One Knox head coach Ian Fuller calls Denis Krioutchenkov a goal scorer. The way he found the back of the net in the 36th minute on June 13 against the New York Cosmos reflects the sentiment. In the unlikeliest of ways, Krioutchenkov stepped in front of a goalie kick by the Cosmos keeper and was rewarded with a unique bounce into the goal to help One Knox to a 3-1 win at Covenant Health Park. All three of One Knox's goals were extra-effort plays — two second-chance putbacks and an aggressive attack on the keeper."The goals were a little crazy the way they came, but we'll take them anyway," Fuller said. "Happy coach when it's an effort anything," he said. "But that's the baseline of what we are, who we are. So I expect that." Denis has scored a lot of goals this year, none are crazier than this one.#KNXvNYC#TOOK#BelieveInKnoxvillepic.twitter.com/6EiqRJG6tE— One Knoxville Sporting Club (@OneKnoxSC) June 13, 2026One Knox opened the scoring with a goal in the 19th minute. Babacar Diene received a penalty kick opportunity on a yellow card in the box by New York, and while the initial kick was saved, Diene followed his own shot and found the back of the net. New York's Lamin Jawneh had a one-on-one breakaway with Knoxville keeper Johan Garibay in the 30th minute, but after evading Garibay, Jawneh missed the equalizer chance. Krioutchenkov doubled up in the 36th minute with his unlikely strike off keeper Javier Garcia, putting One Knox ahead 2-0 in the first half. "Denis got his reward for taking that chance," Fuller said. "If he doesn't take that chance, we're still at 1-1, possibly ending 1-1. So I'm pleased he got that because he out in the hard work tonight."The Cosmos prevented a clean sheet on a right-footed strike that found the top-left corner of the net by Davide Galazzini in the 51st minute. Knoxville pushed the advantage back to two goals with a heads-up rebound shot by Mikkel Gøling. Teddy Baker fired a shot on goal after a turnover, and Garcia batted it away, but Gøling found the loose ball on cleanup duty in the 73rd minute. One Knox capped a three-match homestand with three wins after struggles to start the year at Covenant Health Park. Knoxville earns three more points to get to 27 on the season, and hits the road for Spokane Velocity FC on June 20. One Knox man of the match: Mikkel GølingGøling's first league goal came in the 73rd minute against the Cosmos. He last scored March 13 against Vistula Garfield in the U.S. Open Cup and scored five goals in 30 matches last season. Gøling's follow to Baker's strike ended the drought. "It's been long waiting," Gøling said. "I've wanted to score in a long time and had a couple chances. And finally being able to put it in the back of the net is so good. I feel so happy about that."Upcoming One Knox matches and promotions at Covenant Health Park6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 15: vs. Fort Wayne FC, Youth Club Night7 p.m. Saturday, July 18: vs. AV Alta FCTrevor McGee covers the Knoxville Smokies and One Knox SC for Knox News. Email: trevor.mcgee@knoxnews.com.This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: One Knox SC beats New York at Covenant Health Park to cap homestand

After a handful of official visits, Bra’Jon Melancon pulled the trigger on a commitment.The No. 13 ATH in the 2027 class by way of Rosedale (La.) North Iberville declared for Kansas State at the tail end of his official visit to Manhattan. The Wildcats got past Arkansas, Tulane, and others for Melancon, a two-way playmaker from The Boot projected to play cornerback for the Wildcats.“It just feels like home,” Melancon told Rivals of his commitment. “Coach AD, in particular, is from Louisiana and welcomed me with open arms,” he continued. “The staff just welcomed me and showed me a path and a plan that they had for me, and I rocked with it.”Kansas State hosted Melancon for an official visit over the weekend.The Wildcats started to surge with the three-star ATH this spring after extending an offer and turning up the heat in his recruitment.“Me and Coach AD have a strong relationship that goes back to Grambling,” Melancon said. “Him being a Louisiana guy makes it genuine.”

2026-06-14T02:22:48Z SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Nara Organics recalled its organic baby formula sold nationwide in Target stores and online Saturday after a multistate outbreak of infant botulism, federal authorities said.Three babies between 2 and 5 months became ill in April and May in California, Pennsylvania and Washington after consuming Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Powdered infant formula, which is also sold on Nara.com, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.They were hospitalized and treated with the FDA-approved treatment for infant botulism, the agency said.Infant botulism is a rare but serious illness that occurs in babies under age 1, whose gut microbiomes are immature. It is caused when infants consume bacteria with spores that produce a toxin in the gut. Symptoms include constipation, poor feeding, drooping eyelids, weak muscle tone, difficulty swallowing and breathing problems, among others. Babies who develop those symptoms need immediate medical attention. The sole treatment is BabyBIG, an IV medication made from blood plasma of people immunized against botulism.Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula makes up less than 1% of all infant formula sold in the United States, and the outbreak does not create shortage concerns for parents and caregivers, the FDA said. People who have the formula are urged to stop using it immediately, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control said in a statement. The formula is manufactured in Europe but sold only in the U.S., it added. Read More The CDC recommended that anyone with an opened can take a picture, record the lot number and use-by date and watch their infants for symptoms. “Label it ‘DO NOT USE’ and keep it stored in a safe place away from other items you feed your baby for at least a month,” the CDC said. “If no symptoms appear after a month, throw the leftover formula away.”

Brazil's Douglas Santos, left, challenges Morocco's Achraf Hakimi during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)2026-06-14T00:15:27Z EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Samba soccer this wasn’t.Facing pressure to win its first World Cup title since 2002, five-time champion Brazil was outplayed early and needed Vinícius Júnior’s 32nd-minute goal to gain a 1-1 draw against Morocco on Saturday in a pulsating, high-profile group match.“We started on a really bad note,” Vinícius said through a translator. “For certain, we got to hold on to the ball. We have to move better.”A semifinalist four years ago, Morocco had 12 shots in the first 30 minutes and went ahead on Ismael Saibari’s 21st-minute goal, a chip over goalkeeper Alisson Becker.“The team was a bit anxious at the beginning. Nerves were all over the place,” Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said through a translator. “A very imbalanced team.”Brazil evened the score 11 minutes later. Vinícius exchanged passes with Bruno Guimarães on the left flank, took a few touches to cut around Neil El Aynaoui and rifled a right-footed shot past the outstretched arm of Yassine Bounou for his 10th international goal. “We are satisfied with the draw,” Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi said. “We are not euphoric.” Fans in Brazil’s canary yellow dominated the crowd of 80,663 at MetLife Stadium — only about five sections near the south goal had fans in Morocco’s red.Seleção supporters expected the flowing, entertaining play of Pelé’s era and were subdued before Vinícius evened the score with his spectacular angled effort. Read More Brazil extended its unbeaten streak in World Cup openers to 21, including 17 wins, since a 1934 loss to Spain. No. 6 Brazil and seventh-ranked Morocco are the only top 10 teams to meet in the first round of the expanded 48-nation World Cup tournament.“We cannot lose heart,” Ancelotti said. “You don’t win a World Cup based on your first match.”Brazil plays Haiti on Friday in Philadelphia, then closes Group C against Scotland in Miami Gardens, Florida. Morocco faces Scotland in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Friday, then meets Haiti in Atlanta. Brazil star Neymar, recovering from a torn right calf, didn’t dress for the game.One hour before the match, an Uber from Times Square to the stadium, site of next month’s final, was $126.95 — up from $83.95 for advance booking for the same time Sunday.Ancelotti, the Italian who became Brazil’s first foreign World Cup coach, wore a three-piece suit with a necktie on a sunny afternoon with a 88-degree Fahrenheit (31-degree Celsius) temperature for the 6 p.m. start.Morocco went ahead after Lucas Paquetá lost control of a short pass from Roger Ibañez and knocked it off Bilal El Khannouss. It bounced to Noussair Mazraoui, who sent the ball to Brahim Díaz in the center circle.His through pass split Gabriel Magalhães and Marquinho, and Saibari ran onto the ball at the top of the arc. Alisson was slow to come off his line as Saibari scored his 10th international goal.Morocco nearly went back ahead in the ninth of 10 minutes of stoppage time. Alisson spilled Aynaoui’s long-range shot, which was headed wide, then while on the grass leaned back toward the goal and used his right hand to block Ayoube Amaimouni’s follow-up effort.“We still have to improve,” Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi said. “We have to keep the positive things. We’re going to learn from the mistakes, for sure.”___AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

