-round games and more countries involved than ever before.
The 48 teams are Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Cape Verde, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Curaçao, Czechia, DR Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Senegal, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Türkiye, United States, Uruguay and Uzbekistan.
How many games are in the 2026 World Cup?
There will be 104 matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. That includes the group stage, knockout rounds and the final.
Can I stream the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. Streaming options will depend on the match, language and broadcast partner. In the U.S., Fox Sports lists FOX and FS1, which are available on fubo for English-language coverage, while Telemundo will stream every match live on Peacock and the Telemundo App for Spanish-language coverage.
What channel is the 2026 World Cup on?
In the U.S., English-language matches are expected across FOX and FS1, which are available on fubo for those without cable, while Spanish-language coverage will air on Telemundo and Universo, which you can stream on DIRECTV and Peacock. Check the schedule for the specific match you want to watch.
When is the 2026 World Cup final?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, 2026. The match will be played at New York-New Jersey Stadium, FIFA’s tournament name for MetLife Stadium.
What time do World Cup games start?
Kickoff times vary by date, host city and round. Because the tournament is being played across multiple time zones in the United States, Canada and Mexico, fans should check the official match schedule for start times in their local time zone.
Is the United States playing in the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. The United States automatically qualified for the 2026 World Cup as one of the three host nations, along with Canada and Mexico.
England speedster Jofra Archer has revealed the batter who gave him the most trouble in the Indian Premier League, and his answer may surprise many fans. Despite having bowled to some of the biggest names in world cricket, including several modern greats, Archer picked KL Rahul as the most difficult opponent he has faced in the tournament.
Over the years, Archer has established himself as one of the IPL's premier fast bowlers, regularly taking on elite batters from around the globe. Yet it was Rahul's dominance during his peak years in the competition that left the strongest impression on the Rajasthan Royals pacer.
Speaking on The Super Over Show with Carlos Brathwaite, Archer was asked to identify the hardest batter he has bowled to in his career. The England quick did not take long to respond, immediately naming Rahul and highlighting the Indian batter's ability to score freely all around the ground.
"Probably KL Rahul in the first few years of the IPL. He was in his prime then, and it felt like he could hit any ball anywhere. He was really hard to bowl to."
— cricsam02 (@cricsam02)
Archer's comments underline the regard in which Rahul's batting is held by some of the world's leading bowlers. Known for his elegant strokeplay, sharp timing and ability to adapt to different situations, Rahul has consistently been one of the most versatile batters in franchise cricket.
The wicketkeeper-batter once again enjoyed an impressive IPL campaign in 2026 while representing Delhi Capitals. Rahul accumulated 593 runs from 14 matches at an average of 45.61 and a strike rate of 174.41. His season included one century and five half-centuries, making him one of the standout performers of the tournament.
Archer also enjoyed an excellent IPL 2026 season with Rajasthan Royals. The fast bowler finished as the competition's third-highest wicket-taker, claiming 25 wickets in 16 matches and playing a key role in his side's campaign.
Even after facing some of cricket's most destructive hitters, Archer's choice of Rahul as his toughest IPL challenge speaks volumes about the Indian batter's impact during his prime years in the league.
The Atlanta Police Department confirmed to Channel 2 Action News that their officers arrested former UFC fighter Dustin Poirier at the Atlanta airport for public drunkenness.
Videos circulating on social media, including one posted by fellow former UFC fighter Ben Askren, show Poirier roughhousing in a restaurant at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Authorities have not confirmed what led to Poirier’s arrest.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 11: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) (EDITOR'S NOTE: This image has been digitally altered.) Eldor Shomurodov #14 of Uzbekistan poses for a portrait during the official FIFA World Cup 2026 portrait session on June 11, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Taetsch - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) | FIFA via Getty Images
Groups K and L take center stage on Day 13 of the 2026 World Cup. With fixtures in all three host nations and a handful of household names in action, Tuesday promises to be another exciting day. Harry Kane and the Three Lions of England can secure a spot in the Round of 32 with a victory over Ghana and can even win Group L if the cards fall right. Similarly, Colombia has a chance to advance out of and potentially win Group K with a win over DR Congo and any dropped points by Portgual.
Full advancement scenarios for Group K and L are available on the SB Nation mothership.
NASCAR is headed to Sonoma Raceway this weekend, staying in California for the second consecutive week. While last weekend’s Cup Series race at Naval Base Coronado had 39 drivers, we’re looking at a much smaller NASCAR entry list this weekend.
Let’s take a look at the NASCAR Cup Series entry list for Sonoma for the Toyota/Save Mart 350. Austin Hill is once again pulling double-duty for the Cup and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series this weekend. Beyond him, there are no part-time drivers or open cars competing in this weekend’s Cup race.
Harry Kane and Declan Rice attempt to lead England to its first World Cup win since 1966. The last two World Cup appearances for England resulted in fourth and sixth-place finishes.
Ghana made it to the quarterfinals in 2010 and looks to go further in the club’s fifth World Cup appearance. Mohammed Salisu, Antoine Semenyo, and Inaki Williams attempt to shock the world against the mighty English National Team.
The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of England vs. Ghana, including how to watch the match and kickoff times.
This match will be broadcast on Fox with streaming options available on its dedicated platforms.
The best place to catch the match is on streaming service fubo, with new customers able to sign up a for a FREE trial.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
What time does England vs. Ghana start?
This World Cup clash takes place at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts and kicks off on Tuesday, June 23 at 4 p.m. local time.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to run from June 11 through July 19, 2026. It will be the first World Cup hosted across three countries: the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Where is the 2026 FIFA World Cup being played?
The 2026 World Cup will be played across 16 host cities in North America, with matches taking place in the United States, Canada and Mexico. It will be the first men’s World Cup hosted by three countries.
The 16 host cities are Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle in the United States; Toronto and Vancouver in Canada; and Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey in Mexico.
How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 teams, expanding from the 32-team format used in previous tournaments. The larger field also means more matches, more knockout-round games and more countries involved than ever before.
The 48 teams are Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Cape Verde, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Curaçao, Czechia, DR Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Senegal, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Türkiye, United States, Uruguay and Uzbekistan.
How many games are in the 2026 World Cup?
There will be 104 matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. That includes the group stage, knockout rounds and the final.
Can I stream the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. Streaming options will depend on the match, language and broadcast partner. In the U.S., Fox Sports lists FOX and FS1, which are available on fubo for English-language coverage, while Telemundo will stream every match live on Peacock and the Telemundo App for Spanish-language coverage.
What channel is the 2026 World Cup on?
In the U.S., English-language matches are expected across FOX and FS1, which are available on fubo for those without cable, while Spanish-language coverage will air on Telemundo and Universo, which you can stream on DIRECTV and Peacock. Check the schedule for the specific match you want to watch.
When is the 2026 World Cup final?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, 2026. The match will be played at New York-New Jersey Stadium, FIFA’s tournament name for MetLife Stadium.
What time do World Cup games start?
Kickoff times vary by date, host city and round. Because the tournament is being played across multiple time zones in the United States, Canada and Mexico, fans should check the official match schedule for start times in their local time zone.
Is the United States playing in the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. The United States automatically qualified for the 2026 World Cup as one of the three host nations, along with Canada and Mexico.
The natural rivalry between the NHL’s three New York City-area teams – the New York Rangers, New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils – means that, every year, the trio of teams will be partially judged against each other. And this summer, the Isles, Devils and Rangers are going to be in significantly different places as they prepare for the 2026-27 season.
The Devils have had the highest expectations of the three New York-area teams – and in the past three years, New Jersey has consistently failed to meet those expectations, missing the playoffs in two of the past three years while winning just a single playoff game in the one year the Devils did make the playoffs.
Acquiring either of those goalies would drastically ratchet up expectations for the Devils this coming year, and the ripple effect that type of move would create would sweep across the rest of the league and the goalie market in particular.
Meanwhile, the Islanders are also at a crossroads of sorts this summer. They’re going to have their first full year under coach Peter DeBoer, but that doesn’t assure the Isles of any success, either in getting back into the playoffs, or in the post-season itself.
The Isles should be embarking on a longer build around star defenseman and rookie-of-the-year Matthew Schaefer, but they also have several veterans, including star goalie Ilya Sorokin and forwards Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat. So is this the summer when Islanders GM Mathieu Darche moves in either the direction of a retool-on-the-fly, or will they be moving in the direction of a fuller rebuild? The answer will be fascinating.
Finally, there’s the Rangers – a team that has thus far made no changes despite finishing in 30th place in the league in 2025-26. Blueshirts GM Chris Drury is on record as saying the Rangers won’t be rebuilding, so a retool is what we should expect from them this off-season. But that’s still a nebulous concept, and one that raises a slew of questions.
To wit: it feels like center Vincent Trocheck is a fait accompli to be dealt, but where do the notable changes end in Manhattan? Will star defenseman Adam Fox be traded for prospects and draft picks? What about star forward Mika Zibanejad? And what will Drury do with the $26.5 million in salary cap space he has right now?
This Rangers team needs an infusion of above-average youth if they’re going to regularly be a playoff team again, but they may need another step-back season before they acquire the picks and prospects they need to rise through the standings.
So it should be clear why the New York-area teams are so compelling to watch this summer. The Devils, Rangers and Islanders are all at different points in their respective competitive cycles. Still, they will all be facing pressure of one kind or another to have a productive year this coming season.
And no matter what happens, the Rangers, Isles and Devils are going to stay in the spotlight. Thus, don’t be shocked when fireworks erupt in the greater-New-York area. When you have millions of hockey fans crammed into the same patch of land, you’re going to have a particular kind of pressure that’s different in other markets. And that means New Jersey, the Rangers, and Islanders all will be under the gun to deliver better results than they did last year.
The Boston Celtics reportedly tried to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo with a package centered around Jaylen Brown and first-round picks, but came up short.
Trade rumors surrounding the Celtics, Brown and Antetokounmpo had been circulating since the season ended, but even though Antetokounmpo is now with the Miami Heat, it does not mean Brown is guaranteed to be on the Celtics when the season starts. According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, teams could start a bidding war for Brown now that they know he is not getting sent to Milwaukee for Antetokounmpo.
"Now, what I expect to happen is a bidding war for Jaylen Brown," Windhorst said on "Get Up" on Tuesday morning. "In the most recent days, teams have been preparing for this eventuality. That it wouldn't be the Boston Celtics who won the Giannis sweepstakes, and there would be a Jaylen Brown market. We're now going to watch that. I think it’ll take time to play out, but if there's a draft pick involved, that could happen today."
The Celtics have now reportedly made Brown available for two star players in the last few years. He was reportedly the centerpiece of a potential deal that would bring Kevin Durant to Boston, and now Antetokounmpo. MassLive's Brian Robb made a list of teams that could make a play for Brown now, and one of them was the Atlanta Hawks.
Brown is from Marietta, just outside of Atlanta, and the Hawks have tried acquiring him in the past. Robb outlined what a trade could look like given the Hawks' roster.
"A long-time suitor of Brown, the Hawks have been active in recent days on the fringes of their roster. They added another wing in Aaron Wiggins to improve their depth and agreed to a one-year deal to bring back CJ McCollum. Jalen Johnson won’t be on the table in any trade scenario so the No. 8 overall pick would likely be a centerpiece of any real offer that comes to fruition, along with a combination of veteran talent (Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Onyeka Okongwu, Dyson Daniels)."
The Celtics would have to get this deal done on Tuesday, before the draft, it feels like. Atlanta's young players are attractive, but without Johnson on the table, the No. 8 pick would have to be included. The Celtics could use a lottery pick to add a young guard like Kingston Flemings to replace Brown, and then also gain young, controllable talent from Atlanta.
Former Pitt running back Desmond Reid‘s early NFL career has gotten off to an unfortunate start.
Reid signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent but has been waived with an injury designation.
The 5’6″, 174-pound light, quick running back battled injuries throughout his Pitt career, but when he was on the field, Reid was extremely effective.
After transferring to Pitt in 2024 from Western Carolina, Reid was the top playmaker on the Pitt offense accumulating 962 rushing yards, 579 receiving yards and scoring 10 touchdowns. His 154.9 all-purpose yards per game ranked fifth in the nation. Reid was named a second-team All-American by six different outlets.
Vogelhuber, 37, is from Dublin and in 2007 became the first local player to be drafted by the Blue Jackets. After a standout collegiate career at Miami University, Vogelhuber spent almost his entire professional career in the AHL due to injuries.
He's expected to get his first taste of the NHL as part of Bowness' coaching staff after guiding the Cleveland Monsters to the AHL’s Calder Cup Playoffs in three of his four seasons as head coach. Vogelhuber's promotion and offensive expertise mean he'll likely oversee the power play and work with forwards, while the second bench assistant oversees the penalty kill and defense pairings.
That position will almost certainly go to someone with NHL experience, and the Blue Jackets must wait for contracts to expire to target coaches who actively worked in the NHL this past season. Waddell didn’t retain former assistants Mike Haviland, Scott Ford and former video coach Aron Augustitus, whose deals expire June 30.
“We’re making a lot of progress,” Waddell said. “There are a lot of rumors about Trent coming up. It’s probably true. We’re working on that still, and then we’re working on the other positions as we speak.”
Other staffers whose final contract years were picked up by the Blue Jackets are goaltending coach Niklas Backstrom, skills coach Jared Boll and assistant video coach Cam Briere.
MALLORCA, SPAIN - AUGUST 16: Inaki Pena of FC Barcelona looks on during the warm up prior to the LaLiga EA Sports match between RCD Mallorca and FC Barcelona at Estadio de Son Moix on August 16, 2025 in Mallorca, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“FC Barcelona and Panathinaikos FC have reached an agreement for the transfer of Iñaki Peña to the Greek club.
“27-year-old Iñaki Peña joined the FC Barcelona youth system in 2012 from Villarreal, moving through the age categories at La Masia before making his debut for the first team in January of 2023. During his time as a blaugrana, the goalkeeper spent periods gaining experience on loan: at Galatasaray in the 2021/22 season and last season with Elche CF.
“FC Barcelona would like to publicly thank Iñaki Peña for his commitment, professionalism and dedication during his time in blaugrana and wishes him all the best in this next stage of professional career.”
Pena has been a good servant for Barcelona but moves on in search of regular game time and will hopefully shine with his new club.
The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga has finally ended for the Milwaukee Bucks, and the reason it did not end with the Greek Freak being sent to the Boston Celtics has a lot to do with what the Bucks front office had to go through in it, according to new reporting from the Stein Line's Jake Fischer. Evidently, one of the deciding factors in Milwaukee electing to take the mix of young players and draft capital in lieu of what Boston was offering.
And from what we have seen, that was draft capital and Jaylen Brown, the potential for a repeat performance with the Georgia native to what they went through with Giannis a real concern for the Bucks.
"The Bucks eventually went the Miami route because (Milwaukee minority owner Jimmy) Haslam was ultimately urged in the end to seize upon a draft-picks-rich deal as opposed to insisting on getting a star back," writes Fischer.
"That was believed to be Haslam's preference as of Monday morning: Holding out for a certified star as Milwaukee's primary return as we recently witnessed in the Haslam-owned Cleveland Browns' Myles Garrett deal," he continued.
"He was eventually sold on the notion that swapping Antetokounmpo for Jaylen Brown could well have left the Bucks in a similar predicament in the future to what they've faced with Giannis if Brown didn't like Milwaukee and wanted out."
CHEROKEE – Kent Briggs was more than a football coach.
Briggs spent nearly all of his career in the mountains, from the time he was a quarterback at Reynolds to his days at Western Carolina – as a quarterback, an assistant and a head coach – to his stint in charge at Cherokee. But he was also a father figure and a mentor to both coaches and players, those close to him said.
Briggs died June 19. He was 68.
“Kent was just a great man, an all-round top-notch guy,” Craig Barker, defensive coordinator under Briggs and the current Cherokee principal, said. “Anybody who ever met Kent Briggs, they were blessed and always came away feeling better about themselves.”
Briggs graduated from Reynolds and played quarterback at Western Carolina from 1976-79. He served as an assistant shortly after graduating, then coached on staffs at NC State and Connecticut before returning to become the head coach at Western Carolina from 2002-07, where he had a 22-43 record.
Briggs battled cancer twice as a head coach, first being diagnosed with head and neck cancer while with the Catamounts in 2005 and later facing Stage 4 prostate cancer that spread to the lymph nodes in 2017.
“He came in every day, never missed a practice, never missed a game,” Barker said. “He just was such a role model for the students with his grit and determination.”
When he was hired in 2014, the Braves were coming off a winless season. Barker reached out to Briggs during the coaching search because he knew Briggs was interested in coming to Cherokee. Barker said he fit in perfectly with the Braves.
He was 37-29 in his five seasons at Cherokee. Briggs turned the program around in four years to bring home Cherokee’s only state title in 2017.
The Braves entered halftime of the 1A state title game downtrodden and in a small deficit when Briggs rallied the team with a halftime speech, Barker said. They would pull ahead in the second half for a 21-13 victory.
Langston Wood, an assistant coach for the Braves who has his No. 24 retired at Cherokee, was also an assistant under Briggs, and said it was amazing to be a part of the school’s first title.
Wood said Briggs brought peace to the community and the school. His football mind was also constantly running.
“He was always drawing stuff up on the board,” Wood said. “Just little things you wouldn’t think would end up being very impactful, but small things create big things.”
TC Guyer, Cherokee’s first-year football coach, said the team will likely wear a helmet decal or a jersey patch to honor Briggs during the season.
“Throughout this year, that is going to be something we make sure these guys remember,” Guyer said. “Coach Briggs, he got this thing going in the right way and that is now what we’re trying to do here. We’re going to try to honor him the best way we can this year with it.”
Guyer first met Briggs when he interviewed for a job after Briggs was hired. Guyer said every interaction he had with Briggs was positive and often went beyond football.
“We mourn the loss, but we are thankful for the time we had here (with him),” Barker said. “What he gave to Cherokee High School, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, will last forevermore.”
Evan Gerike is the high school sports reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times. Email him at egerike@citizentimes.com or follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @EvanGerike.
SK Hynix to reportedly pivot planned HBM4 production to DDR5 as the company chases higher margins SK Hynix is one of the world’s largest memory producers, reportedly accounting for 40% of the HBM market. Secure in its position as the global HBM leader, SK Hynix has reportedly shifted some of its planned HBM4 manufacturing capacity […]
I'm not too familiar with the Skitarii myself, so I was curious to see how they would stand out from the rest of the classes, especially when the developers, Fatshark, mentioned they would have more customizable freedom in their skill trees compared to the other classes.
My curiosity would be quickly satiated as Fatshark invited me to attend a sneak preview presentation of the Skitarii class, as well as provided me with a Steam code to try it out myself.
After getting hands-on with the Skitarii, it may just be my favorite class in the whole game and one that may convince me to play it more often and finally strive for its endgame content.
This preview was made possible thanks to a Steam code, Preview presentation, and B-Roll footage screenshots provided by Fatshark. The company had no input nor saw the contents of this preview before publication.
What are the Skitarii?
A Skitarii facing off against heretics. (Image credit: Fatshark)
The Skitarii are a unique military force that fights for the tech-worshipping Adeptus Mechanicus faction. They are heavily augmented cyborg hunters that specialize in plasma and lightning-based weaponry, multi-purpose gadgets, and other technologically advanced ways to purge heretics, aliens, and mutants.
They usually act in groups, but in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, you play as an upgraded Alpha Skitarii, who can act as a solo operative.
B-Roll footage screenshot of Warhammer 40,000: Darktide's disturbing character creator for the Skitarii class. (Image credit: Fatshark)
My preview of this class began with their character customization, which is probably one of the most disturbing yet cool character creators I've ever seen in a game.
You get to customize how royally horrifying your Skitarii look underneath their robes with all their cybernetics, what kind of robotic limbs they have, and even adjust the distortion and pitch of their modulated voices.
Once I finished creating my Skitarii (which took a long while because I wanted to recreate the iconic voice of Soundwave from Transformers), I was off to the training room to learn about their abilities.
How do the Skitarii play?
What sets Skitarii apart from all the classes in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is that their skill tree, which looks like the Sphere Grid from Final Fantasy 10, rather than a linear line like the others.
This means you can spend points to adjust the Skitarii's playstyle however you want, rather than being restricted to a certain playstyle like the other classes due to their more open-ended skill tree, and the Skitarii have A LOT of playstyles to experiment with.
The open-ended skill tree fits the customizable nature of the cybernetic Skitarii. (Image credit: Windows Central (Alex Cope) | Fatshark)
You can create a support-focused Skitarii that focuses on using Servo-Skull drones to crowd-control enemies while reviving downed teammates or operating terminals to save players from having to do it themselves.
You can make a long-range sniper Skitarii that's all about destroying elite enemies using a special ability that augments the ammo of their weapons, like the iconic Galvanic Rifle or Arc Rifle, to auto-track targets without aiming.
Heck, you can even make a melee-focused Skitarii that uses a special forcefield that blocks incoming ranged attacks that explodes once depleted, and rushes enemies down with melee attacks using electrified maces or dual blades before ripping out their heart with a giant, gnarly robotic claw.
Plus, thanks to the Skitarii's open-ended skill tree, you can mix up the various abilities of these playstyles together and create your own custom build that sort of functions as a jack of all trades.
B-Roll footage screenshot of a Skitarii zapping an enemy with an exploding shield after it's finished negating ranged projectiles. (Image credit: Fatshark)
Now, all this sounds cool on paper, but it won't mean much if it doesn't come together during real combat scenarios. So, after deciding to adapt a melee-focused build with the anti-ranged shield, I decided to take my new Skitarii class into live combat to see how it would fare.
Now I'm not the best Darktide player in the world, as I've casually played here and there, getting my shiny metal butt kicked plenty of times. But that didn't stop me from enjoying the Skitarii class because it was so fun to play as.
B-roll footage of the Skitarii class using the Chordclaw ability to rip an enemy apart. (Image credit: Fatshark)
There's just something so empowering about being able to strut up to an enemy screaming in terror that his bullets aren't penetrating your shield and then snuffing out his Nurgle-worshipping, heretical existence by ripping off his head with a giant claw.
Also, I enjoyed the utility of the Skitarii's Servo-Skulls for how surprisingly useful they were. Commanding it to hack terminals instead of having to deal with the annoying image-match mini-game yourself and using it to revive teams so you don't leave yourself wide open to enemy attacks is so convenient and gives your team a better, and less frustrating, chance at survival when things go south.
I can't wait to zap heretics to ash in the name of the Omnissiah
Flesh is weak, yet iron knows no pain. (Image credit: Fatshark)
Overall, I was impressed with the Skitarii class by what I saw and played. Its tech-based weapons and abilities are fun to play with, and the personalities you can assign to your Skitarii are a joy to listen to during moments when player characters talk to each other,
Also, I LOVE the idea of having a voice modulator when designing your character's voice to give it a robotic feel, which I hope to see more often in games in general and not just Warhammer 40,000 games featuring the Adeptus Mechanicus.
If the Arbites were the class that convinced me to play Darktide, then the Skitarii may be the class that will motivate me to play at a higher level beyond the occasional casual weekend romp with friends and check out its endgame content.
Bottom line, the Skitarii are awesome, and I can't wait to play more of them alongside everyone else as the Warhammer 40,000: Darktide's Skitarii DLC expansion launches on June 23, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam, which happens to be today.
Band together with Rejects of the Imperium and save the crumbling Hive City of Tertium from the toxic wrath of Nurgle cultists and daemons in the 4-player, co-op horde shooter, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide.
What do you think of Warhammer 40,000: Darktide's new Skitarii class? Do you think it will be your main class, or are you waiting for a different kind of servant of the Imperium to become playable, like one of the Sisters of Battle, for example?
If you have any thoughts on the matter, please let us know through the poll below, the comments section, or our Reddit page.
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
Prime Day has arrived with possibly the quietest fanfare I've ever known since writing for Windows Central, and that's due in no small part to the current state of the tech market. Prices are being hiked left, right, and center, and gaming handhelds have been hit particularly badly by the RAM price hikes. With this in mind, I'm surprised that ASUS is still steaming ahead with this cracking deal on the Xbox ROG Ally, which is down to £379.99 on Amazon. When you compare that to the price of the Steam Deck nowadays, it's a steal for something comparable in performance and with a lot more flexibility.
For playing lower-powered indie games or clearing out your backlog, the two handhelds stand on pretty even footing. The Xbox Ally, however, lets you switch between Steam and Xbox PC natively without requiring hours of tinkering or workarounds. Crucially, it's CHEAPER by a mile.
The ROG Xbox Ally is a modest handheld that offers performance that's more on the level of the Steam Deck, making it one of the most direct competitors to Valve's device." — Rebecca Spear, Former Gaming and News Editor
The Xbox Ally on display. (Image credit: Rebecca Spear / Windows Central)
We’re living through unprecedented times for gaming costs, where component shortages and rising demand for AI hardware have driven gaming tech prices to unreachable levels for the average budget gamer. Many of ASUS's competitors have handhelds priced at the same level as a high-end gaming PC (just look at the Lenovo Legion Go 2 prices). Yet with all the price hikes, the standard ASUS ROG Ally has become the single most sensible choice for anyone who just want to play some less demanding games.
To be completely open, I own the ROG Ally X, which is the "beefed-up" premium model, and as someone who mostly plays indie titles and keeps a massive backlog of AA games, I regret spending the extra cash. The standard Ally would have handled everything I threw at it perfectly. Don't make my mistake; save your money for the actual games.
Windows Central | Jez CordenRebecca Spear / Windows CentralRebecca Spear / Windows Central
Sure, this has an entry-level price tag, but for sub-£380, you are getting an AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor,and a really nice 7-inch 1080p screen with 120Hz VRR. Not only that, but while on equal terms with the Steam Deck, the Xbox Ally isn't locked down to the Steam OS, and you can jump between your game libraries. You get a dedicated Xbox button that launches a full-screen, controller-friendly gaming environment, and you can download games natively from Xbox Game Pass, the Epic Games Store, GOG, and EA Play without jumping through hoops.
That being said, there is nothing stopping you from doing a clean install of Steam OS and turning this into a much more ergonomic (and cheaper) Steam Deck. It’s arguably the most comfortable handheld I've ever used.
The Xbox Ally is an outlier right now in the gaming handheld market, and I don't expect the price to stay this low for much longer. With price increases being announced from Lenovo, Valve, and other manufacturers, it does feel like the writing is on the wall with Xbox devices, too. If you want to play your backlog on the settee or on the go without taking out a small loan, the Xbox Ally at £379.99 is the deal to beat this Prime Day.
What is the battery life like?
As with any handheld, your mileage will vary based on the game. For demanding titles, you can expect roughly 60–90 minutes of playtime. However, for indie games or lighter AA titles, you can easily squeeze out 2–3 hours by using the "Performance" or "Silent" power modes and capping your frame rate.
How does this compare to the Steam Deck?
The biggest difference is the operating system. The Steam Deck uses SteamOS (Linux-based), which is "plug-and-play" but limited to the Steam ecosystem. The ROG Ally runs full Windows 11, meaning you aren't restricted to one store. The Ally also boasts a 1080p 120Hz VRR display, which makes games look crisper and feel smoother than the standard Steam Deck’s screen.
Can I play my Xbox console games on this?
Yes and no. If you own a game on an Xbox console that is also a "Play Anywhere" title, then yes, you can also play it on the Xbox Ally. Not all games are Play Anywhere, though, so, for example, I could not play Resident Evil 9: Requiem on this, but I could play it on my console. However, Resident Evil 7 is Play Anywhere, and I didn't need a second purchase! The majority of the Xbox Game Pass library is Play Anywhere.
When does Amazon's June Prime Day event start?
Amazon's Prime Day June event starts on June 23, 2026 and will last until June 26, 2026.
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Earlier this year, the Munich Regional Court banned ASUS and Acer from directly selling their notebooks in Germany due to a patent dispute with Nokia. However, the two major notebook OEMs have reached an agreement with Nokia that allows them to sell their notebooks through agreements or by circumventing the rule. Readers may recall that Nokia's patent claims, which included patents related to core HEVC/H.265 encoding and decoding technology, forced both ASUS and Acer to halt notebook sales in Germany. Since their products use GPUs, processors, and other digital decoding/encoding engines for video, they must be licensed, and sales can only proceed with Nokia's approval. The judges concluded that the two OEMs had not demonstrated the behavior of willing licensees under FRAND rules, allowing the court to grant injunctive relief instead of limiting the remedy to damages.
However, Acer has now confirmed to its partners at a conference in Hamburg that it will resume shipping the disputed notebooks, though it did not provide specific details. In a statement obtained by ChannelPartner, Acer said, "Acer will ship products both with and without the HEVC codec. For products without a pre-installed HEVC codec, customers can activate support by installing the necessary software separately via official third-party channels." This could effectively be a circumvention of the rules, but a way to continue sales in Europe's largest economy.
Amazon Prime Day is back, running from June 23 through June 26. While this year's event isn't overflowing with must-buy discounts, there are still a handful of genuinely worthwhile deals on laptops, OLED gaming monitors, SSDs, processors, headphones, and other tech we've tested, reviewed, or would happily recommend. We've done...
According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, the driver told deputies he was using an automated driving assistance system at the time of the crash. Inside the home was Martha Avila, who later died from injuries sustained in the collision.
As crypto adoption grows, traders are placing greater emphasis on secure, compliant, and efficient crypto-to-fiat conversion platforms. The gap between decentralized finance and everyday spending is narrowing fast. In 2026, moving value from a crypto wallet to a bank account…
Anthropic pre-IPO futures have fallen as much as 9% since their Coinbase debut, with contracts on both Coinbase and Binance sliding to new lows despite fresh attention from traders. As reported by crypto.news, Coinbase added Anthropic and OpenAI pre-IPO perpetual…
Kalshi has added India to its list of restricted jurisdictions, preventing residents from accessing the U.S.-based prediction market platform, based on an updated members’ agreement published on Wednesday. The revised document includes 55 restricted jurisdictions and now names India among…
Looks like many have been affected by this issue, but it's only prevalent on systems running Windows 10. AMD Acknowledges Error With the Latest Adrenalin Edition 26.6.2 in Windows 10 Installations; Says, Engineers are Investigating and Recommends Rolling Back to Previous Version The major graphics driver update just caused some issues for Windows 10 owners. Lots of reports are surfacing online reporting errors with the graphics driver on Windows 10. As per the reports, the new software fails to launch on Windows 10 systems and shows the yellow bang in Device Manager. AMD has confirmed the issue and published a […]
If you're a fan of sci-fi stories like Blade Runner or Cyberpunk 2077, then it's likely you've heard of a game that seems like a mix of both of them with a bit of western flair, ExeKiller. Also known as a 'CyberWestern,' this first-person action-adventure game has been in development for a number of years now, and while its latest milestone update doesn't provide a release window, it does provide some assurance that the game will actually make it over the finish line. That's because the game has a new publisher in 505 Games, the same publisher whose parent company […]
Consumer-focused DRAM saw a major spike in prices in Q2 vs Q1, with DDR4 memory floating at 50% and LPDDR around 80% due to persistent shortages. Consumer DRAM Prices Jumped Over 50% In Q2 vs Q1, DDR4 Now Averages 50%, While LPDDR Up To 89% Expensive DRAM makers are only focused on making profits rather than thinking about the widespread impact their prioritizations have on the consumer segment. With AI being on top of the list, general-purpose DRAM, which includes DDR and LPDDR memory, has faced the brunt of the widespread shortages, leading to massive price hikes. In the latest […]
Epic Games launched Unreal Engine 5.8 last week, bringing new features such as a Lumen Lite Mode that holds quite a bit of promise for games running on handheld gaming systems such as the Nintendo Switch 2. However, the biggest concern for both gamers and developers is general performance, which has been problematic since day one on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. According to Epic EVP of Development Marcus Wassmer, the final major update to the engine is the most stable release to date, and its features are an answer to developers asking for better optimization to deliver […]
The company has launched its first Arc G3 Extreme-based handheld with various configurations. OneXPlayer 3 Hits the Shelves with Intel Arc G3 Extreme, Featuring 24/32 GB and 512 GB/1 TB Configurations, Starting at $1,399 Popular handheld and eGPU maker ONEXPLAYER has debuted its first Intel Arc G3 Extreme-powered gaming handheld called OneXplayer 3. The handheld maker has been continuously developing handhelds with the most powerful SoCs from AMD, including Strix Point and Strix Halo chips, but has now transitioned to Intel's Panther Lake variant for its most powerful Intel-based handheld till now. The OneXPlayer 3 offers the 14-core Intel Arc […]
At Summer Game Fest 2026, we sat down with Bandai Namco Entertainment's Producer Masayuki Hirano to learn more about Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3, the new installment in the action RPG series that was announced earlier this year with a planned debut for 2027. The game is set in Age 1000, 148 years after the events of Xenoverse 2. The story takes place in West City, which has grown into a major hub in this future setting. As with previous Xenoverse entries, you'll create your own custom hero and join the ranks of the Great Saiyan Squad, fighting alongside both familiar […]
Apple's upcoming foldable, tentatively dubbed the iPhone Ultra or the iPhone Fold, has been an attraction magnet for quite some time, not just because of its sky-high price but also on account of the various innovations it's expected to sport, including the world's first OLED panel that can produce native 10-bit color depth, an intricate hinge mechanism, and a novel adhesive that keeps the display crease at bay. Alas! The iPhone Ultra/iPhone Fold won't be able to graduate beyond a novelty product if the thesis of a troubling new study pans out. A new study claims Apple's iPhone Ultra might […]
Death, taxes, and new World of Warcraft expansions for the mainline games are about the only guaranteed things in life. But a new leak seems to have uncovered the titles for new spin-off games in the long-running franchise, including a Warcraft Chronicles RTS, a new action RPG centred around Athras, and the next evolution of World of Warcraft Classic. This comes in part from dataminer Stiven on X (formerly Twitter), who uncovered new Heroic and Epic licenses for 'World of Warcraft Camelot,' which is speculated to be the next evolution of WoW Classic, which players have been calling 'Classic+.' This […]
SK Hynix is planning to return to general-purpose DRAM, such as DDR5, after securing record revenue from HBM memory. SK Hynix Reportedly Finds No Reason To Accelerate Its HBM Production, Will Instead Focus on DDR5 Memory As Shortages Get Severe In The General-Purpose DRAM Segment HBM has been the main driver for the big three DRAM manufacturers for the last couple of months due to increased demand from AI firms. This has led to record profits for Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix. At the same time, these companies stopped focusing production on general-purpose DRAM solutions such as DDR5. But now […]
Today, Fatshark launches the Skitarii Alpha Primus, which becomes the seventh playable class in the game Warhammer 40,000: Darktide alongside the Veteran, Ogryn, Zealot, Psyker, Arbites, and Hive Scum. It's the game's first representative of the Adeptus Mechanicus faction, too. In a pre-release presentation attended by Wccftech, Fatshark confirmed that the class has been in development since before the Hive Scum release, making it one of the longest-gestating additions to the game. Fatshark always intended to add an Adeptus Mechanicus presence to Darktide, citing the strong player resonance with existing characters like Tech-Priest Hadron Omega-7-7. A full Tech-Priest was, however, ruled out because […]
The last three generations of Galaxy S-series will receive 7 years of software support, but issues like green line raise a question of whether the flagship quality experience will remain consistent with the software lifecycle.
Hardware issues like green or pink lines have become a headache for existing users. It doesn’t take away the touch functionality, but makes the display look extremely unpleasant.
In the past couple of years, this issue has appeared in various Android devices, but the Galaxy flagships have received special attention. There are two reasons for that: the more frequent emergence and the large user base.
Take Galaxy S22 as an example; it was the first to be widely recognized for the green line issue. Though Samsung took some steps to replace the screen free of cost, that doesn’t make any difference. Why? Because the problem shouldn’t have appeared in the first place, affecting many users.
Launched in 2022, the Galaxy S22 is eligible for four OS updates and five years of security patches. So, the phone has completed its update OS cycle with Android 16 (One UI 8.0). Interestingly, the green line issue appeared around the Android 14 update.
The Galaxy S23 series is eligible for the same OS update tier, making Android 17 its last major release. Before that happens, Galaxy S23 users are also reporting the green line issue.
Many users found this occurrence after upgrading to the One UI 8.5 software update, but the root cause remains unknown.
However, theories suggest that internal heat could be the primary cause, which deteriorates pixels in a certain pattern primarily vertically. Some believe that it is the degrading display panel quality. We’ve also seen community suggestions such as keeping the phone in a cool place before updating or installing the update overnight.
What are the odds?
The Galaxy S22 Ultra and S23 Ultra use the M11 display, and the problem in both generations is also common. What about the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the S25 Ultra devices? They use M13 panels. So, there’s a chance that they may not age the pixels the same as the S23 and S22 series.
However, unlike the Galaxy S22 and S23 series, the S24 series and later flagships are eligible for 7 OS updates and 7 years of security updates. So, they have three more years than their predecessor.
If M11 can show issues like green and pink lines within three years of their launch, M13 should be showing it around 5-6 years? Maybe or maybe not. Or is this issue limited to the M11 panels featured in S22 and S23 series devices? There is no clarity surrounding its origin.
For now, the S24 series has only installed two major updates, and there are five more left to test its hardware against the very problem that is making users worry about their devices in the long term.
GitHub is moving to strengthen software supply chain security by updating "actions/checkout" to block pwn request attacks that exploit the risky use of the "pull_request_target workflow" trigger to run malicious code with the workflow's full privileges.
Effective June 18, 2026, the latest version of "actions/checkout," the official GitHub action for checking out a repository into the
8BitDo is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Nintendo 64 console with new colors for the Retro 87 mechanical keyboard and the Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller. Both products pay homage to the classic console with their translucent blue shell and colored buttons.
The Tecno Camon Slim is now official in the global market, positioning itself as a thin budget-range smartphone powered by the entry-level MediaTek Helio G200 Ultimate processor. Plus, it features a sleek design, measuring just 6.39 mm (0.25 inch) in thickness.
Apple announced iOS 27 at its annual WWDC with a load of new features. However, the developers are still putting the finishing touches on it and iOS 27 beta 2 brings several new features.
One of them is Write with Siri, which will replace the standalone Writing Tools. A shortcut for Write with Siri will appear on your keyboard – it can not only write text based on your instructions, it can also proofread and rewrite text.
A key improvement over the old Writing Tools is that this is fully integrated with Siri – this means that it can use info from messages, email and other documents that...
Taika Waititi's new movie Klara and the Sun has a first-look trailer
It teases Jenna Ortega as the titular AI companion, playing what's called an Artificial Friend
Klara and the Sun arrives in theaters on October 23, 2026
Klara and The Sun got its first trailer recently, and the new movie quickly grabbed my attention. Even though stories of AI companions are everywhere, this one has done a lot to stand out from the crowd.
Before we get into that, here's a quick synopsis. Taika Waititi's Klara and The Sun is an adaptation of the novel of the same name, centering around an Artificial Friend (Jenna Ortega) and the human she was bought for, Josie (Mia Tharia).
Take a look at the trailer below ahead of the movie's release on October 23, 2026.
Why I'm excited for Klara and The Sun
(Image credit: Sony Pictures Releasing)
Stories about AI companions are hardly new, and you'd be forgiven for growing a little tired of them. Whether it's sci-fi classics like A.I. Artificial Intelligence or horrors like Companion, lifelike androids are nothing new.
But I quickly found myself interested in Klara and the Sun after seeing the trailer and reading up on it. The original novel by Kazuo Ishiguro explores a dystopian world where children are genetically engineered for enhanced academic ability.
There's plenty of downsides to this, including social isolation. Children learn at home through on-screen tutors so they spend a lot of time stuck indoors. Enter the Artificial Friends, companions that can be purchased for the home where they'll keep children company without needing to be cared for like a pet would.
It's a bleak existence, but there's also something hopeful about Klara and the Sun. The trailer teases an unlikely bond between the titular AI companion and Josie, her human friend.
Outside of the interesting premise I'm also impressed by the cast. Supporting roles are played by Amy Adams, Natasha Lyonne, and Steve Buscemi, so we have some great talent attached to this.
I'm really excited to dive deeper into this world, especially since I have enjoyed Waititi's previous work such as Jojo Rabbit. I'm hoping that Klara and the Sun is just as good.
Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal review: Price & release date
List price: $1,299.99 / £999.99
Released March 2026
The Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal comes in at $1,299.99 / £999.99 —while it’s far from cheap, it’s pretty good value for what it offers. That being said, there are other robot vacuum cleaners with equally impressive features and better software at a similar price point.
Plus, you’ll need to maintain some parts of the vacuum; in particular, refills for the multi-floor cleaner ($13.99 / £14.99) and the odor-neutralizing puck ($9.99 – $14.99 / £7.99 – £15.99), as well as the usual replacement for things like side brushes and mop pads. Over time, these can add up, but you’ll scarcely find a robovac that doesn’t come with added costs at similar prices these days.
Value: 4/5
Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal review: Design
(Image credit: Future)
Out of the box, you’ll find the vacuum, base, power chord, an anti-odor puck, one refill bottle of Shark’s multi-floor cleaner, two side brushes, plus the usual array of instructions and warranty documents.
The base stands at 17 x 18 x 14 inches / 43.2 x 45.7 x 35.6 cm, and comes in either black or white — mine was the latter, and I think it looks a lot more premium than the tackier black colorway. Enclosed in the lid of the base are the 2.74-litre / 96.65oz clean and 1.18-litre / 41.62oz waste water tanks, which lift out easily thanks to the retractable handles, as well as the bagless dirt compartment — I really appreciate that Shark opted for this so there’s one less thing to routinely replace.
(Image credit: Future)
You can remove the container with the press of a button situated on the side of the dock, and it’s also HEPA-filtered. There’s also a set of two filters you’ll need to clean every 1-2 months, depending on how often you use your robot vacuum, and a slot for one of Shark’s anti-odor pucks should dusty smells be an issue for you.
(Image credit: Future)
The vacuum itself is a fairly standard, rounded 2-in-1 robot vacuum, but a little tall and hefty at 5.35 inches / 13.6cm tall. The top houses its raised puck for LiDAR sensing, which works in tandem with the front of the device, where the cameras and other sensors, including a camera as well as LED and UV lights, to navigate your home and spot messes ripe for cleaning.