You heard it here first: Scotland is at the top of Group C.After a lengthy drought, Scotland returned to the World Cup in triumphant fashion, opening the group stage with a 1-0 win over Haiti. A 28th-minute goal was all that Scotland ended up needing for the victory, as the win came despite Haiti’s desperate pushes to get an equalizer.Haitian and Scottish fans filled the stands at Gillette Stadium, excited for the chance to watch their teams return to the tournament for the first time in decades. And just after the first half hydration break, Scotland was able to break through for a goal, as John McGinn hit a beautiful shot into the back of the net off the rebound.Haiti, meanwhile, had some really excellent movement on offense, but simply couldn’t figure out how to get that last little connection to send the ball into the net. Even with all of the beautiful crosses or well-placed balls, none of Haiti’s players was quite able to finish the job. The team ended the loss with 13 shots and three offsides call in what was clearly a frustratingly fruitless match for the Grenadiers.It’s been a long, long road back to the World Cup for both teams. Scotland’s last appearance in the tournament was back in 1998, with the 28-year drought coming thanks to the incredibly competitive UEFA field.Haiti’s drought, meanwhile, is nearly twice as long: The Grenadiers last appeared all the way back in the 1974 World Cup, one of two teams returning to the tournament after a five decade-long wait. Saturday’s loss is not quite the way Haiti wanted to return after 52 years away, but the team’s talent was clear even as the final whistle blew.This story will be updated.

Real American Freestyle 10 ended in chaos after former UFC champ Khamzat Chimaev made quick work of Dillon Danis.In the main event of RAF 10 at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Chimaev and Danis went to battle on the mats after tempers flared earlier in the week when they crossed paths before the event. It didn't take long for Chimaev to score a fall on Danis in the first round. As Chimaev rose to his feet after scoring the victory, words were exchanged. Chimaev responded by kicking Danis, and all hell broke loose. The mats quickly filled Chimaev and Danis' teams as RAF officials attempted to break up the brawl before anyone was seriously hurt. Punches and kicks were thrown in the moment. Chimaev was quickly carried away from the pack by the match official and then yelled out toward the crowd.Check out video of the incident below (via X): ANOTHER MASSIVE BRAWL BREAKS OUT AT REAL AMERICAN FREESTYLE🤯😱‼️Former UFC Champion Khamzat CHIMAEV (RUS) gets the pin over Danis, but takes issue with Danis using a guillotine choke and this leads to a HUGE brawl! pic.twitter.com/Tne0JCBmEu— GlobalWrestOrder (@GlobalWresOrder) June 14, 2026This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: RAF 10: Huge brawl breaks out after Khamzat Chimaev beats Dillon Danis

MILWAUKEE (AP) — J.T. Realmuto hit a three-run homer and the Philadelphia Phillies scored five times in the sixth inning before holding on for a 9-8 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday night.Bryson Stott put the Phillies ahead 4-3 with an RBI double in the sixth. Realmuto followed with his fourth home run this season, and Bryce Harper added a sacrifice fly later in the inning.Edmundo Sosa homered early as the Phillies opened a 3-0 lead. Jhoan Duran pitched a perfect ninth for his 18th save. Jackson Chourio homered twice and went 4 for 5 with four RBIs for Milwaukee.

Later today, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will get underway. There are two matches on Thursday’s docket: Host team Mexico gets things started against South Africa, while a little later South Korea will square off with Czechia.And in short order, the other 44 teams will join the fray.Here, we are keeping track on the standings for each of the 12 groups at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. You can also learn about how tiebreakers are determined, and how the eight best third-place teams will be decided, as those teams will join the top two teams from each group in the round of 32. World Cup group standingsGroup A standingsHere are the latest Group A standings:TeamWDLGFGAGDPointsMexico10020+23South Korea10021+13Czechia00112-10South Africa00102-10Group A scheduleHere is the schedule of all matches for Group A:Thursday, June 11Mexico 2, South Africa 0South Korea 2, Czechia 1Thursday, June 18Czechia vs. South AfricaMexico vs. South KoreaWednesday, June 24South Africa vs. South KoreaCzechia vs. MexicoGroup B standingsHere are the latest Group B standings:TeamWDLGFGAGDPointsCanada0101101Bosnia and Herzegovina0101101Qatar0101101Switzerland0101101Group B scheduleHere is the schedule of all matches for Group B:Friday, June 12Canada 1, Bosnia and Herzegovina 1Saturday, June 13Qatar 1, Switzerland 1Thursday, June 18Switzerland vs. Bosnia and HerzegovinaCanada vs. QatarWednesday, June 24Switzerland vs. CanadaBosnia and Herzegovina vs. QatarGroup C standingsHere are the latest standings in Group C:TeamWDLGFGAGDPointsScotland10010+13Brazil0101101Morocco0101101Haiti00101-10Group C scheduleHere is the schedule of all matches for Group C:Saturday, June 13Brazil 1, Morocco 1Scotland 1, Haiti 0Friday, June 19Scotland vs. MoroccoBrazil vs. HaitiWednesday, June 24Morocco vs. HaitiScotland vs. BrazilGroup D standingsHere are the latest standings in Group D:TeamWDLGFGAGDPointsUnited States10041+33Türkiye0000000Australia0000000Paraguay00114-30Group D scheduleHere is the schedule of all matches for Group D:Friday, June 12United States 4, Paraguay 1Sunday, June 14Australia vs. TürkiyeFriday, June 19United States vs. AustraliaTürkiye vs. ParaguayThursday, June 25Türkiye vs. United StatesParaguay vs. AustraliaGroup E standingsHere are the latest standings in Group E:TeamWDLGFGAGDPointsGermany0000000Curaçao0000000Ivory Coast0000000Ecuador0000000Group E scheduleHere is the schedule of all matches for Group E:Sunday, June 14Germany vs. CuraçaoIvory Coast vs. EcuadorSaturday, June 20Germany vs. Ivory CoastEcuador vs. CuraçaoThursday, June 25Curaçao vs. Ivory CoastEcuador vs. GermanyGroup F standingsHere are the latest standings in Group F:TeamWDLGFGAGDPointsNetherlands0000000Japan0000000Sweden0000000Tunisia0000000Group F scheduleHere is the schedule of all matches for Group F:Sunday, June 14Netherlands vs. JapanSweden vs. TunisiaSaturday, June 20Netherlands vs. SwedenSunday, June 21Tunisia vs. JapanThursday, June 25Tunisia vs. NetherlandsJapan vs. SwedenGroup G standingsHere are the latest standings in Group G:TeamWDLGFGAGDPointsBelgium0000000Egypt0000000Iran0000000New Zealand0000000Group G scheduleHere is the schedule of all matches for Group G:Monday, June 15Belgium vs. EgyptIran vs. New ZealandSunday, June 21Belgium vs. IranNew Zealand vs. EgyptFriday, June 26New Zealand vs. BelgiumEgypt vs. IranGroup H standingsHere are the latest standings in Group H:TeamWDLGFGAGDPointsSpain0000000Cabo Verde0000000Saudi Arabia0000000Uruguay0000000Group H scheduleHere is the schedule of all matches for Group H:Monday, June 15Spain vs. Cabo VerdeSaudi Arabia vs. UruguaySunday, June 21Spain vs. Saudi ArabiaUruguay vs. Cabo VerdeFriday, June 26Cabo Verde vs. Saudi ArabiaUruguay vs. SpainGroup I standingsHere are the latest standings in Group I:TeamWDLGFGAGDPointsFrance0000000Senegal0000000Iraq0000000Norway0000000Group I scheduleHere is the schedule of all matches in Group I:Tuesday, June 16France vs. SenegalIraq vs. NorwayMonday, June 22France vs. IraqNorway vs. SenegalFriday, June 26Norway vs. FranceSenegal vs. IraqGroup J standingsHere are the latest standings in Group J:TeamWDLGFGAGDPointsArgentina0000000Algeria0000000Austria0000000Jordan0000000Group J scheduleHere is the schedule of all matches in Group J:Tuesday, June 16Argentina vs. AlgeriaWednesday, June 17Austria vs. JordanMonday, June 22Argentina vs. AustriaJordan vs. AlgeriaSaturday, June 27Algeria vs. AustriaJordan vs. ArgentinaGroup K standingsHere are the latest standings in Group K:TeamWDLGFGAGDPointsPortugal0000000DR Congo0000000Uzbekistan0000000Colombia0000000Group K scheduleHere is the schedule of all matches in Group K:Wednesday, June 17Portugal vs. DR CongoUzbekistan vs. ColombiaTuesday, June 23Portugal vs. UzbekistanColombia vs. DR CongoSaturday, June 27Colombia vs. PortugalDR Congo vs. UzbekistanGroup L standingsHere are the latest standings in Group L:TeamWDLGFGAGDPointsEngland0000000Croatia0000000Ghana0000000Panama0000000Group L scheduleHere is the schedule of all matches in Group L:Wednesday, June 17England vs. CroatiaGhana vs. PanamaTuesday, June 23England vs. GhanaPanama vs. CroatiaSaturday, June 27Panama vs. EnglandCroatia vs. GhanaWho advances to the knockout round at the World Cup?With the expansion of the field to 48 nations, the knockout round will look a little different at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.Rather than beginning with a round of 16, the knockout stage will begin with a round of 32. That’s right, 32 out of the 48 nations will advance to the knockout rounds: The top two teams in each group will be the first 24 teams, and then the other eight will be the eight best third-place teams. How do tiebreakers work at the World Cup?Finally, a word on tiebreakers at the World Cup.If two or more teams in the same group are equal on points following the group stage, a three-step process will be followed to determine tiebreakers.In the first step, the greatest number of points in the group matches between the tied teams will be applied. Then, the superior goal difference from the group matches betwen the tied teams will be applied, and finally, the greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the tied teams will be applied.If that cannot determine a tiebreaker, then the teams that are still equal will advance to step two. In this stage, the first step is the goal difference in all group matches, then the greatest number of goals in all group matches, and finally the highest team conduct score (relating to yellow and red cards) will be applied.If that does not break the tie, then the teams still equal on points will be ranked according to the most recent FIFA World Rankings.How are the third-place teams ranked?Here is how FIFA will stack the third-place teams.First, the greatest number of points in all group matches.Second, the goal difference from all group matches.Third, the number of goals scored in all group matches.Fourth, the team conduct score.If there are still ties after those four steps are applied, the teams still equal on points will be ranked according to the most recent FIFA World Rankings.

For the second year in a row, Marion Jepngetich is a first team All-American.Jepngetich, a sophomore at New Mexico, finished second to Alabama’s Doris Lemngole in Saturday’s women’s 5,000-meter final at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships.Racing at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, the Uasin Gishu County, Kenya native finished in 15 minutes and 13.01 seconds, a new personal best, trailing Lemngole’s winning time of 15 minutes and 11.71 seconds.Jepngetich placed fourth in last year’s 5K final, clocking in at 15:35.14. Pamela Kosgei – her teammate and the winner of last year’s NCAA outdoor 5K championship – finished sixth in Saturday’s race after running a 15:15.88.Jepngetich is the second Lobo to finish second in a national final at this year’s outdoor championships. Iowa State’s Mercyline Kirwa kicked past Kosgei on the final lap of Thursday’s 10K final, sending the sophomore from Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Kenya to a runner-up finish.Kosgei has now earned All-American honors eight times in her two years with the Lobos.Jepngetich’s finish caps a hugely successful week for UNM’s track program: Behind Habtom Samuel’s distance double, the Lobos’ men’s team finished the outdoor championships with 20 points in the team standings – good for 14th place – while the women’s team’s scored 19 to place 17th.Samuel won the men’s 10K title Wednesday before issuing a devastating kick on the final lap of the 5K final to complete a historic double. The junior from Keren, Eritrea won four national championships across cross country and track and field this year, one of the most remarkable seasons for any runner in program history.After Friday’s 5K final, Samuel announced his plan to return to UNM for his senior year.“Definitely,” he said in a postrace interview. “I will come back next year.”Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at @lenaweereider.