If you’d rather not use the app, you can use the four touch-sensitive buttons to activate mop and vacuum modes, send the vacuum home and connect to the Wi-Fi. A soft bumper surrounds the edges of the vacuum to prevent damage from any collisions, which are remarkably rare thanks to its top-tier obstacle avoidance, and you can remove its dust bin and mop plate from the rear of the device.
(Image credit: Future)
On the underside, you’ll find the wheels, brush bar, side brush, and a singular, flat mop pad. These aren’t my favorite type — a rondel will typically offer a deeper clean, better post-clean drying and less water waste. However, Shark has designed the robot vacuum to wiggle this mop pad to agitate dirt, which goes some of the ways to make up the difference.
Of note is that the vacuum seems to be a total dust magnet. I have mine placed beneath a desk, where I wouldn’t expect excessive levels of dust — however it’s constantly lined with a thick layer of the stuff.
Design: 4/5
Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal review: Performance
Setup for the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal is pretty simple; using the app, you’ll connect the vacuum to your Wi-Fi, give it a name (I loved some of the suggestions like Clean Latifah), and after that, the robot vacuum will run its first mapping pass. Broadly, mine was accurate; my apartment has a slightly tricky layout for robot vacuums, including a half-tiled, half-carpeted kitchen-living room, and lots of doors to dodge.
After this first pass, the app will offer you a second mapping run, this time to detect flooring types. If you plan to regularly mop hard floors and have carpets or rugs to avoid, make sure to get this out of the way during setup; I couldn’t find any way to update this map after the fact.
FutureFutureFuture
Cleaning tests
I performed my standard pickup tests using oats, cornflour and brown rice to compare performance to other robot vacuums I’ve tested, and the results were a mixed bag. When setting the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal off for a standard, vacuum-only clean, I was immediately impressed as it zig-zagged across my floors, leaving them visibly refreshed — plus, it’s pretty quiet in action.
On hard floors, it excels thanks to a combination of its side brush, solid suction and the jet of air it blasts at hard-to-reach debris, ensuring floors are spick and span post-clean. On carpet, it’s slightly less impressive, especially in the edge cleaning department, but it still does a decent enough job. Its pickup of larger debris was very impressive on carpet, leaving little to nothing behind, but there was a small amount of powdery debris left behind on my medium-pile rugs — hair, however, is no problem, be it human or pet.
(Image credit: Future)
Next up, I tried a regular combination clean with vacuum and mopping, and that’s where my experience with the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal became a bit more mixed. The robot vacuum first fills its water tank at the base, proceeding to concurrently vacuum and mop your floors rather than splitting out the tasks. This helps to save time and battery; however, it does increase the risk of soggy carpets.
To avoid this, the robovac will lift its hind to keep the mop pad from drenching carpets — this reduces its effectiveness on carpets, though, as it crushes the side brush, and sometimes, while navigating, it will spin round and spit water across the floor, too. However, once it reaches hard floors, the results are pretty impressive; the mop pad agitates spills and stains with a back-and-forth scrubbing motion, and will reach into corners to make sure every spot is well-cleaned.
Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal lifting its mop padFutureShark PowerDetect UV Reveal lifting its mop padFuture
It does use a lot of water, though, and especially if you’re cleaning up larger spills, that means the PowerDetect UV Reveal can leave a streaky mess in its wake. I noticed this even more so when there was lots of debris to vacuum up during the clean; the PowerDetect UV Reveal left a clump of soggy oats behind like an owl pellet as well as white streaky marks across the floor, but I wouldn’t typically recommend regularly using your robot vacuum to collect large volume spills anyway. I have especially reflective kitchen tiles, so I noticed this a lot; on my less shiny bathroom tiles, it wasn’t as much of a problem.
Powering up to a higher suction or mopping setting does result in a more thorough cleaning job, especially on carpets, but it’s worth noting that this seems to make the excess water usage more noticeable.
Some smeared oats, milady? I wouldn't advise using the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal, or indeed most robot vacuums that mop and vacuum concurrently, to clear up high volumes of debris. (Image credit: Future)
Object detection and navigation
When the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal works, it really works, but I encountered a fair few bugs and limitations that do impact its overall effectiveness — for example, when doing a combination clean, it sometimes skips cleaning certain areas and rooms, or neglects to clean areas I’ve specifically asked it to.
Its LiDAR scanner makes accurate room maps, though they’ll be a bit odd-looking if you have lots of furniture at floor level. That’s unavoidable, to a degree, but I wish it had investigated those areas more closely to find the real edges of the walls; that way if furniture moves around your home, you wouldn’t need to remap.
Its object detection is incredible — perhaps too good, as the robot vacuum avoided my low-hanging (but not floor-length) curtains like the plague, giving wide berth to even the most inconsequential of obstacles. Generally, it’s not too much of a problem, but improved smarts would mean there’s slightly less preparation required pre-clean to ensure your entire floor gets cleaned properly. I was also massively impressed by the ease with which it lifted itself over and cleared thresholds, chair legs, and the like, leading to quicker cleans.
UV detection in action, as well as some rugs the vacuum fought (and defeated)FutureUV detection in action. Future
UV detection
After its standard cleaning cycles, the robovac will return to its base, but the cleaning isn’t over quite yet. It’ll issue an ominous warning once it’s refreshed itself: "I detected stains. I'm heading back out to aggressively attack them."
Here’s where the magic of the PowerDetect UV Reveal is really on show; as it cleans, it flares a blue UV light, with which you can see for yourself the stubborn and sometimes invisible stains on your floor, which it will then return to after a standard cleaning run. It was pretty cringe-inducing to watch it navigate areas I hadn’t cleaned recently and see just how much grime was there.
(Image credit: Future)
Dock
After the job’s complete, it’ll return for a final time to the base and begin the mop pad maintenance process quietly in the background with just a low humming noise, washing it with hot water before drying it to reduce contamination. In my testing, the robovac lived up to its estimated 3-hour battery life; a 45-minute clean on standard settings dropped the battery by 25%. A full recharge takes roughly 4 hours, and the vacuum won’t perform new tasks when at less than 20%.
Performance: 4/5
The first of these three screenshots shows my completed floor map; as you can see from the very odd shapes, the LiDAR scanner can be quite assumptive with obstacles and won't investigate around the sides to find where the wall truly starts and ends. The second and third screenshots show two seperate occasions where I asked the robot vacuum to clean specific rooms and it elected to clean a completely different one. (Image credit: Future)
Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal review: Software and app
The app is quite restrictive when it comes to home and schedule customization; you can only have one map, so multi-floor cleaning isn’t possible, no-go zones are always rectangular and you can only create two schedules per day.
I also noticed that the robot vacuum would often get confused when it initiated a clean, forging straight to the corner of my living room and spinning there for a good few minutes before figuring out its path to the hallway. On closer inspection, this happened most frequently when I sent it to clean somewhere other than its home room; for some reason, it wanted to head straight through my wall instead of around and through the doorway.
I couldn’t find a quiet mode, either, meaning if you ever wanted to use the vacuum at night or when little ones are sleeping, they might awaken to an ominous threat from your robovac.
These issues, among other software quirks, make for the primary complaint I have surrounding the Shark PowerDetect UV reveal; its app and on-board smarts hold back an otherwise high-performance robot vacuum.
Software: 2.5/5
Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal review: Specs
Specs
Wattage (robot):
65W
Robot diameter:
13.2 inches / 34cm
Robot height:
4 inches / 10.2cm
Cleaning path width:
Not specified
Dock dimensions (H x W x D):
17 x 18 x 14 inches / 43.2 x 45.7 x 35.6 cm
Dock cord:
3.9ft / 1.2m
Weight (robot + dock):
26.9 lbs / 12.21 kg
Should I buy Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal?
Section
Notes
Score
Software and app
There are lots of features I’d expect as standard in a robot vacuum, especially at this list price, that Shark just hasn’t added. That and the litany of odd bugs drop the overall score significantly.
2.5/5
Performance
Great for vacuuming carpets, and while the mop pad is a bit of a hazard, with UV sensing in tow it offers a truly deep clean.
4/5
Design
Neutral, bag-less and easy to maintain, the only thing I could ask for would be a slightly more premium feel in its black colorway. Plus, it’s a dust-magnet.
4.5/5
Value
Given its innovative features and thorough cleaning, it’s sitting pretty at its list price compared to the competition, but loses points for the in-app experience.
4/5
Buy it if…
You value well sanitized floors With its UV detection, the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal offers peace of mind and broadly great results, especially in the mopping department… if you can handle slow-drying floors.
You have pets Again, the UV detection comes in clutch here for invisible pet messes, but it’s also a deft hand at hair collection.
You have a large home With its great battery life and efficiency, the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal is unlikely to run out of juice before finishing the job even in larger homes.
Don’t buy it if…
You have lots of wooden floorsor shiny tiles
While it’ll clean these floor types within an inch of their life, the residual water and cleaning solution could warp or damage wooden floors and leave streaky marks on particularly reflective ones.
You have lots of carpet Don’t get me wrong, this is an accomplished vacuum for carpets, but if you want to do combination cleans, you might end up with a few soggy spots left in its wake.
You want to vacuum multiple floors — or other smart features
I liken the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal to a power washer in the hands of a caveman; it’s only as good as the software allows it to be, and with frustrations like single-floor mapping, ignored instructions and
Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal review: Also consider
Eufy X10 Pro Omni
Another two-in-one robovac with excellent cleaning on all floor types, plus strong mapping and navigation.
I tested the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal for two weeks in my home, completing my standardised pickup, edge cleaning and mopping tests in addition to simulating tests for features like UV detection. I used the app, making a map of my home and testing various features like scheduling and room-by-room cleaning tasks, closely observing the vacuum when in use to note any navigation or performance issues during testing.
Naturally, Amazon sales mean great savings on the mega marketplace's own devices, and Echo speakers and displays see some of the best discounts during Prime Day.
I've tested every single Echo speaker and display in Amazon's current line-up, putting them all through TechRadar's review programme to identify which ones are worth the money. Using that experience, I've made a quiz that will recommend the best speaker for your specific needs, which you'll find below.
If you ask me, the best deal is on the Echo Dot Max, which is my personal go-to for listening to music at home, and I plan to pick up another one to create a stereo system. Right now, it's $64.99 (was $99.99) at Amazon US and £59.99 (was £99.99) in the UK. Not sure whether that's right for you? Take my quiz and once you're done, you can check out all the deals below.
Amazon Prime Day Echo deals - US
Whether you want more advanced features like Lossless High Definition audio and Automatic Room Adaptation, or just love the idea of a more premium-looking speaker with faster Alexa responses, the Echo Dot Max is a great choice. This deal for Prime Day is a new record-low price.
The Amazon Echo Dot is down to $34.99 for Prime Day. Amazon's best-selling smart speaker offers improved audio, a new temperature sensor, and all the handy Alexa features just a voice command away, such as playing music, answering questions, and checking the weather. This one was $4 cheaper over Black Friday, but it's still a strong deal.
Amazon's Echo Spot is a solid smart alarm clock that pairs a 2.83-inch touchscreen with a 1.73-inch front-firing speaker. With Alexa onboard, you can ask the assistant for the weather, play music, or, of course, schedule alarms. This Prime Day deal matches the previous record-low price we saw during Black Friday.
Amazon's best-selling Echo Show 5 is down to $59.99 for Prime Day. The latest version of the Echo Show 5 features a compact 5.5-inch display but packs impressive sound with deeper bass and clearer vocals. Voice controls are enabled through Amazon Alexa, while you can use the smart screen to listen to podcasts, watch movies, stream videos, play music, and more.
For most, this will be the perfect size smart display, though the 11-inch model below is just as good. With Alexa+ support, too, you get access to all of its advanced AI features, and an easy way to connect and control other smart devices around you home.
Amazon's larger smart display just got its biggest discount yet ahead of Prime Day. The Echo Show 11 boasts a vibrant 11-inch full HD screen and spatial audio support for room-filling sound when listening to music or watching videos. With Alexa+ support, too, you get access to all of its advanced AI features, and an easy way to connect and control other smart devices around you home.
The latest Echo Show 15 got a big refresh when it launched, bringing its specs up to speed and offering a better Alexa experience. These were the first smart displays from Amazon to see the Alexa+ treatment and, naturally, offer one of the better user experiences with Amazon's gen AI-boosted subscription service.
The new Echo Show 21 has great specs, a beautiful big screen and a better Alexa experience than older Amazon smart displays. Alongside the 15-inch model, these were the first smart displays from Amazon to see the Alexa+ treatment and, naturally, offer one of the better user experiences with Amazon's gen AI-boosted subscription service.
Whether you want more advanced features like Lossless High Definition audio and Automatic Room Adaptation, or just love the idea of a more premium-looking speaker with faster Alexa responses, the Echo Dot Max is a great choice. This deal for Prime Day is a new record-low price.
Amazon's best-selling Echo Dot is down to under £30 for Prime Day – an OK offer, but far from the previous record-low of £22.99. Nevertheless, the Echo Dot offers an improved audio experience, plus a new temperature sensor and all the handy features from Alexa, like playing music, answering questions, and checking the weather completely hands-free. As far as a cheap and cheerful smart speaker goes, it's one of the better options out there.
Amazon's Echo Spot smart clock is £25 off for Spring Deal Days — that drops it to £10 more than the record-low price. As well as a time display and wake-up alerts, this compact bit of kit can play music, check the weather and control other smart devices throughout your home.
Spending $5 on a good take-out coffee adds up over time, which is why single-serve coffee machines are a quick and easy way to give you your morning pick-me-up for a lot less.
One of the best parts about the Keurig K-Mini Mate is that you can pretend to be the barista you've always wanted to be by just the push of a button, and impress your friends with your 'skills' in the process. However, just as it is with every coffee pod machine, restocking pods is an additional cost.
But Prime Day isn't just about scoring a cheap coffee machine, it's one of the best times for you existing coffee machine owners to stock up on your favorite brands and flavors.
Today's best Keurig K-Mini Mate deal
Keurig's smallest coffee maker is mighty for its compact size, and doesn't compromise quality of flavor for a budget-friendly coffee machine. $20 may not seem like the biggest saving, but it's the lowest price we've it hit in recent months. View Deal
This works out to around 75c per single-serve, and gives you a wide variety of medium roast brews from known brands including Lavazza and Krispie Kreme. Just one of these would last you two months if you have no more than one coffee per day - or a little bit less if you require more caffeine for your daily fix. View Deal
If you're one for a sweet-flavored coffee, this variety pack covers all the groundwork from vanilla and peanut butter, to butter crunch and maple syrup, but that's just the beginning. This variety pack equals to roughly 42c per serve, so cheaper than Keurig's own selection, but do you get less pods. View Deal
For 50c per serve, you'll be inundated with pods from The Original Donut Shop, bringing diner-style coffee right your kitchen. Though it's not a variety pack and is single-flavor only, it's a great way to stock up on standard pods for when you need a break from the sweeter flavors. View Deal
In a product crossover nobody expected, the Philippines-based brand Goojodoq has launched a 2-in-1 DJI Pocket-style vlogging camera with a fan, which costs around $25 / £20.
It's a device that I seriously need right now, and I can thank filmmaker Philip Bloom for bringing it to my attention. Not for its camera skills, mind you, but for its cooling properties — it's super hot in the UK as I write. Like, scorching hot.
As a fan, the device looks decent enough; a 100-speed brushless motor, 2,500mAh battery for a run time between 2-10 hours, plus USB-C charging.
I can't seriously recommend the device as a camera, however. Details are sparse, but it looks like there's Full HD 30p video recording, micro SD storage, a gimbal with 180-degree rotation, plus a 1.3-inch display.
And you can only laugh at the idea of using both camera and fan at the same time. Can you imagine it? Lights... camera... hummmmm.
Still, it's not like it's a pricey product, with the Philippine Peso pricing conversion working out at around $25 / £20.
If you're looking for a proper compact vlogging camera, I recommend you check out the DJI Osmo Pocket 3. It has recently been updated with the Pocket 4, but the older model is equally good in many regards, and it now costs much less in the Prime Day sales. I've included the best Pocket 3 deals below.
The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 was recently replaced by the Osmo Pocket 4, but the latest model isn't currently available in the US, and we don't know if / when it will be. The Pocket 3 is now available for a record-low price of $378 in a base package, while other bundles with various accessories can be found via the same link.
Following the DJI ban, Xtra appeared, offering effectively the same quality product, for less. The Muse has similar specs to the Pocket 3, and can now be purchased for a record low $329 in a standard bundle.View Deal
There's a reason that the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is a best-selling vlogging camera: its winning combination of gimbal-stabilized 4K video, compact design, ease of use, swivel monitor and pro audio mic pairing. That's everything a content creator on the go needs. Yes, there's the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 in the picture now, but it costs much more and is just an iterative update. Fork out a little extra, and you can get the Creator Combo for £372 which includes a DJI Mic and other accessories. View Deal
The Coalition studio creative director Matt Searcy says Active Reload is an "iconic" part of the Gears of War series
He explains that the team moved the mechanic to the middle of the screen in E-Day because "it feels better"
Searcy adds that players can learn Active Reload "much more easily" when it's placed there
Gears of War: E-Day is set to bring back the series' iconic Active Reload mechanic, but The Coalition has made some design changes.
Speaking in an interview with TechRadar Gaming at Summer Game Fest 2026, studio creative director Matt Searcy discussed new features that have been built with Unreal Engine 5, such as larger environments, like an entire city, a jump button, improved animations, and a rebuilt cover system and traversal mechanics that feel "smoother than they've ever felt before."
"All those cover mechanics are there; they just feel smoother than they've ever felt before," he said, "and then around that we just gave little new ways for you to interact with the environment, for you to traverse, options for you to take new flanking routes, just to open up our maps a little bit more. It's made for some pretty amazing additions to the gameplay, but also the world."
Searcy also touched on Active Reload, a feature almost like a mini-game, which allows players to manually reload their held weapon rather than wait for the magazine to run out of ammo.
In E-Day, the mechanic has been moved from the top of the screen to the middle by default, which Searcy said works better.
"So active reload is a huge part of Gears," Searcy said. "[It's] an iconic feature. We've moved it by default to the middle of the screen. It feels better [from] what we've played; we've tested it as part of your shooting experience."
The creative director confirmed that players can move Active Reload back to its original place at the top of the screen, but notes that there are some extra "cool" details with natural reload and other additional reload mechanics.
"Every single shell is being reloaded," he said, "so some of the weapons have additional reload mechanics."For example, players can interrupt the reload and keep playing with two or three shells if they're halfway through and then "use them really quick to like get out of danger," or they can wait until the end to get their Active Reload bonus.
He added that players will noticeably use the mechanic "telemetry-wise" and use it way more than they did when it was at the top of the screen "because you can learn it much more easily [when] it's in your face."
Identity theft is the number one crime in America, and when it comes to Prime Day sales the crooks are always looking to entice you with too-good-to-be-true deals to steal your financial info, ruin your credit score, and steal your identity.
But right now, LifeLock total is just $29.17/mo (was $34.99/mo) at LifeLock for the first year. When it comes to identity theft protection, there is a reason LifeLock is rated so highly in my guide. In the event your identity is stolen, LifeLock Total can provide up to $1,000,000 in reimbursement for both identity restoration and stolen funds, making it the ideal choice for professionals with multiple financial accounts, investments, or properties.
LifeLock Total also includes a credit lock and 3 Bureau score monitoring & reporting, 401(k) and investment account alerts, stolen wallet protection, automatic data broker removal and dark web monitoring, alongside 24/7 priority customer phone support.
LifeLock Total protects your credit and accounts, monitors the internet and social media for any hints of credential theft, and can helps secure your accounts if they are breached. Even if your identity is stolen, you'll have LifeLock experts on hand to get your life back on track. Prices are for first year only.View Deal
LifeLock Total is the pinnacle of identity theft protection, including everything needed to prevent fraud, and restore your life back to normal in the event your identity is stolen.
Your accounts (Credit, Checking, Savings, 401K, Investment) are covered by LifeLock's monitoring services, which will notify you of any suspicious activity or unauthorized transactions and withdrawals. You will also receive annual credit reports from 3 Bureaus, and a monthly report from 1 Bureau to keep you informed on changes to your financials.
I particularly like how LifeLock Total keeps tabs on your home title or property records and provides notification for any fraudulent attempts to change or transfer your property deeds.
LifeLock's automatic data broker removal scans over 30 of the most prolific data brokers every 90 days to submit data removal notices on your behalf to make sure your sensitive information isn't sold to advertisers from their sites. The dark web is also monitored for traces of your credentials, with notifications of any weak or leaked credentials.
Your social media accounts are also protected, with LifeLock monitoring for suspicious activity and account takeovers, helping to preventing account theft and fraud. You will also be sent alerts when a registered sex offender moves into your neighborhood.
LifeLock Total also 100% guarantees identity restoration in the event of identity theft, with a reimbursement of up to twelve months of your subscription payment if your identity isn't restored to good standing. In case you aren't fully satisfied, LifeLock also offer a 60-day money back guarantee.
As a gaming gadget reviewer, there's a roster of gaming gear I rely on literally every day. So if you're looking for some recommendations for products to upgrade your gaming setup this Prime Day, I've got plenty of tips for you!
You might not be surprised to hear this but I'm a serious gaming nerd. As I write this, I have at least six gaming devices within 10 feet of me and more hidden away upstairs. I use at least one or two of these consoles every day — and that's totally ignoring my favorite accessories. So here's just a handful of the gadgets I currently couldn't game without.
Currently, my personal fave accessory in my home setup is the wonderfully engineered ASUS ROG Raikiri II controller. You can buy the ASUS ROG Raikiri II at Amazon for $143.99 (was $189.99) — that's an epic bargain in my eyes.
When it comes to consoles, I'd definitely recommend the superb performance and graphical fidelity of the Xbox Series X Digital Edition, which you can currently get at Amazon for $574.99 (was $649.99).
The Nintendo Switch 2 is also well worth it, particularly before its price hike this September — and you can net yourself the Choose Your Game Bundle at Amazon for $499, which allows you to get it with a digital download of Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, or Pokémon Pokopia into the bargain.
But while it's not purely a gaming device, my biggest tip this sale might be the fact you can grab the TCL QM8K 65-inch at Amazon for $997.99 (was $1,499.99). Given it's both seriously vibrant and crammed with great gaming features, that's a seriously good discount.
Based in the UK? Don't worry! I've dug up the best equivalent UK deals and prices I could find for all of these items below. And if you want the drop on other top price reductions out there, I've got a pro-tip for you — check out our Amazon Prime Day UK deals roundup for the hottest bargains.
Not gonna lie: I legit love my ASUS ROG Raikiri II. As you can see from my 4.5 star review, I'm a big fan of its TMR thumbsticks and triggers and its low-latency 2.4GHz wireless connectivity. My only criticism is how much it costs but, thanks to this ace deal, you can save yourself a huge $46.
With the Nintendo Switch 2's price rising in September, I'd heartily recommend you grab yours soon. And with this great bundle, you can get it with a digital copy of either Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, or Pokémon Pokopia for at least $20 less than any of the equivalent physical game bundles.
Offering as great a performance as my mid-range gaming rig in a much smaller space, the Xbox Series X serves up stunning graphics and super smooth performance. And honestly, unless you're wedded to physical media, the Digital Edition is by far the best deal.
While the Xbox is a good console, to me, what makes it great is Xbox Game Pass. On the Ultimate tier, I've currently got access to over 400 games, all for far less than what I'd usually spend on games a month. While we're not yet seeing any discounts this Prime Day, this is a very decent price for a truly enormous amount of content.
Not only does my TCL QM8K (AKA the C8K in the UK) offer a vibrant, gorgeous picture, but I also love its gaming features like 4K at 144Hz, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming. While it fell to $897.99 last Black Friday, if you can't wait till November to upgrade your TV, this is still a total bargain.
What I love about the Beyerdynamic MMX 150 is how versatile it is, with sound presets letting you tailor the audio to different genres while its fantastically spatial sound is great for detecting enemies in shooters. With this $50 discount, I heartily recommend checking it out.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer will feature a combination of vehicle parts "in the trillions"
Creative Director Kieran Crimmins says the game has "unbelievable depth"
He adds, "There may not be an arcade racer with that much depth in it ever made"
Fuse Games has revealed that Star Wars: Galactic Racer has a combination of moving parts that is "in the trillions."
Speaking in an interview with TechRadar Gaming at Summer Game Fest (SGF), Fuse Games co-founder and CEO Matt Webster and Creative Director Kieran Crimmins shared how the studio designed a Star Wars racing game with a narrative that balanced what fans are already familiar with while also adding to the universe in a meaningful way.
Webster touched on the accessible planets where the races will take place, such as iconic planets like Tatooine, and others like Lantaana and Jakku, as well as the game's "runs-based" campaign structure and vehicle customization with over 300 parts.
That's a lot of options which will certainly offer a lot of player freedom, but according to Crimmins, the game at large goes beyond that. The creative director said that he spoke to one of the game's designers at SGF and asked how many combinations of moving parts there are in the game, and he was told, "It's in the trillions."
"I can't really calculate it at that point, because the amount of mechanical depth we've got in both the parts, the racer styles, the abilities, the upgrades, and then the different environmental effects that are on the planets, is an unbelievable depth."
"We've never had that much depth in a game we've made," he added. "I would argue there may not be an arcade racer with that much depth in it ever made. This might not be the biggest one possible, and that's something we really wanted to give back to the genre."
Coming back to how the team balanced the new and old of Star Wars, Crimmins explained that it wants people who are familiar with the franchise to have those "touch points," but it also looked at it from "more of a fantasy fulfillment point of view."
"It's like when we watch the movies, we watch the TV shows, or we play the games," he said. "What are the vehicle fantasies that are represented in this universe, which there are a lot of, and then, how do we get the right word, the right worlds, the right parts, the right vehicles? So that we can give as many of those different fantasies as possible."
One of those new vehicles is the skim speeder, which offers fast mobility and is something the Fuse Games knew needed to do a "knife-edge" turn in races.
"We made a vehicle that was able to do that and give, what I feel is a very authentic Star Wars experience, but it is a completely new vehicle, so something new to the Star Wars canon."
Fuse Games CEO Matt Webster confirms Star Wars: Galactic Racer has a runs-based structure in the campaign
Webster says "consequential decision-making" is built within the campaign
Creative Director Kieran Crimmins says that when the team prototyped the system, "it felt right" for Galactic Racer
Star Wars: Galactic Racer will feature a runs-based structure within the campaign, which Fuse Games has said will involve "consequential decision-making."
That's according to Fuse Games co-founder and CEO Matt Webster, who told TechRadar Gaming during an interview at Summer Game Fest 2026 (SGF) that while he and the team love arcade racing games, "you can't make one really in the same way as you did all those years ago," because game genres have adapted and evolved.
Webster said the team wanted to bring something fresh to Galactic Racer, and the runs-based structures, which "are built for replayability and racing thrives on replayability," and in other games, the "meta" is car collection. So instead, the team shook things up by bringing back "consequential decision making and consequence back into the experience."
Creative Director Kieran Crimmins added that "consequence" was the "key" for Galactic Racer, saying, "We want every decision to matter, every upgrade to matter, every vehicle to matter, every race to matter, and like the runs-based structure allows us to do that, like we've never done in an arcade racing before."
"Not only have you got to keep on top of the curve with your build and your skill and your track knowledge, but also you get to reset every time," Crimmins continued.
In other arcade racers, the developer explained, cars can be upgraded to max level, but then players will realize they haven't experienced 99% of the other systems. And while they can always be revisited, the runs-based structure "allows you to do that with consequence."
"It gives you a reason to try all those different builds, a reason to experiment, and also a reward if you get your synergies right, you get your build right, and you get your knowledge right," Crimmins said.
"Then that's what actually wins the game, so it was incredibly compelling to us to have a structure that not only changed the way that you play, but changed the way that you play that was advantageous for the feelings that you get in a racing game, and like anything, the way we made it is we prototyped it and it felt right.
"This is an innovation we think we can bring to the genre."
During the interview, Crimmins also revealed that the game will feature a combination of moving parts that are "in the trillions," across racer styles, the abilities, the upgrades, and then the different environmental effects that are on the planets.
"It's an unbelievable depth," the creative director said.
Despite being Insta360’s first vlogging camera with multiple Insta360 firsts, the Luna Ultra, overall, feels like a polished and bold product. Its triple chipset ably supports powerful features — especially the gimbal-stabilized 8K 30p video with 10-bit color depth and 4K 120p slow motion video recording, Log color profile, autonomous subject tracking autofocus and 32-bit float audio.
With dual 20mm f/1.8 and 60mm f/2.0 lenses, each with its own sensor, you truly are getting two cameras in one. And having enjoyed the Luna's ultra-wide and impressive 3x telephoto versatility for a month, it will be hard for me to go back to a single-lens compact vlogging camera.
The detachable remote module — which features the two-inch OLED touchscreen, main camera controls and built-in microphone — has, understandably, won many admirers. It's such a clever and well-implemented design feature that truly enhances the user experience, especially for solo vlogging.
Here the module has been removed. It has a 20m transmission range and when removed it functions just as if it's attached to the camera (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)
Initially I had a few minor niggles navigating various camera settings, and it certainly paid dividends to spend time customizing the Luna Ultra to the way I like to shoot. It's also notably bulkier than DJI's Pocket 4 vlogging cameras, and pricier than single-lens alternatives.
Despite its infancy in this space, Insta360 has to its credit already produced crucial supporting accessories — including tripod and battery grips, plus the Insta360 Mic Pro wireless mic for top quality audio — meaning you can stick within the Insta360 ecosystem and enjoying the best possible user experience and compatibility, including full Bluetooth support.
Yes, DJI has been in the compact vlogging camera space for much longer and has refined its Pocket series with every iteration, but the Luna Ultra enters with a bang and is an impressive alternative.
Two lenses in one device, with an additional zoom — an approach familiar to smartphone users (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)
Insta360 Luna Ultra: price and release date
Full release on June 12 2026
Available in black or white with prices starting at $769.99 / £649 / AU$1,229.99
Multiple bundles to choose from, including the Creator Bundle
The Titanium Gold version comes with a matching auto lens cap (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)
"We're not going to compete on price" is what Insta360's co-founder Max Richter told me at a pre-launch event for the Luna Ultra, the company's first vlogging camera and DJI Osmo Pocket series rival.
And the Luna Ultra is much pricier than previous Pocket cameras. However, those were single-lens models and, like DJI's most recent Pockets, the single-lens Pocket 4 and dual-lens Pocket 4P, the Luna comes in two varieties: the single-lens Pro and the dual-lens Ultra.
Prices for the Ultra start at $769.99 / £649 / AU$1,229.99. That’s a fair whack more than the latest single-lens models, but you are truly getting two cameras in one device.
Insta360 sent me the Creator Bundle to review, which includes multiple extras such as the Mic Pro transmitter and battery grip and costs $969.99 / £829 / AU$1,549.99. I expect the dual-lens Osmo Pocket 4P to cost less than the Luna Ultra, but it won't be available in the US because of the DJI ban.
Both Luna models are available in black or white versions, and in a further variety of bundles that cater for various use cases; Standard, Essential, Endurance, VLOG, POV and Creator.
Price score: 4/5
Insta360 Luna Ultra specs
Insta360 Luna Ultra Specs:
Type:
Compact video camera
Lenses
20mm f/1.8 and 60mm f/2.0
Sensors:
1-inch and 1/1.3-inch
Video:
8K up to 30p / 4K up to 120p / FHD up to 240p
Photo:
9MP JPEG & RAW / 37MP UltraPhoto mode / panorama
LCD:
2-inch OLED, detachable
Memory:
47GB internal, 1x micro SD (up to 1TB)
Battery
1,550mAh, rated up to 4 hours of 1080p
Dimensions
2.1×6.7×1.5in / 52.4×169.9×38.5mm
Weight:
8.2 oz / 233g (black) 8.3oz / 235g (white)
Insta360 Luna Ultra: design
First compact vlogging camera to land with dual lenses, ahead of the Pocket 4P
Similar design cues to the DJI Pocket series (but a little larger), with stick-like form factor and camera supported by a three-axis gimbal
Unique detachable controller which includes a two-inch OLED screen and built-in mic
The chunky protective caseFuture / Tim ColemanThe wind guard attached to camera's mic pickupsFuture / Tim ColemanThe dual-lenses tuck away vertically when the camera is turned off.Future / Tim ColemanOne way to power up the camera is rotating the screen, but there's also a power buttonFuture / Tim ColemanHorizontal video is available in 8K, 4K and 1080pFuture / Tim ColemanThe profile of the camera — the lowest part is pronounced to accommodate the detachable moduleFuture / Tim ColemanOn the right side is a micro SD card slot, behind a fiddly rubber coverFuture / Tim Coleman
The Luna Ultra’s form factor is familiar — it's a bit like the compact, stick-like design of DJI’s Pocket series. DJI isn’t happy about it, by the way; it has filed a lawsuit accusing Insta360 of patent violations (which Insta360 has responded to with a countersuit).
However, there are some key design differences. Lunas are slightly larger than Pocket models. Not majorly so, but the difference is clear when you hold them side by side as I did (albeit the dual-lens Ultra alongside the single-lens Pocket 4).
In practice, I didn’t really feel that the Luna’s extra weight and size negatively affected its handling — it’s easy in the hand for on-the-go vlogging. If you want the absolute smallest option, however, DJI is your best best. Even the dual-lens Pocket 4P is smaller.
There’s a good reason why the Luna cameras are bigger, and that’s for a super clever and unique feature: a detachable remote control, which is a module that packs the camera's main controls and rotatable two-inch OLED screen. Simply squeeze the red buttons on either side of the Luna, and the module pulls away from the body.
Future / Tim ColemanFuture / Tim ColemanFuture / Tim ColemanFuture / Tim Coleman
The module has a 20m transmission range and operates exactly the same way as if it’s on the camera, with the touch display offering a remote view, and the main camera controls on hand, including gimbal, zoom and record. Transmission range is impacted by the surroundings — I found the feed froze inside 15 meters when other people passed in front of me in a busy urban space — but I could see it happening on the screen in my hand and could rectify the situation.
What’s really neat is that the module has a built-in microphone, so you can easily check your frame and present to the camera. It’s certainly better than using the on-camera mic, though a wireless mic such as Insta360’s own Mic Pro with its customizable E Ink display is an even better pick for audiophiles. The camera has direct Bluetooth support for this mic and Insta360’s Mic Air. The video below gives an idea of what the module is like to use remotely.
I really appreciated how much easier it was to frame my shots with the controller module in hand. There’s also smart subject tracking and autofocus (more on this in the performance section), meaning the camera can track you as you move around, within the gimbal’s range, keeping you or your subject centered in the frame. Controlling the Luna using the module and tracking is like having your own cameraperson filming you, provided you can find a secure surface to rest the camera on or a support to fix it to.
On that note, the Luna Ultra can stand freely on flat surfaces, while the battery grip, which extends battery life plus the physical height of the camera, featurestiny flip-out tripod feet for extra stability.
The battery grip is larger than the regular tripod grip and extends the battery life of the camera, which was already impressive being rated at up to four hours of 1080p filming. Not bad for a 1,550mAh unit that can be recharged to 80% in just 23 minutes.
At first I had a few niggles with the handling of the Luna Ultra from how it comes straight from the box. Beyond finding it physically clunkier than the Pocket 4, I needed to change various settings to taste, such as its behavior when rotating the two-inch touchscreen.
Overall, however, I can't find much fault with the Luna Ultra's design, which is seriously impressive for a first generation product.
Design score: 4.5/5
Insta360 Luna Ultra: Performance
Triple chipset, with 4nm and AI chips ensures smooth operation
Smart subject tracking and autofocus, but it's not perfect
Can get a little warm when using the most powerful features
The Luna Ultra is equipped with a triple chipset, comprising powerful 4nm and AI chips. As such, I never really experienced any performance issues, even shooting a lot of 8K video (though never for more than 10 minutes at a time).
The camera does get a little warm when using power-hungry features such as 8K video, and I did see a lag when switching from the 12x zoom back to 1x using the stepped zoom control on the touchscreen. However, those were my only issues.
In addition to regular 8K video, the Luna Ultra has a range of shooting modes, including; Slow Motion up to 240fps (in Full HD), Timelapse, TimeShift and Barrel Roll. I've included some slow motion clips in a sample video below.
Both Luna cameras accept a micro SD card up to 1TB, and include 47GB internal storage — less than DJI’s Osmo Pocket 4 / 4P, which have more than double the capacity. I shot plenty of video clips and photos directly onto the internal memory, and still had plenty of space left over — the maximum 120Mbps bitrates of video files are fairly low and don't take up too much memory.
And there’s plenty more for audiophiles, namely a decent wind guard for the camera’s internal four-mic array, plus 32-bit float audio. This pro-level setting avoids clipping, and is ideal for unpredictable and noisy environments, but for simpler audio edits, the 24-bit setting is probably your best bet.
The quality of the detachable module's built-in mic impressed me, though for the clearest pickup it's pretty fussy about how close you hold it and the angle it's pointed in.
Subject tracking is impressively sticky, though I did find that it switches to a new subject a little more easily than the DJI Pocket 4. In one situation, I was walking with the camera tracking me when other people came between me and the camera and tracking stopped.
In another scenario as I held a product up to the camera for it to focus on, the camera focused back on my face in the background all too keenly when I came back into view. In such a scenario, I think DJI's tracking performs better.
Performance score: 4.5/5
Insta360 Luna Ultra: Image and video quality
Dual 20mm f/1.8 (1-inch sensor) and 60mm f/2.0 (1/1.3-inch sensor) cameras are effectively like having a decent zoom
8K 30p and 4K 120p video with color grading-friendly I-Log profile — a first for Insta360
9MP photos are decent enough, especially in RAW format, and can be upped to 37MP in UltraPhoto mode
(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)
The Luna Ultra ups the ante in this camera category with 8K video — double the resolution of the Osmo Pocket 4, which shoots in 4K. It’ll shoot 8K up to 30fps, complete with Dolby Vision (aka HDR) and I-Log color profile.
This is the first Insta360 camera with Log, a flat color profile that pros like to use to maximize the color grading potential and for the most dynamic range possible from their camera, which in this case is up to 14 stops.
DJI has billed the Pocket 4P as having 17 stops dynamic range with its new D-Log2 profile — I look forward to comparing the footage of both cameras to see which is better once I have my hands on the Pocket. 4P.
Insta360 thinks its night mode is superior to DJI, with its PureVideo mode boosting dynamic range in 4K 60p videos. That’s another comparison test I’m looking forward to conducting. From the shots I've taken at night in this mode, detail looks impressively sharp, though of course no match for the quality of daytime footage.
Insta360’s Leica partnership goes beyond the Luna’s Leica-branded lenses and into various Leica color profiles. If you like the simplicity of attractive color profiles with no need for color correction, then the Luna has some great alternatives to Log.
I was impressed with the 3x telephoto camera — provided the subject isn't too far away, it's possible to throw depth of field for punchy portraits. I'm talking upper body shots with notable shallow depth of field.
The zoom of that lens can be further extended with a 6x 'lossless' zoom, a term that suggests you shouldn't notice a drop in image quality — I certainly didn't. I can't say the same for the 12x digital zoom setting, which looks a little more pixelated on close inspection. Still, that 12x zoom is a handy addition should you really need to zoom closer.
Honestly, having enjoyed the variety of two lenses in such a small camera, and how impressive the quality of the telephoto camera is (the sensor is bigger than the main sensor in most smartphones), I know I'll struggle if I have to go back to a single-lens compact vlogging camera.
Video is, of course, the primary use for the Luna Ultra, but it shoots decent-quality 9MP photos too, in JPEG and RAW format, albeit with just eight-bit color depth. I've included a couple of scenarios below, taking JPEG and RAW (DNG format) photos simultaneously at night and in daylight, with the 1x and 3x lenses.
I haven't edited the RAWs so you can see the kind of processing that takes place for JPEGs. All the photos are 9MP, but there is also an UltraPhoto mode which quadruples resolution to 37MP.
Insta360 Luna Ultra photo gallery
An unedited RAW DNG file. Note the vignetting (dark corners) and muted colorsFuture / Tim ColemanThe standard color profile, JPEG format. This gives an idea of the kind of camera corrections that take place during JPEG processingFuture / Tim ColemanAnother example. Interestingly, the RAW files use a lower ISO value than JPEGs when shooting. in RAW+JPEG simultaneously. Future / Tim ColemanThe previous RAW image was ISO 180, this JPEG is ISO 360. All of the four dragon photo were taken with the 1x ultra-wide camera.Future / Tim ColemanAgain, a RAW file. There's more detail in this photo than the corresponding JPEG, and I haven't even played with exposure corrections or shadow / highlight recoveryFuture / Tim ColemanI tried the 'Fresh' color profile here, which is bright and airy. The intensity for any color profile can be adjustedFuture / Tim ColemanThe RAW DNG format again and, like the previous portraits, taken with the 3x telephoto camera.Future / Tim ColemanThe corresponding JPEG to the previous imageFuture / Tim Coleman
Image and video quality score: 5/5
Insta360 Luna Ultra: testing scorecard
Insta360 Luna Ultra
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Price
Considering you get two cameras in one, a detachable touchscreen module and high-end video features, the Luna Ultra is decent value, but it does cost a lot more than single-lens alternatives and DJI almost always costs less
4/5
Design
Slightly clunkier than the rival Osmo Pocket 4 / 4P, but the detachable control is well implemented and seriously useful
4.5/5
Performance
Triple chipset ably supports high-end features, subject tracking works well and gimbal performance is decent
4.5/5
Image and video quality
Twin camera versatility for different shots, sharp 8K footage, I Log and Leica color profiles. You'll struggle to find better image quality in this camera format, though I haven't directly compared footage with the Osmo Pocket 4P yet
5/5
Should I buy the Insta360 Luna Ultra?
Buy it if...
You want a versatile compact vlogging camera Dual lenses are a revelation for this camera format. You're no longer restricted to ultra-wide shots, but dynamic portraiture and b-roll details are entirely possible.
You're a solo vlogger The detachable remote with two-inch touchscreen, camera controls and built-in mic aid solo vlogging, in terms of the range of shots you can easily get, especially with subject tracking on board.