Scotland began their World Cup 2026 campaign with a vital win against Haiti that leaves them top of Group C after Brazil’s draw with Morocco on Saturday night. Steve Clarke’s side made a shaky start in Foxborough but while Haiti threatened early, it was Scotland who struck the first blow, with John McGinn bundling in after great work from both Ben Gannon-Doak and Che Adams. Both sides had chances in an end-to-end second half – with Frantzdy Pierrot heading narrowly wide and Scotland wasting some promising openings – but in the end McGinn’s goal sealed a close contest to give the Scots the three points.With the top eight best-performing third-placed sides going through to the round of 32 this summer, a win was vital for a Scotland side looking to make the knockout rounds of a World Cup for the first time, and they’re off to a good start as they bid to make history in North America.Here’s how the players rated on a famous night for Scottish football: The win takes Scotland top of Group C with one game played (Reuters)Angus Gunn, 6 - Made an unconvincing stop when tested in the first half, but did what was asked of him overall. Aaron Hickey, 6 - Looked shaky in the first half up against Ruben Providence, though cleared well from a promising chance late on. Sharpened up in the second half and could have had an assist if McGinn had done better. Jack Hendry, 7 - Was solid throughout and like Hanley was not under too stern a test, though won his duels when he needed to. Grant Hanley, 7 - Was put under pressure early on as his team made a shaky start, but never looked too troubled and made a great block late on to stop a dangerous counter-attack. Played the ball over the top that led to the only goal of the game. Both Hanley and Hendry were reliable when called upon (Getty)Andy Robertson, 6 - Constantlyoffered an outlet and helped to keep the width when McGinn drifted inside. Was rarely threatened in defence though could have offered more in attack. Ben Gannon-Doak, 8 – Lively early on, and almost got an assist as McTominay crashed an effort against the post. Created the opener – with the help of a lovely touch and run from Adams – by beating his man and firing in a great low cross. Offered a constant threat down the right, and was probably Scotland’s man of the match. Lewis Ferguson, 7 – Was reliable throughout and tidy on the ball, and kept it ticking in midfield. Rarely gave away possession on a night where some of his teammates were sloppy at times. Scott McTominay, 6 – Grew into the game but wasn’t as influential as he usually is. Probably should have scored but hit the post with the first real chance of the game. McGinn bundled in the only goal of the game after great work from Adams and Gannon-Doak (Getty)John McGinn, 7 – Scored the opening goal with a slice of fortune, but was as industrious as ever. Won free-kicks, caused problems with his runs and offered an outlet on the wing. Should have done better with a late chance and some loose passes followed as he tired, but he remains Mr. Dependable. Che Adams, 6 - Helped create the opener with a superb touch and was unlucky not to score it himself as the ‘keeper made a great save. Did not manage much else before coming off but delivered when it mattered. Lawrence Shankland, 5 – A few loose touches early on and never really got into the game before being subbed off. Perhaps one of those who will lose his place for the game against Morocco. Subs: Ryan Christie – 6, Lyndon Dykes – 6, Nathan Patterson– 6, Kenny McLean - 5, Findlay Curtis - 6

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Bridget Carleton scored 20 points, Emily Engstler made the second of two free throws with two seconds left and the Portland Fire beat the Dallas Wings 84-83 on Saturday night in Commissioner's Cup play to end a four-game losing streak.Carleton was 6 of 10 from 3-point range to help expansion Portland (7-8) to its first Commissioner's Cup win in its fifth try. Megan Gustafson had 16 points and Engstler scored 11. Sarah Ashlee Barker and Carla Leite added 10 points.Arike Ogunbowale led Dallas (8-5) with 22 points. Azzi Fudd had 18 points, Aziaha James scored 17 points, and Jessica Shepard had 13 points and 14 rebounds. The Wings are 3-2 in Cup play with two games left before the June 30 championship game between the top teams in the Eastern and Western conferences.Shepard had a three-point play to give Dallas a 76-73 lead and Fudd had a three-point play for a 83-81 lead with 19 seconds remaining. Leiter drove for a tying layup seven seconds later before Engstler won it at the foul line.Up nextWings: Host Las Vegas on Monday night.Fire: At Minnesota on Monday night.___AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Khamzat Chimaev scored a quick pinfall victory over Dillon Danis in the RAF 10 main event and then a huge brawl erupted on stage just seconds later.Recognized as one of the biggest signings to RAF, Chiamev didn’t disappoint with his wrestling after he scored a quick takedown and then rolled Danis to his back as his shoulders hit the mat. The referee quickly called the pinfall to end the match with Chimaev getting the win.But a second later, Danis was still holding onto Chimaev’s leg and that led to the former UFC middleweight champion kicking him on the ground. That was the fuse that exploded into a massive brawl with Chimaev and Danis trying to turn the wrestling match in to a street fight on stage.View this post on InstagramMembers from both teams rushed onto the mats as the brawl continued with security desperately trying to get control of the situation.It was the ugliest situation to unfold in RAF since Arman Tsarukyan punched Georgio Poullas after their first match ended with a brawl breaking out afterwards.While not totally unexpected, Chimaev and Danis managed to stay cordial throughout the RAF 10 press conference on Friday but that obviously all changed after the match on Saturday.In the end, Chimaev still got a win and Danis’ second appearance in RAF ends with a loss and a chaotic brawl breaking out with the former UFC champion.

John McGinn celebrates with Aaron Hickey after scoring for Scotland against Haiti (FRANCK FIFE)A scrappy finish by John McGinn allowed Scotland to mark their return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence with a nervy 1-0 win over outsiders Haiti on Saturday.Aston Villa captain McGinn fired in with the aid of a deflection just before the half-hour mark at the Gillette Stadium just outside Boston, which was filled to its 64,000 capacity with a majority of Scottish fans.They have travelled to the United States in large numbers to follow Scotland's first World Cup campaign since 1998, and were able to celebrate a rare victory at the tournament as they go top of Group C.It is Scotland's first win at a World Cup since a 2-1 defeat of Sweden in Italy in 1990, and a first victory at any major tournament in 30 years, since Euro 96.Steve Clarke's team are bidding to make history by reaching the knockout stages, something Scotland have never done at the World Cup.They had to hang on grimly at the end, but the victory puts them on course to get to the last 32, especially as the eight best third-placed sides will go through from the group stage.Haiti are one of the lowest-ranked sides at the tournament, at 84th in the world, and Scotland knew the importance of beating the Caribbean nation with tougher tests to come.They play Morocco at the same stadium in their next game on Friday before heading to Miami to take on Brazil. Morocco and Brazil drew 1-1 in Saturday's other Group C encounter in New Jersey.Haiti's achievement in getting to the World Cup is one of the most inspiring stories of this tournament, given the turmoil in the country which prevented the team playing qualifiers at home.- McTominay hits post -Their line-up included midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and striker Wilson Isidor, both of whom featured regularly in the English Premier League this season.But there is greater depth in the Scotland side, with the likes of McGinn, skipper Andy Robertson and Scott McTominay.The Napoli attacking midfielder, scorer of an iconic overhead kick in the decisive win over Denmark which sealed qualification, was fit to start this game after shaking off a stomach bug.McTominay almost gave a Scotland team playing in salmon pink the lead in the 17th minute, when he arrived at the edge of the area to crash a shot off the post from a Ben Gannon-Doak lay-off.Haiti were beginning to grow as a threat when Scotland took the lead on 28 minutes.Che Adams stretched the opposition defence before Gannon-Doak's ball in fell to McGinn, and his shot found the net via the outstretched leg of Bellegarde.They were unable to build on that, as Haiti forced them back and stepped up the pressure in the closing stages as they sought to avoid defeat in a World Cup game for the first time.French-born Ruben Providence was a regular threat on the wing and imposing centre-forward Frantzdy Pierrot almost equalised in the 85th minute, but his towering header went just wide.Haiti, who lost all three games in their only previous World Cup appearance in 1974, now face Brazil next in Philadelphia.as/gj