Don't buy it if...
You want the smallest possible vlogging camera The Luna Ultra is clunkier than the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 / 4P. Not hugely so, but DJI's cameras are even more pocketable.
You don't need two lenses For me, having used the Luna Ultra, it's now hard to go back to a single-lens compact vlogging camera, but if you don't need that second telephoto camera, the single-lens Pocket 4 / Luna Pro alternatives cost much less.
Insta360 Luna Ultra: also consider
DJI Osmo Pocket 4 / 4P
At the time of writing, I've only reviewed the single-lens DJI Osmo Pocket 4 which isn't a fair comparison especially with the dual-lens Pocket 4P on the horizon and the direct rival to the Luna Ultra. However, if you'd like to know how the cameras compare, check out my Luna Ultra vs Pocket 4 article.
If we're going on price, there beginner mirrorless cameras enter the picture, and for me the Fujifilm X-M5 is the best-equipped hybrid for the money. It has a bigger APS-C sensor, shoots 6K video recording (with Full HD vertical vlogging mode) and 26MP photos and it's a stunning camera. The drawback is that there's no in-body stabilization, so you'll probably want an additional gimbal to smooth out on-the-go clips.
Insta360 supplied me with the Luna Ultra Creator Bundle, which includes 2x grips, Mic Pro transmitter, soft carry case and more
I tested the camera regularly for a month shooting day and night, mainly focusing on video content. I've tried the monitor in various configurations
I was testing the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 simultaneously, and could draw comparisons
I had early access to the Luna Ultra Creator Bundle ahead of its launch, and tested the kit out over the following weeks before writing this review. During this review period, I also had the single-lens DJI Osmo Pocket 4, meaning I was able to make comparisons.
The camera shoots decent still photos with RAW format editing flexibility, but my main focus video performance. I've shot horizontal and vertical vlogging-style videos in the various resolutions and frame rates available in each format, and experimented with various color profiles.
I've made sure to try out all of the accessories supplied to me and the various configurations of the detachable monitor. I've checked the camera and detachable monitor's audio quality, and how easily and reliable it pairs with an Insta360 Mic Pro wireless mic.
If you're looking to get into the world of audiophile-grade sound, or want to upgrade your gear, then now could be the perfect time. And that's because Amazon Prime Day is finally upon us, and we've spotted a bunch of amazing deals on head-fi, with some mega bargains on IEMs, headphones, and music streamers.
I've got the rundown on some awesome offers from the likes of Astell & Kern, its affordable sub-brand, Activo, Meze, and Sennheiser, with big discounts, bundles, and more available.
As someone who's been testing audio gear for years, and has tested IEMs and headphones from all of these brands — including the featured Activo Volcano and Sennheiser IE 200 — I have to say that these deals are seriously tempting, even for me. So, whatever you do, don't miss out on some of this high-quality, yet low-priced audio gear!
For a long time, security teams have been dealing with the same problem: a constant stream of security alerts, but not enough context.
Missing details like user behavior, asset importance, or related activity, means there’s a heavy reliance on analysts to work out what actually matters.
This doesn’t just slow teams down; it puts real pressure on teams and limits how much they can realistically review or understand.
Agentic AI changes this dynamic.
Instead of looking at alerts in isolation, these systems can piece activity together, understand what’s happening in context, and in some cases take action on their own.
Often, issues are resolved before they ever need to be escalated. That removes a lot of the manual effort that’s shaped security operations for years.
But while a clear improvement, it doesn’t remove risk—it shifts it.
As systems improve, scrutiny declines
A useful comparison is aviation. As systems become more reliable, people naturally step back. Not because they’re careless, but because constantly double-checking something that’s almost always right starts to feel unnecessary. Over time, trust stops being something you actively think about and becomes something you assume.
The same thing is starting to happen in cybersecurity. As these systems prove themselves, teams spend less time questioning individual decisions. The environment feels calmer, and the lack of issues reinforces that sense of control. The real risk isn’t frequent failure, it’s that when something does go wrong, it’s less likely to be challenged.
Alert fatigue comes from having to pay attention to too much, too quickly. What follows is something different: a gradual drop in attention, where growing confidence in the system weakens the instinct to double-check.
A model built on two interdependent layers
The structure of security operations starts to shift as well. Instead of everything hinging on human decision-making, you end up with two connected layers. People set the intent – defining policy, access and boundaries – while agents interpret it and act on it, often much faster than any person could.
Both layers can be influenced. Traditional attacks aimed at people don’t go away, but there’s now another surface to think about: the data, prompts, and workflows that shape agent behavior. If those inputs are manipulated, the system can still produce actions that look valid, because they follow its internal logic.
At the same time, the distance between decision and execution increases. Human operators aren’t as involved in the moment an action happens, which makes it harder to spot when something isn’t quite right. In practice, each layer ends up relying on the other for validation.
When that assumption holds, the system works efficiently. When that works, everything runs smoothly. When it doesn’t, the gap between them can be hard to see in real time.
How risk scales in an agentic environment
Risk doesn’t just increase in this kind of environment, it spreads differently. Each agent has its own identity, permissions, and decision-making logic, and they’re often connected. Actions taken in one part of the system can trigger responses elsewhere, creating chains of automated behavior.
That means a single bad input or flawed decision doesn’t stay contained. It can move quickly across systems without anyone stepping in. The issue isn’t just speed, it’s how connected everything is. Small mistakes can have much bigger consequences because they’re carried through multiple layers of automation.
Why identity and access need to change
How agents are set up today adds another layer of risk. In many cases, they’re treated as extensions of the user, with the same credentials and access. It’s convenient, but it also widens the blast radius if something goes wrong.
A more resilient approach is to treat agents as their own entities. Give them distinct identities, limit what they can do to specific tasks, and make sure their actions can be tracked and reversed if needed, without affecting everything else.
It’s less about efficiency and more about putting the right foundations in place for systems that are increasingly acting on their own.
Maintaining control as reliance increases
One of the trickier aspects is that failure doesn’t always look like failure. Fewer alerts and faster resolutions can make it feel like risk has gone down, when in reality oversight may just be less active.
Staying in control comes down to how these systems are designed and used. High-impact actions still need some form of verification, even if most routine work doesn’t. It also matters that teams can see not just what an agent did, but how it arrived there—what inputs it used and how it interpreted them.
The ability to step in is just as important. If stopping or overriding an automated process is slow or awkward, it probably won’t happen in time when something goes wrong. That kind of intervention needs to be simple enough to use under pressure.
More broadly, the role of the security professional shifts. It’s not just about spotting obvious problems anymore, but recognizing when something that looks fine might still need a second look.
A quieter, more concentrated risk
Agentic AI will do a lot to reduce alert fatigue, which has weighed on security teams for years. The trade-off is that risk becomes less visible and more concentrated in the space between what people intend and what machines actually do.
In systems that work correctly most of the time, the real challenge isn’t constant failure. It’s what happens when something does go wrong and whether the usual signals that would catch it are still there.
This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today.
The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit
Under the Radar is our way of highlighting great games that might have passed you by. Through a regular mix of news stories and features, we'll cover everything from high-quality indie gems to AAA experiences or ports that were buried by busy release schedules.
The only requirement is that we think whatever we’re writing about is truly interesting and worthy of your attention, so buckle up because things might well get weird…
Portable power stations have become a must-have for business travel, camping and road trips, and anyone spending time away from a wall socket.
If you've been thinking about picking one up, Amazon Prime Day has delivered a great deal on the Jackery Explorer 240D for $119 (was $179). We enjoyed testing this power station, which is more portable than almost any other option out there - with a built-in braided cable that doubles as a handle. Really cool design here that we love.
Despite its compact size, the Explorer 240D packs a 256Wh battery, equivalent to 80,000mAh of capacity. That's enough power to keep smartphones, tablets, laptops, cameras, drones, and other portable devices running when you're away from a wall socket.
Today's top Jackery portable power bank deal
With an 80,000mAh LiFePO4 battery, 200W output and one-hour fast charging, this compact portable power station is ideal for camping, travel and emergency backup power when mains electricity isn't available.View Deal
Four charging ports are included, consisting of three USB-C connections and one USB-A port.
The unit can power up to four devices simultaneously, with up to 200W of total DC output and as much as 140W available from a single port.
Weighing just 4.85lbs, the Explorer 240D is substantially lighter and smaller than many portable power stations with similar capacity, making it easier to slip into a vehicle, backpack, or camping setup.
In his rave review, our expert Collin said "the Explorer 240D is ready for on-the-go adventures with a built-in cable that's more than just a cable." By that he means it "doubles as a handle."
In our roundup of the best portable power stations, we observed the product "is about as portable a power station as you're every going to get," noting that it should be thought of "as the middle-ground between a decent-sized power bank and a full-sized power station."
The power bank supports USB-C charging, solar charging, vehicle charging, and AC-DC dual input charging.
According to Jackery, the unit can reach 80% capacity in around one hour when using AC-DC dual input charging.
The LiFePO4 battery is rated for up to 6,000 charge cycles while retaining at least 70% of its original capacity, and Jackery says it can continue operating for up to a decade of regular use.
One particularly useful feature for travelers is support for high-power USB-C devices. The Explorer 240D can keep a Starlink Mini connected for up to 10 hours while also supporting laptops and other demanding gadgets.
Amazon Prime Day might have just begun today, but at $119, this is one of the best portable power deals I've spotted in a long time.
Also consider: More Jackery portable power station deals
Combining a 292Wh portable power station with a 40W solar panel, this compact setup delivers 300W of pure sine wave AC power for camping, travel, outdoor adventures and emergency backup situations.View Deal
With a 1070Wh LiFePO4 battery, 1500W AC output and one-hour fast charging, this portable power station provides reliable backup power for camping, RV trips, emergencies and off-grid living.View Deal
Trump wants to have scientifically relevant quantum computers as soon as 2028
PQC migration pilot must have been completed by the end of 2027
Quantum promises to prevent attacks and aid discovery simultaneously
US President Donald Trump has signed two executive orders to push the US forward in quantum tech in a bid to prepare government systems against future cybersecurity risks.
The first EO is to establish a coordinated national effort to "develop the first ever quantum computer powerful enough to initiate the era of quantum-enabled scientific discovery and accelerate quantum capabilities for commercial applications."
The Departments of Energy, War, Commerce, and the Intelligence Community, industry and research leaders are all set to be involved as the country seeks to press on with its quantum plans.
Trump signs executive order to accelerate quantum computing plans
Among the benefits Trump envisions coming from future quantum computers are a number of spatial awareness improvements, including navigation through military environments, detecting submarines, underground structures and other hidden infrastructure, and improving battlefield awareness.
Trump's second EO focuses on the nationwide "nationwide migration to post-quantum cryptography," coordinated between the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the National Cyber Director.
The White House warned that quantum developments threaten the security of government networks, banks, healthcare, military systems and other critical infrastructure, ordering a pilot scheme to have been completed by the end of 2027. Some of the earliest migrations are set to have happened by 2030-2031, the administration added.
Quantum also promises some positive impacts spanning manufacturing, drug discovery, energy and agriculture, with the President seeing earlier investment in quantum giving the nation a competitive advantage.
But in as little as two years and before PQC rollout, the administration hopes to achieve scientifically relevant quantum computing, targeting 2028.
The increasingly popular AI assistant Claude has gone down for many today, with Anthropic confirming that it's "investigating" an issue.
The problems started at around 10.02am ET / 3.02pm BST, when a spike in reports appeared on Downdetector. At the time of writing, those reports are still climbing and have hit over 8.000 in the US.
The Claude Status page has confirmed a "elevated error rate" across models, but says "a fix is being implemented". Here's the latest news on Claude's issues today...
Lots of red is never a good sign
(Image credit: Anthropic)
This is the current situation on Anthropic's Status Page for Claude — there's good and bad news.
While there are indeed "elevated error rates" across "multiple models" on Claude, as I've also experienced, it seems the company has already got a fix in the pipeline.
Let's hope that means it gets resolved as quickly as the last outage we saw on June 2...
Problems across all models
(Image credit: Anthropic / Future)
Today's Claude issues aren't restricted to just one model unfortunately — we're seeing issues across all models, and on both paid and free accounts.
Right now, Claude is either "contemplating" its answers indefinitely or telling us "this model isn't available right now". According to Downdetector, the issue is also affecting both the chat interface and Claude Code.
Is the fix working?
(Image credit: Downdetector)
It's early days, but today's reported Claude issues have just taken a small dip on Downdetector — they're still high at over 6,000 in the US at the time of writing, but that's down from a high of 7,119 just over half an hour ago.
Hopefully, that's the work of Anthropic's engineers, with the latest post in Claude's Status page stating that "the issue has been identified and a fix is being implemented".
It still isn't working for me, but the signs are promising that it'll spring back into life soon...
This looks more worrying
(Image credit: Anthropic)
While reports of Claude issues on Downdetector have dropped slightly in the last half an hour, they're still very high — and Anthropic's status page (above) is showing a "major outage" across all of its platforms, except Claude for Government.
That means Claude's chat interface, Claude Code, Claude Cowork and its API are all having issues right now, which makes this is a pretty broad outage affecting many.
As the Claude issues continue for many, Reddit is responding the only way it knows how — with comforting memes.
The could be promising news on the horizon, though — Anthropic's latest post on the Claude Status page (at 10.53am ET / 3.53pm BST) says that "a fix has been implemented and we are monitoring the results".
That often means a swift improvement, but can also be a false dawn, so I'm keeping a close eye on my account in the hope that it'll be the former.
We're well over the hour mark
(Image credit: Downdetector)
Claude is still very much down for me and thousands of others — and it's now well over an hour since the problems started at around 10.53am ET / 2.53pm BST.
The latest from Anthropic's status page is still that "a fix has been implemented and we are monitoring the results'. So far that hasn't been reflected in the numbers, but in theory we should see an improvement pretty soon.
Bigger than the last outage
We don't have to look back too far for the last significant Claude outage — that was just three weeks ago on June 2. But this one is definitely bigger.
Those previous issues were related to its latest Opus 4.6 model, but this outage is across all models and all Claude platforms — except for those fortunate to be on Claude for Government.
I don't know about you, but this feels like a good opportunity to check out the latest Prime Day deals in the US and UK's best Prime Day deals, too. Forgive me the plug, but a cut-price Ninja Slushi is looking very tempting right now while I wait for Claude to reboot...
Claude is still struggling for many
(Image credit: Anthropic)
While the number of reported Claude issues on Downdetector is dropping — in the US, they're now at about the half the peak from an hour ago — thousands are still struggling to get it working, including many of us at TechRadar.
For me, there are some signs of life — rather than completely blanking my prompt or giving me a "this model isn't available right now" error message, Claude is now 'thinking' when I ask it something.
But that thinking time still ultimately goes nowhere, which suggests Anthropic's fix still isn't fully working — and the company indeed says that it's still "continuing to monitor for any further issues".
Claude is on the mend
(Image credit: Downdetector)
I'm starting to feel like one of the last people who still has Claude issues, as Downdetector is showing a significant drop in reported issues — and it's now back for many others here at TechRadar.
That fix that Anthropic pushed out almost exactly an hour ago is seemingly doing the trick. And just as a I type, Claude has sprung back into life for me, albeit with a slight delay in its responses. It looks like this one's almost over, folks...
When Joao Neves scored in just the sixth minute against DR Congo, there was a general expectation that Portugal would go on to make their opening World Cup 2026 game a thrashing. But that wasn't to be for six-time World Cup participant Cristiano Ronaldo's side, as they were held to an unexpected draw after appearing to ease off following the early lead despite enjoying 75% possession.
Portugal now face 54th-ranked World Cup debutants Uzbekistan at Houston Stadium, and anything less than three points will be a disappointment. Much of the spotlight will be on the 41-year-old CR7, who has come under intense scrutiny both online and from pundits after the opening game. He finished the match with just 25 touches and failed to register a single shot on target. In fact, his last World Cup goal came against Ghana in Portugal's opening match of the 2022 tournament.
But it's fair to say Ronaldo wasn't the only underwhelming aspect of Portugal's performance. Several fans even accused Bruno Fernandes of not passing the ball enough to Ronaldo. Wow! However, Roberto Martinez's men will have to block out the outside noise if they are to mount a serious challenge for the trophy.
Debutants Uzbekistan, on the other hand, are coming off a 3-1 defeat to Colombia after failing to register a single touch in the penalty area during the first half. Now up against A Seleção das Quinas, the White Wolves will rely on captain Eldor Shomurodov, Manchester City centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov, and 22-year-old Abbosbek Fayzullaev to put up a formidable fight.
On paper, Portugal have one of the best squads in the tournament, and should be more than a match for today's opponents. Fail to deliver again, however, and they face a very tricky final game against a decent Colombia side.
So, read on as we show you exactly how to watch Portugal vs Uzbekistan for free from anywhere in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
How to watch Portugal vs Uzbekistan for free
Portugal vs Uzbekistan is available to watch for free in multiple countries, including the UK, Australia, Brazil, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland and Turkey.
Abroad? Can't access your free stream? Unblock your free World Cup stream with Norton VPN — more on that below.
Use a VPN to watch Portugal vs Uzbekistan live streams
It’s the World Cup, and if you’re traveling, you might discover your usual Portugal vs Uzbekistan stream is suddenly unavailable due to geo-restrictions.
Don’t worry, that’s exactly where a VPN can help. A virtual private network lets you connect to servers around the world so you can securely access your usual World Cup coverage as if you were back home.
Watch your free World Cup stream without limits. Norton VPN delivers fast, secure connections with global servers, so you can stream from anywhere with ease.
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How to watch Portugal vs Uzbekistan in the US
US viewers can watch Portugal vs Uzbekistan on Fox and Telemundo (Spanish comms).
Those looking for a streaming service instead can watch Portugal vs Uzbekistan on Fox One (3-day free trial). Telemundo is available via Peacock as well.
Visiting the US from the UK? You can still watch your World Cup stream for free thanks to Norton VPN (try for 60 days).
How to watch Portugal vs Uzbekistan in the UK
UK customers are in luck as they can stream Portugal vs Uzbekistan for free on ITV. Live coverage is on ITV1 and ITVX.
You require a TV Licence and a valid UK postcode for an account (e.g. SE1 7PB).
Norton VPN can unlock your stream if you're abroad today.
How to watch Portugal vs Uzbekistan in Australia
(Image credit: free)
Portugal vs Uzbekistan will be shown for free in Australia on SBS On Demand.
The streaming platform has every game of the tournament for free, making it the perfect place for your World Cup viewing.
Traveling for work or on holiday? A VPN like Norton VPN can help unlock your free stream.
How to watch Portugal vs Uzbekistan in Canada
(Image credit: Other)
In Canada TSN will be broadcasting Portugal vs Uzbekistan.
You can live stream via the TSN+ streaming platform, which costs CA$8 per month or CA$80 per year.
Outside of Canada? Use Norton VPN whilst you're traveling away from home to unlock your stream.
Portugal vs Uzbekistan: Match Information
What time does Portugal vs Uzbekistan start?
Portugal vs Uzbekistan kicks-off at 6pm BST / 1pm ET on Tuesday, June 23. That's 3am AEST on Wednesday, June 24 in Australia.
What are the squads for Portugal vs Uzbekistan?
Portugal
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Jose Sa (Wolves), Rui Silva (Sporting), Ricardo Velho (Genclerbirligi)
Midfielders: Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal), Samu Costa (Mallorca), Joao Neves (Paris St-Germain), Vitinha (Paris St-Germain), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr), Joao Felix (Al-Nassr), Francisco Trincao (Sporting), Francisco Conceicao (Juventus), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Rafael Leao (AC Milan), Goncalo Guedes (Real Sociedad), Goncalo Ramos (Paris St-Germain)
Of course, most broadcasters have streaming services that you can access through mobile apps or via your phone's browser.
You can also stay up-to-date with all of the key World Cup moments on the official social media channels on X/Twitter (@FIFAWorldCup), Instagram (@FIFAWorldCup), TikTok (@FIFAWorldCup) and YouTube (@FIFA).
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Scream or Skip, that is the question. With so much horror out there to watch and play, our senior entertainment writer Lucy Buglass is here to help you decide what's worth your time.
Lucy is a long-time lover of the horror genre and has covered everything from the biggest new releases to hidden indie gems. Each month, she'll review a range of titles across cinema, television, and gaming, picking out titles that have caught her eye — for better or for worse. Feeling brave? Scroll on to see what frights await you.
There is a growing tendency to frame advances in artificial intelligence through the lens of breakthroughs: new models, new architectures, new capabilities.
Innovation is often measured by what is invented, and how quickly.
But in some domains, this framing misses the point entirely.
Financial crime is no longer a collection of isolated incidents, it has evolved into an organized, adaptive, and increasingly industrialized system.
Criminal networks operate across geographies, leverage automation, and continuously refine their methods: they test, iterate, and scale, just as any high-performing organisation would.
In such an environment, the question is not whether an AI system is innovative. It is whether it can operate at the same level of organisation, speed, and adaptability as the threats it is designed to counter.
When Innovation Meets Reality
Most AI breakthroughs do not survive contact with real-world systems.
In controlled environments, models perform well. Data is structured, assumptions hold, and evaluation metrics are stable. But reality introduces a different set of constraints: incomplete information, shifting behaviors, latency requirements, regulatory oversight, and adversarial actors actively attempting to exploit weaknesses.
Financial and state systems, in particular those related to fraud and risk, represent one of the most demanding environments for AI. Decisions must be made in milliseconds, errors carry direct financial and reputational consequences, and the underlying patterns are constantly evolving. Not randomly, but intentionally.
Fraud is not a static problem. It is an adaptive one.
This is where many innovations fail. Not because the underlying ideas are flawed, but because they are not designed to operate under sustained pressure or with the necessary agility to adapt.
The Complexity of the Problem
The industrialization of frauds changes the nature of the response required.
It is no longer sufficient to detect known patterns or react to past incidents. Systems must identify behaviors that have not been seen before, anticipate emerging tactics, and operate continuously across multiple channels and geographies.
This requires more than isolated innovation. It requires systems that can learn, adapt, and scale, not once, but continuously. And behind those systems, it requires something even more fundamental: a culture capable of producing and sustaining that level of performance over time.
The way of the patent
Innovation that exists only on paper has limited impact. Innovation that survives deployment, that continues to perform as conditions change, is what ultimately defines effectiveness. In financial crime prevention, the gap between these two is critical.
In recent years, the financial sector has significantly increased its investment in AI and machine learning, with a sharp rise in patent activity across the industry. From large banks to specialized technology providers, there is a growing recognition that intellectual property can capture and formalize advances in detection, decisioning, and risk management.
According to recent data, AI-related patent filing in the financial sector grew by over 250% in the past five years: from big banks to small startups working in the space, there is a clear interest in adding the value of patents to the business.
But patents, in this context, should not be understood as an end in themselves.
They are not simply indicators of inventive capacity. They are signals of something more structural: the ability to repeatedly transform ideas into capabilities that operate reliably in real-world systems.
Strong ideas
If you obtain one patent, it suggests a strong idea. If you obtain ten, it suggests a strong team. If you obtain one hundred, it suggests a strong culture.
A culture in which ideas are not only generated, but challenged, tested, refined, and integrated into systems that must function under real-world constraints.
This distinction becomes tangible when looking at what such innovation enables in practice.
It allows financial institutions to analyze behavior across extended time horizons in real time, not only evaluating a transaction in isolation, but understanding how it relates to patterns built over weeks or months. It enables a shift from static rule-based detection to continuous behavioral modelling, improving both the precision of anomaly detection and the speed of response.
In environments where decisions must be made in milliseconds, these capabilities are not incremental improvements. They determine whether institutions can intervene while fraudulent activity is unfolding, rather than reacting after the fact.
Some of these approaches are already being deployed at scale within large financial institutions, enabling significantly faster decision execution and more robust behavioral insight across complex transaction environments.
From this perspective, patents are not about invention alone. They are about building the conditions under which innovation can endure and translate into systems that perform under pressure.
From Invention to System Performance
For an idea to matter in this context, it must pass through several layers of validation. It must be new. It must not be obvious. And it must be useful, not in theory, but in the systems that institutions rely on every day. This last dimension is often overlooked.
Usefulness, in a real-world financial system, means the ability to operate reliably at scale, under constraints, and in the presence of adversarial behavior. It means integrating into complex infrastructures, supporting decision-making in real time, and remaining robust as both legitimate usage and criminal tactics evolve.
In other words, innovation is not defined by invention. It is defined by sustained system performance.
Matching the Scale of the Threat
The industrialisation of financial crime introduces a structural asymmetry. On one side, highly organised networks operate with speed, coordination, and adaptability.
On the other hand, defensive systems have historically been fragmented, reactive, and constrained by legacy architectures. Closing this gap is not a matter of incremental improvement. It requires a shift in how systems are designed, built, and evolved.
The level of innovation required is defined by the level of organisation of the threat.
And as that threat continues to industrialize, the systems designed to counter it must do the same.
Beyond Breakthroughs
This does not diminish the importance of research. On the contrary, it reinforces it. Breakthroughs are necessary, but they are not sufficient.
What ultimately matters is the ability to translate those breakthroughs into systems that function reliably in the real world, systems that can operate continuously, adapt dynamically, and maintain performance under pressure.
In financial crime prevention, this is not an abstract challenge. It is an operational reality. And it is one that will define the effectiveness of institutions, the resilience of financial systems, and, ultimately, the level of trust those systems can sustain.
This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today.
The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit
Meta paused its internal Model Capability Initiative (MCI) after an employee flagged exposure of sensitive data from mouse movement and activity tracking
Program allegedly collected prompts, private conversations, performance data, and even tax/medical info in unencrypted form
Meta says no improper access confirmed but is investigating; some employees still see the program running during the pause
Meta is pausing an employee-tracking program after one of the employees flagged it as exposing sensitive data.
The company behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, was apparently running an internal program that was tracking employee mouse movements and digital activity. Called Model Capability Initiative (MCI), this program allegedly started in April with the goal of training Meta’s AI models through employee behavior recordings.
According to a memo released on launch, the purpose of the program was to improve the company’s AI models in areas where they struggled to replicate how humans interacted with computers, such as picking from a dropdown menu, or using different keyboard shortcuts.
Personal tax and medical information exposed?
"This is where all Meta employees can help our models get better simply by doing their daily work," the memo said at the time.
Reuters reported that an employee filed a high-priority security incident report (SEV) over the program’s exposure of employee data, including "full prompts and transcriptions, private conversations, people & performance data, DSS sensitivity ratings (1-4)." The same publication also said the program was collecting “more information than initially described” and stored it in unencrypted form.
"I have accessed both personal tax and medical information through my work computer, as have many thousands of employees,” the employee allegedly said. “We were told this data would be protected and only used for valid business purposes after aggressive filtering."
Now, Meta confirmed pausing the program to investigate these claims.
"We have carefully designed this program with privacy safeguards and while we have no indication at this time that any data was improperly accessed by Meta employees, we're pausing it while we investigate," company spokesperson Tracy Clayton was cited saying. The company did not say for how long the program will be paused but stressed that it would take time to stop it for everyone, so some employees might still see it running.
As of Monday afternoon, the program was still running for some people, Reuters confirmed.
There's no denying that the Samsung 990 Pro is an exquisite internal SSD - we loved it so much we awarded it the full 5 stars in our review, and found it offered some of the fastest read/write performance of any PCIe 4.0 SSD we tested.
There aren't many SSDs that manage to score full marks across the board during our testing, but the 990 Pro achieved just that.
Our review called it "an absolutely stellar M.2 SSD for both professional users and gamers," and still maintain that if you're building a new PC (or upgrading your old one), this SSD should be at the top of your wishlist.
It's capable of hitting up to 7450 MB/s read speeds and write speeds up to 6900 MB/s, making it a top choice for content creation, gaming, and complex workloads. With a $270 discount, it's an unmissable deal.
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The Samsung 990 Pro SSD is still one of the best PCIe 4.0 SSD around - especially at an unbeatable price like this. In our review, we hailed it as "an absolutely stellar M.2 SSD for both professional users and gamers." View Deal
There aren't many internal SSDs that get top marks in our testing, but the Samsung 990 Pro is one of them. We praised this high-performance solid-state drive in our review, where it proved to save large files quickly.
In fact, we said at the time: "This is easily one of the fastest SSDs we've ever tested, so you can expect top-tier file operation performance."
It's especially ideal for creative professionals and gamers, loading files fast and coming close to maxing out its PCIe 4.0 channels,
Ultimately, this runs like a premium SSD and we still think it's worth every penny - especially at this discount price.
The 1TB and 4TB models are also discounted in the sale. But honestly, it's cheaper to buy two 2TB SSDs than the 4TB one - and if you bought two 1TB versions, it'd cost you $110 more than the single 2TB SSD. That's where you get the best bang for your buck.
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The SN850X is a perennial favorite - it's one of the fastest and most reliable internal SSDs around, with read speeds reaching up to 7300MB/s. A very good alternative to the Samsung 990 Pro if you want to save some dough.View Deal
The 9100 Pro boasts a PCIe 5.0 interface, and is billed as being the best for AI, heavy workloads, and gaming. With read speeds up to 14,700MB/s, this is one for the workstation. In our review, we said, "Samsung's first true PCIe 5.0 drive is the best there is." It also comes with a free NordVPN Basic product key. View Deal
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Real Madrid 10 numara pozisyonu için Bernardo Silva'yla anlaşmıştı. Merkez orta sahada da Lille'den Ayyoub Bouaddi'ye gittiler. Bu iki bölgede de görev yapabilen Arda Güler'in geleceği tehlikeye girmiş gibi gözüküyor.
Real Madrid'i yeni sezondan itibaren Jose Mourinho çalıştıracak. Dünya devi, 10 numara transferinde Bernardo Silva'yı resmen bitirdi. Bu hamlenin ardından Arda Güler'in merkez orta sahaya kaydırılabileceği düşünülüyordu. Ancak yaşanan son gelişmenin ardından bu bölge de zora girdi...
ÖDEMEYİ GÖZE ALDILAR
Madrid, Lille'in 18 yaşındaki genç yeteneği Ayyoub Bouaddi konusunda nabız yoklamaya başladı. Fransız ekibinin en az 70 milyon euroluk bir bonservis beklentisi olduğu konuşuluyor. Real'in ise bu rakamı ödemeyi göze aldığı belirtildi. Eğer Ayyoub Bouaddi de kadroya katılırsa, Arda'nın durumu daha da zorlaşacak.
SATILABİLİR Mİ?
Arda Güler'in adı Arsenal ve PSG gibi takımlarla anılıyordu. Real Madrid'in, Ayyoub Bouaddi'yi resmen kadroya katması durumunda milli futbolcuyu satabileceği iddia edildi. Şu anda La Liga temsilcisinde birçok oyuncunun durumu belirsizliğini koruyor. Real Madrid açısından hem alış hem de satış konusunda çok sıcak bir yaz yaşanacak...
Yönetim solak stoper konusunda kararını verdi. Fenerbahçe, Malang Sarr'ı resmen açıklamaya hazırlanıyor. En geç 1 hafta içinde konuyla ilgili bilgilendirme yapılması bekleniyor.
Fenerbahçe uzun süredir solak bir stoper konusunda çalışmalarını sürdürüyordu. En sonunda karar verildi... Lens Kulübü'yle sözleşmesi sona eren Malang Sarr'la kişisel konularda anlaşmaya varıldı. 27 yaşındaki futbolcunun en geç 1 hafta içinde resmen açıklanması bekleniyor.
BEDELSİZ GELMİŞTİ
1.83 boyundaki futbolcunun çok sayıda talibi vardı. Ancak Sarı-Lacivertliler'in en iyi teklifi yaptığı öğrenildi. Fransız oyuncu, 2024 yazında Chelsea'den bedelsiz olarak Lens Kulübü'ne geçiş yapmıştı. Malang Sarr geride bıraktığımız sezonda Ligue 1'de 33 karşılaşmaya çıktı.
ÖNEMLİ TALİPLER
Sahada 2.925 dakika kalan Fransız yıldız, 1 asist üretti. Malang Sarr, asıl yeri olan stoper haricinde sol bekte de görev yapabiliyor. Ayrılık sürecinde Marsilya, Atletico Madrid, Al-Diraiyah ve Al-Hilal gibi takımlar da ona ilgi göstermişti. Ancak Fenerbahçe öne geçmeyi başardı.
Şu anda kaleci Ederson dahil savunma hattındaki bütün isimler satılabilir. Sadece Milan Skriniar konusunda kulübün kapısı sonuna kadar kapalı...
Fenerbahçe, 2025'in Ocak ayında PSG'den kiraladığı Milan Skriniar'ın bonservisini sezon sonunda almıştı. Fransız ekibine 6 milyon euro ödendi. Slovakyalı stoperle de 30 Haziran 2029 tarihine kadar mukavele yapıldı. 31 yaşındaki savunmacı, tribünlerin en çok sevdiği isimlerden biri haline geldi.
İSMAİL KARTAL'IN TALEBİ
Şu anda Sarı-Lacivertli ekibin savunma hattındaki herkesin satışı mümkün... Kaleci Ederson'da da benzer bir durum söz konusu... Sadece Milan Skriniar'ın yeri garanti. Teknik Direktör İsmail Kartal'ın, 1.87 boyundaki futbolcunun kesinlikle tutulmasını talep ettiği öğrenildi.
SAKATLIK PROBLEMLERİ
Yönetim de bu talebe olumlu yanıt verdi. Sezonun ikinci yarısında sakatlık problemleriyle boğuşan tecrübeli savunmacı, operasyon da geçirmişti. Temmuz ayının ilk haftasında tamamen düzelmesi bekleniyor. Milan Skriniar yeni sezonda da defans hattının lideri olacak.
Fenerbahçe, Nelson Semedo'yla yollarını ayırmak istiyor. Portekizli futbolcu satılırsa onun yerine Crystal Palace Kulübü'nün Kolombiyalı yıldızı Daniel Munoz düşünülüyor.
Nelson Semedo'nun Fenerbahçe'deki sözleşmesi 30 Haziran 2027'de tamamlanacak. Sözleşmesinin son senesine giren 32 yaşındaki tecrübeli futbolcu için teklif bekleniyor. Uygun bir öneri gelirse, Portekizli oyuncuyla yollar ayrılacak. Sonrasında ise Daniel Munoz konusunda gaza basılacak.
15 MİLYON CİVARINDA
Crystal Palace, onun yerine takviye yapmayı planlıyor. Asıl yeri sağ bek olan Daniel Munoz geçen sezon orta sahanın sağında tercih edildi. İngiliz ekibinin en az 15 milyon euro seviyesinde bir beklentisi olduğu öğrenildi. 1.80 boyundaki futbolcunun 30 Haziran 2028'e kadar sözleşmesi var.
INTER'İN DE İLGİSİ VAR
30 yaşındaki oyuncu şu anda Kolombiya Milli Takımı'nın kampında bulunuyor. Dünya Kupası'nın ardından transferiyle ilgili sıcak gelişmelerin yaşanması bekleniyor. Bu arada Fenerbahçe dışında Inter'in de bir ilgisi olduğu konuşuluyor. Ancak şunu hatırlatmakta fayda var: Semedo satılamazsa, Munoz işi de yatacak.
Dünya Kupası'nda forvet eksikliği fazlasıyla hissettik ve turnuvayı erken kapattık. Şu anda Derby County forması giyen Rhian Brewster gündeme geldi. Siyahi golcünün ilerleyen süreçte Milli Takım'a katılması için çalışmaların başladığı öğrenildi.
Son yıllarda Milli Takım'a golcü yetiştirme konusunda ciddi şekilde zorlanıyoruz. Dünya Kupası'nda da bunu fazlasıyla hissettik. İki maçta 2 yenilgiyle turnuvayı çok erken kapattık. Şu anda forvet konusunda çok ilginç bir gelişme yaşanıyor. İlerleyen süreçte siyahi bir santrforumuz olabilir.
HİÇ A MİLLİ OLMADI
Derby County forması giyen Rhian Brewster ile görüşmelerin başladığı iddia ediliyor. 26 yaşındaki futbolcunun annesi Kıbrıslı bir Türk... Babası Barbados vatandaşı... Kendisi ise İngiltere'de doğdu. Rhian Brewster, İngiltere U21 Takımı'nın formasını giymişti. Ancak A Takım kadrosuna hiç alınmadı ve alınması da beklenmiyor.
STEFAN KUNTZ İZLEMİŞTİ
Milli Takım'ın eski teknik direktörü Stefan Kuntz, oyuncuyu daha önce izlemişti. Ancak o dönemde sonuç alınamadı. Rhian Brewster, annesinin uyruğu sayesinde Türkiye Milli Takımı için ter dökebilir. 1.80 boyundaki futbolcu, geçen sezon Championship'te 29 maça çıktı. 7 gol ve 2 asist üretti. Diz sakatlığı sebebiyle sezonu erken kapattı. Türkiye'nin kendisine olan ilgisine olumlu yanıt vermesi bekleniyor. Her şey yolunda giderse, sonraki organizasyonlarda onu izleyebiliriz.
Bir süredir Fenerbahçe'nin İspanyol yıldızı Marco Asensio'nun ülkesine dönmek istediği konuşuluyor. Talipleri de var... Ancak oyuncunun sevgilisinin yaptığı paylaşım, taraftarları mutlu edecek.
Fenerbahçe geride bıraktığımız sezonun başında PSG'ye 7.5 milyon euro ödeyerek Marco Asensio'yu kadrosuna katmıştı. İspanyol yıldızla 30 Haziran 2028'e kadar kontrat yapıldı. Sözleşmede ayrıca +1 yıllık uzatma opsiyonu bulunuyor (çift taraflı). 30 yaşındaki yıldız, ilk sezonunda harika istatistiklere imza attı.
ESPANYOL VE SOCİEDAD
1.82 boyundaki futbolcu, Süper Lig'de 25 maça çıktı. Sahada 1.879 dakika kaldı. 11 gol ve 13 asist üretti. Sakatlık sorunu yaşamasaydı, bu istatistiklerini daha da geliştirebilirdi. Bir süredir İspanyol oyuncunun ülkesine dönmek istediği konuşuluyordu. Espanyol ve Real Sociedad gibi ekipler de onun durumunu takip ediyor.
ÖNEMLİ ROL OYNUYOR
Asensio'nun memleket hasreti çektiği belirtilse de sevgilisi Lavinia Leon'un yaptığı bir hareket, Sarı-Lacivertli taraftarların yüreğine su serpti. Leon, "Eve döndüm" notuyla uçaktan İstanbul manzarası paylaştı. Bu durum, oyuncunun sevgilisinin Türkiye'yi ne kadar sevdiğini de ortaya koydu... Paylaşım önemliydi. Çünkü oyuncuların yakınlarının mutluluğu, transferlerde çok önemli bir rol oynuyor.
Galatasaray'ın 10 numaradaki en büyük hedefi bilindiği üzere Can Uzun... Sarı-Kırmızılı yöneticilerin, kısa süre içinde Almanya'ya giderek Eintracht Frankfurt Kulübü'yle yüz yüze görüşeceği öğrenildi.
Galatasaray içinde bulunduğumuz 2026 yazında kadrosuna kesinlikle bir 10 numara katacak. Bu konuda çok uzun bir süredir Can Uzun favori... Onu cazip kılan faktörler ise şöyle:
1- Yeteneği yüksek
2- Yerli oyuncu
3- 20 yaşında
4- İleride ciddi paralara satılabilir
CİDDİ BONSERVİS BEKLENTİSİ
Can'daki en büyük problem ise Eintracht Frankfurt'un 55-60 milyon euro civarındaki bonservis beklentisi... Sarı-Kırmızılılar, sonraki satıştan pay ve çeşitli bonuslarla bu rakamı düşürmeye çalışıyor. Şu ana kadar ciddi bir sonuç alınamadı. Ancak Galatasaray ayağını gazdan çekmedi.
EN GEÇ 10 GÜN İÇİNDE
Sarı-Kırmızılı yetkililerin en geç 10 gün içinde Almanya'ya gideceği öğrenildi. Orada yüz yüze görüşmeler yapılacak. Bire bir temasların daha etkili olacağı düşünülüyor. Can şu anda Milli Takım kampında bulunuyor. Ancak ne yazık ki turnuvaya matematiksel olarak veda ettik. 20 yaşındaki futbolcu daha önce transferiyle ilgili olarak, "Şu anda bütün konsantrasyonum Dünya Kupası'nda" demişti.
İsmail Kartal yönetimindeki Fenerbahçe, yeni sezon hazırlıklarına yarın Topuk Yaylası Tesisleri'nde başlayacak.
Fenerbahçe, 2026-2027 sezonu çalışmalarına yarın Fenerbahçe Topuk Yaylası Tesisleri'nde yapacağı ilk antrenmanla başlayacak.
Kulüpten yapılan açıklamaya göre teknik direktör İsmail Kartal yönetimindeki sarı-lacivertliler, dün ve bugün gerçekleştirilen sağlık kontrollerinin ardından yarın Samandıra Can Bartu Tesisleri'nde toplanacak. Daha sonra Düzce'nin Kaynaşlı ilçesindeki Fenerbahçe Topuk Yaylası Tesisleri'ne hareket edecek olan Fenerbahçe, akşam saatlerinde sezonun ilk antrenmanını gerçekleştirecek.
Sezon öncesi hazırlıklarını tek ve çift idmanlarla sürdürecek sarı-lacivertli ekip, 2 Temmuz Perşembe günü buradaki kamp çalışmalarını tamamlayacak.
Fenerbahçe iki günlük iznin ardından 5 Temmuz Pazar günü ise yurt dışı kamp programı kapsamında İstanbul-Linz uçuşuyla Avusturya'ya hareket edecek ve hazırlıklarını sürdürecek.
Victor Nelsson önümüzdeki sezon kesinlikle Galatasaray kadrosunda yer almayacak. Danimarkalı futbolcunun menajeriyle bir görüşme yapıldı. Toplantıda kulübün bonservis beklentisi iletildi.