Photo by Ira L. Black - FIFA/FIFA via Getty ImagesZohran Mamdani’s World Cup ticket gesture drew praise after 1,000 New Yorkers were given an affordable route into one of the tournament’s biggest early matches.The New York City mayor celebrated with lottery winners at the first NY/NJ game of the 2026 World Cup, turning a high-profile Brazil vs Morocco match into a local access story.At a tournament already under scrutiny for ticket prices, the move landed because it put ordinary fans inside MetLife Stadium.Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty ImagesZohran Mamdani celebrates affordable World Cup ticket winnersAs Mayor Zohran Mamdani posted, “1,000 New Yorkers won our lottery for affordable tickets to the World Cup.”He then summed up the point of the gesture: “The beautiful game belongs to everyone.”The program was announced before the tournament and offered $50 tickets to New York City residents through a lottery, with free round-trip bus transportation to MetLife Stadium also included.The tickets covered several NY/NJ World Cup matches, not the final, giving local residents a real chance to attend games that would otherwise be out of reach for many families.The first match in the area was Brazil vs Morocco at MetLife Stadium, where Morocco took the lead through Ismael Saibari before Vinícius Júnior equalized in a 1-1 draw.For the winners, that meant watching Brazil’s stars and Morocco’s tournament-tested side in person rather than being priced out from home.Fans praise Mamdani but ask what affordable really meansThe reaction was mostly warm. One supporter wrote: “Love this. Seeing 1,000 working New Yorkers get a real shot at the World Cup feels good. The beautiful game should actually be for the people. Nice one, Mayor.”Another added: “I can see a future USA President ,u are doing a great job in Supporting your Community in Newyork.”The football emotion was clear too, with one fan saying: “This is what the game is all about, a leveler. NYC mayor in the stands to see Morocco Vs Brazil… It’s why we love the round leather game. Soccer is the king of sports”Another summed up the wider feeling: “This is what the World Cup should be about giving ordinary fans a chance to be part of unforgettable moments not just those who can afford expensive tickets.Football truly belongs to everyone. ⚽”There was also a fair question from one user: “What do you define as ‘affordable’?”For this program, the answer was $50 plus transport. In World Cup terms, that is exactly why the gesture stood out.Read more:iShowSpeed fires back with ‘Y’all laughing, but I’m serious’ after Draymond Green and Jayden Daniels mock 25-point claimFIFA brand restrictions go to new extremes with ‘taped over’ condiments at World Cup gameFIFA issue statement as ‘technical outage’ before World Cup penalty decision leads to ‘dictatorship’ claims

The New York Knicks won a historic championship after defeating the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday night.The Knicks secured their first championship in 53 years with a 94-90 win, kicking off wild celebrations throughout the five boroughs.Star guard Jalen Brunson delivered the win with a 45-point outburst in Texas as “Let's go Knicks” chants cascaded from the stands in San Antonio.Brunson fought back tears after the game as he tried to explain what the win meant to the city.“I have no words,” he told ESPN. “I don’t know what I’m feeling, I’m in awe, I don’t know.”

May 29, 2026; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs pitcher Joey Volchko (37) pitches against the LIU Sharks at Foley Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images Georgia rode an outstanding performance from starting pitcher Joey Volchko and some well-timed offensive explosiveness to a 7-1 victory over the Texas Longhorn tonight to advance in the College World Series.After a 45 minute rain delay Volchko and Longhorn starter Dylan Volantis got off to markedly different starts. While Volchko struck out the side in the first inning, Volantis wasn’t able to get in the groove until it was already too late. The SEC’s freshman of the year surrendered two runs in the first on a Rylan Lujo homer, then two more on a wild pitch and throwing error, and had as many hit batters as strikeouts (4 apiece) through five innings. The four runs surrendered in the opening frame would turn out to be more than enough to doom the Burnt Orange on this night.That was largely because Volchko by comparison had a night to remember under the lights at Schwab Stadium. The junior transfer from Stanford went the distance for the Diamond Dogs, striking out 15 and surrendering only 4 hits and a single walk. Volchko worked a solid fastball and a precise slider to keep the Longhorns off balance, generally staying ahead of batters all night. He was just as strong in the 9th as he had been to start the game, eliminating three Texas batters in the final frame as chants of “Just! Like! Football!” echoed among the 25,000 fans in attendance.The Bulldogs will now face off at 6:00 pm on Monday against the surprising Oklahoma Sooners, who blasted #7 seed Alabama 9-0 to send the Tide to the losers bracket with the Longhorns. The loser of that Monday matchup will head home.Go Dawgs!!!

The University of Georgia dominated the Texas Longhorns Saturday night in the double elimination round of the College World Series.The game started late due to weather in the area. The winner will have one more game to win to reach the national championship. The loser faces elimination.[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks][SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Jun 13, 2026; Omaha, NE, USA; Georgia Bulldogs starting pitcher Joey Volchko (37) throws the opening pitch against the Texas Longhorns at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images | Dylan Widger-Imagn Images Entering the Men’s College World Series, Georgia’s offense was the story for the Bulldogs. Led by Golden Spikes finalist Daniel Jackson, the Bulldogs were among the team leaders in several offensive categories this season, and led the nation with a whopping 174 home runs.And while that offense showed up Saturday night against Texas, scoring 7 runs in a 7-1 win, the big story in Omaha was the outing from starting pitcher Joey Volchko.The right-hander went the distance for Georgia, allowing four hits and one unearned run, while striking out 15 in a dominant performance. And the most impressive stat of the night from Volchko? He walked just one batter, and that came in the ninth inning on his 105th pitch of the night. Volchko showed impressive command throughout the night, particularly with his breaking stuff. He features a slider with bite, and he consistently used that early in the count to get ahead of hitters, but he also came back to it to finish hitters off late in the count. You can see that on this cutup from early in the game:Joey montage…you're welcome 🤗T4 | UGA 4, TEX 0#GoDawgs | @JoeyVolchko | 📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/xsiYPlmv9n— Georgia Baseball (@BaseballUGA) June 14, 2026But to close things out, he came back to the fastball on his final pitch of the night, a 96-mph heater to freeze cleanup hitter Temo Becerra.Complete Game ✅First CWS win in 18 years ✅#GoDawgspic.twitter.com/aAL1Sg0K8i— Georgia Baseball (@BaseballUGA) June 14, 2026It matched the 96-mph he showed on his first fastball of the game. “Honestly, things kinda slowed down for me, I was able to compete and execute pitches,” said Volchko after the win.He also pointed to his slider.“Yeah, slider, command to both sides was pretty good,” said Volchko to ESPN when asked what what pitches he had working against Texas. Here’s another look at that slider, for his tenth strikeout of the night:1️⃣0️⃣ for @JoeyVolchkoM5 | UGA 4, TEX 1#GoDawgs | 📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/4BleTLQC4z— Georgia Baseball (@BaseballUGA) June 14, 2026The real command Volchko showed came during that interview, as Tre Phelps and company draped the righty with Sour Power Candy Belts as he spoke with ESPN. It was also his first career complete game.Georgia will take on Oklahoma on Monday night, while Texas will square off with Alabama in an elimination game on Monday afternoon.