Yedek kaldığı için mutsuz olan ve tesislere "Bu iş yerinde çalışmıyorum" yazılı şapkayla gelen Victor Nelsson, gözden çıkarılmıştı. Danimarkalı stoper, geride bıraktığımız sezonun başında Verona'ya kiralandı. İtalyan ekibi, Serie A'dan düştü. 8 milyon euroluk satın alma opsiyonu da kullanılmadı.
KAMPA DA KATILMAYACAK
Nelsson ve Galatasaray arasındaki ipler o kadar koptu ki; oyuncunun yeni sezon hazırlıklarına da katılması beklenmiyor. Bu arada sıcak bir gelişme yaşandı. 27 yaşındaki savunmacının menajeri, Sarı-Kırmızılılar'la bir görüşme gerçekleştirdi. Toplantıda yönetimin bonservis beklentisi, futbolcunun temsilcisine iletildi. Nelsson'un Sarı-Kırmızılı ekipteki sözleşmesi 30 Haziran 2027'te bitecek.
KENDİ ÖDEDİKLERİ RAKAM
Galatasaray'ın, 1.85 boyundaki stoperden en az 7 milyon euro beklediği iddia edildi. Bu rakam; Cim-Bom'un Nelsson için 2021'de Kopenhag Kulübü'ne ödediği parayla aynı... Danimarkalı futbolcunun adı çok sayıda kulüple anılıyor... Menajeri de yaptığı pazarlıklarda, taliplere Galatasaray'ın beklentisini iletecek.
Vincenzo Italiano, yönetimindeki Beşiktaş'ın yurt dışı kamp programı açıklandı.
Beşiktaş'ın 2026-2027 sezonu yurt dışı kamp çalışmalarının programı belli oldu.
Kulüpten yapılan açıklamaya göre siyah-beyazlılar, yeni sezon hazırlıkları için 27 Haziran Cumartesi günü BJK Nevzat Demir Tesisleri'nde bir araya gelecek.
Beşiktaş, sezonun ilk antrenmanını ise 28 Haziran Pazar günü gerçekleştirecek.
Siyah-beyazlı takım, yurt dışı kampı için 1 Temmuz Çarşamba günü Slovakya'ya hareket edecek. Burada altı hazırlık maçı oynayacak Beşiktaş'ın maç programı (TSİ) şöyle:
2 Temmuz Perşembe:
18.00 Beşiktaş-Gyirmot (X-BIONIC SPHERE)
5 Temmuz Pazar:
18.00 Beşiktaş-MTE 1904 KFT (MTE 1904)
10 Temmuz Cuma:
18.00 Beşiktaş-Mattersburg (Pappelstadion) (35'er dakikadan iki devre)
19.30 Beşiktaş-Widzew Lodz (Pappelstadion) (35'er dakikadan iki devre)
İtalyan ekibi Como, Galatasaray'ın Kolombiyalı stoperi Davinson Sanchez için pazarlıklarını sürdürüyor. Ancak Serie A temsilcisi, Cim-Bom'un beklentilerinin çok uzağında...
Şampiyonlar Ligi biletini alan Como, kadrosunu güçlendirmek istiyor. Stoper konusundaki 1 numaralı adayları ise Davinson Sanchez... Serie A temsilcisi bir süredir Galatasaray'la pazarlık yapıyor. Ancak bugün itibarıyla transferin gerçekleşme ihtimali zor gözüküyor.
BONUSLARLA BİLE OLMUYOR
Çünkü Como'nun bonus maddeleri de içeren teklifinin toplamda 20 milyon euroyu bulmadığı belirtildi. Sarı-Kırmızılılar, bonuslar dışında çok daha yüksek bir rakam bekliyor. Yani iki takım arasında ciddi mesafe var. Eğer Como teklifini yükseltmezse bu dosya kapanacak...
DÜNYA KUPASI SONRASINDA
30 yaşındaki Kolombiyalı stoperin Galatasaray'la 30 Haziran 2029 tarihine kadar mukavelesi bulunuyor. Yani Sarı-Kırmızılılar, kontrat süresi bakımından oldukça rahat... Şu anda milli takım kampında bulunan 1.88 boyundaki futbolcuda asıl hareketliliğin Dünya Kupası'nın ardından yaşanması bekleniyor.
Galatasaray'da Mauro Icardi sonrasında yapılacak forvet transferinde sürpriz bir gelişme yaşandı. Sarı-Kırmızılılar, Al-Ittihad'dan ayrılmak isteyen Nijeryalı George Ilenikhena için kiralama teklifi sunacak.
Suudi Arabistan ekibi Al-Ittihad kış döneminde Monaco'ya 33 milyon euro ödeyerek George Ilenikhena'yı kadrosuna katmıştı. 19 yaşındaki genç forvetle 30 Haziran 2029 tarihine kadar mukavele yapıldı. Fakat 1.85 boyundaki futbolcu, Suudi Arabistan Ligi'nde sadece 2 maçta şans buldu.
SEZON ORTASINDA OYNANMAYACAK
Bazı sorunlar yaşayan George Ilenikhena, takımdan ayrılmak istiyor. Galatasaray'ın da kiralama teklifi sunmaya hazırlandığı öğrenildi. Nijeryalı futbolcu, bugüne kadar milli takım forması giymedi. Ancak aday kadroya davet edilse bile önümüzdeki sezon Afrika Kupası sezon ortasında oynanmayacak. Yani takımı yalnız bırakmayacak.
HER KOŞULDA "GENÇ" KALACAK!
Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu'nun önümüzdeki sezon için belirlediği yabancı kontenjanı; 10+4. Kural değişse de değişmese de George Ilenikhena her türlü genç kontenjanının içerisinde yer alacak. Çünkü sadece 19 yaşında... Olası transfer görüşmelerinde Victor Osimhen'in de vatandaşıyla temas kurması bekleniyor...
Galatasaray'ın yıldızı Lucas Torreira, sözleşmesi biten Mauro Icardi'nin Arjantin'e dönmeyi düşünmediğini ve takımda kalmasını istediklerini belirtti.
Galatasaray'ın başarılı orta saha oyuncusu Lucas Torreira, Mauro Icardi'nin geleceği ve kendi transfer iddiaları hakkında önemli açıklamalarda bulundu.
- Sözleşmesi biten Mauro Icardi'nin Arjantin'e dönme gibi bir niyeti yok. Takım için çok değerli bir isim. Tüm oyuncular olarak beklentimiz, Galatasaray ile yeni bir sözleşme imzalaması yönünde.
- Boca Juniors'a transferim hiçbir zaman yakın ya da ciddi bir boyuta ulaşmadı. Bir gün Boca Juniors'a transfer fırsatı çıkarsa çok isterim, olmazsa da ne yapalım...
- Kulübümle 2 yıl daha sözleşmem var. Amacım Galatasaray'da kalmak ve burada oynamaya devam etmek.
Andre Luiz'in Fenerbahçe'ye transfer olacağı iddiaları asılsız çıktı. Ciddi bir mali krizle boğuşan ve bütçeyi dengelemek için oyuncu satmak zorunda olan Corinthians yönetimi, iddiaların aksine futbolcu için hiçbir resmi girişimde bulunulmadığını açıkladı.
Fenerbahçe’nin Andre Luiz ile ilgilendiği iddiaları boşa düştü. 19 yaşındaki sambacının bonservisini elinde bulunduran Corinthians'a ulaşan resmi bir teklif olmadığı gibi, mevcut mali kriz nedeniyle transfer önceliği oyuncu satmaya verilmiş durumda.
Çıkan haberlerin aksine, Fenerbahçe yönetiminin Andre Luiz için şu ana kadar yaptığı hiçbir resmi girişim ya da teklif bulunmuyor.
Brezilya kulüp ciddi bir ekonomik darboğazdan geçiyor. Şu anki ana hedef, mali dengeyi kurabilmek adına yeni oyuncu almak değil, eldeki oyuncuları satmak.
Ekonomik sıkıntılar nedeniyle kulüp bu yıl henüz hiçbir büyük transfere imza atmadı.
Fenerbahçe'de olaylı başkanlık seçimi sürecinde transfer kozu olarak kullanılan Luis Suárez, geleceğine dair son kararını verdi! Yaşanan "deprem" sonrası Sporting'den af dileyen 28 gollü Kolombiyalı yıldız için karar verildi.
Portekiz'den A Bola gazetesinin haberine göre Luis Suárez, yaşanan transfer krizinin ardından Sporting Lizbon’da kalmaya karar verdi. 28 yaşındaki oyuncu, yaklaşık bir ay önce Fenerbahçe başkan adayı Hakan Safi tarafından bir seçim kozu olarak kullanılmış ve bu anlaşma duyurulmuştu.
Ancak seçimi Aziz Yıldırım'ın kazanması ve kulüpteki gelişmelerin ardından bu transfer rafa kalktı. Yaşanan bu "deprem" sonrası oyuncu, "Fenerbahçe ile görüştüm, özür dilerim. Beni affedebilecek misiniz?" diyerek kulübünden af diledi.
Bu özür üzerine Sporting Başkanı Frederico Varandas ve teknik direktör Rui Borges, oyuncuyu kadroda tutma konusunda fikir birliğine vardı.
Geçtiğimiz yıl Almería'dan bonuslarla birlikte yaklaşık 27.4 milyon euroya transfer edilen Suárez, Arsenal'e giden yıldız golcü Viktor Gyokeres'in boşluğunu doldurmayı başardı.
Sporting formasıyla ilk sezonunda 53 maçta 38 gol ve 7 asist gibi müthiş bir istatistik yakaladı. Kulüp, kupasız geçen sezonun ardından önümüzdeki sezon (2026/27) tüm kulvarlarda şampiyonluğu hedefliyor.
Fenerbahçe'nin bitirmek üzere olduğu iddia edilen Serhou Guirassy transferine Jose Mourinho'dan tarihi çelme! Portekizli teknik adamın, Borussia Dortmund'un golcüsünü B planı olarak Real Madrid'e önermesi transferin tüm seyrini değiştirdi.
Fenerbahçe’nin transfer gündeminde ilk sıralarda yer alan golcü Serhou Guirassy için şok bir iddia ortaya atıldı. Sarı-lacivertlilerin işini bitirmek üzere olduğu Gineli yıldızı, Jose Mourinho’nun Real Madrid’e önerdiği ileri sürüldü.
Mourinho, Real Madrid hücum hattına Mbappe ve Vinicius gibi isimlerden farklı olarak "klasik bir santrafor" eklemek istiyor. Amacı yıldızların yerini almak değil; kapalı savunmaları açacak, sırtı kaleye dönük oynayabilen ve fiziksel gücüyle stoperleri yıpratacak acil bir B planı oluşturmak.
30 yaşındaki golcünün Borussia Dortmund ile 2028 yılına kadar sözleşmesi bulunuyor. Guirassy’nin Alman kulübünden yıllık brüt maaşı yaklaşık 9.4 milyon Euro. Alman ekibinin bonservis inadı transferde belirleyici olacak.
Fenerbahçe'nin uzun süredir peşinde olduğu Guirassy, Mourinho'nun Real Madrid için hazırladığı "fiziksel güç" listesinin ilk sırasına yerleşti ve sarı-lacivertlilerin transfer planlarına büyük bir darbe vurdu.
FIFA, yeni ağzı kapatarak konuşma yasağı kapsamında Miguel Almirón'un kırmızı kart görmesine canlı yayında öfke kusarak FIFA'ya ve Gianni Infantino'ya "Hırsızlar" diyen Paraguaylı yorumcu Jorge "Chipi" Vera'nın akreditasyonunu iptal etti. Türkiye'yi 1-0 yenerek eleyen Paraguay'da kriz turnuvadan ihraçla büyüdü.
2026 Dünya Kupası grup aşamasındaki Paraguay-Türkiye maçı, sahadaki mücadelenin ötesinde tarihi bir ihraç skandalına sahne oldu. Paraguaylı ünlü yorumcu Jorge "Chipi" Vera, FIFA ve başkan Gianni Infantino’ya yönelik ağır hakaretleri nedeniyle turnuvadan men edildi.
Maçta Paraguaylı yıldız Miguel Almirón, FIFA’nın ırkçılık ve hakaretlerin önüne geçmek için yeni yürürlüğe koyduğu "Prestianni Yasası" kapsamında kırmızı kart gördü. Bu kurala göre; sahada hakemle veya rakiple konuşurken ağzını kapatan oyuncular doğrudan oyundan atılıyor. Almirón, Türk futbolcuyla konuşurken ağzını kapattığı gerekçesiyle bu yasa kapsamında disiplin cezası alan ilk futbolcu oldu.
Takımının 10 kişi kalması üzerine adeta çılgına dönen ABC Deportes yorumcusu "Chipi" Vera, canlı yayında Salvadorlu hakem Iván Barton'ı, FIFA'yı ve Gianni Infantino'yu hedef aldı. Vera'nın viral olan skandal ifadelerinden bazıları şunlardı:
- Hırsız Barton, hırsız. Futbolu öldürdün FIFA! Infantino, bundan sen sorumlusun!
Küresel çapta büyük tepki çeken bu sözlerin ardından FIFA, Jorge "Chipi" Vera’nın Dünya Kupası akreditasyonunu tamamen iptal etti. Kararın ardından açıklama yapan Vera, hatasını kabul ederek şu ifadeleri kullandı:
- Ülkemden bir oyuncunun atılmasının verdiği hayal kırıklığıyla kabul edilemez ifadeler kullandım. FIFA akreditasyonumu iptal etti. Artık stadyum içi veya dışı dahil, çalıştığım medya kuruluşu adına hiçbir Dünya Kupası yayınında yer alamayacağım.
The most expensive of the bunch, this optical CD/DVD writer from SUIDEK upgrades the SATA dock to an M.2 SSD dock, but keeps the SD card reader, USB-A, and USB-C hub.View Deal
The BPAKDU drive gets you lots of media connectivity options. This attractive portable device, with a metallic honeycomb finish in four colors, can read and write optical media at CD 24X and DVD 8X speeds. That's not all, as it also offers a USB 3.0 hub, 3x USB 2.0 ports, SD and TF card slots readers, and a USB-C port.
BPAKDU's portable USB connected optical and media reader peripheral also has USB HUB functionality. This has you covered for all sorts of old CDs, DVDs, and flash cards you might have in the back of your tech cabinets.View Deal
Those who feel that some SATA docking functionality will be useful might want to look closer at the Suideck optical drive and dock. For your $36.60, you will have one portable device which can be used to read and write optical media at CD 24X and DVD 8X speeds. Again, there's a basic USB hub built in with 2x USB 2.0 ports, a USB-C port, plus SD and TF card readers. Extra appeal comes from the SATA 2.5-inch slot atop, which can be used for quick access to your old laptop hard drives or SSDs in what was once a very popular form factor.
This product listing isn't specific about things like DVD±R/RW, DVD-RAM support, but the exact same list of system/OS support is given: Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, XP, Vista, Linux, MacOS 10.6 or above.
A Swiss Army knife of media access?
Suideck's USB attached drive and dock is more flexible than the BPAKDU. It has very similar optical and flash media compatibility, and SD / TF slots but with its added 2.5-inch SATA slot. However, you pay $11 more for the privilege. View Deal
If the requirements expand a further stage to needing an M.2 SSD dock, the Suideck portable CD/DVD burner with USB Hub and M.2 Dock for $39.99 is the ultimate Swiss Army knife of portable external optical drives. We're also happy to see both brands' peripherals score 4.3/5 or better on the Amazon reviews, as we haven't tested these ourselves.
We're keeping an eye out for the best deals on prebuilt gaming PCs during Amazon Prime Day 2026 that you can find available online. Given the rising prices of PC components, there has never been a better time to buy a pre-built system. In a world of expensive GPUs, it can also be a great way to get your hands on a brand-new graphics card at cheaper than MSRP prices.
There are two ways to get into PC gaming: buying the individual parts and building your own rig, or purchasing a prebuilt system from a system integrator or big box store. Purchasing a ready-made gaming PC can save you the time and labor of building your own rig from scratch.
We select deals based on our in-depth knowledge gained from thorough reviews, expansive benchmarks, and extensive historical price analysis of computer systems. Prime Day sales season has started, so some great deals are already popping up, and we're checking deals around the clock to find the best options and keep this page up to date. For more options on gaming PCs, check out our lists of the best gaming PCs andthebest PC builds for gaming. If you're looking for recommendations on productivity PCs and laptops, visit our best PC and laptop deals page.
Get a 5090 gaming PC with 64GB of RAM, 2TB SSD, liquid cooler, RGB fans, and Intel i9-14900KF. View Deal
A powerful gaming PC from PC building outfit CyberPowerPC, this formidable rig comes equipped with the specs you'll need for serious 1440p and 4K gameplay. It has an AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB NVMe SSD.View Deal
This CyberPowerPC rig is a powerhouse ready for gaming at 1440p and 4K (in some instances). It comes equipped with our favorite CPU, the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, along with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070, 32GB DDR5, and a 2TB SSD for plenty of game installations.View Deal
You can configure the HP Omen 45L to include an Intel Core Ultra 7 265K CPU, Nvidia RTX 5070 GPU, 1200W PSU, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. You will need to manually configure the hardware before heading to checkout.View Deal
The MSI Codex (model: R2 B14NVL5-449US) comes with an Intel Core i5-14400F processor, Nvidia RTX 5060 graphics card, 32GB of DDR5-6000 memory, and 2TB of storage — a great budget gaming PC build.View Deal
Get the impressive RTX 5070 Ti Nvidia graphics paired with AMD's Ryzen 7 9700X processor. Plenty of memory for gaming thanks to a large 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and room to install your favorite games on a 2TB SSD. View Deal
Inside the Element 9 gaming PC is a 16GB RTX 5060 Ti GPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, a 1TB M.2 SSD, and an AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D processor. This is a low-cost budget gaming PC with some exceptional hardware that will excel at 1080p/1440p gameplay. View Deal
This competent little gaming PC packs an Intel i5 14400F processor, Nvidia RTX 5060 Ti GPU with 16GB of VRAM, 16GB of DDR5-6000 RAM, a 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD, a B760 motherboard, and a 650W Gold-rated power supply.
Use coupon codes MAY100 and SWARM to receive $136 extra discount.View Deal
Get an RTX 5070 Ti, AMD Ryzen 7 9700X, 32GB of DDR5, 2TB SSD, Windows 11, and a free copy of Resident Evil Requiem in this Newegg desktop deal. View Deal
This configuration of the Alienware Aurora uses an Nvidia RTX 5060 Ti GPU, Intel Core Ultra 7 265F processor, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage for your OS and games library. A 240mm AIO cooler covers CPU cooling. All are contained within Alienware's Aurora PC case, featuring a clean, gamer aesthetic.View Deal
Inside this bargain build is Nvidia's GeForce RTX 5060 Ti (8GB VRAM) GPU, AMD's Ryzen 7 8700F 8-cores/16-threads CPU, 32GB of DDR5-5200MHz RGB RAM, and a 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD for storage. View Deal
This CyberPower gaming PC model (GM 70929) packs the king of gaming CPUs, AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor, and also AMD's top-tier GPU offering, the Radeon RX 9070 XT graphics card. This is quite the potent gaming setup, and it also includes 32GB of DDR5 memory and a 2TB SSD for storage. View Deal
Don’t miss out on this Tom’s Hardware Premium. Get a full year of access for just $29, or from $7 per-month. Get daily news analysis, deep dives into specialist topics in the semiconductor industry, as well as access to Bench, the largest benchmarking database around.View Deal
Get a punchy 14th-generation Intel Core i5, an RTX 5060, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD, replete with an 80+ Gold PSU (650W), Wi-Fi 6E, and Windows 11. View Deal
This Aegis R2 comes with Intel Core Ultra 9 285, RTX 5070 Ti, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, 2TB M.2 NVMe SSD, and Windows 11. View Deal
This gaming PC is packed to the gills with the best gaming components. For high-end gaming graphics, the ABS Kaze II Ruby features an Nvidia RTX 5080 GPU, which is backed up by the excellent Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor — one of the most powerful gaming CPUs available. Other specs include 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 2TB SSD for storage. View Deal
Grab a Lenovo Legion Tower 5i with Intel Core Ultra 7 265F, RTX 5060 Ti graphics, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage, along with three months of PC GamePass. View Deal
There's a huge saving on this MSI gaming PC, which includes a Ryzen 7 8700F, an Nvidia RTX 5070, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. This system uses air cooling and has a 750W 80 Plus Gold power supply.View Deal
This Skytech Chronos gaming PC includes an AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D processor and an Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti 16GB graphics card, as well as 32GB of DDR5 6000MHz RAM, a 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD, a 360mm AIO liquid cooler, and an 850W power supply.View Deal
This gaming PC uses an Intel Core i7-14700F CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 12GB GPU, 32GB of DDR5 RGB 5200MHz RAM, and a 1TB NVMe SSD—a competent gaming PC, with a mix of current and last-gen components. View Deal
Gaming PC Specifications to look for
When looking for a new gaming PC, you need to pay special attention to specs. More recent and more powerful components are better, but this increases the overall price of the system. You can sometimes find gaming rigs that have last-generation parts that will still play games well and save some cash.
GPU: A choice between Nvidia, AMD, or Intel in your system will determine how well the computer game graphics are displayed on your monitor. Nvidia has the most powerful GPUs, with the likes of the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080, but AMD's RX 9070 XT is also a great mid-range card. See our GPU hierarchy for an idea of GPU performance.
CPU: Either AMD or Intel will get the job done, but AMD currently rules the roost in pure gaming benchmarks, with the 9000-series X3D processors providing the best performance.
Memory: At a minimum, you'll want 16GB of RAM. Operating systems and browsers can swallow a huge chunk of your available system RAM before you even boot your game. Having 32GB of memory is ideal for gaming if you can splurge.
Storage: With the size of AAA games constantly expanding, you ideally want a minimum of 1TB of storage, preferably in the form of a fast M.2 SSD. You can do better than a spinning hard drive.
We're keeping a close eye on all the best SSD discounts during Amazon's 2026 Prime Day sales event and keeping a constantly-updated list here. A new SSD is one of the simplest and most effective ways of improving your PC's performance, be it by increasing boot times, boosting load speeds, or just adding capacity for storing games. Buying SSDs is not as cheap as it used to be, but there are still savings to be had, especially on newer drives.
That's because external factors, such as tariffs and geopolitical issues, along with chip shortages, are pushing prices upward. In fact, it appears that shortages driven by AI data centers could persist for the coming decade. That means prices will go up significantly in the foreseeable future. Luckily, for now, there are discounts available on some SSD models.
As always, you'll need to stay alert when you're choosing SSDs, as not every drive is born equal and worthy of your money or a place of honor in your PC or PS5. We're constantly combing through the best deals across multiple retailers, selecting the best of them based on the in-depth knowledge we've gained from our thorough reviews, extensive benchmarks, and comprehensive historical price analysis. Factors like the drive controller, the type of NAND (QLC or TLC), and the presence of DRAM can all affect the performance and price of your drive.
Get the 1TB version of the 9100 Pro for $206, around 20 cents per GB. Comes with 236-Layer Samsung TLC (V8) flash memory and is rated for sequential read and write speeds of 14,700 MB/s and 13,300 MB/s, respectively. View Deal
This drive is identical in spec, but its heftier discount means it is 17 cents per GB, so better value if you can stretch to the higher capacity. View Deal
This is an insane deal with the in-cart coupon added — grab it while it's hot!
This 4TB SSD features the PCie 5.0 interface and blasts out 14,800 / 13,400 MB/s of sequential read/write throughput, delivering top-tier performance within a reasonable power envelope that doesn't require bulky heatsinks. View Deal
The SN850P is a speedy PCIe 4.0 SSD for PCs, laptops, and the PlayStation 5. The drive boasts a sequential performance that peaks at 7,300 MB/s reads and 6,300 MB/s writes.
The 2TB SN850P also boasts fast sequential read/write speeds and is very slightly faster than the 1TB model on write speed. The 2TB drive peaks at 7,300 MB/s reads and 6,600 MB/s writes.View Deal
The 4TB SN850P is identical in performance to the 2TB model. This drive also comes with a built-in heatsink to aid in cooling. The PlayStation 5 drive boasts a sequential 7,300 MB/s read and 6,600 MB/s write.View Deal
Save on this M.2 2280 4Tb PCIe 4.0 SSD with promo code FTTF462, which makes this the cheapest 4TB SSD on the market right now. View Deal
Crucial's P510 is a step down from the company's T710 flagship, but it's still a scorching-fast PCIe 5.0 SSD promising 11 GBps sequential reads and 9.5 GBps writes, plus a five-year warranty. Our review praised the drive for its excellent sustained performance, and it's one of the more affordable Gen5 drives from a well-known brand. View Deal
The fastest PCIe 4.0 SSD you can get, the Samsung 990 Pro offers sequential read and write speeds of 7,450 and 6,900 MB/s, respectively, along with 1.4 and 1.55 million IOPS. See our Samsung 990 Pro Review for more details.View Deal
The SN7100 is a single-sided SSD with the standard 2280 form factor. With 2TB of capacity, the SN7100 uses Sandisk's proprietary Polaris 3 controller and SanDisk's 218-Layer TLC (BiCS8), with speeds of up to 7250 MB/s read and 6900 MB/s write.View Deal
Perfect for a PS5 upgrade (or your PC), this superfast Gen 4 PCIe 4.0 SSD boasts rated read and write speeds of 7,300 and 6,600 MBps for blistering performance in gaming and programs that can make use of the drive's high bandwidth. This particular version comes with an included heatsink to help keep the SSD cool and reduce the chances of thermal throttling when under consistently high loads. View Deal
The Samsung 990 EVO Plus 4TB is now available at an all-time low price, boasting speeds of up to 7,250 MB/s, a five-year warranty that covers an impressive 2,400 TB of writes, and PCIe Gen 5x2/4x4 hybrid functionality.View Deal
Get a smaller 2TB drive with USB-C connectivity and read and write speeds of up to 1050 MB/s and 1000 MB/s, respectively.View Deal
The Crucial P310 2TB is among the best M.2-2230 SSDs that we've ever tested. Earning a four-star mark from our reviewer for its speed and capacity, the P310 2TB is a great pick at list price, and is a must-consider now that it's nearly 50% off. View Deal
The nippy Crucial P310 1TB is replete with Gen speeds of up to 7,100MB/s. This would be the perfect drive as the storage module in a budget build, a quick M2 upgrade for booting your OS, or even for housing in a PS5. View Deal
Low price and high capacity storage. The SN850X is a speedy PCIe 4.0 SSD for PCs, laptops, and the PlayStation 5. The drive boasts a sequential performance that peaks at 7,300 MB/s reads and 6,600 MB/s writes.
This Samsung SN8100 is a PCIe 5.0 NVMe M.2 SSD with sequential read and write speeds of 14,900MB/s read and 14,000MB/s write speeds apiece. It isn't the best discount, but it's now at a new record-low price on Amazon.View Deal
Our benchmarks show the WD Black to be one of the fastest SSDs you can buy for your Steam Deck or ROG Ally, and now the 1TB model is 29% off. This drive delivers up to 5,150 / 4,900 MB/s of read/write throughput and 8 million Random write IOPS, along with a five-year warranty that covers 600 terabytes of endurance. View Deal
This SSD is notably fast and can reach read/write speeds as high as 7300 / 6300 Mbps. It uses a WD Proprietary controller and connects using a PCIe 4.0 x4 interface.View Deal
For those looking for the absolute cheapest upgrade for a Steam Deck, Asus ROG Ally, or any other handheld PC, the Kingston NV3 is your pick. Down to its lowest-yet price of $65.80, the budget SSD got solid marks from us (in its longer 2280 trim) for its budget stature, and its price somehow matches those of full-sized M.2 SSDs today. View Deal
Don’t miss out on this Tom’s Hardware Premium. Get a full year of access for just $29, or from $7 per-month. Get daily news analysis, deep dives into specialist topics in the semiconductor industry, as well as access to Bench, the largest benchmarking database around.View Deal
Crucial’s P3 Plus isn’t the best-performing drive by any measure, as we saw in our review. But it’s a PCIe 4.0 model rated to top 5,000 MB/s sequential reads and 4,200 MB/s writes, with a good 5-year warranty.View Deal
This SSD is suitable for casual and gaming use with impressively high speeds capping out at 5000 / 4800 Mbps. It uses an NVMe Gen 4 interface and has a 2TB storage capacity.View Deal
This is a more affordable SSD with moderate read/write speeds of 2200 / 1600 Mbps. It uses a PCIe 3.0 x4 interface and has a 2TB storage capacity.View Deal
When we reviewed the MP34 back in 2019, it was an excellent value, offering solid performance (it’s rated to 3,500/2,900 MB/s sequential reads/writes) and high endurance at competitive pricing. View Deal
No matter how demanding the task, the 4 TB 990 Pro SSD is ready to cruise through it with its industry-best PCIe 4.0 speeds, endurance, and efficiency. Backed by a 5 year warranty, this drive is the perfect storage upgrade to grab regardless of whether you're rocking a gaming PC or console.View Deal
This very big and very fast OWC external SSD gets you 8TB of storage and transfer speeds of up to 3836 MB/s. It comes with a 40 Gb/s USB4 Interface and a stylish aluminum enclosure, perfect for photo and video professionals. View Deal
The Crucial X10 Pro 8TB dishes out up to 2,100 / 2,000 MB/s of sequential read/write throughput over the USB 3.2 2x2 interface. It also supports 256-bit AES encryption and comes with a USB Type-C to Type-C cable.View Deal
No matter how demanding the task, the 4 TB 990 Pro SSD is ready to cruise through it with its industry-best PCIe 4.0 speeds, endurance, and efficiency. Backed by a 5 year warranty, this drive is the perfect storage upgrade to grab regardless of whether you're rocking a gaming PC or console.View Deal
The QLC-based drive boasts excellent performance of up to 7,100 MB/s. Equipped with the Phison E27T controller, the drive also has excellent thermals and won't be in danger of throttling, making it excellent for usage in a multitude of systems.View Deal
The SN850X is a speedy PCIe 4.0 SSD for PCs, laptops, and the PlayStation 5. The drive boasts a sequential performance that peaks at 7,300 MB/s reads and 6,600 MB/s writes. See our review of the WD Black SN850X for more information. View Deal
The Samsung 990 Pro 4TB is among the fastest SSDs currently available on the market, with read and write speeds of up to 7450/6900 MB/s, maxing out the Gen 4 bandwidth. View Deal
The Samsung T9 portable SSD 4TB edition is available right now for its lowest price to date. This SSD can reach read/write speeds as high as 2000 Mbps.View Deal
This large-capacity 4TB SSD is perfect for gaming use. It has a large storage capacity for your game library and impressive read/write speeds of 5000 / 4800 Mbps. It uses a PCIe NVMe M.2 Gen 4 interface with a 4TB storage capacity. View Deal
This well-priced drive offers a massive 4TB capacity and stunning PCIe Gen 4.0 performance. With sequential read/write speeds of 7,400/6,500MB/s, this drive is more than enough for your gaming needs, whether for a PC or PlayStation 5 console.View Deal
The 2TB Seagate Expansion Card is a great way to expand your Xbox's storage and all more games to be installed on your console for easy access. View Deal
The Samsung T7 Shield 1TB features up to 1,050/1,000 of sequential read/write throughput and connects using a USB-C or USB Gen 3 connection. It also has an IP65 shock, dust, and water resistance rating. View Deal
This 1 TB SSD comes in three colors grey, blue, and red. It has read/write speeds as fast as 1050/1000 MB/s and connects using a USB 3.2 interface. View Deal
SSD Deals: What to Look For
SATA or NVMe: SSDs either use the SATA or NVMe interface, with the latter being as much as six times faster (or more). All 2.5-inch drives are SATA, but M.2 drives could be either NVMe or SATA interface, though the latter is now rare. If you have a desktop or laptop that was built in the last 5 years, it almost certainly supports NVMe, which is faster. As SATA is old news, most of the best SSD deals are on NVMe drives.
2.5-inch or M.2: Most internal SSDs are either 2.5-inch or M.2 form factor. 2.5-inch drives connect to SATA ports and can replace old-school mechanical hard drives. M.2 drives look like RAM sticks and plug into dedicated M.2 ports. You won't find that many deals on 2.5-inch drives, but they can be useful for bulk storage as many motherboards have a ton of SATA ports but only two M.2 slots.
PCIe 3, 4 or 5: If you're buying an NVMe SSD, you can choose among PCIe 3, 4 or 5 interfaces with speeds increasing from a maximum of around 3,500 MBps sequential reads and writes to 8,000 MBps and 14,000 MBps. At this point, PCIe 4 drives are mainstream and offer the best value. PCIe 5 drives are extraordinarily expensive, require a newer-gen platform that supports them, and also generate a fair amount of heat. We're seeing the best SSD deals on PCIe 4 drives which is the best standard for most people.
Capacity: Price increases have upended the market in recent months, so it's going to be tricky to find a decent 2TB NVMe drive for less than $140 this Black Friday, with high performance models going for even more. 4TB drives are an even worse proposition, costing $250+, with some reaching over $400. If you really need to save money, a decent 1TB drive can still be found for $70 or $80.
Mini PC specialist Geekom has stuffed its Amazon webstore with a multitude of diminutive computers with discounts as deep as 34% off. Among the plethora of discounts, we're pleased to also have a special stacking discount code for last year's flagship Geekom A9 Max with AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, slicing a further 8% off this already discounted, sturdy, premium aluminum build mini PC.
This A9 Max (2025) 'Strix Point' model features a Zen 5 architecture CPU with 12C/24T, plus Radeon 890M graphics on board. The system comes complete with 32GB DDR5, a 1TB SSD, and Windows 11 Pro. Originally priced at $1,399.00, the Prime Day sale reduces it to $1,189.15, and our exclusive Tom's Hardware discount code (8% off code: THA9MAX26) slices another 8% off, resulting in a checkout price of $1,094.
Use our 8% off code: THA9MAX26 for this deeper discount
This sturdy aluminum-encased Geekom A9 Max (2025) comes with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 'Strix Point' processor, backed by 32GB DDR5, a 1TB SSD, and Windows 11 Pro.View Deal
For those who insist on the latest silicon, Geekom has also put its A9 MAX 2026 Edition on sale at 21% off. That means this fresh Ryzen flagship, which has been upgraded to an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470, is reduced from $1,699 to $1,349. Remember, this has 32GB DDR5 RAM and with a 2TB pre-installed SSD it offers double the storage capacity of its predecessor in the deal above. We have one of these 'Gorgon Point' mini PCs in the labs now, and hope to be able to share the review with your shortly.
Geekom's newly released AI flagship mini PC is already discounted for Prime Day
This sturdy aluminum-encased Geekom A9 Max (2026) comes with the AMD's refreshed Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 'Gorgon Point' processor, backed by 32GB DDR5, a roomy 2TB SSD, and Windows 11 Pro.View Deal
We also remember when mini PCs used to be a great niche for finding real bargains, and hunters of such rarities can still get perfectly serviceable mini PCs from Geekom under $600 during the ongoing RAMpocalypse if they aren't averse to older silicon.
For example, the Geekom A8 Mini PC with AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS processor, 16GB DDR5 RAM (upgradable), 1TB NVMe SSD, and Windows 11 Pro is currently 15% off at $585.65 via that Amazon Prime Day link. Though slightly older, the AMD APU in this still offers Zen 4 CPU cores in a 8C/16T configuration, and Radeon 780M graphics. Most buyers won't miss the absence of an NPU...
Digging deeper in the Prime Day bargain bin, we also spotted the Geekom A5, which promises to do everything from "business, home server, creative work & casual gaming." It is listed at 14% off for Prime day cutting its price from $439 to a far more attractive $371. In tech specs terms, so you can judge use-case claims for yourself, this 200kg pressure-rated NUC-a-like mini PC packs an AMD Ryzen 5 7430U APU which features Zen 3 cores in a 6C/12T config plus Radeon Vega 7 graphics. It also comes with 16GB DDR4 RAM installed (expandable to 64GB), and a 512GB NVMe SSD (expandable with an extra M.2 2242 slot and room for a 2.5-inch SATA drive).
Above are our five picks from the spectrum of mini PCs that Geekom has put on sale for Prime Day. However, we didn't even mention any of the firm's Intel models, like the passive Geekom iX 12, on sale for 15% off at $296, which is designed to bring mini PC power to home lab VPN, firewall, virtualization, and edge computing applications.
We're keeping a close eye on deals during Amazon Prime Day 2026 to find any RAM bargains to be had and adding them to the constantly-updated list below. RAM is only going to get more expensive. Inflation on prices is making it hard to find value in the memory market, but there are some deals you can still buy. You might be holding off for the market to stabilize, but signs indicate this problem is going to get worse in 2027, not better. You can also find good deals, often yielding the lowest overall RAM pricing, if you check our Prime Day RAM bundle page.
The memory shortage is taking hold, fueled by the massive AI data centers that are soaking up the world's memory stocks. This is causing a supply shortage, sending prices skyrocketing, and all indicators point to further price increases over the coming months. In fact, prices are expected to double throughout next year. Because the RAM market is very volatile right now, these deals tend to move quickly, so it's a good idea to act sooner rather than later so you don't miss out on a great opportunity. We're updating this page constantly to keep the deals fresh, but you will have to act fast to snag the last deals on memory we will likely see for at least a year, if not longer.
We've put together a handpicked list of the best options to make your shopping easier. These deals include everything from budget-friendly memory kits to premium options, like those featured on our best RAM page or at the top of our RAM benchmarks.
We carefully review offers from different retailers to find the best value for you, drawing on our extensive experience from thorough reviews, detailed benchmarks, and analysis of past prices. We keep a close eye on the latest RAM deals as they come up, highlighting the top choices we've found across various stores.
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This memory kit is fast and comes with a generous capacity, making it a wonderful choice if you need a lot of RAM for your work. View Deal
Team Group's Team T-Create Classic 32GB DDR5-6000 RAM kit comprises 2 x 16GB sticks of RAM with timings of 48-48-48-96. It's not the fastest RAM timings, as these RAM kits are designed for professionals and not gaming systems, although they can suffice. The CAS latency of CL48 comes with a lower voltage of 1.10V.View Deal
A 64GB memory kit is fantastic for multitasking and tackling memory-heavy tasks. Plus, it’s super simple to set up on both AMD and Intel systems, so you'll be up and running in no time.View Deal
This Newegg offer lets you save a tasty $50 on 16GB (2x8GB) DDR5-6000 RAM from Teamgroup. Perfect for a small gaming PC setup.
The best deal in current market right now for 32GB DDR5 memory, thanks to Woot, with this dual-channel Corsair Vengeance DDR5-6000 RAM (with two 16GB modules) likely to sell out fast.View Deal
This 32GB DDR5-6000 RAM kit consists of 2x16GB sticks that have a 6000MHz speed, and timings of 36-38-38-80, with a CAS latency of 36. View Deal
This 48GB kit of Corsair Vengeance RGB has a slower 5,200 MT/s transfer speed, but it's cheaper than its 32GB counterpart and comes with a decent 38 CAS latency. View Deal
This budget-friendly memory kit offers good performance and attractive looks. It supports Intel XMP 3.0 and AMD EXPO technologies, making setup quick and easy with just one click.View Deal
This high-capacity memory kit is perfect for anyone who needs plenty of memory for those heavy workloads! It works great with both AMD and Intel systems, so that you can power through your tasks with ease.View Deal
DDR5 RAM Deals
A performance DDR5-6000 memory kit for those who need more speed than baseline DDR5. It also supports AMD EXPO. View Deal
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DDR4 RAM Deals
Discover a DDR4-3200 memory kit designed for enthusiasts and anyone eager to enhance their performance. It's a perfect choice to support your gaming, streaming, or productivity needs.View Deal
PNY may not be a household name for RAM, but this DDR4-3200 32GB (2x16GB) memory kit is an affordable choice, especially for giving some older systems a fresh boost.View Deal
HaloBraid aims to help salons speed up braiding with its first device, slated to launch later this year, that acts as a braiding assistant for professional stylists.
Four days left to save up to $190 on your pass to TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 — the ultimate founder bootcamp — before Early Bird rates end on June 26 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Register today.
The AIDA Evolution upgrade program has been so successful that Carnival Corporation has greenlit a similar drydock program for Holland America Line, with additional brands expected to follow, according to Josh Weinstein, president and CEO, speaking on the company’s second-quarter earnings call. Weinstein did not elaborate on which brands will announce upgrade programs next, but...
After their disappointing draw against DR Congo, Portugal face Uzbekistan looking for their first victory in Group K of the 2026 World Cup. Led by Cristiano Ronaldo, they hope to impose their attacking firepower. Here we will provide minute-by-minute coverage.
Portugal emerge as one of the top contenders for the 2026 World Cup. However, they are coming off a disappointing draw in their opening match. Looking for their first victory in Group K, they face Uzbekistan today. With this in mind, they will seek to impose their attacking firepower, led by Cristiano Ronaldo. Since both teams need a win, the match is expected to be highly competitive.
After their defeat against Colombia, Uzbekistan’s future in the 2026 World Cup is quite at risk. To keep their hopes alive, they may need a draw or a victory against Portugal. With that objective, they could maintain their strong defensive approach, looking to once again close down the spaces available to Cristiano Ronaldo. In addition, they will likely seek to be efficient on the counterattack, searching for a goal that could complicate things for their opponent.
Looking for a decisive victory, Portugal head coach Roberto Martínez could make notable adjustments to his team to break down the opposition’s defensive line. In addition, Bruno Fernandes may once again emerge as a key figure to find space in the rival’s deep defense. However, the wingers will be decisive in stretching the opposition’s defense and allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to find the target and score his first goal of this edition.
Cristiano Ronaldo #7 of Portugal celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal.
Portugal remain one of the best national teams ahead the 2026 World Cup. Nevertheless, they have never managed to win a World Cup title, having the best chance in the current edition. Despite their latest draw to DR Congo, they maintain a very good position in the FIFA World Ranking.
After winning the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League, Portugal arrive at the 2026 World Cup consolidated as one of the top contenders. However, they disappointed everyone with their opening draw against DR Congo. Despite this, Roberto Martínez’s team remains among the strongest national sides in the world. Ahead of the match against Uzbekistan, they have dropped a few places in the FIFA Men’s World Ranking.
Ahead of today’s clash, Portugal are ranked 9th spot with 1,755.09 points, as per FIFA Men’s World Ranking. Due to their draw, they lost four spots, being one of the most affected national teams in the ranking. Under Roberto Martinez, they have managed to boost their competitiveness, escalating from the 43rd spot from August of 1998. However, they have yet to match their highest-ever ranking, which was 3rd from September of 2017 to April of 2018.
Despite their latest draw in their debut, Portugal remain the highest-ranked national team in their group at the 2026 World Cup. Colombia currently hold the 12th spot with 1712.60 points. DR Congo hold the 43rd spot with 1487.18 points. Finally, Uzbekistan remain the lowest-ranked national team in the group, holding the 54th spot with 1444.48 points.
Portugal have established as one of the most complete national teams in the world. Not only do they feature veteran stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes, but they also have several standout young players like João Neves, Vitinha, and Francisco Conceição. In addition, they play an attacking style that thrives against high-level opponents. However, they tend to struggle against heavily defensive teams.
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates Pedro Neto’s goal for Portugal vs Nigeria
Portugal rely on Ronaldo to deliver goals against Uzbekistan
Over the last few years, Portugal have established as one of the most dangerous attacking teams in the world. However, they failed to score against DR Congo due to the opposition’s deep defensive block. Because of this, head coach Roberto Martínez could opt for several adjustments to his lineup in order to open up spaces in the opposition’s defense. Even so, they need to rediscover Cristiano Ronaldo’s best goal-scoring form.
Cristiano Ronaldo disappointed in his first match of the 2026 World Cup, taking only three shots that went off target. Facing Uzbekistan and their defensive block, Portugal need the 41-year-old striker to rediscover his scoring instinct. By leveraging his aerial ability and physical strength, he could look to win more duels and engage in more 1v1 situations. As Portugal’s top scorer, all hopes are placed on him.
Portugal players applaud fans after the 1-1 draw to DR Congo.
What is England's current FIFA World Ranking for the 2026 World Cup? See where the Three Lions stand ahead of their massive Group L clash against Ghana.
The England FIFA ranking stands firmly at 4th in the world as the Three Lions prepare to walk onto the pitch for their crucial 2026 World Cup Matchday 2 clash. This updated position, tracking live ahead of today’s high-stakes encounter against Ghana, anchors the European heavyweights as the top-seeded presence in Group L.
While a top-five ranking offers a clear measure of structural superiority on paper, the physical realities of the tournament stage demand absolute focus to secure safe passage to the knockout rounds.
Thomas Tuchel’s squad enters the pitch with high confidence following a highly entertaining and efficient display to ignite their campaign. A dominant 4-2 opening-round victory over Croatiaensured that England collected maximum reward, adding valuable coefficient points to protect their global rank from shifting live.
Evaluating the Group L dynamic
While the England FIFA ranking cements their position as group favorites, the live standings reflect a tight battle for supremacy. Ghana enters the turf tracking at 65th place globally, meaning today’s assignment is a highly competitive meeting between two teams coming off opening matchday wins.
Group L technical standings
Country
Official FIFA Rank
Points
Goal Difference
England
4th
3
+2
Ghana
65th
3
+1
Panama
40th
0
-1
Croatia
15th
0
-2
Because Ghana secured a disciplined 1-0 opening-round victory over Panama, both team sit tied at the top with three points apiece. This shifts the emphasis directly onto today’s head-to-head match, where the winner will secure unilateral command of the section and guarantee an early route out of the group phase.
Historic trajectory
To place England’s current 4th-place slot into historical context, the national team has built a prolonged, stable stay inside the world’s elite bracket over recent tournament cycles.
The Three Lions achieved their absolute modern peak in multiple phases, including August 2021 and late 2023, when they soared to 3rd in the world. Conversely, their lowest structural dip under modern evaluation methods occurred during a severe rebuilding cycle in February 1996, when they plummeted to an all-time floor of 27th globally.
Find out why AS Monaco defender Mohammed Salisu was ruled out of Ghana's squad for the 2026 World Cup after a devastating knee injury in Ligue 1.
The absence of AS Monaco centre-back Mohammed Salisu from Ghana’s squad stands out as one of the most significant defensive blows for Otto Addo’s side ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Regarded as a crucial anchor for the Black Stars’ backline, the 26-year-old was fully expected to replicate his solid individual displays from Qatar 2022 on North American soil. However, structural knee damage sustained during club action completely shattered his tournament aspirations.
The definitive reason behind Salisu’s absence is a severe, torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee. The devastating setback occurred in early January during the closing minutes of Monaco’s 3-1 Ligue 1 defeat against Olympique Lyonnais.
Despite showing incredible grit to finish the full 90 minutes of that match, subsequent clinical scans in France exposed the true extent of the structural ligament tear.
The recovery timeline and medical reality
Following the initial diagnosis, Ghana national team doctor Dr. Prince Pambo confirmed that the recovery window would require a minimum of nine months. An ACL injury of this magnitude demands meticulous surgical intervention followed by an extensive, non-negotiable rehabilitation period to ensure joint stability.
While Salisu made encouraging progress and returned to light on-field running drills with the Monaco medical staff in early May, the physical demands of high-intensity World Cup matches arrived far too soon for competitive clearance.
Forcing an accelerated comeback would jeopardize his long-term career, leaving Otto Addo with no choice but to omit his defensive pillar from the final 26-man roster.
Portugal and Uzbekistan face each other in their second Group K match. Needing a victory to keep their knockout-stage hopes alive, head coach Roberto Martínez could need the goal-scoring firepower of Cristiano Ronaldo. As a result, fans are closely monitoring his status ahead of the match.
After their disappointing draw against DR Congo, Portugal have called into question their top contender status for the 2026 World Cup. However, they have the chance to make a statement, as they faceUzbekistan in their second Group K match. To that end, head coach Roberto Martínez would implement a strong attacking setup, aiming to get Cristiano Ronaldo into a scoring rhythm. As a result, fans are closely monitoring his status ahead of the match.
Cristiano Ronaldo will start for Portugal, as he has no apparent injuries or suspensions. While he did not manage to score on his debut, he remains a cornerstone for Roberto Martínez. In addition, he comes off an impressive season with Al Nassr, which he will aim to translate into his national team performances. As one of the greatest goal scorers in history, he arrives with the clear objective of scoring his first goal of the 2026 World Cup.
Alongside Cristiano, Roberto Martinez will bet again on Pedro Neto, but also including Joao Felix. In the creative side, Bruno Fernandes will also start, looking to break again the strong defense setup. Unlike the last game, Ruben Dias will start alongside Renato Veiga. Controlling the pace of the game, Vitinha and Joao Neves will start, looking to deliver a huge impact.
Uzbekistan will maintain their defensive approach, implementing a strong double defensive line. With this setup, head coach Fabio Cannavaro would aim to complicate Cristiano Ronaldo’s attacking output. In addition, they may rely on efficient counterattacks, taking advantage of the opponent’s high pressing. However, the key challenge will be the midfield, as Portugal excel in that area and neutralizing it would be crucial to force either a draw or a victory.
Cristiano Ronaldo #7 of Portugal looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group K match.
Portugal confirmed lineup vs Uzbekistan
Portugal arrive as clear favorite to defeat Uzbekistan, aiming to impose their attacking firepower. For this, head coach Roberto Martínez would maintain his reliance on Cristiano Ronaldo and Pedro Neto. However, he will opt for Joao Felix on the left wing, seeking to stretch the opposition’s defensive setup through the flanks. In addition, Rúben Dias will return to the defense after his physical issues.
With this in mind, Portugal will lineup as follows: Diogo Costa; João Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, Joao Neves; Pedro Neto, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Felix; Cristiano Ronaldo.
Uzbekistan confirmed lineup vs Portugal
Following their latest defeat, Uzbekistan face Portugal needing a victory or a draw to reach the knockout stages. To secure it, head coach Fabio Cannavaro may again repeat the five-man defensive line, looking to stop Cristiano Ronaldo’s scoring prowess. Moreover, they may still aim for offensive impact with two wing-backs, trying to find Eldor Shomurodov in the striker position.
Considering this, Uzbekistan will play as follows: Abduvohid Nematov; Bekhruz Karimov, Abdukodir Khusanov, Rustam Ashurmatov, Abdulla Abdullaev, Sherzod Nasrullaev; Odiljon Xamrobekov, Azizjon Ganiev, Otabek Shukurov, Abbosbek Fayzullaev; Eldor Shomurodov.
With so much riding on the outcome, let's take a look at how each scenario may impact the 2026 World Cup Group K rankings, including the impact on Colombia and DR Congo.
Portugal vs Uzbekistan arrives as one of the most important second-round matches of the 2026 World Cup group stage, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s side needing a response after a frustrating opening result. With so much riding on the outcome, let’s take a look at how each scenario may impact the 2026 World Cup Group K rankings, including the impact on Colombia and DR Congo.
Roberto Martinez and his players entered the tournament among the favorites but were held to a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening match, despite dominating possession and controlling much of the game. Uzbekistan, meanwhile, suffered a 3-1 defeat against Colombia in its first-ever World Cup appearance and now faces a huge challenge against the Selecao das Quinas.
The match in Houston represents a completely different situation for both national teams. Portugal needs three points to regain control of Group K, while Uzbekistan is searching for a historic result that could keep its qualification hopes alive.
Portugal faces pressure as Uzbekistan looks for historic result
Portugal’s opening match created more questions than answers. The national team controlled the ball for long periods against DR Congo, completing hundreds of passes and dominating possession, but struggled to create enough clear chances.
The biggest focus has once again been Cristiano Ronaldo. At 41 years old and playing in his sixth World Cup, the Portuguese captain remains the team’s biggest name and attacking reference, but his performance against DR Congo generated criticism.
Despite the criticism, Martinez has continued to show confidence in Ronaldo’s leadership and importance. The expectation is that the veteran forward will start again on Tuesday, with Portugal hoping his experience can make the difference in a crucial moment.
Uzbekistan’s World Cup debut ended with disappointment after a 3-1 loss to Colombia, but the performance still produced a memorable moment. Abbosbek Fayzullaev scored the national team’s first-ever World Cup goal, giving the country a historic celebration. However, defensive mistakes proved costly.
Group K Position
Team
Points
Goal Difference
1.
Colombia
3
+2
2.
DR Congo
1
0
3.
Portugal
1
0
4.
Uzbekistan
0
-2
What happens if Portugal wins?
A Portugal victory would move Roberto Martinez’s team to four points and place the national team in a strong position to reach the Round of 32. The result would likely push Portugal ahead of DR Congo and keep the pressure on Colombia at the top of Group K.
Uzbekistan would remain on zero points after two matches, leaving its qualification hopes extremely limited. The debutants would need a victory against DR Congo in the final match and help from other results to stay alive.
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal gestures during the International Friendly match.
For Colombia, a Portugal win would set up a potentially decisive final group match. If Colombia continues winning, the final clash with Portugal could determine who finishes first in Group K.
DR Congo would also feel increased pressure. A Portugal victory would mean DR Congo needs a positive result against Colombia to avoid entering the final matchday with everything on the line.
What happens if Portugal and Uzbekistan draw?
A draw would move Portugal to two points and leave the national team in a much more complicated position. Instead of controlling qualification, Martinez’s side would enter the final match needing a strong result against Colombia.
Uzbekistan would earn its first-ever World Cup point, keeping a small chance of reaching the knockout rounds alive. The result would be a major boost for Cannavaro’s team after losing its opening match.
Cristiano Ronaldo #7 of Portugal.
The biggest beneficiary of a draw could be Colombia. If Colombia defeats DR Congo, it would strengthen its position at the top of Group K and move closer to securing qualification before the final round.
For DR Congo, the situation would remain open. A positive result against Colombia would put the team in a strong position heading into its final match against Uzbekistan.
What happens if Uzbekistan wins?
An Uzbekistan victory would completely change the group. The national team would jump to three points, moving ahead of Portugal and suddenly becoming a serious contender for qualification.
Portugal, meanwhile, would remain stuck on one point and face a major crisis. A defeat would leave Ronaldo and company needing to beat Colombia in the final match while relying on other results to avoid a shocking early exit.
Abbosbek Fayzullaev #22 of Uzbekistan celebrates a goal.
Colombia would benefit massively from an Uzbekistan upset. If Colombia defeats DR Congo, the result could even secure its place in the knockout rounds before the final group game.
DR Congo would also see the group become unpredictable. A win over Colombia would put them in an excellent position, while a defeat would make qualification much more difficult.
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates Pedro Neto's goal for Portugal vs Nigeria
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Almaniya vətəndaşlığına da malik xorvat qapıçı Fabiyan Buntiç “Qarabağ”dan ayrılandan sonra özünə yeni klub tapmaqda çətinlik çəkməyib.
Arena.az xəbər verir ki, Ağdam klubuna Portuqaliyadan gəlmiş təcrübəli qolkiper yenə bu ölkəyə qayıdıb.
O, Portuqaliyanın 2-ci liqa təmsilçisi “Farense” ilə anlaşıb. 29 yaşlı oyunçu yeni klubu ilə 1 illik sözləşməyə imza atıb. Müqavilədə onu daha bir il uzatmaq bəndi də var.
Portuqaliyada ailə qurduğunu və orada bir müddət yaşadığını açıqlayan Buntiç həmin ölkəyə uyğunlaşmaqda çətinlik çəkməyəcəyini söyləyib. O, Azərbaycan təcrübəsindən də bəhs edib:
“Azərbaycanda mədəniyyət və insanların futbola baxışı fərqlidir. Amma mənə Çempionlar Liqası və Avropa Liqası kimi böyük turnirlərdə oynamaq imkanı verildi. Ən yüksək səviyyəli yarışlarda iştirak etdikcə daim yeni şeylər öyrənirsən və mən də bu təcrübədən daha bilikli şəkildə ayrıldım”.
Xatırladaq ki, Fabiyan Buntiç “Qarabağ”a 2024-cü ilin yayında Portuqaliyanın “Vizela” klubundan 350 min avro müqabilində transfer edilmişdi. O, Ağdam klubunun heyətində cəmi 22 oyuna çıxıb, 24 qol buraxıb, 9 matçda qapısını toxunulmaz saxlayıb.
Almaniyanın “Ştutqart” klubunun yetirməsi olan Buntiç “Vizela”dan öncə “İnqolştadt”da da forma geyinib. O, Xorvatiyanın U-18 və U-19 milli komandalarında da oynayıb.
“Turan Tovuz”dan ayrılmış Azərbaycan millisinin hücumameyilli yarımmüdafiəçisi Ayxan Hüseynov “Zirə” ilə rəsmi müqaviləyə imza atıb.
Arena.az bu barədə paytaxt təmsilçisinin mətbuat xidmətinə istinadən xəbər verir.
Belə ki, “Zirə” bu gün yeni futbolçuyla anlaşıb. Sözügedən klub Ayxan Hüseynovu heyətinə qatıb. Yarımmüdafiəçi ilə 2 illik müqavilə bağlanılıb.
Ayxan Hüseynov Rusiyada dünyaya göz açıb və futbolun sirlərinə bu ölkənin müxtəlif klublarında yiyələnib. O, “Zenit”, “Leninqradets”, “Nijni Novqorod”, “Ural”, “Dolqoprudni”, “Ximki” kimi klubların müxtəlif yaş qrupları üzrə komandalarında oynayıb. “Turan Tovuz” bu futbolçunu 2022-ci ilin yayında “Ximki”dən azad agent kimi heyətinə cəlb etmişdi. Ayxan Tovuz klubunun əsas komandasının heyətində 142 oyuna çıxıb, 24 qol vurub, 31 məhsuldar ötürmə verib.
Ayxan 2026-cı mart ayında debüt etdiyi Azərbaycan millisinin heyətində 4 oyuna çıxıb, 1 assistlə yadda qalıb.
Yeri gəlmişkən, “Zirə”nin sabiq məşqçisi Eltun Yaqublu yenidən bu klubda çalışacaq. Bu barədə klubun mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb. Yaqublu “Zirə”nin yeni yaradılmış Skautinq Departamentinin rəhbəri və seleksiyaçı məşqçisi vəzifəsinə təyin edilib. Mütəxəssislə 2 illik müqavilə bağlanıb.
Xatırladaq ki, Eltun Yaqublu 2020-2025-ci illərdə “Zirə”də məşqçi kimi fəaliyyət göstərib.
Gələnlər: Zakaria Savo ( “Aris”, Kipr), Jali Muaddib (“Omoniya”, Aradippou Kipr), Samuel Lobato (“Portimonense”, Portuqaliya), Bruno Lanqa (“Almeriya”, İspaniya), Martin Zlomisliç (“Riyeka”, Xorvatiya) Gedənlər:Toral Bayramov, Emmanuel Addai, Ramil Şeydayev, Sami Mmae, Kevin Medina, Fabian Buntiç (“Farense”, Portuqaliya), Amin Ramazanov Müqaviləsi artırılanlar:Pedro Bikalyo, Bədavi Hüseynov
“Turan Tovuz”
Gələnlər: Dioqo Balau (“Şamaxı”) Gedənlər:Filip Ozobiç, Şəhriyar Əliyev, Tural Bayramlı, Sergey Samok, Ayxan Hüseynov (“Zirə”) Müqaviləsi artırılanlar:
“Neftçi”
Gələnlər:Rüfət Abbasov (“Şamaxı”), Qustavo Klisman (“Santa Klara”, Portuqaliya) Gedənlər:Vensan Abubakar, Edvin Kuç, Kristian Kostin, Murad Məmmədov (“Pafos”), Cordan Rezabala Müqaviləsi artırılanlar: Elvin Camalov, Emin Mahmudov, Emil Balayev
“Zirə”
Gələnlər:Amin Seydiyev (“Sabah”), Maykon Kleyton (son klubu “Portimonense”, Portuqaliya), Vierinya (“Olimpiakos”, Kipr), Ayxan Hüseynov (“Turan Tovuz”) Gedənlər: Tiaqo Silva, Ceyhun Nuriyev, Stefan Aka, Eldar Quliyev, Leroy Mikels, Rüfət Abdullazadə, Anatoli Nuriyev, Ayron Qomis Müqaviləsi artırılanlar: Eren Aydınla, Davit Volkov, Aydın Bayramov, Elçin Əlicanov, Enrike Kustodio, Qismət Alıyev
“Araz Naxçıvan”
Gələnlər: Cavid Hüseynov (baş məşqçi), Luka Dumançiç (“Persis”, İndoneziya), Rəşad Həsənov (Son klubu “Cəbrayıl”), Alberto Fernandes Gedənlər:Andrey Demçenko (baş məşqçi), Ramon Maçado, Hamidu Keyta, Bar Kohen, Nuno Rodriques, Rahil Məmmədov, Bəxtiyar Həsənalızadə, Coşqun Diniyev, Kristian Avram, Felipe Santos, Ba-Muaka Simakala Müqaviləsi artırılanlar:Slavik Alxasov, Ömər Buludov, Tərlan Əhmədli, Ülvi İsgəndərov, İbrahim Piriyev
“Sumqayıt”
Gələnlər: Gedənlər: Sənan Muradlı, Aleksandr Ramalinqom, Rayan Senhadji, Saşa İliç (baş məşqçi) Müqaviləsi artırılanlar:
“Şamaxı”
Gələnlər: Azər Bağırov (baş məşqçi, “Kəpəz”), Sənan Muradlı (“Sumqayıt” – icarə) Emin Rüstəmov (“Karvan-Yevlax”) Uğur Cahangirov (“Karvan-Yevlax”), Ceyhun Bağırzadə (“Qəbələ”) Gedənlər: Alfons Mabula Msanqa, Ravil Qafarov, Sezar Enrike, Bilal İsmayılov, Nihat Mehralıyev, Vladislav Veremeyev, Rafael Məhərrəmli, Arsen Ağcabəyov, Andrey Tirkoveanu, Rodriqo Fernandes, Emil Süleymanov, Ramiz Muradov, Davud Mənsumov, Abdulla Rzayev, Səlim Həşimov, Rüfət Abbasov, Karim Rossi, Ayxan Abbasov (baş məşqçi), Dioqo Balau Müqaviləsi artırılanlar: Abdulla Seydəhmədov,Həbib İsmayılov
“İmişli”
Gələnlər:Seyxan Fərəcov (MOİK) Gedənlər: Xəzər Mahmudov, Həzrət İsayev, Elmir Rəhimzadə, Riad Abbaszadə, Orxan Fərəcov, Lətif Rzayev Müqaviləni artıranlar:Azər Salahlı, Tuncay Yusifli, İmam Əli
“Kəpəz”
Gələnlər: Azər Məmmədov (baş məşqçi) Gedənlər:Azər Bağırov (baş məşqçi), Rauf Hüseynli, Məmməd Hüseynov Müqaviləsi artırılanlar:Əli Səmədov, Rəhman Hacıyev, Dioqo Verdaska
“Qəbələ”
Gələnlər:
Gedənlər:Adriel Ba Loua, Murad Musayev,Rza Cəfərov, Sambu Sissoko, İbrahim Sanqare, Rüfət Əhmədov, Turan Manafov, Mehrac Baxşalı (icarə – “Şahdağ Qusar”), Domi Massumo (“Alaşkert”, Ermənistan) Müqaviləsi artırılanlar:
“Şəfa”
Gələnlər: Zaur Həşimov (baş məşqçi), Məmməd Hüseynov (“Kəpəz”) Arsen Ağcabəyov (“Şamaxı”), Rauf Hüseynli (“Kəpəz”), Nicat Mehbalıyev (“Sabah”), Murad Musayev (“Qəbələ”) Gedənlər:Elgiz Kərəmli (baş məşqçi), Seymur Rəhimov, Elvin İsmayılov, İbrahim Əliyev, Hüseyn Mürsəlov, Aqil Nəsibov, Amir Ebrahimzade, Əli Həsənli, Zahid Mərdanov, Emin Zamanov, Novruz Məmmədov, Aqşin Paşayev, Urfan İsmayılov, Vüqar Həsənov, Ruslan Hacıyev Müqaviləsi artırılanlar:Tərlan Quliyev, Elnur Cəfərov, Ramin Nəsirli, Nahid Əliyev
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, komandanın “sükanı” Cennaro Qattuzoya tapşırılıb. Bu barədə klubun mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb. Mütəxəssislə anlaşmanın detalları açıqlanmayıb.
Qattuzo son olaraq İtaliya millisinə rəhbərlik edib. O, apreldə yığmadan ayrılıb.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, “qartallar” Ayxan Hüseynovu heyətinə qatıb. Yarımmüdafiəçiylə 2 illik müqavilə bağlanılıb.
Qeyd edək ki, 26 yaşlı futbolçu daha əvvəl Rusiyanın “Leninqradetç”, “Nijni Novqorod”, “Ural”, “Olimp-Dolqoprudnu”, “Ximki” və ölkəmizdə “Turan Tovuz” klublarında çıxış edib.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, “qartallar” Da Silva Tavareş Viera “Vierinya”nı heyətinə qatıb. Portuqaliyalı yarımmüdafiəçiylə 2 illik müqavilə bağlanılıb.
Qeyd edək ki, 29 yaşlı futbolçu daha əvvəl ölkəsinin “Feyrense”, “Sanxoanense”, “Salqeyruş”, “Qondomar”, “Akademiko Viseu”, “Espinyo”, “San Jo de Ver”, “Beyra Mar” və Kiprin “Olimpiakos”(Nikosiya) klublarında çıxış edib.
“Qarabağ”dan “Farense”yə keçən Fabian Buntiç açıqlama verib.
Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, qolkiper klubun saytına açıqlamasında keçidi ilə bağlı bunları deyib:
“Portuqaliyada evlənmişəm, burada yaşamağın necə olduğunu bilirəm və bu ölkədə hansı futbolun oynandığını da yaxşı anlayıram, buna görə qərar vermək çətin olmadı.
Azərbaycanda Almaniya və Portuqaliyadan fərqli futbol mədəniyyəti gördüm. Amma Çempionlar Liqası və Avropa Liqası kimi böyük turnirlərdə oynamaq mənə çox şey öyrətdi. Portuqaliyaya daha böyük təcrübə ilə qayıdıram”.
“Qarabağ” Buntiçlə müddəti bitən müqaviləni uzatmayıb və azad agent kimi “Farense”yə keçib.
“Yuventus”un hücumçusu Duşan Vlahoviç karyerasını Türkiyədə davam etdirə bilər. Msport.az xəbər verir ki, serbiyalı forvard mövsümün sonunda azad agent statusu […]
Konfrans Liqasında mübarizə aparacaq “Zirə” heyətinə yeni futbolçu cəlb edib. Msport.az xəbər verir ki, “qartallar” Da Silva Tavareş Viera “Vierinya” […]
Fransa millisinin futbolçusu Maykl Olise ilə bağlı yayılan görüntülər müzakirələrə səbəb olub. Msport.az xəbər verir ki, sosial şəbəkələrdə və mediada […]
Transfer expert Matteo Moretto feels that it is ‘practically impossible’ to see Dusan Vlahovic remain at Juventus beyond June 30, as the striker hasn’t lowered his demands to sign a new deal.
Juventus striker Vlahovic is expected to leave the Allianz Stadium as a free agent at the end of the month as his contract with the Old Lady runs out on June 30.
Vlahovic transfer latest: Juventus and Besiktas offers
Transfer expert Matteo Moretto has given his verdict on the negotiation, claiming that an agreement between the two parties is a remote possibility.
LECCE, ITALY – MAY 09: Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus FC celebrates the opening goal during the Serie A match between US Lecce and Juventus FC at Stadio Via del Mare on May 09, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
“Right now, Dusan Vlahovic’s focus is on the economic aspect; this is why I believe that the chance of reopening talks with Juventus is practically impossible,” Moretto said on YouTube.
“As of today, he hasn’t changed his demands, even though there are currently no clubs ready to pay that sum for salary, bonus and signing bonus.”
Moretto confirmed Besiktas have approached Vlahovic in recent hours, yet the Turkish giants have not met the striker’s demands.
MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 26: Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus warms up prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 26, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
It remains to be seen whether any team will manage to reach an agreement with the Juventus star before the end of the month; otherwise, Vlahovic will officially be without a club on July 1.
Aston Villa midfielder Ross Barkley has been training at the Stadio Valerio Bacigalupo in Taormina, Sicily, while on holiday and showed ‘great appreciation for the warm welcome received.’
English midfielder Barkley is spending part of his holidays in Italy, more precisely in Taormina, Sicily.
As reported by ANSA, Barkley continued training even during his time off at the end of the season, choosing the Valerio Bacigalupo for his workouts.
ANSA also reports a brief comment from the English midfielder, who expressed “great appreciation for the city and the warm welcome received.”
BURNLEY, ENGLAND – MAY 10: Ross Barkley of Aston Villa celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Burnley and Aston Villa at Turf Moor on May 10, 2026 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
The municipality presented Barkley with a city pennant as a keepsake to commemorate his visit.
“It is always a pleasure to host champions of this calibre in our city,” said Taormina’s Sports Councillor Mario Quattrocchi.
“Even during his vacation periods, he chose to make use of our sports facilities and experience the local area firsthand.”
Football Club Taormina is the local non-professional team that plays its home matches at Stadio Valerio Bacigalupo.
They compete in Prima Categoria, which is Italy’s seventh division.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MARCH 15: Ross Barkley of Aston Villa celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Old Trafford on March 15, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Barkley, 32, scored three goals and provided one assist in 23 appearances across all competitions this season.
His contract with Aston Villa runs out in June 2027.
Reports in Italy claim that Antonio Conte is emerging as a strong candidate for the Italy job along with Roberto Mancini, but who would you pick between the two?
Conte and Mancini are currently the frontrunners for the Italy job, according to reports in Italy.
Conte or Mancini as next Italy coach?
Several sources reported over the last few days that Mancini was close to getting the job for the second time, with informal talks already underway with Giovanni Malagò, who was elected as the FIGC President yesterday.
PISA, ITALY – MAY 17: Antonio Conte manager of SSC Napoli reacts during the Serie A match between Pisa SC and SSC Napoli at Arena Garibaldi on May 17, 2026 in Pisa, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
However, any final decision will be made in collaboration with the technical director, a position that Malagò is eager to assign to Paolo Maldini, who has already received an offer.
Italian media have mentioned other candidates for the job in recent months, including Pep Guardiola, yet Conte and Mancini seem to be the top choices at the moment.
Assuming they are the only contenders to become the new Italy boss, who would you pick?
The club had only appointed Cole on March 15 and he oversaw one win, three draws and four defeats in Serie B, the Italian equivalent of the Championship.
It was the first head coach position for the 45-year-old, who had previously been an assistant manager for the England Under-21 side, Everton, Chelsea, Birmingham City and the senior England squad.
Cesena scrap Cole, bring in Diamanti
PERTH, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 29: Alessandro Diamanti of Western United acknoladges the crowd after his final game during the round 26 A-League Men’s match between Perth Glory and Western United at HBF Park, on April 29, 2023, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)
This is another curious choice, because the 43-year-old’s only experience is coaching the Melbourne City Under-23 team from July 2023 to November 2025.
As a player, he was well-travelled with moves to the likes of West Ham United, Bologna, Fiorentina, Guangzhou Evergrande and Western United.
Kevin De Bruyne insists he and Romelu Lukaku can bring ‘experience’ to the Belgium squad at the 2026 World Cup, helping the players be ‘even more determined’ after two disappointing draws.
Rudi Garcia’s Belgium kicked off their 2026 World Cup campaign with back-to-back draws against Iran and Egypt.
De Bruyne comments on Belgium’s tough start to 2026 World Cup
“We made some silly mistakes, and we put a lot of pressure on ourselves,” De Bruyne told Gazzetta.
COMO, ITALY – MAY 02: Kevin De Bruyne of SSC Napoli looks on during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and SSC Napoli at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on May 02, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“Against Iran, we took many shots, and let’s be honest, we were also a bit lucky with that offside call on Taremi’s goal. More balance is needed, and we need to avoid negative thoughts from arising. We’ll have to talk to find the way.”
Both De Bruyne and Lukaku are not in their best shape, but what do they bring to the Belgium squad?
“Experience; that’s what will lead us to managing a situation that is different from the one we expected,” De Bruyne replied.
VERONA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 28: Romelu Lukaku of SSC Napoli and Unai Núñez of Hellas Verona during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on February 28, 2026 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JUNE 15: Romelu Lukaku #9 of Belgium forces an own goal by Mohamed Hany #3 of Egypt during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match between Belgium and Egypt at Seattle Stadium on June 15, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
“I know that in the biggest tournaments, feelings change very quickly, and we must be able to manage the positive and negative moments. Until now, it’s all been very quick; we know we haven’t done well, and this has affected morale, but now is the moment when we need to be even more determined.
“Everyone knows how close we [he and Lukaku] have been for years, but now it’s the time to focus on the team,” De Bruyne concluded.
“We’ve not been up to the task, but we can become so.”
Torino are in negotiations with Leicester City for central defender Ben Nelson, claims Sky Sport Italia, with a €7m asking price.
The 22-year-old has played for England at various youth levels and been called up to the Under-21 squad, but without receiving a cap.
Leicester talent Nelson targeted by Torino
DERBY, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 06: Ben Nelson of Leicester City during the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County and Leicester City at Pride Park on December 06, 2025 in Derby, England. (Photo by Cameron Smith/Getty Images)
A product of the Leicester City youth academy, he had loan spells at Rochdale, Doncaster Rovers and Oxford United.
In the current campaign, he made 27 appearances for the Foxes, scoring one goal and adding an assist from central defence.
The Athletic reports that Serie A clubs are among the suitors for Folarin Balogun, who is keen to leave Monaco, with his price tag set at €50m.
USMNT star Balogun is expected to leave his club Monaco this summer.
Balogun transfer: latest updates amid Serie A interest
The Athletic reports that the 24-year-old favours a transfer after the World Cup and that the French club is seeking a fee in the region of €50m.
According to the report, there are “plenty of suitors” for the American striker from all over Europe, including the English Premier League and Serie A.
Early discussions with some interested clubs have already taken place, but nothing is advanced at this stage, the report claims
The 24-year-old striker was already linked with a move to Serie A in 2023, when he ultimately left Arsenal for Monaco. Back then, Inter were among the clubs interested in securing his services.
Balogun scored 19 goals in 43 appearances with Monaco in the 2025-26 campaign. His contract expires in 2028, and according to the report, there have not been negotiations regarding a potential extension.
Balogun has scored two goals and provided one assist in the USMNT’s opening two games at the 2026 World Cup.
Manu Kone could be on the move this summer, with Roma desperate to sell high value players to balance the books.
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Roma are looking to make some sales this summer in order to comply with FFP for the season ahead.
According to CalcioMercato, the Italians need to raise €50m profit by the end of the month. That means not just selling someone for a lot of money, but also selling someone who has a low “residual” book value.
Roma consider multiple sales for FFP compliance
Prime candidates listed include Mile Svilar and Evan Ndicka. They would be almost entirely profit if sold. But their fees might not be so high.
An option listed mentioned by the same source is Manu Kone. He’s still got £11.8m to pay off, but could move for €50m, with Atletico Madrid apparently considering a €45m deal with €5m bonuses in addition.
Premier League teams have also been linked in the past. As always, the problem is that everyone knows Roma need to sell, undermining their negotiating position.
The chances of them getting Kone sold for a major fee in the next week or so seems very slim, and sporting director Tony D’Amico is going to have to pull off something special here.
Bradley Barcola has been linked with an exit from PSG this summer, and he could be heading to Liverpool.
According to a report from Le10sport, the 23-year-old attacker is tempted by a move to Liverpool, and PSG would be open to selling him for the right offer. Liverpool tried to sign him last summer, but the 23-year-old wanted to continue with the French outfit.
It seems that he has now changed his mind regarding a potential move. Liverpool have decided to try again for Barcola, and the player is now excited by the prospect of playing in the Premier League.
The development will come as a huge boost for the Premier League outfit. They need more quality on the flanks, and the 23-year-old could be an excellent acquisition. He registered 20 goal contributions last season and will add pace, flair, and unpredictability going forward.
He is a young player with a lot of potential, and regular football in England could bring out the best in him. Barcola struggled for regular opportunities at PSG last season. He will want to play more often at this stage of his career. Sitting on the bench at the French club will not benefit him.
Regular football in England will not only help him improve as a player but also cement his place in the French national team. He’s currently a squad player for the national team as well.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are looking at Yan Diomande as well. It is clear that signing quality wide players is a priority for the Premier League site. However, it is unlikely that they will be able to afford both players. Both players are likely to cost a premium, and it remains to be seen who they end up with.
Maximiliano Araujo has been linked with a move away from Sporting CP in recent months.
The 26-year-old left back has done quite well for the Portuguese club, and he has been linked with Manchester United and Chelsea in recent weeks. The player has now dropped a major hint about his future, which could excite clubs looking to sign him.
Araujo is currently on international duty with Uruguay at the ongoing World Cup, and after the match against Cape Verde, he revealed that he is unaware of what the future holds for him.
“I am very happy at Sporting, but you never know what will happen,” he told Portuguese radio (h/t Sportwitness).
Manchester United needs a quality left back as a long-term replacement for Luke Shaw, and the South American could be an excellent acquisition. Araujo produced 13 goal contributions last season and has shown he is more than just a quality defender. He will also help Manchester United in the attack.
Similarly, Chelsea needs to replace Marc Cucurella, who has left the club for Real Madrid. It will be interesting to see if the two Premier League clubs decide to make a move for the South American defender after his latest comments.
The Portuguese club will certainly be worried about the situation. They will not want to lose a key player like him, but his recent comments will fuel further speculation surrounding his future.
The 26-year-old has proven himself in Portugal, and this could be the ideal time for him to take on a new challenge. Chelsea and Manchester United are among the biggest clubs in the world, and the opportunity to play for them can be hard to turn down for most players.
That said, the defender has a €80 million release clause in his contract, and no club is likely to pay that kind of money for him.
Michael Olise will get a new contract in Munich as Bayern try to fend off Real Madrid interest in one of their stars.
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The big European transfer news today comes from Spain, where it’s been announced by newspapers close to the club that Real Madrid have given up on their hopes of signing Michael Olise.
They have moved on to other targets – namely Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez, in particular. Bayern will be relieved, but it also seems they’ve been spurred into action. According to top German football insider Christian Falk, the Bavarians are moving to secure Olise long term.
Olise ready for new deal in Munich after Real interest
He said on his website that “Bayern want to nearly double Michael Olise’s wages” in a new contact which will keep him at the club until 2031 at a minimum.
“You’ve heard the saying, if in trouble, make it double,” Falk added, displaying a touch of the famous German humour.
Olise is on around €15m a year according to Falk, which is towards the middle of Bayern’s squad. He’s one of their best players, and deserves to be paid like them. The likes of Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala are on closer to €25m, so expect any new Olise deal to be closer to that – and perhaps beyond it.
In other news…
Liverpool are in the hunt for a top player this summer, with a deal to sign Yan Diomande seeming to inch closer after the latest update.
David Ornstein has confirmed that Fulham are making serious moves towards a new manager appointment, and it’s a little surprising.
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Manchester United are interested in signing the German defender Waldemar Anton during the summer transfer window.
According to a report from German publication Ruhr Nachrichten, the 29-year-old defender has attracted the attention of the Premier League club, and Michael Carrick wants the Red Devils to secure his signature.
The Manchester United manager rates the 29-year-old highly and believes the German could be a leader at the back for the Red Devils. It remains to be seen whether they can convince Borussia to sell the player.
He has been a key player for the German club, and Nico Kovac has no intention of losing Anton. Manchester United might have to pay a premium in order to convince the German club.
They are hoping to agree on a new deal with the defender, and it remains to be seen whether Dortmund can convince Anton to commit his long-term future to the club.
The opportunity to play for Manchester United could be tempting for the 29-year-old. He’s at the peak of his career, and this could be the right time for him to take on a new challenge. The opportunity to move to the Premier League could be hard to turn down, especially at this stage of his career.
Meanwhile, Manchester United have secured Champions League qualification for the upcoming campaign, and they need to improve the team. They will need to tighten up at the back when they are up against elite teams in the Champions League.
Manchester United already have Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martínez, Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven and Matthijs de Ligt. However, Heaven is quite young, and De Ligt has struggled with persistent injury problems. Adding a quality defender could prove to be a wise decision.
It remains to be seen how the situation develops over the next few weeks.
Yan Diomande continues to be linked with a move to Liverpool in recent weeks.
The Premier League side has now agreed on personal terms with the 19-year-old Ivory Coast international. Liverpool are looking to bring in a replacement for Mohamed Salah, and they have identified the RB Leipzig attacker as a target.
PSG are also interested in signing the player. According to a report from Media Foot, both clubs have secured an agreement with the players’ representatives, and they will need to convince the German club to sell the player.
Liverpool previously had a €100 million offer for the attacker rejected. PSG are unwilling to pay over the odds for the talented young attacker, and it remains to be seen whether Liverpool can get the deal done.
They need to add more quality and depth on the flanks, and the 19-year-old would be an excellent addition. He has shown his quality in the Bundesliga with 23 goal contributions this past season. He has impressed in the ongoing World Cup with Ivory Coast as well.
There is no doubt that Diomande has all the tools to develop into a future star. He could be an asset for Liverpool if they manage to get the deal done. They have been quite predictable in the final third this past season, and they need someone who can take on defenders and create opportunities from the wide areas. Diomande could add a new dimension to the Liverpool attack.
The opportunity to play in the Premier League will be exciting for the young African attacker as well. It would give him a bigger platform to showcase qualities and regular football in England could accelerate his development.
Real Madrid cannot execute €60 million Nico Paz strategy this summer – here’s why
Over the past few months, reports have suggested that Real Madrid were considering resigning Nico Paz for €10 million and then immediately placing him on the market for €60 million following his outstanding season in Serie A.
It appeared to be the perfect operation, as Real Madrid would regain control of one of Europe’s most promising young midfielders and potentially generate a huge profit in the same transfer window.
However, according to journalist Jose Felix Diaz, the situation is not nearly as simple.
Real Madrid cannot immediately sell Nico
The latest update has effectively ruled out one of the scenarios that had been gaining momentum in recent days.
According to the journalist, Real Madrid cannot activate Nico Paz’s buy-back clause and then immediately sell him during the same summer transfer window.
The reason lies in transfer regulations.
Real Madrid cannot sell Nico Paz this summer. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
The journalist reports that a period of 12 weeks must pass between the two operations, meaning that once Real Madrid officially bring the Argentine back, they would be unable to complete a permanent transfer until the winter market.
It is a significant detail because it directly impacts the club’s planning around one of their most valuable young assets.
For weeks, Real Madrid transfer rumours have linked the midfielder with clubs across the Premier League and Serie A, many of whom have been impressed by his development in Italy.
The expectation remains that Los Blancos will trigger the €10 million clause before registering a sizeable profit. However, what changes now is the timeline of any potential sale.
Mourinho faces difficult decision
Notably, the development also creates an interesting sporting dilemma for Jose Mourinho.
The Portuguese coach is already overseeing a squad packed with midfield options, making it difficult to guarantee consistent playing time for the 21-year-old.
Real Madrid are facing a tricky situation with Nico Paz. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
That reality is one reason why a permanent transfer has increasingly been viewed as the most likely outcome.
Nico enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Como and returns to Real Madrid as a far better player than the one who left Spain.
Yet finding regular minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu remains a challenge.
If another major midfield signing arrives, competition for places will only become even stronger, which is why the possibility of a profitable sale continues to appeal to decision-makers inside Valdebebas.
The PGA Tour has revealed its planned changes to its competitive model, schedule and playoffs, changes that will be more substantial than any in the Tour’s half-century-long history.
Most notably, the Tour will now have two different competitive tracks for players, the Championship and Challenger series. The Tour’s season will also end in a new playoff format, distinctive from the current Tour Championship. These changes will begin with the 2028 season.
What is the PGA Tour’s new format?
The new format will include two different series of events, running concurrently. The PGA Tour Championship will feature the tour’s best players, competing in 23 to 25 events, with 36-hole cuts and purses of $20 million per event. Each Championship series event will include roughly 120 players, although players will not be required to play a specific number of events.
The $20 million purse per event is a significant enticement for players; the U.S. Open, which just concluded, had a purse of $22.5 million.