Photo by Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty ImagesBill Simmons could not believe Victor Wembanyama avoided a harsher whistle after a controversial foul on Jalen Brunson during Game 5 of the NBA Finals.The moment landed in the middle of a tense New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs game, with the Spurs trying to extend the series and the Knicks chasing a championship-clinching win.It also arrived with Wembanyama already under extra scrutiny because of his flagrant-foul situation in the postseason.Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for The Recording AcademyBill Simmons rips Victor Wembanyama no-call after Jalen Brunson foulIn a post shared by Bill Simmons on X, the longtime NBA voice reacted strongly after Wembanyama was not hit with a flagrant foul.“Absolutely horrific missed call on Wemby. Wowwwwwwwwwwwww. Cannot believe that!” Simmons tweeted.The frustration centered on contact involving Brunson, who has been the engine of New York’s Finals run. In a close, emotional Game 5, any missed or downgraded call involving him was always going to draw a loud reaction.Simmons’ post captured how quickly the play became bigger than one whistle. Wembanyama’s size and defensive reach already make every contest look dramatic, but this one was viewed by many Knicks supporters as contact that deserved a stronger ruling.Victor Wembanyama’s flagrant risk made Jalen Brunson foul bigger than one possessionThe controversy had added weight because a flagrant foul would not have been a normal punishment for Wembanyama.During the postseason, flagrant foul points can move a player toward an automatic suspension. Wembanyama had already been under that spotlight after earlier Finals contact drew discipline, so another flagrant in Game 5 will raise the possibility of him missing time if the series continues.That is why the reaction around the play moved quickly into accusations that officials were protecting him. The argument from frustrated fans was not simply that Brunson deserved the call, but that Wembanyama was being spared the larger consequence that could follow an upgrade.There is a difference between saying officials missed a call and proving favoritism. The league’s standard still depends on whether contact is ruled unnecessary, or unnecessary and excessive, rather than just ugly in real time.Read more:How Victor Wembanyama reacted to heckling from Knicks bench in NBA Finals Game 5Victor Wembanyama met with boos at his home arena during Game 5 of NBA Finals vs. KnicksShaquille O’Neal shares his take on who’d win between him and Victor Wembanyama in a one-on-one

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Jalen Brunson was fully aware of how much money some people spent to see the New York Knicks finally become champions again. Some tickets during the NBA Finals sold for $5,000, some for $50,000, some for probably more.Of course, Brunson parted with more money than any of those fans.Brunson is now an NBA champion and NBA Finals MVP in large part because of what he did against the San Antonio Spurs in the finals — though, really, his biggest contribution to this title run likely came in 2024, when he left as much as $113 million on the bargaining table to allow the Knicks the financial flexibility they needed to finish building a championship roster.It was considered an unprecedented move.It paid off.Brunson now has a seat at the table of sports kings of New York, alongside the likes of Derek Jeter, Eli Manning, Mark Messier and others. Deliver a championship to the Big Apple and you get celebrated for life. Brunson doesn’t seek attention — in fact, he genuinely seems to dislike it — but such is the risk one takes when he leads a storied franchise to its first title in more than half a century.There are countless reasons why the Knicks have turned their fortunes around over the last four seasons, but the list starts with Brunson. New York had four winning seasons in a 21-year span before Brunson arrived; the Knicks have had four winning seasons in the four years that he’s worn the franchise’s colors. They’ve now won eight playoff series with Brunson in the lineup; they won seven series, total, from 1998 through 2022.He’s a bona fide superstar as well, with three consecutive All-Star selections and three consecutive seasons in which he’s averaged at least 26 points. The only other players to do that in each of the last three years — be an All-Star and average 26 points in every one — are Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo.They’ve all been NBA champions, too. So, now, is Brunson.“He’s a tremendous player that’s skilled, picks his spots, knows his angles, shoots contested shots without being sped up,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said earlier in the finals. “He’s a phenomenal player.”Texas has been good to Brunson when it comes to titles. Villanova's 2016 championship was won in Houston, and the 2018 championship came in San Antonio — at the Alamodome, just a few minutes away from the arena that the Spurs call home.Oddly, Texas wasn't always that good to Brunson as a pro — which is how he ended up in New York.Brunson joined the Knicks in 2022 after leaving Dallas, which didn't offer him a contract anywhere near what the Villanova guard felt he deserved.And then, two years later, Brunson took far less than he'd earned.In 2024, Brunson signed a four-year extension with New York that could be worth $156.5 million if he accepts his option for the 2028-29 season. If Brunson waited until 2025 for his extension, he would have been eligible for a five-year, $269 million deal.He’ll likely recoup some if not all of that money in his next extension, one that could top $300 million — possibly by a lot. But by passing up the much larger guarantee then, he provided the Knicks with the ability to make other moves that are paying off now.And among the ones that followed his June 2024 decision: The Knicks brought in starters Mikal Bridges (a former Villanova teammate) and Karl-Anthony Towns.Could all that have happened if Brunson didn’t accept the smaller extension? Maybe, but unlikely.“I think he’s still underrated in the league, and he keeps proving people wrong, game by game, series by series, playoff appearance by playoff appearance,” said Knicks forward Josh Hart — one of the ‘Nova Knicks,’ the moniker given to the trio of himself, Brunson and Bridges, all NCAA champions at Villanova who have now become NBA champions in New York. “As a friend, as a teammate, it’s funny because you know he’s one of the best players in the league, and you’re happy that he’s starting to get some recognition.”He’s getting more than some recognition. He’s getting a ring.___AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Detroit's Smith ties league mark: Detroit City forward Darren Smith tied the USL Championship single-game record with five goals, continuing the woes of Sporting Club Jacksonville men's soccer in a 6-2 rout on June 13 at the University of North Florida's Hodges Stadium.Anatomy of a record: Smith scored in the 13th minute, putting away a rebound spilled by Sporting Jax goalkeeper Christian Olivares; the 26th minute, rounding Olivares and finishing into an empty net; first-half stoppage time, a leaping volley off a cross from the left; the 57th minute, finishing a break off a Jacksonville turnover in midfield; and the 81st minute, punishing a turnover on Sporting Jax's left flank.Previous mark: Only Mauricio Salles of VSI Tampa Bay (not the same as the present-day Tampa Bay Rowdies) had previously scored five times in a game in the league, achieving his feat against Antigua Barracuda on June 8, 2013. However, Salles achieved his five goals when the league held third-division status, not second-division as at present.Quick free kicks: Sporting Jax (0-10-3) is now winless in 15 games against opponents in the second flight of American soccer, counting two USL Cup losses, and the club's minus-19 goal differential is also worst in the league. … Emil Jaaskelainen gave Sporting Jax a short-lived first-half lead with his ninth-minute header off a Rafferty Pedder corner kick, and Jaaskelainen also assisted Kieran Sadlier for a second-half blast from the edge of the penalty area. … Kobe Hernandez-Foster added a stoppage-time free kick for Detroit City (6-4-3), which jumped to second place in the Eastern Conference with the victory. … Smith now leads the league with 11 goals, six of them against Sporting Jax. ... Thunderstorms delayed kickoff until 9:10 p.m.Up next: Sporting Jax remains at home for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Saturday, June 20, facing the Charleston Battery.This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Darren Smith scores USL-record five goals in Detroit City-Sporting Jax