At the same time, the PGA Tour Challenger series will run with at least 20 events, several of which will be played in the same week as Championship events. Purses will be at least $4 million per event.
How do players move between series?
Players will be able to move up and down between the two series. A player on the Challenger series will earn a promotion to the Championship series with two in-season wins, or a finish in the top 20 for the entire season. They will also get promoted if they win a major championship. At the same time, players on the Championship series who finish outside the top 90 will be relegated to the Challenger series.
How will players be sorted into the two series prior to the 2028 season?
The Tour is still working on developing criteria for which players slot into which series. However, the Tour indicated that these decisions will be finalized before the 2027 season, so players will know what they have to play for prior to next season.
Players in the Championship series will not be permitted to play in Challenger events.
How long will the PGA Tour’s season run?
Starting with the 2028 season, the PGA Tour will begin with a significant February event. The two series will run from February to August. There will also be a fall competition to allow for players to play their way onto the Championship Series with several “last-chance” events.
How will the PGA Tour series wrap up its season?
The current PGA Tour playoff format consists of three stroke-play events, concluding with the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. Starting in 2028, the Tour’s playoff system will feature match play, and will rotate through various courses. Further details will be revealed at this year’s Tour Championship next month.
The 15-time major champion introduced PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp at a news conference in Cromwell, Connecticut, detailing the extensive overhaul being made to the Tour's competitive structure, which includes a new two-track system, relegation and promotion, and changes to the playoff system, among other elements. Woods serves as the chair of the Tour's Future Competitions Committee, alongside eight active pros.
Woods had not appeared in the public eye since he rolled his vehicle near his home on Jupiter Island, Florida, and was charged with DUI on Marhc 27. A police affidavit alleged that Woods had hydrocodone pills on his person at the time of the accident. No one was injured.
Honored to stand alongside @brianrolapp today at the @TravelersChamp as we announce the @PGATOUR 's new model for 2028 and beyond. This is an exciting moment for the game of golf. It has been a privilege to lead the Future Competition Committee and I am proud of the work we have… https://t.co/ERD16AkuJV
Woods has missed all three majors so far in 2026, including the the Masters, while undergoing a rehab stint in Switzerland. Four days after the crash, Woods made a statement, saying he was "stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment" and focus on his health, and that it was "necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery."
Nick Stavas is a digital producer and commerce writer for Golfweek.
MIAMI — Most of the fans at LoanDepot Park on Monday evening were more accustomed to Glasgow’s Rangers than the Texas Rangers.
Team Scotland’s biggest fans, known around the world as the Tartan Army, have arrived in South Florida ahead of Wednesday’s World Cup match between Brazil and Scotland. On Monday, they flooded Little Havana and the Rangers-Marlins baseball game. By the end, chants rattled the LoanDepot Park concourses like it was an Old Firm match between Scottish rivals Celtic and Rangers.
“I just think America has been so good,” said Dundee, Scotland resident Alan Hinnrichs. “It’s been so welcoming. It’s been completely the opposite of (what) we’re getting told it will be. You won’t be able to do this, and you’ve got to bring ID. And we were just told all these horror stories and everything: You won’t get in because of things that people have said, people have made comments about the president or anything like that. We were told all this complete nonsense. None of it’s true. … There’s been no trouble. I haven’t had one bad (interaction). There’s not anybody who hasn’t been as nice as they can.
“I love Americans. I think Americans are wonderful people. I’ve never met an American I didn’t like. I just think it’s just a wonderful country, and I think we’ve had such a hospitable reception. Even today, people are somewhat bemused. But I’ve loved that. I’ve loved every minute of it.”
The beloved Tartan Army is known as a passionate and gregarious fanbase that has captivated cities around the world. With Scotland qualifying for its first World Cup since 1998, it was no surprise that its fans came to the United States for this year’s tournament in large numbers. The Tartan Army introduced itself to America by taking over bars around Boston, reportedly drinking them dry, and loudly belting out “Flower of Scotland” before Scotland’s first two matches against Haiti and Morocco.
The Scots’ final group-stage game is at Miami Stadium (typically known as Hard Rock Stadium), so fans began filtering into South Florida over the weekend. Some came from Boston, while others came directly from Scotland or different parts of the United States.
On Monday, they made their presence known in Little Havana. Scotland fans enjoyed themselves at local bars and restaurants, with the party centering around the 91-year-old bar Ball & Chain. Fans did their best to beat the heat as the heat index soared above 100 in the afternoon.
“When I got off the plane, it was like when you open an oven,” Hinnrichs said. “Just poof.”
The Scots were not the only ones partying Monday afternoon. Fans wearing multiple nations’ jerseys joined them, and many locals who saw viral videos of the Tartan Army’s prolific partying in Boston wanted to see it for themselves.
“I was watching all the videos of them in Boston, and I saw that they were coming to Miami, coming to the Marlins game,” Miamian Sasha Gonzalez said. “I’m like, I have to be part of it. I want to be there in the party atmosphere.”
At 4 p.m., the Tartan Army started making its way to Monday’s main event: the Marlins game. The team offered ticket packages that included a seat and a free beer for the first 250 members of the Tartan Army to redeem the offer. The Marlins had been working with Tartan Party organizers to set up the event since last week, a Marlins spokesperson told the Sun Sentinel. About 8,000 Scottish fans were expected to attend. The announced total attendance was 20,008.
The Tartan Army marched the near mile to the stadium, drawing Little Havana residents out of their homes with the sound of bagpipes. At one point, a child in an Argentina jersey stood outside one building, and Scottish fans serenaded him with chants about Diego Maradona, the Argentine great whose famed “Hand of God” goal helped Argentina beat England — Scotland’s rival — in the memorable 1986 World Cup quarterfinals.
Despite the copious amounts of alcohol being consumed in Little Havana and at the ballpark, it was still a family affair. Many Scottish fans brought their children along to experience the World Cup. It was a once-in-a-generation experience, as this is the first World Cup Scotland has qualified for since 1998.
“We’ve not been here for 28 years,” said Glasgow resident Ross Watt, who traveled to Florida with his wife and daughter. “So for her to experience this — this is something I wanted to experience when I was her age. So to make it memorable for her and the family is brilliant.”
When the fans arrived at the stadium, the Marlins were ready for them. The team hosted a party on the plaza outside the stadium, blasting music for a dance party. Scottish artist Nick Morgan performed, and Scottish national team player Billy Gilmour — out for the World Cup with a knee injury — threw out the first pitch. The Tartan Army bagpipers led a parade of fans around the warning track before the game.
Once inside the stadium, the Tartan Army let their presence be known. The Scottish fans were most heavily concentrated in the upper deck, but others sat in different sections of the stadium or filled standing-room areas. They cheered on the Marlins and booed a Rangers outfielder catching a routine fly ball.
“Oh, it’s great. Really good,” said Michelle Wright, a Dundee native who was attending her first baseball game. “The stadium’s amazing. It’s been really good. And just the way they’ve kind of took to all the Scottish people. They had the music on. The parades were really good fun.”
The crowd routinely broke into chants like “No Scotland, no party” (to the tune of The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army”), “Super John McGinn” (“Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus) and “Your defense is terrified; Scotland’s on fire” (“Freed from Desire” by Gala). The celebrations moved into the concourses later in the game, crowding the pathways (leading to at least one fan getting escorted out in handcuffs after a confrontation with police).
Although the Marlins lost the game 4-3, the party atmosphere made it an unforgettable night in Miami — and Scotland does not play Brazil until Wednesday.
“(It would be) terrific if we could win,” said David Robertson from Montrose, Scotland. “But a low-scoring match will help us because other results so far have kind of gone our way with getting a good third position. But we’ll see how it goes.”
World Cup fans arrive at loanDepot park during the Scotland Tartan Army march from Little Havana to loanDepot park in Miami on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) World Cup fans participate in the Scotland Tartan Army march through Little Havana to loanDepot park in Miami on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) World Cup fans participate in the Scotland Tartan Army march through Little Havana to loanDepot park in Miami on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) World Cup fans participate in the Scotland Tartan Army march through Little Havana to loanDepot park in Miami on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) World Cup fans participate in the Scotland Tartan Army march through Little Havana to loanDepot park in Miami on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) World Cup fans participate in the Scotland Tartan Army march through Little Havana to loanDepot park in Miami on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) World Cup fans participate in the Scotland Tartan Army march through Little Havana to loanDepot park in Miami on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) World Cup fans arrive at loanDepot park during the Scotland Tartan Army march from Little Havana to loanDepot park in Miami on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) World Cup fans participate in the Scotland Tartan Army march through Little Havana to loanDepot park in Miami on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) World Cup fans participate in the Scotland Tartan Army march through Little Havana to loanDepot park in Miami on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) World Cup fans participate in the Scotland Tartan Army march through Little Havana to loanDepot park in Miami on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) World Cup fans participate in the Scotland Tartan Army march through Little Havana to loanDepot park in Miami on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) An officer directs traffic as World Cup fans participate in the Scotland Tartan Army march through Little Havana to loanDepot park in Miami on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) World Cup fans participate in the Scotland Tartan Army march through Little Havana to loanDepot park in Miami on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) World Cup fans participate in the Scotland Tartan Army march through Little Havana to loanDepot park in Miami on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) World Cup fans participate in the Scotland Tartan Army march through Little Havana to loanDepot park in Miami on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) World Cup fans enter loanDepot park after the Scotland Tartan Army march from Little Havana to loanDepot park in Miami on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) World Cup fans enter loanDepot park after the Scotland Tartan Army march from Little Havana to loanDepot park in Miami on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) World Cup fans participate in the Scotland Tartan Army march through Little Havana to loanDepot park in Miami on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Billy the Marlin leads World Cup fans in the Scotland Tartan Army march through Little Havana to loanDepot park in Miami on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) World Cup fans enter loanDepot park after the Scotland Tartan Army march from Little Havana to loanDepot park in Miami on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) World Cup fans participate in the Scotland Tartan Army march through Little Havana to loanDepot park in Miami on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) World Cup fans participate in the Scotland Tartan Army march through Little Havana to loanDepot park in Miami on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) World Cup fans participate in the Scotland Tartan Army march through Little Havana to loanDepot park in Miami on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) World Cup fans enter loanDepot park after the Scotland Tartan Army march from Little Havana to loanDepot park in Miami on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) World Cup fans gather at loanDepot park in Miami after a Scotland Tartan Army march from Little Havana on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) World Cup fans gather at loanDepot park in Miami after a Scotland Tartan Army march from Little Havana on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) World Cup fans gather at loanDepot park in Miami after a Scotland Tartan Army march from Little Havana on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) World Cup fans gather at loanDepot park in Miami after a Scotland Tartan Army march from Little Havana on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) World Cup fans gather at loanDepot park in Miami after a Scotland Tartan Army march from Little Havana on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) World Cup fans gather at loanDepot park in Miami after a Scotland Tartan Army march from Little Havana on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Show Caption1 of 32World Cup fans participate in the Scotland Tartan Army march through Little Havana to loanDepot park in Miami on Monday, June 22, 2026. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)Expand
Kel'El Ware probably has the most untapped potential of those incoming pieces. Here's what to know about him.
How old is Kel'El Ware?
He turned 22 years old on April 20.
How tall is Kel'El Ware?
The center is 7 feet tall. His biggest physical tool is his 7-feet, 4-inch wingspan that allows him to be a finisher at the basket and a rim-protector and rebounder on defense.
Where is Kel'El Ware from ... and what is his connection to Bobby Portis?
Ware hails from Little Rock, Arkansas. Interestingly, that city's most famous hoops export – and its biggest proponent – is Bobby Portis Jr., who also was included in the trade. Portis has talked about giving advice to Ware and Nick Smith Jr., another Little Rock product who has played for the Los Angeles Lakers and Charlotte Hornets.
Ware was a consensus top-10 recruit in the 2022 class coming out of North Little Rock High School.
Ware landed at Oregon, but he had a disappointing freshman season in 2022-23, averaging just 6.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.
Ware hit the transfer portal and moved to Indiana for the 2023-24 season, where he played for then-Hoosiers coach Mike Woodson. Indiana had a disappointing season, but Ware played much more to his potential at 15.9 points and 9.9 rebounds.
When was Kel'El Ware drafted?
The Heat made Ware the 15th pick in the 2024 draft.
What are Kel'El Ware's NBA accomplishments?
Ware was named to the NBA's all-rookie second team in 2025 after averaging 9.3 points and 7.4 rebounds.
Ware boosted those numbers to 11.1 points and 9.0 rebounds last season. He has notched career highs in rebounds (20 vs. Cavaliers) and points (28 vs. Knicks).
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium came in at No. 7 on EA Sports' list of toughest places to play in College Football 27. The Gators' home venue moved up three spots from its No. 10 ranking in the video game's previous edition.
Ranked ahead of the Swamp came six of the sport's most intimidating grounds: Tiger Stadium (LSU), Beaver Stadium (Penn State), Ohio Stadium (Ohio State), Sanford Stadium (Georgia), Bryant-Denny Stadium (Alabama), and Autzen Stadium (Oregon).
The SEC saw 11 sites land on EA's list, two of which Florida will play road games at next season. First-year head coach Jon Sumrall will take his team to No. 13 Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium (Texas) in week 7 and to No. 14 Jordan-Hare Stadium (Auburn) in week 3. The Gators welcome Ole Miss, South Carolina and Oklahoma to Gainesville in the most pivotal conference fixtures of the season.
🏟️ The Toughest Places to Play in #CFB27 are here.
— College Football 27 (@EASPORTSCollege) June 22, 2026
Athletic Director Scott Stricklin suggests UF's upcoming $1.45 billion renovation will help enhance the Gators' home-field advantage even more. The imminent enhancements to Ben Hill Griffin could push the Gators' home field into the top five and beyond.
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
A Massachusetts man is among two soccer fans landing what might be the dream job of the 2026 FIFA World Cup — getting paid $50,000 to watch every match.
Austin Franklin, a native of Dartmouth, is one of two fans selected from more than 6,000 applicants for the unique gig, which has them watching games and offering commentary from inside a glass cube in New York City’s Times Square.
“It’s going great,” Franklin said. “We’re getting paid a lot of money to sit here in Times Square and watch football matches, so I’m enjoying it.”
Joining him is Kevin Okoto, who shares the spotlight — and the responsibility of breaking down every World Cup match in real time for a live audience passing by the bustling Midtown location.
The job, created as part of a promotional campaign, puts the pair on display for hours at a time as they react to games, discuss storylines, and interact with fans gathering outside the cube.
Franklin said landing the role was surreal.
“I was just really happy. It was so exciting,” he said. “A little bit of me couldn’t actually believe it. I was kind of just flabbergasted.”
Both men say the experience has already delivered memorable moments, not just from the matches themselves but from the electric atmosphere surrounding them.
For Okoto, some of the biggest surprises have come on the field, particularly when underdog teams have held their own against tournament favorites.
“Just watching some underdogs manage to hold up with the big teams,” he said. “Watching Cabo Verde hold up with Spain — that was one of the most surprising things I’ve seen in this box.”
Franklin, meanwhile, said the fans have made the experience unforgettable.
“The fans have been the most fun,” he said. “We had a great crowd out here for Brazil, Argentina was fantastic, Mexico is amazing … having all of the fans out here in the hubbub of Times Square is just absolutely electric.”
With the tournament still unfolding, both men are also making predictions about who will ultimately lift the trophy. Franklin thinks Norway will take it all, while Okoto is siding with Spain.
It's finally here: The 2026 NBA Draft, with some big names from college and around the world learning on Tuesday and Wednesday where they'll land in the first and second round.
Of course, this means the end of mock draft season, in which we've seen a lot of debate over who will go No. 1 overall -- will it be AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson? Seems like the experts have locked in on one name, which is a perfect transition into the exercise below: As usual we took all the NBA mock drafts and smushed them into a "consensus" draft with where the experts think the stars of tomorrow will land.
Walsall defender Rico Browne has signed a new two-year contract with the League Two club.
The 22-year-old joined the Saddlers in September 2024 after a trial spell and made his league debut for the club last season, going on to make 21 appearances.
He scored his first senior goal for Walsall in the club's 4-2 win at Newport County in November.
Browne, whose deal has the option for an additional year should the club decide to trigger it, is the second member of the retained squad to sign a new contract after the arrival of new head coach Lee Grant.
Philadelphia has elite building blocks in Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith, Jordan Mailata, Lane Johnson, Jalen Carter, Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, and Zack Baun. The front-line talent is not the question. The more important issue is whether the next group of players can grow into larger roles, stabilize key roster spots, and help the Eagles transition smoothly after a busy offseason that reshaped the wide receiver room, defensive backfield, and pass-rush rotation.
Here are seven key Eagles who need to elevate their game in 2026.
1. Jalen Hurts
Hurts is already a franchise quarterback, but 2026 still feels like an important season for his individual development, the direction of the offense, finally quieting the doubters, and landing a new historic contract. With A.J. Brown no longer on the roster, Philadelphia needs Hurts to fully command an offense built around Smith, Barkley, Makai Lemon, Hollywood Brown, Dontayvion Wicks, Elijah Moore, Dallas Goedert, and a deeper group of complementary weapons.
The arrival of offensive coordinator Sean Mannion creates another layer. The Eagles have talked about building the offense around how all the pieces fit together, not one single player. That puts more responsibility on Hurts to distribute the football, protect the operation, attack favorable matchups, and show consistent comfort with more motion, play-action, and timing-based concepts. Hurts does not need to reinvent himself, but he does need to elevate the passing game’s rhythm and efficiency if Philadelphia is going to remain among the NFC’s most dangerous teams.
2. Jihaad Campbell
Campbell’s talent is not in question, but availability and development are. The former first-round pick missed significant offseason work for the second straight year because of a shoulder issue, and that makes training camp even more important. The Eagles need Campbell to become more than a long-term projection. They need him to become a reliable, explosive second-level defender next to Baun.
Philadelphia has other linebacker options, including Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Smael Mondon Jr., Chance Campbell, Deontae Lawson, and others, but Campbell has the highest ceiling in the room. His athleticism, range, and blitz potential give Vic Fangio a different kind of chess piece if he is healthy and assignment-sound. The next step is turning those traits into dependable snaps in coverage, run fits, and communication. If Campbell elevates, the Eagles’ linebacker group becomes far more dynamic.
3. Nolan Smith
Smith has already shown flashes, but 2026 should be the year he becomes a more consistent, every-week pass-rush force. The Eagles added Jonathan Greenard and Arnold Ebiketie, while Jalyx Hunt remains a key young edge defender, and A.J. Epenesa gives the room another veteran option. That competition raises the standard for Smith, who has the burst and athletic profile to be one of the most disruptive defenders on the roster.
The Eagles need Smith to affect games even when he is not finishing sacks. That means setting a strong edge, converting speed to power, winning with a more complete rush plan, and becoming more reliable in Fangio’s structure. Philadelphia’s defensive front is at its best when it can create pressure without blitzing. Smith taking another step would make life easier for Carter, Davis, Greenard, and the secondary behind them.
4. Jalyx Hunt
Hunt is one of the most intriguing players on the roster because his development could determine how deep the edge rotation becomes. The Eagles have invested in the position, but Hunt still has a real path to a larger role if he can turn athletic traits into production. He does not have to be the No. 1 rusher, but he does have to prove he can handle more than a developmental workload.
The jump for Hunt is about consistency. Philadelphia needs him to play with better hand usage, more power at the point of attack, and more comfort within the details of the defense. If Hunt elevates, the Eagles can rotate more aggressively on the edge, keep Greenard and Smith fresh, and maintain pressure through four quarters. If he stalls, the staff may have to lean more heavily on veteran options.
5. Tyler Steen
Steen’s role is critical because the Eagles’ offensive line standard remains extremely high. Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, and Lane Johnson give Philadelphia four proven pieces, but right guard remains one of the spots where the Eagles need clear answers. Steen has the size, experience, and system familiarity to hold down the job, but the competition around him will not make it automatic.
Philadelphia has several young linemen trying to climb the ladder, including Myles Hinton, John Ojukwu, Willie Lampkin, Jake Majors, Jaeden Roberts, and others. Steen’s challenge is to become steady enough that right guard is no longer a weekly question. The Eagles do not need him to be the best lineman on the field. They need him to avoid mistakes, hold up in protection, and bring physicality in the run game. If he elevates, the offensive line remains one of the clearest strengths on the roster.
6. Kelee Ringo
Ringo still has the traits that made him an intriguing young cornerback, but the room around him has changed dramatically. Mitchell, DeJean, and Riq Woolen headline a loaded secondary, while Jakorian Bennett, Jonathan Jones, Mac McWilliams, Michael Carter II, Shaun Wade, Tariq Castro-Fields, Ambry Thomas, and others give Philadelphia plenty of options. Ringo is no longer just being evaluated on potential. He has to show he can earn trust in a crowded group.
The Eagles need Ringo to become more consistent with his technique, route recognition, and ball skills. His size and speed still give him matchup value, especially against bigger receivers, but clarity of role will matter. If he elevates, he can give Fangio another outside corner option and help Philadelphia preserve flexibility with DeJean and Carter. If he does not, the depth chart could squeeze him into a smaller role than expected.
7. Johnny Wilson
Wilson’s size and blocking ability give him a unique profile in the Eagles’ receiver room, but 2026 is about proving he can be more than an interesting projection. Philadelphia reshaped the position after Brown’s trade, adding Lemon, Hollywood Brown, Wicks, and Moore to a group led by Smith. That makes the battle for complementary snaps more competitive.
Wilson’s path is built around doing the work that does not always show up in the box score. At 6-foot-6 and 228 pounds, he can help in the run game, contribute in heavy personnel packages, and provide a big target on possession downs if he earns Hurts’ trust. The challenge is staying healthy, separating well enough to be more than a blocking receiver, and showing he can contribute on special teams. If Wilson elevates, he gives the Eagles a physical receiver type that the rest of the room does not fully replicate.
Final analysis
The Eagles do not need all seven players to become stars. They need enough of them to become dependable answers. Hurts can raise the ceiling of the entire offense. Campbell can change the athletic profile at linebacker. Smith and Hunt can deepen the pass rush. Steen can stabilize the offensive line. Ringo can strengthen an already talented secondary. Wilson can bring size and physicality to a reshaped receiver room.
Philadelphia already has the high-end talent to contend. Its 2026 season may depend on how many of these players turn potential, opportunity, or pressure into production.
The FSU Seminoles have added seven players to their 2027 recruiting class in June, including all three of their linebacker commits. The latest is three-star CJ Ohuabunwa, who is from Norcross, Georgia, and committed on Monday.
Ohuabunwa picked Florida State over the Virginia Tech Hokies, Kansas Jayhawks, and Louisville Cardinals. The Seminoles hosted him on his final official visit over the weekend, taking control of his recruitment. New linebackers coach Ernie Sims now has commitments from Ohuabunwa, Olrick Johnson III, and Jernard Albright, FSU's highest-rated commit.
The group helps form the strength of FSU's recruiting class, which is focused on the front seven. Six of their 12 commits will play either linebacker of along the defensive line for the Seminoles.
Ohuabunwa had an extremely productive junior season at Greater Atlanta Christian, helping them go 10-3. He finished the season with 117 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, one interception, and two pass breakups.
The Seminoles now have 12 total commitments and have the No. 56 recruiting class in the country according to the 247Sports team rankings. Here is how FSU's recruiting class compares to the rest of the ACC.
Photo by Fabrizio Carabelli/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
The NBA world has been rocked by the news of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s departure from the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Greek superstar, who led the Bucks to their first NBA championship for 50 years in 2021, has been traded to the Miami Heat.
Antetokounmpo and power forward Bobby Portis are heading to Florida in exchange for Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr, Kasparas Jakucionis and Kel’el Ware.
Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
The Bucks will also receive the number 13 selection for the 2026 NBA draft, along with a first-round pick swap in 2030, first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, and a second-rounder in 2033.
Serena Williams, who is set to make an emphatic return to Wimbledon next week, has reacted to the news of Antetokounmpo’s arrival in Miami.
Serena Williams’ says the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade ‘made her day’
Williams, a 23-time major champion, recently made her return to the WTA Tour after a four-year absence.
The American superstar, a Miami Heat fan, could not contain her excitement when told of the Heat’s trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“No way! Yes! Are you serious?” she continued, clearly elated by the news.
“Oh that’s so good.
“Finally, I can go to the games again. Oh, that’s huge. That just made my day.”
Both the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics had been in discussions with Milwaukee in the days prior to a deal being struck.
The Heat ultimately won the race, and they have now instantly become one of the favourites for the 2027 NBA Championship.
Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images
The Heat last won the title in 2013, when the ‘big three’ of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh were playing for the team.
That year, the Heat defeated the San Antonio Spurs in seven games to win the title that year.
What did the Boston Celtics offer the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis?
The Boston Celtics front office may be kicking themselves after failing to secure the services of the most dominant front-court player of this generation.
As reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, The Celtics ‘aggressively pursued Giannis,’ offering the Bucks a 2024 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown and two first-round picks.
However, despite losing out on Giannis, the Celtics remain contenders in the Eastern Conference.
The 18-time NBA champions boast an extremely talented roster, including the likes of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images
If these two players perform at their best throughout the 2026-27 NBA season, the Celtics will most definitely be among the contenders for the NBA title once again.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JANUARY 03: Head coach Kevin Willard of the Villanova Wildcats reacts against the Butler Bulldogs at Hinkle Fieldhouse on January 03, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In an article written by The Inquirer’s Jeff Neiburg and published on June 23, head coach Kevin Willard gave a handful of nuggets on the upcoming 2026-27 season.
Willard, not assistant coach Ricky Harris, was the one to visit Suigo. Harris was simply there for vacation. Willard also visited Suigo in Belgrade, Serbia, not Milan, Italy. The 7’3″ Italian played in the Adriatic League this past season with Mega Basket. “Belgrade was beautiful,” Willard said. “Food was great, people were awesome.” Neiburg noted that it was a “short business trip, less than 48 hours.”
Willard said on the pursuit of a starting center: We could have gone in a couple directions. For us, it was like, all right, how are we trying to win a championship here?
Suigo’s size and highlights speak for themselves, but Willard has been impressed with his passing. “I think one of his best attributes is that he’s extremely unselfish,” Willard said. “He’s a great passer.” But beyond the tape, Willard wanted to get to know the person.
“Sometimes you can watch clips and you can get fooled,” Willard said. “When I went over there and talked to him in person, met him in person, and saw him play, it was like, yeah, this kid is the real deal.” Willard continued, “He’s very professional. He knows what he wants. He knows how he wants to play. He knows where he needs to get better at.”
Suigo had mentioned on multiple occasions that he wanted to stay in the draft if he was guaranteed a top-20 selection, and after withdrawing he mentioned that he could have gone in the late first round. Willard echoed those sentiments.
“I think he maybe would have gotten drafted late in the first round, but he doesn’t want that.” Willard said. “He wants to make sure when he gets drafted he’s going to play. The big thing is I think he needs to get Americanized a little bit, to American basketball. I think that’s why college will be really good for him. Get in shape a little bit, just kind of get used to American basketball. I think once he does, the sky is the limit for him.”
In assessing the roster for the upcoming year, Willard emphasized that he was trying to emulate Michigan, St. John’s and Connecticut’s physicality and versatility. “We wanted to make sure that we just didn’t get manhandled the way we got manhandled last year against the top teams.” Adding Kwame Evans Jr., Devin Royal and now Suigo will help to prevent that. On the versatility front, Willard said, “We can play small or we can play really big. That was my goal. Last year we were kind of hampered in how we could play. This year I think we have so much more flexibility.”
Part of that size is with returning sophomore Matt Hodge, who Willard said is tracking toward being ready for the beginning of the season. Hodge is recovering from his ACL surgery in March.
Willard also addressed the backcourt, namely Cornell transfer Jake Fiegen. “Analytically, (Fiegen) was probably one of the highest rated guys.” Fiegen is joined in the backcourt by UIC transfer Elijah Crawford (who is likely the starting point guard next to Perkins, per Nieburg), St. Bonaventure transfer Buddy Simmons II and freshman Adam Oumiddoch who, per Nieburg, is “expected to contribute right away.”
Willard also noted that he watched more film on the point guard position than any other this offseason, which should make fans excited about Crawford and Simmons II’s prospects. Neiburg notes that Crawford’s “decision-making out of the pick-and roll stood out, as did his 75.3% rate from the free-throw line.”
Willard capped the interview with a note on the program and on expectations:
“From Father Peter to the board to our alumni and our donors, everyone understands how important Villanova basketball is. We will never be the highest spender. That’s not in our DNA and it’s not what it is. But I will say that the university understands and financially has been extremely supportive of this program and the women’s program.”
And on the expectations that come with that?
“I’m the head coach at Villanova.” The expectations are huge every year. I knew that when I took this job. I knew that when I took the Maryland job. It’s just part of the job. It’s what makes this job so great. You want those expectations.”
Especially given the timing, the Celtics’ decision could bother Jaylen Brown. Since the last time he went through such trade rumors, he won the 2024 championship and the NBA Finals MVP award. Last season was his best — and not just because he set career highs with 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game with the injured Jayson Tatum on the sideline. Teammates believed Brown’s leadership enabled them to exceed expectations. Other All-Stars might have expressed frustration about losing much of a championship core in a single offseason. Brown simply buckled up for a different type of ride. Throughout the offseason, head coach Joe Mazzulla said Brown set the tone for the organization. Teammates noticed his intensity and focus during summer workouts. During 1-on-1 games, Brown’s seriousness opened teammate Jordan Walsh’s eyes. Walsh believed Brown wanted to “set the precedent early.”
NBA Courtside: LeBron James says he doesn’t know when the most important person in the summertime was the trainer and not the player: “Like the basketball trainer is the most important guy in the summer. I don’t know when that dynamic shifted because you know we used to play and a lot of my friends can attest to this like even when I got in the NBA you know, I built a little basketball court in my backyard in Akron at my house. I would get nine other guys and we would play in the summertime on a black court like we would play, like two or three times a week. You know, just get up and run and feel like the demands of being outside and also demands of another body like bumping and grinding and things of that nature. And this was like in July. I think it’s very important though. I think guys if you’re listening, you got to play more. If it’s not five on five, at least, twos on twos, three on threes, you got to get physical contact.” (Via @mindthegamepod )
Baba Miller, who played one year for the Cincinnati Bearcats, should hear his name called in the NBA draft at Brooklyn's Barclays Center on June 23-24.
Most mock drafts have Miller as a second-round pick. The first round starts at 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, on ABC and ESPN, with Round 2 at 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, on ESPN.
Bleacher Report and Sports Illustrated have Miller going 34th overall to Sacramento. ESPN has him going 33rd to Minnesota, USA Today 39th to Houston and The Sporting News 48th to Dallas.
Former Cincinnati Bearcats coach Wes Miller on future NBA player Baba Miller
The 6-foot-11 Baba Miller, who averaged 13 points and 10.3 rebounds for the 2025-26 Bearcats, recorded 13 double-doubles for UC, second-best in the Big 12. On Tuesday morning, before the NBA draft, Wes Miller had this to say to The Enquirer about Baba Miller:
— Cincinnati Men’s Hoops (@GoBearcatsMBB) June 22, 2026
"Baba will be drafted on Tuesday or Wednesday night, and I'm so happy for him and his family," Wes Miller said. "I believe he's prepared to positively impact NBA games immediately. He'll be able to defend and rebound successfully at multiple NBA positions, and he's capable of playing in different roles and positions offensively, depending on what a team may need."
"We probably ran out of almost every beer at some point, but it was a lot of fun."
In the shadow of Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, Brandon Finnan, manager of the Cask 'n Flagon pub, is reflecting on the past fortnight.
With the city hosting both of Scotland's first two World Cup matches since 1998, the Tartan Army descended in their tens of thousands.
And venues like Brandon's enjoyed one of their busiest-ever spells.
"I think a lot of us took it for granted in a way," he said. "We didn't know what to expect really. We heard the Scottish were coming. And when they showed up, they showed up very deep!
"Speaking for the city of Boston, we feel blessed. They've been amazing to us. They came in here. They've treated all the staff with nothing but respect.
"They took time to understand how our tipping works, they cleaned up. And I think they brought a lot of happiness to the city when we needed it. So it was very nice to see.
"The city really needed this positive atmosphere right now, and I think it's brought a lot more than we expected, so we're all for it and we wish it would last longer."
Such sentiments are widely held here, after the city's people seemed to take the Scots to their hearts.
Such was the bond that was forged, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu signed a letter of intent to establish Boston and Glasgow as 'sister cities'.
Meanwhile, the Boston Globe newspaper took out a full-page advert in honour of the Tartan Army.
"You came for the World Cup, but gave us something more," it read. "For a week, you turned train stations into singalongs, Fenway into a football ground, and an ordinary June into something we'll be talking about for years."
Boston Red Sox President Sam Kennedy wrote to the Scottish FA thanking it for "something none of us will forget", after hundreds of fans visited Fenway Park for a regular-season baseball match on 14 June, lending the stadium a unique atmosphere.
"Kilts and Scottish flags filled our ballpark with a spirit that has no equivalent in American sport," he wrote. "The Tartan Army treated our home like their own, and we are better for it."
The Dubliner was a popular haunt for Scotland fans in Boston [Getty Images]
Most of the Scottish fans who remain in the US have now moved on to Miami for their final group match against Brazil on Wednesday (23:00 BST), replaced by between 10,000 and 15,000 England supporters before their game against Ghana on Tuesday (21:00 BST).
So will the special relationship with British football supporters continue?
"I think England plays more of a favourite's role, whereas Scotland is more of an underdog, so I think it'll be a little bit different," added Brandon, who has now replenished his stocks of beer.
"I think it'll be a little less wild. We've taken Scotland under our wings. We're in love with Scotland now, so we're on their side.
"I think there's a lot of other teams that people here would vote for besides England. But I think Scotland definitely jumped the list coming here."
The feeling is similar at The Dubliner pub in the city centre, which became a hub for Scotland fans during their stay.
"The Scots kind of really took us over," said manager Brian McDonnell.
"It's been nothing short of crazy, you know. They're an awesome crowd.
"Very understanding that we were slammed, that we were all working long hours. So they're a great gang to have and it's sad to see them go, but I'm sure there'll be other people rocking up to take their place."
When asked if England's fans will be afforded the same welcome, he added: "We won't maybe be hanging up an English flag outside as much as the Scottish flag, but they're still welcome and will still have a good time."
On Monday night, footage appeared to show Marcus Mumford - lead singer of folk band Mumford & Sons - being booed during a gig at Fenway Park after jokingly blaming the rainy weather on Scotland.
Indeed, chants of No Scotland, No Party could also be heard at one point.
A sign perhaps, of the challenge England fans face to win over the city in the way that their Scottish counterparts managed.
Some however, are confident that it can be done.
"We knew from the off Boston would be one of the great cities to visit at this World Cup," said Thomas Concannon, England Fans' Embassy lead at the Football Supporters' Association.
England fans enjoy the party in Boston on Monday night [PA Media]
"The culture fits perfectly for football fans, particularly those from England and Scotland.
"We were pleased to see how well received the Scotland fans were here and how good a time they had. We are sure that England fans will match the Scottish party atmosphere and be equally brilliant guests, minus the bagpipes.
"England have arrived in our thousands looking for a good time with our hosts and so far, that is exactly what we have seen, despite the weather, which currently feels typically British.
"Boston and its locals have been incredibly welcoming and we're sure that will continue for the short time we are here."
Back at Fenway Park, Frank Fishman, who runs the ticket office for the Red Sox, has a similar view.
"England and Scotland may be apples and oranges in terms of their football culture, but I don't believe the same can be said about the people culture", he said.
"I have interacted with British folks and I have nothing but high expectations of kindness and chivalry.
"England may be more disappointed in a draw or a loss. For Scotland, what we have gathered is that they are happy to be here, the English want to bring it home. And that's OK.
"The beauty of this tournament is that pre-conceived notions are being broken down about people from inside and outside America alike.
"People are getting a better perspective of Americans and we are getting a better perspective of people abroad."
England v Ghana will be the fourth World Cup match staged at Boston Stadium [PA Media]The Group L tie at the Boston Stadium will be only the second meeting in history between England and Ghana [PA Media]
Baba Miller, who played one year for the Cincinnati Bearcats, should hear his name called in the NBA draft at Brooklyn's Barclays Center on June 23-24.
Most mock drafts have Miller as a second-round pick. The first round starts at 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, on ABC and ESPN, with Round 2 at 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, on ESPN.
Bleacher Report and Sports Illustrated have Miller going 34th overall to Sacramento. ESPN has him going 33rd to Minnesota, USA Today 39th to Houston and The Sporting News 48th to Dallas.
Former Cincinnati Bearcats coach Wes Miller on future NBA player Baba Miller
The 6-foot-11 Baba Miller, who averaged 13 points and 10.3 rebounds for the 2025-26 Bearcats, recorded 13 double-doubles for UC, second-best in the Big 12. On Tuesday morning, before the NBA draft, Wes Miller had this to say to The Enquirer about Baba Miller:
— Cincinnati Men’s Hoops (@GoBearcatsMBB) June 22, 2026
"Baba will be drafted on Tuesday or Wednesday night, and I'm so happy for him and his family," Wes Miller said. "I believe he's prepared to positively impact NBA games immediately. He'll be able to defend and rebound successfully at multiple NBA positions, and he's capable of playing in different roles and positions offensively, depending on what a team may need."
The Boston Red Sox have the second-worst record in the American League.
It's safe to say the AL East clubs are not true contenders for a postseason spot. Barring a massive turnaround, the Red Sox are likely to sell at the trade deadline.
That could mean trading away a few veteran players. One of Boston's starting pitchers, a three-time All-Star, could draw trade interest.
According to a report from Tim Healy of the Boston Globe, right-hander Sonny Gray would be open to waiving his no-trade clause.
“If someone came to me from the Red Sox and made a decision that that’s the direction that this team was going to go, I would be open for a conversation,” Gray told Healy.
Gray was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals in November in exchange for pitchers Richard Fitts and Brandon Clarke.
"That swap saw a rebuilding Cardinals club working to boost its farm system and trim payroll to a win-now Red Sox club looking to build out its rotation. Months later, it’s the Cardinals who are in contention and the Sox who find themselves weighing a possible reset," Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors wrote.
The 36-year-old has arguably been the best starter in Boston's rotation, posting a 3.12 ERA in 69.1 innings.
Apr 17, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz (fronT) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run and scoring Konnor Griffin against the Tampa Bay Rays during the sixth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images | Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Pirates fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The Bucs have been battling injuries of late, but two of the biggest have been to Konnor Griffin and Oneil Cruz. Griffin last played on May 30, while Cruz last played on June 7. Griffin’s return is hopefully coming up, while we probably won’t see Cruz until at least after the All-Star Break.
Griffin was hitting .270 with 4 homers and 22 RBIs in 51 games, while Cruz was batting .264 with 14 dingers and 44 RBIs in 64 games. Cruz has had some well-publicized gaffes in the outfield, while Griffin’s .967 fielding percentage isn’t exactly Ozzie Smith stuff either.
Which one was the biggest loss?
Cast your vote, tell us in the comments, and we’ll be back soon with the results.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez defended his team from what he described as “unfair and unjust” criticism after the squad, most notably superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, laboured in a poor opening to their World Cup campaign.
Portugal are one of the major contenders to win this summer’s tournament but were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in Houston last week.
Joao Neves put them in front in the first six minutes but Yoane Wissa equalised for Congo late in the first half and Portugal failed to make their dominance of the ball count.
Martinez said on Monday: “We are playing a World Cup so of course we have a lot of noise and tension, but it’s part of the game.
“The focus is on the team and we want to show a positive attitude … to be ready for the match. We are very much focused. We are strong. The team is even more united than before.”
He did not specifically refer to Ronaldo but said that some of the criticism is “unfair, it’s unjust.”
However he declined to say if the 41-year-old would start Tuesday’s match against Uzbekistan after his forgettable performance in the opener.
He said: “I can’t inform you about the starting 11 because I haven’t informed my players,” when asked if Ronaldo would remain in the lineup.
Martinez refused to say without Ronaldo would start their next game (Reuters)
Ronaldo did not speak to reporters after the game but has posted twice social media since the draw. In the first post, he wrote: “It wasn’t the start we wanted, but this is far from over. Head up and focus on the next game.”
On Sunday, he posted four pictures from a team training session and wrote: “Focused on the mission.”
Ronaldo and Argentina’s Lionel Messi became the only men to play in six World Cups with their participation this year. Ronaldo will try again on Tuesday to become the first player to score in six World Cups after falling short in the opener.
He currently shares the record with Messi, who has five goals in Argentina’s two matches this year to give him a record 18 goals across five tournaments. Messi failed to score in 2010.
Despite Ronaldo’s struggles in the opener Martinez remains confident in his ability to help the team finish opportunities in the final third.
“Cristiano is the best one to do that,” he said. “The numbers support this of this iconic player who is Cristiano Ronaldo. If you look at the past 32 games, he is the player that has extra movement opening spaces and finding pockets.”
After months of rumors and speculation, the Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly sending two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat in a blockbuster trade.
The Boston Celtics were reportedly the other finalist to land Antetokounmpo and offered a package centered around superstar Jaylen Brown, but for now, "JB" is staying in Beantown.
Soon after the deal between the Bucks and Heat was reported, ESPN senior NBA insider Shams Charania added that the Celtics weren't "actively shopping" their former Finals MVP.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst said Tuesday morning, however, that Boston could still move Brown in a different trade.
With the trade rumors surrounding the Celtics' five-time All-Star continuing to fly, insiders Bobby Krivitsky and John Karalis both explained how Brown and Boston could reconcile.
"Maybe the Celtics & Brown smooth this over. Their pursuit of Kevin Durant in 2022 & Brown's name living in the rumor mill hasn't led to a break up yet," Krivitsky posted on Bluesky. "However, if their Giannis chase & a punitive CBA means otherwise, Trey Murphy III is an obvious target. Could see about acquiring him & Herb Jones."
"But if (president of basketball operations Brad Stevens) is a master fence-mender, and if Brown can accept this was just business as usual in the NBA, then maybe there's a chance this can move forward. He is eligible for an extension this offseason, so one way to fix that relationship is to immediately offer him the maximum amount," Karalis wrote. "If that relationship is still okay, then Boston can get back to the original plan of adding via their mid-level and traded player exceptions. If not, then this offseason just took an incredibly interesting turn. Tuesday night will bring some level of clarity to the situation."
Notably, Celtics insider Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe reported Monday, hours before the blockbuster trade, that "there does not appear to be friction" between Brown and the Celtics.
Ernie Clement was already Rochester’s favorite baseball player. The rest of the continent has caught on.
The Brighton native who became a postseason hero for the Toronto Blue Jays last fall is on the verge of adding another title: MLB All-Star starter.
Clement leads all American League players with 2,054,130 votes in the latest Major League Baseball All-Star Game voting update, putting him ahead of some of the sport’s biggest stars including Aaron Judge, Mike Trout and Yordan Alvarez.
The only player in baseball with more votes is Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani.
If Clement remains the American League’s leading vote-getter when the first phase of voting ends at noon Thursday, he will automatically earn a starting spot in the 2026 MLB All-Star Game on July 14 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
Brighton native Ernie Clement could make first MLB All-Star Game
The All-Star surge is the latest chapter in a remarkable rise for the 30-year-old infielder.
Clement, a 20`14 Brighton High School graduate, was drafted by Cleveland in 2017 and made his major league debut with the Guardians in 2021. He was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics in 2022 before signing a minor league deal with Toronto in 2023.
He has since gone from fighting for a roster spot to potentially starting an All-Star Game alongside the biggest names in baseball.
Clement is batting .293 with seven home runs, 28 RBIs and an American League-leading 20 doubles this season. He has a commanding lead among second basemen, with Texas Rangers infielder Ezequiel Duran second at the position with 531,182 votes.
A little help from his adopted baseball country hasn’t hurt.
Blue Jays fans have helped push Clement to the top of the ballot after embracing him during last year’s World Series run.
Clement was also a finalist for Gold Glove awards at third base and as a utility player last season and won a silver medal with Team USA during the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Now he could add All-Star starter to the list.
The player Rochester celebrated in October might have another celebration coming. This time as a Major League Baseball All-Star.
England can book their place in the World Cup last 32 with a game to spare if they win their next Group L clash against Ghana.
Thomas Tuchel opened their campaign with a 4-2 win over Croatia, with the performance in the second half particularly impressive as goals from Jude Bellingham and substitute Marcus Rashford sealed victory.
They now sit top of the group, while Ghana beat Panama 1-0 in their opener with a 94th-minute winner, and can also book a place in the top two should they win in Boston on Tuesday.
A win for England meanwhile would render their last group stage game against Panama a dead rubber, with the chance to seal progression after just two games also an opportunity to make a statement to major rivals France, Spain, and Argentina.
Here’s everything you need to know.
When is England v Ghana?
England face Ghana in Group L at the Boston Stadium on June 23, with kick-off at 9pm BST.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the UK can watch the game live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with coverage beginning at 8pm BST.
Bukayo Saka trained individually as he nurses an Achilles injury and is likely to start on the bench as his recovery is managed.
Thomas Partey will feature for Ghana having missed their opening game due to being refused entry to Canada. He was denied a visa to enter Canada after being charged with seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, all of which he denies, but has been granted entry into the US.
First-choice keeper Lawrence Ati Zigi was removed at half-time due to a knock and is unlikely to start.
Predicted line-ups
England XI: Pickford, James, Stones, Guehi, O'Reilly, Anderson, Rice, Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon, Kane
The Chicago Cubs are not having a terrible season, but there are some massive issues with the team right now.
Offensively, the team isn't performing nearly well enough to make noise come October. But the more pressing issue is the starting rotation. Between injuries and poor play, this rotation is in dire need of help.
"Best fit: Joe Ryan, Minnesota Twins," Murray writes. "The Cubs need pitching, pitching, and more pitching. Skubal is the obvious name, and Robbie Ray may be available, but someone controllable would make more sense for Chicago."
The Cubs are looking to be a better World Series contender with a trade this summer, but they might not be willing to spend all of their top assets on a trade for someone like Tarik Skubal.
He's a half-season rental, and even if he's incredible, Skubal is likely to leave in free agency after the 2026 season concludes.
Ryan, on the other hand, is under club control through the 2027 season, giving the Cubs a chance to land a pitcher for both the end of the 2026 season and all of the 2027 season.
Chicago needs rotation help badly, with Cade Horton ruled out for the year, Justin Steele's setback, and the core starters of Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, and Edward Cabrera struggling this season.
Ryan is someone the Twins might be more open to trading than the Tigers with Skubal this summer, especially if Detroit keeps climbing back into the playoff race.
The 2.99 ERA All-Star right-hander is a fantastic trade target, and as a pitcher under club control for another year, he makes a lot of sense for the Cubs to target this summer.
Brython Thunder and Gwalia Lightning are the two Welsh sides in the Celtic Challenge [Huw Evans Picture Agency]
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) is keen for two Welsh teams to join Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) from the 2027-28 season.
PWR is considering expanding the nine-team league to clubs outside of England.
Nadine Griffiths, the WRU's director of women's rugby, says Wales, Scotland and Ireland are each keen to enter two teams into a new cross-border competition.
"We have put an expression of interest for two Welsh teams to go into the PWR," Griffiths told the Scrum V podcast.
"In total it's the Celtic Challenge as a whole, so six teams, two from each of the nations.
"We can't deny that that's a better competition for us to play in, but we also can't rely on us getting into that."
Wales currently has two women's sides, Brython Thunder and Gwalia Lightning, competing in the Celtic Challenge, which was launched in 2023.
But joining the most lucrative and competitive domestic league in Europe has long been an ambition, with 28 of Wales' 38-strong Six Nations squad playing in the PWR in 2025-26.
Griffiths says that even if two Welsh sides are given places in PWR, there would still be a need for a separate competition in Wales.
"We need to have a robust domestic league, based within Wales, that will give the playing opportunities to our [players] who are just coming out of 18s and to our under-21s to develop," she added.
"So the plan is to have a Celtic Challenge-type competition that would sit underneath that pro league."
As the NFL tries to get more people from other countries to become passionate about American football, one English athlete got the bug many years ago.
England striker Harry Kane, now 32, has been a fan of the NFL for a long time.
"It was mainly the NFL that I got into at quite a young age,” Kane said recently, via Jack Pitt-Brooke of The Athletic. “And mainly because of Tom Brady. My love for that started from him.”
It began, as Pitt-Brooke explains it, in 2011. Kane saw The Brady 6 documentary at a time when he could relate to the manner in which Brady was initially overlooked by the NFL.
“Seeing the way he went about his business, his journey from the start — when people didn’t expect much from him — to go on and be the greatest ever player in his sport is maybe reminiscent of me earlier in my career,” Kane said. “Having people doubt me and working hard enough to turn that around.”
As a result, Kane has been looking forward to England's next match, which will happen today at Gillette Stadium, Brady's long-time home venue.
"That is probably the one I am excited to go to,” Kane said last week. “That one will be pretty cool.”
Kane also has a lingering desire to try his hand in the NFL, as a kicker. And Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey isn't writing off the possibility of Kane pulling it off, if/when he decides to give it a try.
“It’s definitely possible,” Aubrey said, via Pitt-Brooke. “It’s just there’s only 32 jobs. So even if you have the ability, it’s trying to get somebody to give you an opportunity. That’s what took me the longest. . . .
“If you strike a soccer ball a million times, it’s going to translate to striking a football. You have got to figure out where to hit the football and how to shape your foot. The mental aspect of taking a set piece or a penalty is very similar to taking a field goal."
For now, Kane is focused on soccer. After getting a taste of multiple NFL venues (AT&T Stadium last week, Gillette Stadium today, and MetLife Stadium on Saturday), maybe he'll decide to seek out one of the rare opportunities available to those who can kick a ball with power and accuracy.
A perfectly common phrase in golf. Probably one you’ve said many times before yourself. The question is, what’s your reason for teeing up another or throwing an extra one down? What preceded it?
It took me awhile to find it, but my good Twitter friend Brian Kirschner’s spicy reply to a rather innocent meme from a few weeks back sparked this conversation. The meme was a joke about Scottie Scheffler’s mini-meltdown at Memorial over he and caddie Ted Scott getting the wind wrong on the par-3 16th. It went a little something like this:
Funny. Relatable. Something we’ve all encountered. BK took it a step further:
Jeez. Hardo take. Or....
He’s right?
As is the case with many of these stupid golf problems, this one is entirely circumstantial. If you clearly just pumped one out of bounds or to an area you might not find the ball, you quite literally have to hit a provisional under the Rules of Golf. If you’re trying to keep it moving and the group doesn’t care about the official rules, you can simply play it lateral, too.
However, if you just hit a really poor shot and want to “hit another” just because, I think other people in your group, guys like Brian, have every right to roll their eyes and quietly think you’re selfish. What, we all came out to watch you play a practice round? Are we playing golf here or what?
This is doubly true if you’re playing a match for any amount of money. You don’t get to take full swing practice shots. You don’t get to “find” your swing when we’re in the middle of a $10 Nassau.
Now, oddly enough, Brian’s reply was focused more on and around the greens, which was a topic last week during the fog delay on Thursday at the U.S. Open. Apparently, in USGA events, you are well within your right to hit practice putts or chips on the green you’ve just completed. This was news to former U.S. Open champ Jim Furyk, as well as news to us. Of course, there is almost always a local rule against this at PGA Tour events. But in USGA events, it’s 100 percent allowed, so long as you are not unreasonably holding up play behind you. As BK put it, though, he doesn’t care if you’re not holding up play. Keep it moving. Fair enough.
But I’m very guilty of raking a miss and hitting an extra putt, so I can’t talk on that front. That said, it’s almost always frustrating when I do so, because you always make the second. So perhaps I’ll start heeding Brian’s advice.
With all that said, if you’re out there playing for no money, by yourself or with a buddy or two, and you or your buddy is just going through it, can’t get the ball airborne, chopping it up, etc. Take as many practice balls as you’d like, as long as you’re not holding up anyone behind you. Working through it is perfectly acceptable when you’re out for an evening 9 or simply wanting to see how Player B stacks up. But in a foursome, in a game, in any kind of more official setting, I’m with Brian. We’re playing a legitimate round here, lads, go to your next shot.
Unless, of course, it’s a USGA event.
Do you have a "stupid" golf problem? A question you're too ashamed to ask your close friends? A conundrum that needs to be talked out in a public forum? We're here to help. If you have etiquette-related inquiries or just want to know how to handle some of the unique on- or off-course situations we all find ourselves in, please let us know. You can email me (chris.powers@wbd.com) or send me a DM on Twitter/X (@Cpowers14) or on Instagram (@cpthreeve).
Have your say: Conte or Mancini as the next Italy coach?
Reports in Italy claim that Antonio Conte is emerging as a strong candidate for the Italy job along with Roberto Mancini, but who would you pick between the two?
Conte and Mancini are currently the frontrunners for the Italy job, according to reports in Italy.
Conte or Mancini as next Italy coach?
Several sources reported over the last few days that Mancini was close to getting the job for the second time, with informal talks already underway with Giovanni Malagò, who was elected as the FIGC President yesterday.
PISA, ITALY – MAY 17: Antonio Conte manager of SSC Napoli reacts during the Serie A match between Pisa SC and SSC Napoli at Arena Garibaldi on May 17, 2026 in Pisa, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
However, any final decision will be made in collaboration with the technical director, a position that Malagò is eager to assign to Paolo Maldini, who has already received an offer.
Italian media have mentioned other candidates for the job in recent months, including Pep Guardiola, yet Conte and Mancini seem to be the top choices at the moment.
Assuming they are the only contenders to become the new Italy boss, who would you pick?
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 13: Head coach Sean McDermott of the Buffalo Bills arrives prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Daily Slop – 23 June 2026
Editor’s note: Each day, Hogs Haven compiles a collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, with a sprinkling of other stuff. Enjoy!
The NFC East might be deeper and better than it’s been in a long time, which could be problematic for Quinn, and after 10 teams made coaching changes last year, the competition for the best and brightest candidates won’t be as steep this winter in all likelihood.
And the reality is, inexperienced owners tend to have a short fuse with head coaches in this league.
“Keep an eye on (former Bills head coach) Sean McDermott there next year,” one longtime NFL personnel executive told SportsBoom. “Just remember who told you first.”
One general manager told me early this offseason that he believes the Commanders are seriously considering making a head coaching change this winter.
Blough said he wanted to use his lineman as weapons, so how might he use Conerly as one?
Earlier this offseason, new Commanders coordinator David Blough talked about using his young, athletic offensive lineman as “weapons”, specifically citing 2025 first round pick Josh Conerly Jr. Conerly had some ups and downs in his rookie year with a rough start followed by some encouraging development down the stretch. He’s been working all offseason with star left tackle Laremy Tunsil and as we saw at mini camp last week, that work is helping him improve his technique.
But as promising as Conerly is as a prospect, he’s still a right tackle. How exactly can an offense use a right tackle as a “weapon” as David Blough described? For some ideas on that, we can look to the offense that Blough is reportedly looking to base his 2026 Commanders attack on, the 2023 Detroit Lions. The 2023 Lions offense had a young Penei Sewell starting at right tackle for them. Sewell, like Conerly, was a first round pick out of Oregon as a very talented and athletic tackle prospect but a bit raw coming out. By 2023 though, he had developed into one of the better tackles in the league.
The Lions did a great job featuring Sewell in their offense in a variety of ways, making use of him as a “weapon” where other teams might see him as just an offensive lineman. It’s worth noting here that I’m not comparing Conerly to Sewell in terms of overall talent and skill, just that Blough might look to use Conerly in a similar fashion in this system
One of the more obvious answers here is the screen game. Screen games live and die by how well they are blocked. If you’re throwing a bunch of bubble screens to receivers, your offensive lineman aren’t necessarily as involved in that. But if you want to run a diverse and strong screen game, you need offensive lineman that are athletic enough to get out in space and set up those screens properly.
The Commanders welcome ample continuity along the offensive line in 2026 with bookend tackles Josh Conerly leaning on veteran Laremy Tunsil ahead of his second season. Nick Allegretti has shown all the signs of taking over the starting center job with preseason a chance for him and Matt Gulbin to add confidence to the rotation, but maybe the biggest question heading into July is if a change [will] materialize at left guard.
Brandon Coleman was demoted in favor of Chris Paul at left guard just two weeks into the 2025 season, and while it appeared [for a while as if] Paul would depart in free agency, that didn’t [happen]; the former seventh-round pick inked a one-year deal. After a strong season, there’s a chance for Paul to build on that success and become a multi-year starter, but Coleman will have a chance to shake that up.
While head coach Dan Quinn cautioned that roughly 80% of the offense has been installed so far, the Commanders are expected to feature more zone blocking under Blough, which could favor Coleman’s strengths [over] Paul’s. Quinn also noted that while Coleman has versatility along the offensive line, he’ll stick at left guard where he and Paul will get a chance to compete through training camp into preseason. Evaluating the experienced depth is a good problem to have for Washington, but ‘who shakes out?’ is its own question mark.
Croskey-Merritt is significantly bigger, which he attributed to a cleaner diet and more time in the weight room. While his size was the most noticeable change, it was only a small part of his broader plan to be “a whole different version” of himself.
He needed to add size, both for strength and for reserve during the long NFL season.
He needed to improve his ball security after losing two of the team’s five rushing fumbles last season.
And he needed to expand his game.
“I do feel like there’s like this elevation that’s taking place with him,” Quinn said at the start of minicamp last week. “He’s always been hungry for it.”
Croskey-Merritt has to quickly evolve his game to be a more complete back — one who can reliably block and be a target in the pass game, who can be used in motion (often) and who can create the same explosiveness on a variety of runs from a variety of alignments.
“From a play design, a little bit different with some stretch cutback-type of plays,” Quinn said. “So, seeing him do that, his explosiveness to go and do that, that’s a big deal.”
Tunsil is worth every cent. And looking at the way he’s approached this offseason, it’s a financial commitment he is looking to repay.
JP Finlay of NBC Sports highlighted how impressive Tunsil was over early workouts. And there was one thing above all else that caught his eye.
“One of the most impressive things I saw throughout the summer was from Laremy Tunsil. Known around the league as a hard worker and leader but with little regard for showing that publicly, this summer allowed a peak.
“The single moment that stood out for me came from the conclusion of minicamp practices when the entire team ran a series of short sprints. Tunsil – the five-time Pro Bowler going into his 11th season and with career earnings of well over $100 million – was grinding out the June sprints. Actions not words.”
Leading by example. And it’s not the first example of this with Tunsil.
Can the Eagles replace A.J. Brown in the aggregate? The Eagles’ trade of A.J. Brown was one of the most expected moves of the offseason. They got a decent haul from the New England Patriots for the move, but it did create a vacuum in the receiver room that they spent the last few months preparing for. They traded picks away for Packers wideout Dontayvion Wicks and signed several veterans like Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore. They also used a first-round pick on Lemon, giving the Eagles what they hope is a consistent weapon in the slot. There is a scenario where those moves could work, but it will still be difficult to replace A.J. Brown’s size and production (he’s had at least 1,000 yards over the last four seasons and racked up 32 touchdowns). At the very least, Hurts will have options in the passing game.
Otega has the goods to play basketball professionally. The Washington Wizards, along with the No. 1 overall selection in this week’s NBA Draft, hold picks 51 and 60 in the second round. The brothers have likely imagined a scenario in which they are once again in the same city.
Odafe would never have pictured the events of March unfolding as they did.
“You’re never going to be in that situation again.”
“It was one of my REALLY sore points at NFL Network.”
“It used to drive me crazy when they'd bring in a guy for the draft that was a big name guy that was going to talk about his position, and couldn't tell me THREE names in the draft.”@MikeMayock discusses his biggest issue… https://t.co/81wW4lYe7mpic.twitter.com/gE7ZOU9T9p
— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) June 22, 2026
This is a team who is not only returning all of their starting offense this year, but one who is expected to improve by leaps and bounds defensively from a season ago. Because of that, the Cowboys are a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
Dak Prescott’s troublesome (‘even’ year) injury history dating back to 2020
In 2020, Prescott only managed to play a total of five games due to a season-ending ankle injury he sustained that ultimately required surgery. The following season he bounced back in a big way throwing for nearly 4,500 yards (4,449) and 37 touchdowns, leading the Cowboys to a 11-5 record before losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the playoffs.
Then in 2022 a right thumb injury limited Prescott to just 12 starts, leading to one of his worst seasons of his career. He threw a career-high 15 INT’s to just 23 touchdowns and 2,860 yards. But once again, he bounced back in a big way in 2023 throwing for 4,516 yards, 36 touchdowns and just nine INT’s, helping him to finish second in the MVP race.
The injury-plagued trend continued once again for Prescott in 2024. He only managed to play a total of eight games, finishing with only 1978 passing yards, 11 TDs, and eight INT’s. But once again, he bounced back in 2025 spearheading one of the best offensive units in the entire league, which led to his fourth Pro Bowl appearance.
With one of the toughest 2026 schedules and with such high expectations this year, the Cowboys simply can’t afford Dak Prescott to miss any amount of time due to injury this season. That’s especially true considering the depth behind him [Sam Howell; Joe Milton].
Scotland had not previously been mentioned as a potential site of an NFL game.
It’s another example of the overall impact of the ongoing World Cup. America is getting an extended glimpse of the intense passion that fans from other countries have for soccer. That’s the feeling into which the NFL is hoping to tap through its ongoing global experiment.
Strictly talking about the on-field outlook, Sorsby is a very talented, yet underdeveloped quarterback prospect. Had he entered the 2026 NFL Draft, he would have been QB3 for most teams and likely would have been selected in the mid-Day 2 range (mostly third-round grades but probably taken in Round 2 because of positional inflation).
At 6 feet 3 and 235 pounds with 4.6 speed, Sorsby has an impressive physical profile plus the quick release and arm velocity to sling the ball from different platforms to all three levels. However, he is also loose with his mechanics, which creates wild inconsistency in his ball placement. And the Cincinnati offense limited his development in making progression reads, setting protections and other aspects of playing the position at a high level. If he’d shown improvements in those key areas during his senior year at Texas Tech, Sorsby would have put himself in the 2027 first-round mix.
Which team will make the most aggressive bid? You have obvious options, such as the Browns and Jets, because both are prime candidates to draft a quarterback very early in the 2027 NFL Draft. Might they view Sorsby as insurance? For example, if the Browns finish with the No. 4 pick next April and are unable to trade up for quarterbacks who go 1-2-3, the organization still would have Sorsby to develop.
There also are teams with short-term answers but long-term question marks at the position, including the Buccaneers, Falcons and Steelers. And then there are teams that have established starters but are always looking to acquire talented assets, such as the Packers and Eagles. The problem with many of the potential fits is that those teams’ quarterback depth charts are already crowded, which adds another layer to the complicated Sorsby projection.
1/ I understand why the 49ers and their fanbase are angry. It's never fun seeing a cornerstone player masquerading on social media and openly campaigning for another team.
.@AdamSchefter provides more details on Brendan Sorsby in a potential NFL supplemental draft and what draft picks could be in play 🏈 pic.twitter.com/niGowb42Np
"Stefon Diggs, Deebo Samuel, Tyreek Hill. … There are a lot of high-profile wide receivers on the street." 👀@AdamSchefter lists some of the free agent wide receivers the Raiders can look to bring in 🏈 pic.twitter.com/WZd9YrWUbS
The QB equivalent of Moreyball philosophy in the NFL is deep passing (3s) and scrambles (layups). Here are the top 20 Moreyball QBs last year, using a composite score of QB scramble rate, deep efficiency, and deep attempt rate – I named this metric DRAKE. pic.twitter.com/roIbL1vTKA
Some insight on the Trae Young deal from an NBA source: the market for Trae changed after the lottery reform as more teams were looking to compete. He was expecting multiple max deals around the NBA. The deal is max for what other teams could pay, but about $75M less than what…
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 22: Foster Griffin #22 of the Washington Nationals pitches to the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Nationals Park on June 22, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After the game, Foster Griffin told me, “You are not done until the manager shakes your hand and says you are done”. Last night, that hand shake did not come until one out in the 8th inning. When Blake Butera took the ball from Griffin, the crowd that stuck through a long rain delay erupted in cheers.
It has been that kind of season for Foster Griffin. In his first season back from Japan, the crafty lefty has been an absolute horse for the Nationals. On the season, he has a 3.15 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 91.1 innings. That is borderline ace stuff, or at least high end number 2 starter production for a guy who signed for $5.5 million.
Griffin has had a lot of good outings, but tonight may have been his best. As he put it, there are only 4 or 5 outings across the season where everything is working, and tonight was one of those nights. Griffin was using his entire 7 pitch mix to perfection, and it baffled the Phillies. He tied his career high with 9 strikeouts.
While Griffin’s cutter is always his bread and butter pitch, it was particularly dominant tonight. He got 8 of his 17 whiffs on the cutter, which he threw 29% of the time. Seeing all his pitches work together was truly beautiful. As usual, he had his fastball and breaking stuff, but his changeup and splitter were also on point tonight. That changeup was just perplexing right handed hitters.
Foster Griffin has honestly been a true ace outside of back to back blowup starts in May. When he had those rough outings, there were questions about if the soft tossing lefty had been figured out. However, he has had his best month of the season so far in June. Griffin has allowed exactly one run in each of his four outings this month.
Foster Griffin’s last 4 starts:
5.0 IP | 1 R | 0 BB | 4 K’s 6.0 IP | 1 R | 0 BB | 5 K’s 6.0 IP | 1 R | 2 BB | 6 K’s 7.1 IP | 1 R | 0 BB | 9 K’s
Griffin’s performances have left a real mark on his teammates as well. Luis Garcia Jr. was quick to remark that Griffin is impressive every time he pitches, not just tonight. He also said that you can rely on Griffin to go 6 or 7 innings almost every time out. Garcia is pretty spot on in this assessment, as Griffin has gone at least 6 frames in 8 of his last 12 outings.
Curtis Mead was very impressed by how Griffin kept the Phillies hitters off balance. He said that, “It felt like the swings (from Phillies hitters) were not as good as those guys are capable of”. Seeing what Griffin did to a lineup that thrashed the Mets the last couple days made this even more impressive. Kyle Schwarber has been on one of his home run binges, but Griffin made him look silly.
That has been a trend for Griffin. He just has hitters second guessing themselves with all of the different pitches he can throw. I am not saying he is Max Scherzer obviously, but last night felt like a Scherzer outing, even down to the solo homer he gave up. It has been a while since I have seen a Nats starter in such control of an outing that deep into the game.
One key part of Griffin’s outing is that he did not walk anyone. That has been a trademark for him all season, but especially lately. In his last 7 starts, Griffin has just 5 walks in over 40 innings. Just seeing a Nats pitcher not beat themselves while also having the stuff to beat opposing hitters just gives me so much joy.
The Nats will have an interesting decision to make with Griffin at the deadline. He is only on a one-year deal, so there is a chance he could be moved. However, with how the Nats are playing, moving him is not the lock that it may have been earlier in the season. As Spencer Nusbaum put it, Griffin is one of the faces of Paul Toboni’s trade deadline conundrum.
It would be wrong for Toboni not to at least explore the market. However, I also think it would be a mistake for Toboni to not check in with Griffin’s representation to see what an extension would look like. With underlying numbers that are more average than elite and stuff that does not jump off the page, Griffin might be more valuable to the Nats than he is on the trading block.
A Griffin trade is still obviously on the table, but an extension for 2 to 3 years should be as well. It all comes down to where the Nats are sitting in a month and what Griffin’s number would be. I doubt teams would pay Griffin the way most 3.15 ERA guys are paid in assets or money. That could make an extension easier, but this could be the best we get from Griffin. Just look at Erick Fedde, who had a great first season back from Asia and regressed after that.
This will be a complicated decision for the Nats front office. However, that is not the main focus right now. Instead, let’s close out by talking about how brilliant the lefty has been for this team. He was a real under the radar pickup, but has been one of the steals of the offseason. It is tough to imagine where the Nats would be without Griffin, but they sure would not be in a Wild Card race.
The Brooklyn Nets didn't exactly trade for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo last night, but they still made a big deal when they acquired forward Julius Randle from the Minnesota Timberwolves via trade. Brooklyn had to trade center Nic Claxton to the Chicago Bulls in order to get Randle and the No. 28 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and it seems like the Nets could get an interesting player with the pick.
"With a new hole at center, Jayden Quaintance could be an option for a team that suddenly has win-now players and a collection of youngsters," Jonathan Wasserman wrote on Kentucky center Jayden Quaintance. Wasserman projected the Nets to take Quaintance with the pick especially given the fact that Brooklyn now as a hole at center behind veteran Day'Ron Sharpe.
"Quaintance wasn't one of the first 24 players invited to the green room, and teams believe too many front offices are scared of the 2025 ACL injury that's prevented him from showing anything in over a year," Wasserman continued. "Between the lack of production and medical concerns, Quaintance has suddenly become an intriguing buy-low option late in the first round."
Quaintance, 18, is one of the more polarizing prospects in the 2026 class given his past injuries combined with his outstanding physical profile that leads some to believe that he could be an impactful player someday. Over his two-year career that was interrupted by a knee injury, Quaintance averaged 8.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game while shooting 52.9% from the field and 45.2% from the free-throw line.
Quaintance has not had a formal workout with the Nets over the course of the pre-draft process, but that doesn't mean that he wouldn't be under consideration for Brooklyn now that they have the chance to take someone towards the end of the draft. The Nets have less than 24 hours to decide who they will be taking in the draft, but if Quaintance is on the board, Brooklyn could do worse than taking a young player with his potential.
Team USA is making an improbable run through the 2026 FIFA men's World Cup tournament.
Might the U.S. Women’s Team make a similar run during the women’s World Cup next year, if it gets there?
USWNT, led by rising stars like defender Naomi Girma, fullback Emily Fox and captain Trinity Rodman, still have a ways to go to qualify for the 32-team women's tournament.
Here’s the women’s side’s path to World Cup 2027.
Where the USWNT stands on 2027 World Cup qualification
The U.S. Women's National Team has not yet qualified for the '27 World Cup.
According to Just Women's Sports, the USWNT goes into qualifying as FIFA’s No. 1‑ranked women’s team and the top seed in Concacaf — the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football.
The 2026 Concacaf W Championship runs from November 27 through December 5 in Texas. That eight‑team knockout tournament includes Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico and Panama.
Team USA will open in the quarterfinals against El Salvador, the lowest‑ranked team in the field.
Concacaf has four direct World Cup spots, and those go to the four semifinalists, meaning if the USWNT wins its quarterfinal vs. El Salvador, it qualifies automatically for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
What Happens if the USWNT Stumbles at Concacaf?
If the women's team somehow loses that quarterfinal, it isn’t out of the World Cup — but the team would need to survive a Concacaf playoff and then an intercontinental tournament, turning a one‑game clinch into a much tougher, multi‑step climb.
In previous World Cup cycles, teams from other regions have recovered from knockout‑round losses to qualify via confederation playoffs and intercontinental tournaments, and Concacaf now has a similar back‑door route built into its format.
Where Is the 2027 Women’s World Cup, and who’s already in?
These teams have already qualified for the women's World Cup:
Argentina
Australia
Brazil (host)
China PR
Colombia
Denmark
France
Germany
Japan
Korea DPR
Korea Republic
New Zealand
Philippines
Spain
Similar to the 2026 men’s World Cup, the 2027 women’s World Cup will be staged across multiple South American cities in Brazil: Belo Horizonte (Estádio Mineirão), Brasília (Estádio Nacional), Fortaleza (Arena Castelão), Porto Alegre (Estádio Beira‑Rio), Recife (Arena de Pernambuco), Rio de Janeiro (Estádio do Maracanã), Salvador (Arena Fonte Nova) and São Paulo (Arena Itaquera).
The women’s tournament will feature 32 teams; the men’s expands to 48 in 2026.
Damon C. Williams is a Philadelphia-based journalist reporting on trending, breaking and service-related topics across the Mid-Atlantic region for the USA Today Network.
Texas continues to pick up steam on the recruiting trail coming out of their final official visit weekend of the June window, as they have lassoed another commitment along the defensive line.
Coming into the weekend, Texas was viewed as trailing the competition in the recruitment of four-star Palm Beach Central (FL) defensive tackle Tyler Alexander. As you know, things in recruiting can change quickly and that is exactly what happened with this recruitment, as Hayes Fawcett of Rivals reports Alexander has committed to Texas.
BREAKING: Four-Star DL Tyler Alexander has Committed to Texas, he tells me for @Rivals
The 6’4 305 DL chose the Longhorns over Georgia, Notre Dame, and Colorado
Alexander holds over 40 offers on his resume and took official visits to Colorado, Georgia, Notre Dame, and Texas during the summer official visit window. The Buffaloes reportedly was the front runner as the visits ran their course, but Texas vaulted themselves into the forefront of the recruitment with a strong visit over this past weekend.
Alexander is the second defensive tackle commitment in the 2027 class for the Longhorns to go along with four-star defensive tackle Kasi Currie. The Longhorns and defensive line coach Kenny Baker continue to build a presence in the Sunshine State in form of plucking blue chip defensive tackles after previously taking Myron Charles and James Johnson in previous cycles.
NEW DELHI: BCCI has named Suryansh Shedge as the replacement for Nitish Kumar Reddy in the squads for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England after the all-rounder was sidelined by a quadriceps injury.
Nitish reported discomfort in his left quadriceps after the third ODI against Afghanistan on June 20. Following a medical assessment, the BCCI Medical Team recommended a period of rehabilitation, effectively ruling him out of both assignments.
The injury setback comes after the 23-year-old had already missed the second ODI against Afghanistan in Lucknow. Although he featured in the series, the problem flared up again, forcing him out of the upcoming white-ball engagements. The exact timeline for his return remains unclear.
India will play two T20Is against Ireland in Belfast on June 26 and 28 before travelling to England for a five-match series scheduled on July 1, 4, 7, 9 and 11.
Strong India A performances earn Shedge national call-up
Shedge's elevation comes on the back of an impressive run with India A in the recently concluded tri-series in Sri Lanka. The 23-year-old middle-order batter scored 147 runs in five matches and also contributed with the ball, sending down 23 overs during the tournament.
He had already emerged as one of the standout performers for Mumbai during their victorious Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign in 2024-25. Batting in the lower middle order, Shedge amassed 131 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 251.92, showcasing the finishing ability that has brought him into the selectors' radar.
Even before the official announcement, reports had indicated that Shedge was the frontrunner to replace Nitish because of his recent exploits in Sri Lanka.
India begin preparations for overseas assignments
The Indian squad has already started departing for the Ireland series in batches. One group, comprising Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, bowling coach Morne Morkel and fielding coach T Dilip, left from Chennai, while several players are set to depart from Mumbai.
Nitish, who has represented India in 10 Tests, six ODIs and four T20Is, will now focus on rehabilitation with hopes of making a swift return.
For Shedge, meanwhile, the call-up represents a major breakthrough and an opportunity to cement his place as India embark on an important white-ball tour of Ireland and England.
England winger Mia Venner has signed a new deal to stay with Gloucester-Hartpury.
Venner joined the Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) side in 2019 and last season played in every one of their games, while her tally of 12 tries is the joint highest in the league.
The 24-year-old has been capped four times by the Red Roses and scored two tries as part of this year's Six Nations Grand Slam-winning squad.
"[Mia] brings some outstanding qualities both on and off the field, which make her a hugely valuable member of the squad," said head of rugby Dan Murphy.
"She's been brilliant for us this season, and we believe there is still plenty more to come from her."
Venner joins a list of players who have agreed to stay with The Circus into next season including Mackenzie Carson, Sam Monaghan, Georgia Brock, Maud Muir, Niamh O'Dowd, Emma Sing and Alex Matthews.
Welcome back, Sandy Leon. The former Boston Red Sox catcher signed a minor-league deal Monday with the Atlanta Braves, one day after opting out of his contract and becoming a free agent.
The Braves demoted Leon to Triple-A Gwinnett last week after he cleared waivers. He played in 21 games this season for the Braves, hitting .091 with a .182 OPS in 21 at-bats.
"The 37-year-old León isn’t going to provide anything with the bat, but he has clearly made a strong impression on the organization for his leadership and work behind the dish," MLB Trade Rumors' Anthony Franco reports. "León had a five-game cameo with the Braves last year and has spent most of the past three seasons in Gwinnett."
The 14-year MLB veteran has played for seven clubs: the Red Sox, Braves, Minnesota Twins, Cleveland Guardians, Miami Marlins, Texas Rangers and Washington Nationals. Leon -- a lifetime .204 hitter with a .575 OPS -- is known for his defensive work behind the plate.
"He has been credited with 34 Defensive Runs Saved on the whole," MLB Trade Rumors' Darragh McDonald reports. "Outlets like FanGraphs, Statcast and Baseball Prospectus have all given him strong grades for his framing over the years while his blocking and throwing are close to average."
Leon spent five seasons with the Red Sox (2015-19) and helped the club win the 2018 World Series. He played in a career-high 89 games that year, splitting time at catcher with Christian Vazquez.
The decision to return to Atlanta wasn't a tough one for Leon. The Braves are in first place in the National League East and own a 6.5-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies.
FanGraphs gives the Braves a 97.2% chance of making the playoffs and 8.0% chance of winning the World Series.
After heavy rain brought about the wettest half of football seen at this World Cup so far, the storm in the Philadelphia area escalated at half-time to lightning, meaning players and fans were forced inside.
Fifa is adhering to rules set by local authorities during the tournament, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) saying that if any lightning strike is detected within eight miles of a stadium the game has to be stopped.
This sparks a countdown of 30 minutes, which resets every time another lightning strike happens. Once that timer, the players return to the pitch for a 15-minute warm-up.
Fans were forced into the concourses after a storm arrived in Philadelphia (Reuters)
The restart at Lincoln Financial Field was pushed back nearly two hours due to more lightning strikes, with Fifa saying in a statement: “Due to the adverse weather conditions and the risk of lightning in the vicinity of the stadium, the Fifa World Cup match between France and Iraq has been suspended.
“A 30 minute break has been announced, however the situation is still being observed to determine if further delays are anticipated.
“Fifa will follow the safety protocols established by the local authorities and the match will resume as soon as it is safe to do so.
“The safety and security of all individuals is Fifa’s priority. We thank all fans for their understanding and co-operation.”
This highlights the real risk of matches at the World Cup facing long weather delays if thunderstorms hit in close proximity to the stadiums in use.
The tournament – co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico – is being held in the peak of storm season in parts of the countries, with strict rules in place for lightning in the US particularly.
The weather, including the threat of lightning, already played a role in preparation for the tournament, with England’s friendly with Costa Rica delayed by an hour after heavy rain and the prospect of lightning in the Orlando area.
While a scorching New York City, with temperatures in the mid-30s during the opening days of the tournament, experienced heavy rainfall, thunder and lightning less than 24 hours before Brazil face Morocco in New Jersey.
That was a scenario seen several times during last year’s Club World Cup in the US, with six matches halted due to electrical storms.
A warning for lightning strikes appears on the big screen as heavy rain falls prior to the International Friendly match between England and Costa Rica at Inter&Co Stadium (The FA via Getty Images)
Stadiums in the Gulf Coast area and south east of the United States are likeliest to come under threat from thunderstorms, with Fifa addressing each match on a case-by-case basis if play is halted.
Issues could potentially arise if storms hit during the final round of group-stage games. The kick-off times of the two games in each group are synchronised to avoid affording an advantage to any nation by knowing what they need to do, although that may be unavoidable under such circumstances as a weather delay.
Were conditions sufficiently dangerous to force an abandonment, World Cup regulations state that the game would be played on a future date, restarting in the same minute as it was paused, with the remaining minutes played.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 24: Paddy Pimblett of England is poked in the eye by Justin Gaethje of the United States during their interim lightweight title bout in UFC 324 at T-Mobile Arena on January 24, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“I went five rounds with Gaethje and was pushing the pace to the very end, I didn’t quit,” Pimblett said on YouTube. “I kept coming forward trying to finish the fight. And I think I won [rounds] three and five, so he beat me 3-2. One of the judges agreed. And if a lot of different things didn’t happen in that fight like eye gouges and low blows and then faking low blows, then it would have been a different fight. We’ve got to get on with it now. No point crying over spilled milk. I just hope I get to fight again. As I say, he’s the undisputed champion now. I went five rounds with the undisputed champion of the world.”
“To be honest, I don’t think [Saint Denis fight is] a No. 1 contender fight, but I think Arman’s probably still No. 1 contender,” Pimblett continued. “But Justin said himself that Charles [Oliveira] has beaten him before so he’d like to fight Charles again. Charles could end up getting the title shot. Perfect time to make Ilia vs. Arman because Arman’s been calling Ilia out for years. But there’s so many different variables in the lightweight division now, you don’t know. I’d love to beat BSD and get a rematch with Justin, but I can’t really demand that after a one-fight win streak, so we’ll just have to see what happens over the coming weeks.”
For the rest of the UFC 329 fight card and Paramount+ lineup click here.
The PGA Tour announced a two-tiered scheduling platform to begin in the 2028 season that will have the game's top players on a "Championship Series, with around two dozen events that will include The Players Championship and the four majors, and a "Challenger Series," with at least 20 events for players to play their way into the upper tier.
PGA Tour Commissioner Brian Rolapp rolled out the details at a news conference on June 23 at the TPC River Highlands, the site of this week's Travelers Championship. Appearing with him at the event was Tiger Woods, the chairman of the PGA Tour's Future Competitions Committee who was making his first public appearance since his arrest in March on DUI charges.
Woods spoke first at the press conference and introduced Rolapp and said, "this was never about one player or one person ... [but] thinking bodly of the game we love."
What are the changes to the PGA Tour schedule?
The Championship Series will be 72-hole tournaments with cuts to the low-65 players, plus ties, with purses of at least $20 million. Field sizes will average around 120 players, with 90 players retained off the previous year's FedEx Cup points standings and 20 players promoted from the Challenger Series.
Other categories will include past champions and tournament winners. There will be no sponsor invitations.
The series will begin in February and end in August.
The PGA Tour Challenger Series
The Challenger Series will be at least 20 events, with fields of 144 players and purses of at least $4 million. Players on the Championship Series will not be allowed to play in Challenger Series events.
Rolapp said the events would be at current Tour venues.
The Tour's post-season will have a revamped but as yet unreleased points structure. There will be a match play event but it was unclear if that would be the season-ending Tour Championship.
The fall schedule will include a series of international tournaments as part of the Tour's alliance with the DP World Tour and a "Last Chance" domestic series of four to six events.
There will continue to be the PGA Tour Qualifying Series and the Korn Ferry Tour.
The PGA Tour announced a two-tiered scheduling platform to begin in the 2028 season that will have the game's top players on a "Championship Series, with around two dozen events that will include The Players Championship and the four majors, and a "Challenger Series," with at least 20 events for players to play their way into the upper tier.
PGA Tour Commissioner Brian Rolapp rolled out the details at a news conference on June 23 at the TPC River Highlands, the site of this week's Travelers Championship. Appearing with him at the event was Tiger Woods, the chairman of the PGA Tour's Future Competitions Committee who was making his first public appearance since his arrest in March on DUI charges.
Woods spoke first at the press conference and introduced Rolapp and said, "this was never about one player or one person ... [but] thinking boldly of the game we love."
What are the changes to the PGA Tour schedule?
The Championship Series will be 72-hole tournaments with cuts to the low-65 players, plus ties, with purses of at least $20 million. Field sizes will average around 120 players, with 90 players retained off the previous year's FedEx Cup points standings and 20 players promoted from the Challenger Series.
Other categories will include past champions and tournament winners. There will be no sponsor invitations.
The series will begin in February and end in August.
The PGA Tour Challenger Series
The Challenger Series will be at least 20 events, with fields of 144 players and purses of at least $4 million. Players on the Championship Series will not be allowed to play in Challenger Series events.
Rolapp said the events would be at current Tour venues.
The Tour's postseason will have a revamped but as yet unreleased points structure. There will be a match play event but it was unclear if that would be the season-ending Tour Championship.