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP/Boston 25) — John McGinn deflected a shot off an opposing defender and past goalkeeper Johny Placide in the 28th minute, and Scotland defeated Haiti 1-0 in Group C of the World Cup on Saturday at Boston Stadium in Foxborough.Scotland fans celebrating their team’s 1-0 win over Haiti in Foxboro on @boston25@JulianCardillo@mraimonditv@FIFAWorldCuppic.twitter.com/4HfTjba8Il— Butch Stearns (@ButchStearns) June 14, 2026The Scots, making their first appearance in the tournament since 1998, earned their first World Cup victory since 1990, when they beat Sweden 2-1.Group favorites Brazil and Morocco played to a 1-1 draw earlier in the day, putting Scotland at the top of the group standings.SCOTLAND FINDS ITS FIRST GOAL OF THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿John McGinn gets into the scoresheet! pic.twitter.com/mgbTBAQs61— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 14, 2026Haiti, whose only other World Cup appearance was in West Germany in 1974, is still in search of its first World Cup point.McGinn’s goal came off a rebound from Che Adams’ miss in the box that bounced off Placide and into open space. McGinn’s shot ricocheted off a defender from 13 yards out.Scotland’s Tartan Army supporters were out in mass, creating a wave of red inside a full Gillette Stadium, located about 30 miles outside Boston.Scotland came close to a goal in the 17th minute when captain Scott McTominay got loose and fired a shot that clipped the top of the post.Haiti had its best opportunities in the second half. In the 74th minute, Ruben Providence sent a cross in to Wilson Isidor, but the forward came up empty on his attempt to direct the ball in.Then in the 84th, Frantzdy Pierrot’s header went wide of the left side.Frantzdy was so close to tying it twice for #Haiti— Michael Raimondi (@mraimonditv) June 14, 2026Scotland stays in town to play Morocco at Gillette Stadium on Friday. Haiti will next face Brazil on Friday in Philadelphia.Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW

Jorge Sierra: Jalen Brunson scored 47.9 percent of his team's points today. It's the second-best mark in an NBA Finals closeout game... only behind Michael Jordan the day he won his sixth title.x.comThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Only Michael Jordan scored a bigger share of his team's points in a Finals closeout game than Jalen Brunson tonight

Tim Bontemps: From the great @StatsWilliams: To have 45 points in a close out Finals victory all-time: Michael Jordan, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bob Pettit … And, now, Jalen Brunson. What a performance.x.comThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: To have 45 points in a close out Finals victory …

Jalen Brunson matches Michael Jordan with 45-point performance in championship clincher originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Jalen Brunson was phenomenal during Game 5 of the NBA Finals. While he did have some struggles earlier in the series with efficiency, he always stepped up for the New York Knicks when it mattered the most, and that was during the clutch.Once again, he was Captain Clutch during the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs. He scored 45 points to clinch the championship for the Knicks, and 15 of them came in the fourth quarter.Jalen Brunson becomes the only player since Michael Jordan to achieve thisAcross NBA history, there have only been a few players who have truly cemented themselves as icons of the game. One of them is Michael Jordan, the former Chicago Bulls superstar who won six championships in six attempts.He was the only guard to have scored 45 points in a title-clinching performance before. However, he is not alone anymore because Brunson joins him in an exclusive group.MORE: Jalen Brunson deservedly lifts the Finals MVP trophy after a 45-point performanceBig men have done it before, but they have an innate advantage with their size, as Giannis Antetokounmpo did in 2021. Smaller players like Jordan and especially Brunson deserve this kind of praise for their performances.Now, Brunson continues to set an unmatched legacy in New York. He is still going, so he might exceed some of the legends of the past, like Walt "Clyde" Frazier and Willis Reed.Moving forward, Brunson will always have this NBA Finals run in his legacy. He is one of the best guards in the league, and this record alongside his Finals MVP is the proof he needs in those arguments.More NBA news:The reason why Jalen Brunson was awarded the NBA Finals MVPWatch the passionate Knicks fans celebrate their first title in 53 years in New YorkHow the Knicks' drought-ending championship compares to other sportsWhat you must know ahead of the Knicks' championship paradeThe reason behind Victor Wembanyama getting booed in San Antonio revealed