The fall schedule will include a series of international tournaments as part of the Tour's alliance with the DP World Tour and a "Last Chance" domestic series of four to six events.
There will continue to be the PGA Tour Qualifying Series and the Korn Ferry Tour.
During fantasy baseball draft season, we had our impressions of how each position would play out in 2026. But with the midpoint of the season just a few days away, we can now see that some positions are not what they expected them to be. Here is a full recap of each offensive position, including players who deserve a recalibration of their roster rate.
Catcher: Exciting
This is one of the best years we have seen from the catcher position, as eight backstops have been top-100 overall assets. But there is a massive drop-off after that point, as catcher No. 9 (Carter Jensen) is ranked 217th and No. 10 (Adley Rutschman) is ranked 319th. In every league, we have a few managers who are trying to cover the position until a better option, such as Rutschman or Ryan Jeffers returns from the IL.
Most surprising player: Liam Hicks is the No. 5-ranked catcher after starting the season on waivers in virtually every league. His premium contact skills have helped with a .278 average, and he has shown more power than expected (13 HR). He will hopefully soon return from an IL stint that was caused by a back injury.
Most disappointing player: Coming off a historic season, Cal Raleigh was drafted higher than any catcher in recent memory. Injuries have impacted his counting stat totals, but he has also been awful when healthy (.560 OPS).
Over-rostered player: Salvador Pérez (80%) is 36 years old and has logged a sub-.650 OPS in every month this season. Managers can put him on the waiver wire until he proves that he isn't washed up.
Under-rostered player: Dillon Dingler (87%) should be rostered in every league. Not only has he been the third-most valuable catcher, but his expected stats are much better than his actual marks.
First base: Endless
This has become the deepest fantasy position, with 10 members who rank as top-50 assets and a total of 24 who crack the top 150. There are 13 first basemen who are on pace for at least 30 homers and 12 who are headed toward 100 RBI.
Most surprising player: Managers had given up on Miguel Vargas, who had produced a .651 OPS from 2022-25. He has found his groove with a patient, fly-ball heavy approach and could finish with 30 homers and 100 runs. Vargas is also one of three first basemen with a double-digit steals total.
Most disappointing player: Sure, he has logged a healthy .283 average, but Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has completely disappeared as a power hitter. His homer total (4) is one of the most surprising stats of 2026.
Over-rostered player: Since joining the Giants a little over a year ago, Rafael Devers (94%) has hit .237 with 31 homers in 167 games. In shallow leagues, it's time to move on.
Under-rostered player: Ryan O'Hearn (58%) is the type of quiet, consistent player who championship fantasy teams have at the back end of their roster. He has logged a helpful .275 average and has collected 74 R+RBI in 63 games.
Second base: Uninspiring
There are just four second basemen among the top-50 assets, and only a total of nine in the top 100. The situation isn't dire, as there are enough members in the top 150 (14) for managers to find a respectable option. But the lack of impactful players makes this a boring group.
Most surprising player: A career .260 hitter when he stepped to the plate on Opening Day, Otto Lopez leads the majors with a .336 average. The extra trips to first base have unlocked his 75th-percentile sprint speed, as Lopez is on a 30-steal pace.
Most disappointing player: Sure, he has contributed 18 steals and a .284 average, but Fernando Tatís Jr. is doing his best Vlad Jr. impression by going deep just twice. Both players need to address their groundball tendencies before they can return to being sluggers.
Over-rostered player: Nico Hoerner (92%) is on an epic cold streak, batting .194 with zero homers, nine RBI and 12 runs since May 1. He needs to be replaced in 12-team formats.
Under-rostered player: Zack Gelof (69%) has cut his strikeout rate, which has given him additional opportunities to let his power and speed skills flourish. He also benefits from being part of a quality Athletics lineup that should thrive at their hitter-friendly home park this summer.
Third base: Respectable
Expected to be the weakest fantasy position, third base currently includes just enough top-120 assets (12) to go around in a standard league. There is a definite lack of headliners at the position, as no third baseman ranks among the top 40 and there are just six among the top 95.
Most surprising player: Casey Schmitt has been the Giants' best hitter (.855 OPS). Hitting .296 with 16 homers and seven steals, he offers the balanced profile that fantasy managers covet. And with four eligible positions (1B/2B/3B/OF), Schmitt is among the easiest players to fit into a lineup.
Most disappointing player: Manny Machado is off to a miserable start (.625 OPS). His strikeout rate is up, and his quality of contact is down. Machado's .179 average is really hurting those in category formats.
Over-rostered player: For years, Alex Bregman (92%) found fantasy success as a high-volume accumulator rather than someone who dominated categories. He hasn't adjusted well to being a member of the Cubs and likely lacks the upside to burn those who move on from him in shallow leagues.
Under-rostered player: Curtis Mead (18%) has become the starting third baseman in an offense that ranks first in runs scored. The 25-year-old is an underrated power source (12 HR in 194 AB) who makes enough contact to have a respectable average (.227 xBA).
Outfield: Concerning
Fantasy managers are wondering where all the outfielders have gone. Typically one of the deepest positions, outfield is barely satisfying those in three-outfielder leagues and failing to meet the needs of managers in five-outfielder formats. There are just 29 outfielders who have been top-150 assets, and several of them are being used at weak infield positions such as second or third base. In a 12-team, five-outfielder leagues, some managers need to reach outside the top-300 assets to fill their final lineup spot.
Most surprising player: The poster child for a post-hype sleeper, Jordan Walker was a former top prospect who went undrafted in virtually every league. He has been the eighth overall asset and is the only player in baseball with an average over .285 and at least 15 homers and 10 steals.
Most disappointing player: A first-round pick in many leagues, Ronald Acuña Jr. has been limited to 53 games by injuries and didn't play his best (.793 OPS) when he was healthy. Acuña has been injured and inconsistent in recent seasons, as he has logged a sub-.800 OPS in three of the past five years but marks of 1.012 and .935 in the other two campaigns. At this point, the 28-year-old may be more of a good hitter than a great one.
Over-rostered player: Maikel García (90%) benefits from having multi-position eligibility (2B/3B/SS/OF) but the appeal ends there. The speedster has been unable to reproduce his 2025 breakout season and has thus far tallied just three homers and five steals in 68 games. His roster rate should drop by 15-20%.
Under-rostered player: Brandon Marsh (64%) has been consistently effective en route to being the 57th overall asset. He is dominating the batting average category (.311) and contributing in every area. Marsh appears to have an unsustainable .391 BABIP, but his career mark is similar (.374), which offers hope that he can finish 2026 with a .300 average.
Sunday was the summer solstice, longest day of the year.
Because of the severe meteorological conditions, it was also a Marc Weinberg kind of nighttime. The hyperventilating TV weather junkie surely set a PR for screen time, tracking tornado warnings, wind rotations, dust signatures, and admonitions for viewers to “get to your safe place NOW.”
The dude was in heaven.*
*Which peripheral mention has nothing to do with U of L hoops; I just get such an addictive kick when he’s on a roll.
Anyway, the morning after, a day a smidge shorter, arrived with a softball sized raindrop deluge that soon abated.
And then the treat. A first hint of what’s ahead. A hoopaholic’s heart was full.
Pat Kelsey and some of his/our still mysterious team were having a presser.*
*I inquired of SID Dana Brown if we of the Fourth and Fifth Estates might get a peek at an actual workout, like being able to see Bo (Bojuan Zhang) and his mates actually ball? “I’m working on something for July,” said she.
There’s rarely much of true substance one can gain for some such Q & As. It’s more about getting a feel for the situation. Getting a sense of Kelsey’s ever rah rah state of mind. The character of the players provided.
* * * * *
It has been clear that the addition of two new Associate Head Coaches — Sean Dixon and John Andrzejek — and the roster construction dynamics required inquiring whether PK was undergoing some strategic and philosophical shift?
In a revelatory moment, he stated he took “an intentional approach to increase our length, our athleticism, and in particular our rim protection.”
Goodbye reticent Sananda Fru. Hello Flory Bidunga, Obinna Ekezie Jr., Gabe Dynes, Alvaro Fogueiras, and Karter Knox.
The Coach also shared that he “self evaluates on a drill by drill basis.”
* * * * *
There are roster spots still available.
PK: “We are always beating the bushes globally.”
(I’m advised that after cutting bait with last year’s redshirt Mo Camara, who committed to EKU, Kelsey made entreaties to the player to return. Which were rejected.)
* * * * *
He was asked about each player, and, frankly, the responses were the usual borderline platitudinal palaver. Minimal insight to be honest.
Great speed. Underrated passer. incredible assist/ turnover ratio. Well coached before he got here. Shot maker. Triple threat. Mature beyond his years.
Except for two players, about which there was illuminating insight.
Isaac Ellis.
“He’s a bulldog,” PK said with glee in his eyes.
“I think he leads the country in practice fights to this point so far.
“If he’s tied up for a loose ball, you’re going to have to saw his arm off to get him off the ball — or blow the whistle 8,000 times.”
When Ellis’s name was mentioned, the players we had access to — Bidunga, Jackson Shelstad, Adrian Woooley, Karter Knox — to the man either rolled his eyes, kind of smirked, or looked at each other knowingly.
Which is to say, Ellis has made an impression.
Will Hanke.
Yes, the walk on from St. X. The guy who got mop up duty in ten games last campaign. One bucket. A few boards.
But here’s why.
PK: “Will’s the connector of all connectors.”
With a put together total makeover of a squad, that’s leadership.
Both Bidunga and Shelstad, obviously the team leaders, gave a shout out to Hanke.
Contributions to the good of the whole take different forms. Hanke’s isimportant and critical.
* * * * *
My main takeaway of the morning, what got me more excited than anything about the season ahead — not that it takes much — the presence of Bidunga and Shelstad. The sense of their character.
They are both quite articulate — though Bidunga has a heavy accent — obviously bright, and mature.
Together on the rostrum, they also seem to have developed a bond.
Asked if they were kind of a package deal, since they visited on the same weekend and committed at the same time, Shelstad advised they weren’t really.
I observe, from the answer, the two sensed at some point it would be beneficial to play together.
They’d known each other in HS and through camps.
I also loved how Bidunga showed some friendly snark to a reporter when he was asked about his Derby experience.
I, being totally smitten with the incredible World Cup going on, had to ask the native of Kinshasa, DR Congo, if he’d been following the soccer?
Replying with mock horror, he “stared” at me and shot back, “Where do you think I’m going to be on Saturday?”
Correct answer: Atlanta. DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan.
* * * * *
Before I close this out, I’ll share the question I came oh so close to asking Kelsey, but in a fit of level-headedness, opted not to.
“Coach, what’s it like to coach college players who are making more money than you are?”
Kyle Busch Just Won a Maine Moose Hunting Permit, Which Is a Hell of a Way to Find Out He's Been Gone a Month
Bureaucracy, as a rule, does not read the obituaries. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife proved that beautifully over the weekend when it announced the winners of its 2026 Moose Permit Lottery and, nestled among 2,645 lucky recipients of an antlered-moose permit, was one Kyle Busch of Denver, North Carolina.
If that name rings a bell, it should. Busch was a two-time Cup Series champion who won more races than anyone across NASCAR's three national series. He was also, as of about a month ago, deceased. The man died unexpectedly at 41 after a bout of severe pneumonia spiraled into sepsis, and yet the great cold machinery of a state lottery system chugged right along and handed him the right to go shoot a moose this fall.
There is something darkly perfect about it. Busch built an entire career on showing up where he wasn't expected and beating the locals at their own game. He won Maine's signature race, the Oxford 250, fifteen years ago. He kept coming back to Oxford Plains Speedway long after he had nothing left to prove there, running super late models in the Celebration of America 300 last July for the second year running, and turning up for the inaugural Memorial Day Clash 200 the May before that.
"It's always fun," he told WMTW last summer about his Oxford runs, the kind of quote that hits different when you read it back now. He liked the cars, he liked the stout field, he liked a good hard-fought race. So of course Maine, in its infinite procedural wisdom, decided to keep the man on the guest list.
To be clear, nobody at IF&W did anything malicious here. Lottery databases don't cross-check against death certificates, and an out-of-state entry from North Carolina isn't going to set off any alarms in Augusta. The permit will presumably be quietly reassigned once someone with a pulse and a calendar connects the dots. But for one weekend at the Acton Fairgrounds, Kyle Busch was officially cleared to hunt antlered moose in the state of Maine, which is the most Kyle Busch outcome imaginable: winning something one last time, in a place he loved, after the checkered flag had already dropped.
Rowdy never did need permission to crash the party. Turns out he doesn't need to be alive for it, either.
AMD Software 26.6.2 is causing issues for Windows 10 users AMD has confirmed an issue that’s affecting Windows 10 users with a Radeon GPU and AMD Software 26.6.2. For some users, AMD Software is failing to launch on Windows 10 systems, with the software claiming that it is incompatible with the OS. For now, AMD […]
The Razer Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC has been my go-to controller since I first opened its box. Prior to this, I'd been using the regular Wolverine V3 Pro, which also has Xbox compatibility, but the 8K version is something else. The best performance you can get.
But its price was always a sticking point. After all, $200 is a lot of money for a controller. But in swoops Prime Day to knock that down by $50, so you can now (and should) buy one from Amazon for just $149.99.
The fastest possible tech inside Razer's already superb Wolverine V3 design makes this the controller to beat for competitive gamers on PC. The price is normally a big ask, but with this Prime Day discount it's a no-brainer.
I've played about 600 hours of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 with this controller (feel free to tell me how much of my life I've wasted in the comments), and I wouldn't use anything else.
For one, it's laid out like an Xbox controller, which I still find the most comfortable. I've tried using the Razer Raiju V3 Pro with the PS5 layout, which is also an excellent controller, but I come back to the Wolverine V3 Pro 8K every time.
It ticks all the boxes. It has TMR thumbsticks; it has delightfully clicky mouse switch buttons and rear paddles, and crucially, it doesn't lose performance when you use it wirelessly versus wired.
8,000Hz is the fastest you can buy on any controller right now out of the box without having to use third-party tools to overclock. For competitive games such as Call of Duty, Apex Legends, and Battlefield 6, the faster the better. It's hard to quantify, but I can feel a difference if I go back to the regular Wolverine V3 Pro at only 1,000Hz.
To get the maximum speed, you do need a beefy CPU, and you need fast enough USB ports. It's not a big drag on the CPU, but the higher the polling rate, the more work it needs to do, so you do need to ensure you have the headroom not to affect your games.
But this is still my favorite controller, and sure, it's PC only. But now it's down to $150 I can't see any good reason not to recommend you pick one up. It's that good. Prime Day only lasts the rest of this week, so take advantage of this new lowest ever price while you can.
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
Geekom is one of the brands that we trust most when it comes to mini PCs, and I'm not just saying that; it's a trust built on in-house reviews and testing over the course of a few years.
While mini PCs are always a great option for anyone looking to score a desktop at an affordable price, events like Amazon's Prime Day always tend to bring some of the lowest prices of the year to the forefront.
Such is the case this year, with Geekom mini PCs starting as low as $371 after a hefty discount. I rounded up 7 top Geekom deals with PCs that suit a wide range of users.
"Unless you run CAD or other demanding software, the A5 has sufficient power and memory to handle typical office needs. It can be easily upgraded to accommodate more storage if that’s an issue, and you can attach multiple external drives using USB." — Mark Pickavance
"The A5 Pro's all-aluminium build, dual-channel RAM, 2.5GbE networking, and SD card reader make it one of the most practical machines at this size. The 20W Ryzen 5 handles office work and light creative tasks quietly and capably, just don't expect it to tackle 4K video or any real gaming." — Alastair Jennings
"The Geekom A6 is on the more affordable side of the PC world, providing a computer that can handle basic tasks for less than $600. While not a powerhouse, it offers solid performance, plenty of ports, and even some limited upgradeability for memory and storage. Plus, it comes with a VESA mount, so you can tuck it out of sight for a minimalist look if you prefer." — Rebecca Spear
"Its most recent accomplishment was to notice a gap between the A9 Max and the A8 AI, which could easily be filled by a model with the connectivity of the former but the performance and price of the latter. The result is the new A7 Max, a £600, give or take, box with more AI ports than you can shake a stick at, room for more RAM, and running on an AMD Ryzen 9 chipset." — Alun Taylor
"Having used the A7 and A8 extensively, the only limitation I can think of is that they have a solitary M.2 slot. There isn't much else that is missing on either model, and they both deliver standout performance in day-to-day productivity tasks as well as demanding image and video editing workflows." — Harish Jonnalagadda
"The stylish matte aluminium aesthetics make it the perfect accessory for any design studio, but this Mini PC is far more than just looks. A powerful processor, GPU, and NPU provide enough to make it a viable option for editing video, images, music, and more." — Alistair Jennings
"The Geekom A9 Max is, by all accounts, a premium mini PC. With top-tier hardware inside, be it for regular work or more intensive scenarios such as AI and gaming, it just eats it up. Toss in expandable RAM and storage, and I'm left asking why we would even bother with a full-size desktop anymore." — Richard Devine
Geekom's IT13 MAX is an evolution of the IT13 we tested and reviewed, designed to offer superior performance, a wider selection of ports, faster RAM, and faster Wi-Fi. If you prefer an Intel PC with an included NPU for AI work, this is a great way to go.
Which discounted Geekom mini PC should I choose on Prime Day?
The answer to which discounted Geekom mini is right for you depends, of course, on your specific needs.
Those who simply need a capable mini PC to handle general tasks like email, web browsing, streaming, Word, Excel, and the like will be able to get away with spending the least money.
In this case, the Geekom A5 — discounted from $437 to $371 — makes a lot of sense thanks to its AMD Ryzen 5 7430U CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB M.2 SSD. The Geekom A6, discounted from $649 to $524, also makes sense if you want a metal chassis, a faster CPU, improved cooling, and USB4 ports.
On the other end of the spectrum is the Geekom A9 Max, featuring a cutting-edge AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 CPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and 2TB of M.2 SSD storage. It's comparatively pricey even with a 15% discount, but it's the right choice for gaming and AI workloads.
Geekom's A8 mini PC is my personal top pick out of the 7 discounted models I rounded up. (Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Windows Central)
My personal pick for those shopping during Prime Day is the Geekom A8, sitting near the middle of the pack to balance performance, features, and cost.
Right now, a model with an AMD Ryzen 7 8745HS CPU, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD costs $585 rather than the usual $689. Its memory and storage are both upgradeable after purchase, and the Ryzen chip is rather capable thanks to its 8 cores and 4.9GHz boost clock.
Windows Central's Harish Jonnalagadda reviewed both the Geekom A7 and A8 at the same time, handing them a Best Award and 4.5 stars. He noted,
"Having used the A7 and A8 extensively, the only limitation I can think of is that they have a solitary M.2 slot. There isn't much else that is missing on either model, and they both deliver standout performance in day-to-day productivity tasks as well as demanding image and video editing workflows."
These Geekom deals are expected to run from June 23 until June 26, so don't wait too long if one catches your eye. It's also worth mentioning that deal prices seem to fluctuate depending on stock availability, so early birds might get a better price.
Microsoft is now selling new configurations of the Surface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch with 8GB RAM in an attempt to quell the ongoing component pricing crisis that has seen the cost of Surface PCs skyrocket in recent months. These new affordable models will now start at $849 for the Surface Pro and $949 for the Surface Laptop.
Outside of the new RAM configuration, nothing else is new with these devices. These are still the 1st Edition models of the Surface Pro 12-inch and Surface Laptop 13-inch, powered by Qualcomm's now last-gen Snapdragon X Plus, along with 256GB of storage. These devices originally launched with 16GB RAM at $799 and $899, but saw price hikes to over $1,000 earlier this year.
Now that Microsoft has introduced models with less RAM, the company has been able to bring pricing back below $1,000. The company has been working to ensure Windows 11 is better optimized to run on devices with less than 16GB RAM, including disabling things like Widgets and other under the hood optimizations.
Of course, these new configurations also don't have any Copilot+ PC AI capabilities, as one of the requirements for that is a minimum of 16GB RAM. That means Windows 11 will be lighter right out of the gate, as it doesn't have to deal with all the advanced AI features that ship as part of PCs with higher RAM configurations.
Microsoft will continue to sell models with 16GB RAM for those who want to splash out on something a little more capable, but for many who just need a computer for basic tasks and workflows, the 8GB configurations should be fine enough. The good news is if you're not sure if 8GB is enough, the Microsoft Store offers a 60 day return policy, giving you plenty of time to buy the device and try it out before committing.
The new 8GB RAM options only appear to apply to the midrange Surface Laptop 13-inch and Surface Pro 12-inch. The flagship Surface Laptop 8th Generation and Surface Pro 12th Generation are not currently available with 8GB RAM configurations, meaning they still start with 16GB RAM for $1,499.
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
If you told me a year ago that an Intel‑powered gaming handheld would be sitting on my desk in 2026, absolutely clowning AMD’s best silicon, I’d have told you to lay off the spice. Yet here we are. Computex 2026 teased it, Cale Hunt went hands‑on, and now the retail MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ is in front of me.
Let’s be honest: MSI’s first handheld felt like a prototype that slipped out the side door. Instead of giving up, MSI regrouped, teamed up with Intel, and came back with a device that blows past every expectation.
But before we go any deeper, we need to talk about the price. Global supply chain chaos has sent high‑density RAM and NAND costs into orbit, and premium hardware is paying the bill. In a sane market, this machine would likely land around $1,299. Instead, it’s $1,799 at Best Buy—firmly in ultra‑premium territory.
Is it worth the jump? Let’s break it down.
MSI and Intel had no input, nor did they see the contents of this review prior to publication.
Specs and Configuration Options
The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ brings next-gen Intel performance, but also this-gen extreme pricing. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
Under the hood, MSI has radically re-architected its core layout, abandoning general-purpose laptop chips to pivot entirely to handheld-optimized architecture.
MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ specs
Processor
Intel Arc G3 Extreme
Display
8-inch IPS touchscreen 500 nits, 100% sRGB
Resolution
1920 x 1200 16:10
Refresh rate
Up to 120Hz VRR
Memory
Up to 32GB dual-channel LPDDR5x
Storage
Single NVME M.2 SSD slot
Ports
2x Thunderbolt 4 MicroSD Express 3.5mm Combo
Controls
Hall effect sticks and triggers
Haptics
New high-end linear motor
Design
Redesigned chassis with updated grips
Battery
80Wh battery
Connectivity
Bluetooth Core 6.0 with LE Audio Intel Wi-Fi 7 R2
Price
$1,799
Release date
June 23, 2026
Design, Ergonomics, and Upgradeability
The side grips are based on Xbox controller designs and are therefore extremely ergonomic. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
The physical layout of the Claw 8 EX AI+ is a massive love letter to Xbox fans. MSI completely reshaped the side chassis into a beautifully sloped, flared grip design that heavily mimics the curvature of an official Xbox controller. It contours perfectly to the natural resting shape of your hands, making extended, multi-hour gaming sessions an absolute breeze.
On top, you have exhaust and intake vents, a headphone jack, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a micro SD, volume rockers, and a recessed combo fingerprint reader and power button. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
Even better, the actual weight distribution is the sweet spot. Coming in at 785 grams, the Claw 8 EX AI+ feels surprisingly nimble in the hands. When compared directly to the behemoth scale of something like the Lenovo Legion Go 2 at 854g/1.88lbs (it has a kickstand for a reason, folks)—which goes out of its way to adopt a massive, thick, and substantially heavy tablet aesthetic to accommodate its 8.8-inch display.
The MSI variant is vastly easier to slip into a travel bag without feeling like you packed a concrete brick. (Trust me, I've ditched Legion Go 2 for travel multiple times, but it's awesome on the couch).
MSI's layout isn't just a minor iteration; it's a structural masterclass in how an 8-inch handheld should actually fit inside a pair of human hands.
On the upgrade front, MSI has finally listened to reviewers. The storage slot has graduated to a full-sized M.2 2280 slot, meaning you aren’t locked into paying premium prices for tiny, obscure storage drives. Pop out six standard Phillips head screws on the back shell cover, and you can swap out the internal SSD in less than five minutes.
RAM, however, is integrated, but 32GB should be enough.
Display
(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
The Claw 8 EX AI+’s 8‑inch screen is one of the system’s strongest components. MSI uses a roomy 16:10 panel at a crisp FHD+ (1920x1200), giving you about 38% more usable space than comparable 7‑inch handhelds—huge for readability and UI-heavy games.
The IPS-level touchscreen hits 500 nits and covers 100% of sRGB for vivid, accurate color. Its standout feature, though, is native VRR from 48Hz to 120Hz, letting the display track fluctuating frame rates in real time to eliminate tearing and micro‑stutters for consistently smooth gameplay.
The MSI Center M, which brings all your games together, is simple but gets the job done (mostly). (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
At this price tier, the lack of an OLED panel is the one obvious drawback. If you bounce between this and a Steam Deck OLED, you’ll notice the missing infinite contrast and true blacks in a dark room. But once you’re actually in a game and pushing high, stable refresh rates, the brightness and responsiveness take over. The gray floors fade from your mind, and the experience becomes all about the smooth, fast motion on screen.
Buttons, Joysticks, and Elite Audio
Dual front speakers are way better than I had expected. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
Controls are a premium highlight here. MSI went all-in on specialized Hall-Effect analog sticks and triggers. Because they utilize magnetic positioning instead of physical carbon contacts, the threat of stick drift is permanently eradicated. The action on the triggers feels smooth and progressively weighted, while the face buttons feature beautifully rounded edge boundaries to keep your thumbs from feeling sore after hammering out combos.
Hall-Effect analog sticks and triggers felt A+ to me in testing. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
The standard directional pad also received a massive overhaul, implementing a tactile metal dome component underneath the casing. It delivers an incredibly clicky, distinct feedback loop that completely wipes away the mushy, missed-input sensations from past generations.
There's no capacitive touchpad for mouse cursor control in Windows or precision aiming. Do I care? No, I turned it off on Legion Go 2, but I get how some people want it, so I'm mentioning it here.
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Perhaps the biggest surprise, though, is the acoustic and haptic transformation. Historically, speakers and vibrating feedback have been clear weak points across MSI’s portable portfolio. Not anymore. The dual 2W speaker array outputs genuine, punchy high-res audio that maintains depth even at high volume levels.
Paired with an upgraded Voice Coil Motor (VCM) driving refined HD haptics, the physical immersion matches anything currently on the market.
With Bluetooth Core 6.0 and LE Audio onboard, pairing wireless earbuds like the Galaxy Buds4 delivers low‑latency, battery‑friendly audio with no noticeable delay. The Claw 8 EX AI+ also supports Windows 11 Super Wideband Stereo, so your sound won’t collapse into muddy mono when you’re using a mic for in‑game chat. And with Shared Audio broadcasting, you can stream to multiple compatible earbuds at once with zero hassle.
Performance: Intel Arc G3 Extreme Crowned King
That Intel B390 is doing some heavy lifting. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
As a nerdy refresher, the Intel Arc G3 Extreme is Intel's very first purpose-built SoC engineered from the ground up specifically for handheld gaming form factors. Rather than simply shoving a generic, power-hungry laptop processor into a portable shell, Intel completely re-architected this silicon to optimize the power-to-performance ratio at typical handheld wattages. It cleverly shifts the hardware balance directly toward graphics throughput by scaling up to 12 Xe-cores on its Xe3-based B390 GPU while dropping the heavy CPU core count down to just two performance cores. This intentional asymmetry leaves massive thermal and electrical headroom for its 96 integrated XMX AI Engines to work their upscaling magic.
Better yet, the chip introduces Intelligent Bias Control (IBC) v3.5. This proprietary firmware engine perfectly optimizes power sharing between the CPU and GPU, and it even utilizes a clever trick called "P-core parking" to turn off the power-hungry performance cores entirely at 14W and under, ensuring your battery juice goes where it matters most: pumping out maximum frame rates.
For the past few years, AMD has comfortably monopolized premium mobile gaming graphics, but Intel’s new XeSS architecture drops an absolute tactical nuke on that narrative.
3DMark Time Spy & Synthesis Testing
(Image credit: Future)
Look at our lab-tested benchmarks below:
MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ (Intel Arc G3 Extreme):6,726
ASUS Xbox Ally X (Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme): 4,029
MSI Claw 8 AI+ (Intel Core Ultra 7 258V): 3,882
Lenovo Legion Go 2 (Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme): 3,795
A score of 6,726 on a handheld profile is a jaw-dropping result, representing an aggregate jump that flies completely past AMD's flagship Z2 Extreme silicon.
3DMark Fire Strike & Torture Run Results
(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
To push this chip further, I threw the classic Fire Strike benchmark at the Arc B390 GPU. The results speak for themselves:
Fire Strike Overall Score:13,340
Graphics Score:16,735
Physics Score:24,513
The monitoring loop stayed remarkably consistent, and 3DMark’s integrated engine estimates real-world game performance for titles like Battlefield V at a smooth 120+ FPS at 1080p Ultra settings.
Geekbench 6 Compute & General Performance
Geekbench 6 chart showing the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ leading with a multi-core score of 13,210 and single-core score of 2,574, beating competitors like the Xbox Ally X. (Image credit: Future)
The AI Engine acts as the device's intelligent, set-and-forget autopilot, leveraging real-time behavioral analysis to dynamically adjust power settings and hardware configurations (defaulting to a flexible 25W ceiling during gaming) to maximize performance on the fly.
In stark contrast, Endurance mode is a highly restricted efficiency preset designed strictly to squeeze out every drop of battery life. While the AI Engine dynamically scales performance upwards to match the game's demands, shifting to Endurance mode clamps the platform down to a rigid 15W target and automatically triggers Intel’s Endurance Gaming profile, enforcing a stable 30 FPS cap on battery to extend your playtime up to 11 hours on lighter titles.
Here's what that looks like in Geekbench:
Intel's AI Engine (auto) versus Endurance Mode for performance on the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+. (Image credit: Future)
MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ (Intel G3 Extreme - AI Engine): Multi-Core: 13,210 / Single-Core: 2,574
Even under a highly restricted energy curve, the restricted multi-core target hits 10,129, keeping processing capability completely clear of bottleneck thresholds.
Turning to the SSD, storage performance is similarly blinding, with CrystalDiskMark validating peak sequential read limits hitting a clean 6,997 MB/s.
Intel XeSS Feature Test & In-Game Frame Rates
Keep it simple: Intel/MSI's AI Engine, Endurance, and Manual settings make the Claw mostly set-it-and-forget-it. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
The true magic happens when you leverage Intel's hardware-level AI upscaling. Running the native 3DMark Intel XeSS Feature Test (using XeSS 1.3.1 Balanced at a 2.0x scaling factor) shows exactly what the architecture is capable of:
XeSS Off: 26.82 FPS
XeSS On: 51.80 FPS
Performance Explosion:+93.2%
Real-world gaming translates perfectly to these synthetic gains. Launching the graphically punishing 007 First Light with the console dialed directly into its integrated AI Engine mode, I ran natively at full 1920x1200 resolution at High settings and consistently locked down a blisteringly fast 130+ FPS when plugged in.
Getting "157 FPS" and even going into the 200s in LEGO Batman is possible thanks to Intel's XeSS Multi-Frame Generation (XeSS-MFG) engine (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
How is 150 FPS beneficial on a physical 120Hz panel profile? It comes down to Intel's XeSS 3 Multi-Frame Generation (XeSS-MFG) engine. The chip utilizes internal AI matrices to interpolate synthetic smoothing frames directly between every traditionally rendered frame. Because the platform features a hardware-level Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) window extending up to 120Hz, pushing frames above the panel refresh ceiling completely eliminates frame delivery micro-stuttering, ensuring ultra-responsive inputs and perfect pacing.
Of course, results for XeSS will vary based on the game (if it's supported), whether you're plugged in, and what modes (including custom) you have set. I did have some mixed results with DOOM: The Dark Ages, which was running above 60 FPS one night, but fell below 30 on the next level despite XeSS being enabled.
Benchmarks from the game Cyberpunk 2077 running on the Claw 8 EX AI+ with Intel XeSS. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
To understand how big a leap Intel’s Arc G3 Extreme really is, look at this custom Cyberpunk 2077 benchmark. On AMD handhelds like the ROG Ally X or Legion Go 2, turning on ray tracing usually drops you into a sub‑30 FPS slideshow even at a soft 720p. Here, the Claw 8 EX AI+ is running at its full 1920×1200 resolution on the Ray Tracing: Low preset with XeSS Super Resolution 2.0 set to Auto, and it still averages 46.6 FPS with a minimum of 38.1 FPS.
See a clip from Cyberpunk 2077 with the above settings on the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ below:
This is where the Arc B390 GPU and its 12 dedicated Ray Tracing Units show their advantage. Instead of choking on ray‑traced shadows and lighting, the G3 Extreme architecture handles the workload with an efficiency AMD’s current mobile silicon cannot match.
Holding a stable, genuinely playable 40+ FPS at 1200p with ray tracing enabled is unheard of for any other handheld today, and it proves Intel did not just build a faster chip. They built a smarter one.
(Image credit: Future)
When you stack the Claw up against Valve’s Steam Machine, the hardware contrast becomes even more fascinating. Looking at the benchmark breakdown above, both devices run neck-and-neck in single-core metrics (a 2,574 for the Claw versus a 2,579 for the Steam Machine's Custom APU), but the Intel Arc G3 Extreme leaves Valve in the absolute dust on multi-threaded workloads, flexing an eye-watering multi-core score of 13,210 over the Steam Machine’s 8,680. This doesn't even account for the GPU difference, which will also favor Intel.
Unfortunately, much like the Claw, the Steam Machine (starting at $1,049) is a premium engineering marvel suffering from historically terrible macroeconomic timing—both launched directly into a brutal global supply crunch that bloated retail pricing, making a direct cost comparison a bit of an exercise in wallet masochism. It's a cosmic shame that, through no fault of their own, bad timing and bloated component markets might prevent casual players from seeing just how hard this new Intel portable silicon kicks.
Manual Mode: For the Tinkers (But You Really Don't Need It)
(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
For the hardware purists who insist on micromanaging their silicon, MSI Center M includes a robust Manual mode that unlocks granular sliders for the chip's PL1 and PL2 power levels.
For the uninitiated, PL1 (Power Limit 1) dictates the maximum sustained wattage the processor can draw during long-term gameplay, while PL2 (Power Limit 2) establishes the absolute ceiling for short-term burst power. In Manual mode, you can crank PL1 up to 35W and push PL2 to a blistering 45W to squeeze every single drop of performance out of a heavy title—just make sure PL2 stays at least 2W higher than PL1 so Intel’s power management algorithms don't choke. Alternatively, you can drop them into the single digits to slam the brakes on power consumption for lighter indie titles.
However, a quick note for the average reader: I rarely ever touched Manual mode. I use a gaming handheld to actually play games, not to spend 30 minutes acting like an IT admin configuring power registries before launching a level. Thankfully, you don't have to. The default AI Engine setting is brilliantly "set it and forget it," handling the heavy lifting and power shifting so smoothly on the fly that it renders manual tweaking strictly optional for anyone who values their free time.
But hey, cool on Intel and MSI for making it easy to go all out and tweak the chip!
Thermals and Fan Noise
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High performance doesn't mean a melted chassis. Thanks to MSI's custom Cooler Boost HyperFlow architecture (love these names, btw)—which seals internal pathways to draw cold air directly over hotspots while isolating grip boundaries—this device stays remarkably chilly.
Front grip surface area:96.3°F or 35.7°C (Perfect comfort territory)
Rear grip chassis boundary:92°F or 33.3°C (Literally cooler than your own body temperature)
Display base intersection hotspot:106.5°F or 41.4°C (Warm to the touch, but completely out of micro-stuttering finger range)
Recessed exhaust vent interior:130°F or 54.4°C (Where the actual dragon spirit lives, safely away from your hands)
The physical thermal reading confirms your hands remain entirely cool, completely isolated from internal hotspots. While the localized zone at the very base of the display glass reads at 106.5°F, it remains warm rather than hot, safely out of reach during normal use.
Even measuring directly inside the deep-set cooling channels yields 130°F, yet the felt air volume dissipates cleanly away from you. The internal acoustic profile is equally stellar: the dual fans emit a gentle, low-frequency airflow "whoosh" instead of a whiny, high-pitched jet engine shriek.
Software, Connectivity, and the Mini-PC Hybrid Trick
MSI Center M launcher makes accessing your entire gaming library easy. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
MSI Center M has matured beautifully, but can still be a bit awkward, and I hope to see some improvements (I may end up adding Winhanced at some point). The software utility integrates seamlessly across massive digital clients including Steam, Xbox, Epic, and Battle.net. It's simple and basic, but the whole Windows 11/launcher/various gaming libraries thing/switching is still a bit underbaked, but making improvements.
Triggering the native full-screen Xbox mode layout overlay brings up a clean, translucent quick-access console dashboard that only handles half the panel layout, avoiding disruptive gameplay pauses. They did a great job here.
From this single overlay window, a user can instantly adjust hardware properties:
(Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
Swap operational profiles on the fly between AI Engine, Endurance, or full user-defined Manual tuning controls.
Purge non-essential active memory via Free Up Memory sweeps.
Fire up high-bitrate screen recording capture or toggle ambient Mystic Light RGB analog stick arrays.
The long‑standing Windows Modern Standby curse is finally gone. As far as I can tell, putting the Claw 8 EX AI+ to sleep with the fingerprint/power button triggers a proper hibernate state, or rather, the buttons/triggers/joystick don't wake it. But when I hit that button, it stays off and standby battery drain was minimal, which is a nice change.
The fingerprint reader can be a little picky about angle, but once you get the feel for it, it’s fast and consistent.
Intel's Wi-Fi 7 R2 on here is a beast. I have a Wi-Fi 7 router (TP-Link Tri-Band BE19000), and this thing just sucked down so much data when downloading big games like Cyberpunk 2077 that it even affected my TV streaming. Good stuff.
Dual fans keep the back of the MSI Claw exceptionally cool even during the most strenuous games. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
My only gripe is that, for some reason, my Xbox games are not showing up in MSI Center M, though I can, of course, access them via the Xbox app. I chalk this up to some early bugs, and hopefully some updates will iron those out.
The Ultimate Dual-Use Mini-PC Killer
(Image credit: Future)
Because this is an Intel architecture design instead of AMD, you get dual full-bandwidth Thunderbolt 4 ports. This unlocks a highly lucrative dual-use scenario. Dropping the Claw 8 EX AI+ onto a single-cable desk setup completely transforms the handheld experience into a premium desktop workstation environment.
When stacked up against custom high-end discrete desktop boxes like the Geekom A9 Max AI Mini PC (which utilizes mobile AMD Ryzen AI architecture), the Claw 8 EX AI+ matches or exceeds its functional productivity output while preserving complete, uncompromised on-the-go portability. It's a phenomenally versatile desktop replacement machine.
While the A9 Max AI outpaces the Arc G3 Extreme in CPU (see above), I'm confident the reverse will be true for GPU performance and the Intel B390 (we'll try to get some actual comparisons in an update to this).
Battery Life
When set to Endurance and 45% display brightness, the Claw gets around 3.5 hours on PCMark 10's Gaming Workload battery test. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
The massive 80Whr ultra-capacity battery module integrated inside the shell handles power delivery exceptionally well.
Testing the console under heavy loads while running on the custom Endurance Mode setting—which dynamically caps rendering properties and shifts core priority to energy-efficient architecture—and maintaining screen brightness at a very vivid 45% setting (roughly 225 nits of total display output), the platform delivered a solid 3.5 hours of continuous triple-A gameplay. Switching over to casual indie titles or retro emulation easily pushes the operational lifespan past the 5-hour mark.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy It?
Expensive? Yes. Also, the best gaming handheld today? Also yes. (Image credit: Daniel Rubino)
Look, if your bank account can handle the entry point and you are looking for absolute top-tier, uncompromised technical performance in a highly ergonomic package, yes, absolutely buy it. Intel and MSI have created a generational performance jump that sets a brand-new benchmark for portable PC gaming. The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ is friggin' awesome.
If you're a normal working Joe, then of course not; that'd be financially irresponsible.
And that's my only real regret with the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+: a vast majority of gamers won't be able to experience it. This device is THE watershed milestone our portable community has spent years waiting for—a true, uncompromised hardware revelation where you can load a visually dense, modern triple-A blockbuster and play it at 100+ FPS in the palm of your hand without a single structural sacrifice.
MSI and Intel have finally delivered the holy grail payload we've been begging for from day one. It is an absolute masterpiece of engineering brilliance, hitting the market at a time when raw component pricing is absolutely screwing it up. If you have the enthusiast means to jump on it, don't hesitate. This is the future, right now.
MSI
Claw 8 EX AI+
The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ is a high‑end Windows gaming handheld built for serious performance on the move. It runs on Intel’s Arc G3 Extreme processor for smooth gameplay, fast responsiveness, and reliable power delivery. The device features a refined Void Purple finish and ergonomic, controller‑inspired grips designed for long, comfortable sessions. With upgraded hardware, improved thermals, and polished software, the Claw 8 EX AI+ delivers MSI’s most advanced handheld experience.
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540 Hz / 720 Hz Dual Frame Mode: An advanced feature that allows players to quickly adapt the monitor to the needs of different games. Players can choose between a native 540 Hz refresh rate at QHD resolution for sharper image quality, or an ultra-fast 720 Hz mode at HD resolution for exceptional motion clarity in competitive esports titles.
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The AGON PRO AGP277QKDC boasts the next-generation Tandem WOLED display, featuring QHD and HD modes. AOC Introduces AGON PRO AGP277QKDC, Featuring 1440p@540Hz and HD@720Hz Modes Using Tandem WOLED Panel The competition in the OLED segment has become fierce, and we see monitor makers now competing for high refresh rate displays that also bring the latest generation of OLED panels from popular vendors such as LG and Samsung. AOC, known for its affordable gaming monitors, has today debuted its first AGON 7 display with the next-generation Tandem WOLED panel. The display is called AGON PRO AGP277QKDC, which offers a 26.5" display […]
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Apple iOS 27 Beta 2 update is improving the messaging experience between iPhone and Samsung/Android users by adding better support for RCS features.
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With the latest change, supported reactions now display as actual emojis on both platforms. Apple has also expanded Photomoji support, allowing users on both sides to interact with the feature.
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