The New York Knicks won a historic championship after defeating the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday night.The Knicks secured their first title in 53 years with a 94-90 win, kicking off wild celebrations throughout the five boroughs.Star guard Jalen Brunson delivered the win with a 45-point outburst in Texas as “Let's go Knicks” chants cascaded from the stands in San Antonio.Brunson fought back tears after the game as he tried to explain what the win meant to the city.Star guard Jalen Brunson delivered the win with a 45-point outburst in Texas as “Let's go Knicks” chants cascaded from the stands in San Antonio. (AP)“I have no words,” he told ABC. “I don’t know what I’m feeling. I’m in awe, I don’t know.“Whenever someone counted us out, we found a way to come back and do something about it."Game 5 came on the heels of the Knicks staging the biggest ever comeback in NBA Finals history with their win in Game 4, and Donald Trump’s visit to MSG for their loss in Game 3.Knicks fans celebrate the championship (AP)The Knicks became the eighth different champion in the NBA over the last eight years.Thousands of Knicks fans were on hand in San Antonio as the Knicks and owner Jim Dolan were presented with the championship trophy. (AP)“Hey New York, I'm sorry it took so long, but here we are and hopefully it won't take that long again,” said Dolan.Brunson was also named the Finals MVP to a massive ovation from the remaining crowd and his teammates and received a hug from his dad, Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson. (AP)“This is everything I dreamed of, this is why I came to New York,” Jalen Brunson said.Head Coach Mike Brown then led a chorus of “Who Let the Dogs Out” as he thanked the “unbelievable” Knicks fans at home in New York.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Knowing New York had waited 53 years to see the Knicks hoist the NBA championship trophy, owner James Dolan didn't even wait to be handed the 30-pound gold-plated prize.He grabbed it and lifted it skyward with a yell.“I want to say something to New York,” Dolan shouted. “Hey New York! I'm sorry it took so long! But here we are, and hopefully it won't take that long again!”The New York Knicks are champions of the NBA for the first time since 1973, beating the San Antonio Spurs in five games for this title.Some will say it’s the first “major” professional sports championship for New York in more than 14 years; that would be true when counting only Major League Baseball, the NFL, the NHL and the NBA, though it would be wrong to ignore the New York Liberty’s run to the 2024 WNBA title and New York City FC winning the MLS Cup in 2021.But as far as the teams that have been part of the city’s fabric for generations and generations, yes, this 14-year drought is finally over. The New York Giants won the Super Bowl in 2012, capping the 2011 season.The Yankees — the most decorated team in U.S. major pro sports history — haven’t won a World Series since 2009. The Mets haven’t brought a World Series title to New York since 1986. The Rangers last hoisted that trophy in 1994, the Islanders in 1983. The New York Jets haven’t won a Super Bowl since 1969.None of that matters, at least not right now. The Knicks — who won 13 consecutive games at one point in this playoff run and rallied from 29 points down to win Game 4 of the finals at MSG — are the toast of the town.“Of course I've never seen anything like it, because it'd never happened before,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said of the Game 4 comeback in an interview on NBA TV on Saturday. “But it's been amazing."The Amazin' Knicks, indeed.A third title, finallyIt took them 80 years — the Knicks won the first game in NBA history in 1946, three years before what was then the Basketball Association of America started being known as the National Basketball Association — but the franchise has now become the ninth that can say it has at least three championships.Boston has 18, the Los Angeles Lakers have 17, Golden State has seven, Chicago has six, San Antonio has five, and Philadelphia, Detroit and Miami all have three.Welcome to the club, New York.“I enjoy watching these guys," Knicks legend Larry Johnson said. "The Garden is back. ... It’s back like when we played and made our little run. The city is behind us.”It's a franchise that has gone through 24 different coaches and more than 400 players since what was, until now, the most recent championship season. Some of the game’s biggest superstars called Madison Square Garden home and couldn’t end the title drought, names like Patrick Ewing, Allan Houston, Bernard King and Carmelo Anthony.The Knicks lost a Game 7 in the 1994 finals to Hakeem Olajuwon and Houston, then made a miracle run to the 1999 finals in a shortened season only to lose to San Antonio in five games — the first of what became five championships for Gregg Popovich and the Spurs.“We didn’t get it done. ... I always say the third time is the charm,” former Knicks guard John Starks said.Starks was right. It took the Knicks 27 years to get back to the finals, had the Spurs again standing in their way, and to fully flip the script, it was New York prevailing in five games.MSG, a banner is comingAnd finally, the world's most famous arena — which has raised banners for Billy Joel, Elton John and Harry Styles more recently than it had hoisted one for the Knicks — will be adding to the collection swaying from the rafters. If it follows form from the others, the banner will only have the Knicks logo, then 2025-26 World Champions beneath that.A simple message. Getting to the place where the Knicks could say those words again, that wasn't so simple.“There are a couple of franchises that are pretty iconic just because of the history that they have, the location that they’re in, sometimes even the building that they’re in,” said Knicks coach Mike Brown, who won this title in his first season with the club. "New York is definitely one of the few that you could say that to in all three facets.“Everybody goes through their ups and downs. I don’t really think much about the tough times that they had, because everybody has tough times, including individuals. You just want to try the best you can to be a part of whatever you can to bring joy to the city, to the organization. At the end of the day, the chips are going to fall how they fall. I feel blessed, fortunate, lucky, to be a part of what is going on now.”It is, to put it mildly, an interesting organization. Dolan — who rarely speaks publicly — isn't afraid of clashes, even including ones with former Knicks greats like Charles Oakley, who was at road games in this title run but has remained away from MSG for years. Leon Rose, the team's general manager, doesn't make himself available to reporters either. There is an absolute mystique around the team and how it operates.It has not always worked. Over a 25-year stretch that ended with the 2021-22 season — not that long ago — the Knicks had the worst record in the NBA. In the four years since, starting with the acquisition of Jalen Brunson from Dallas, the Knicks have the NBA's fifth-best record.Start spreadin' the news ... And this year, as Frank Sinatra said, the Knicks are king of the hill, top of the heap. Some in the fan base grumbled when the Knicks declined to hang an NBA Cup championship banner after beating San Antonio for the in-season tournament title earlier this season. Turns out, the Knicks were just waiting for something better.So, the 53-year wait is over. It was a very different league, and a very different game, in 1973.There were 17 teams in the NBA that season, barely half of the 30 that there are now. Teams called places Buffalo, Baltimore, Kansas City-Omaha and Seattle home then; the league has expanded many times since, adding 13 teams in nine different states, plus Canada and the District of Columbia.The top salary in the league then was about $380,000, or roughly $2.9 million in today’s dollars. There was no 3-point line then, no multi-billion-dollar television deal, no international players.The Knicks flew home on a United Airlines flight from the 1973 title clincher in Inglewood, California, and officials at Kennedy Airport expected what was then called a “rabid” crowd of fans present to greet the plane. They braced for “hundreds” of people that day.This celebration might be a little bigger.___AP Sports Writer Stephen Whyno in New York contributed.___AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

World Cup fans arrived in New York to find that the locals were excited about ... basketball (Leonardo MUNOZ)The World Cup carnival arrived in New York on Saturday, but it was drowned out by the city's elation after the hometown Knicks broke a 53-year curse to win the NBA Finals.The 2026 World Cup debut of five-time winners Brazil, who ground out an uninspiring 1-1 draw against Morocco, was overshadowed by the Knicks' 94-90 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.New York erupted in celebration in the aftermath, with fans letting off fireworks and a cacophony of cheers and car horns reverberating around the city."Knicks in five!" chanted crowds after the hometown basketball dynasty sealed the seven-match series in five."It's been so long, it's been such a long time coming, you know?" Stephen Maltz, a 31-year-old airline pilot, said at a viewing party in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn."And it's just in a time where the city needs to have something to get stoked about, it's got to be this," added Maltz, who tore off his signature orange and blue Knicks T-shirt and ran down the street in celebration.Times Square in central Manhattan was packed with Brazil and Morocco fans following their clash, but the rest of the city surged with elated crowds of Knicks fans."Everyone could unite over the New York Knicks, and that's what we're doing right now," power plant worker Austin Fitzgerald, 31, told AFP."There's no other feeling like New York basketball."While Fitzgerald acknowledged that the city would bask in the win following the fixture that was played in Texas, he insisted the Big Apple would now be ready to fully embrace the World Cup."There's more soccer and football fans here than I think than any other city in America," he said."Having games at MetLife, and just being able to stay in the city and commute" would appeal to New Yorkers new to football, he added.In Midtown, bars were so packed that Knicks fans were forced to peer through windows to watch the thrilling final moments of the match.- No 'big buzz' -In an industrial section of Brooklyn, the manager of an indoor five-a-side arena said ahead of the Knicks win that "obviously the Knicks, as they should, are over-shining" the World Cup. "Basketball is so beloved in the city of New York," 24-year-old Lucas Matuszewski explained."I've not really seen a lot (of World Cup fever). I've seen a few fellow Scots but we're not seeing a big buzz for it yet," said Aidan Smith, 29, a communications manager at a Scottish football club who wore both a Knicks hat and his full national strip.There were signs that businesses were expecting a delayed onset of football mania."I do think it's going to get hectic and crazy without a doubt, and especially at this pub, because we're a football pub," said Vanessa Whalen, owner of the Black Bull in Brooklyn.gw/hol

Knicks in Five.It was impossible to walk down a street in New York - whether in one of the five boroughs, the suburbs or elsewhere over the last few days without hearing that sentiment. The Knicks' come from behind win in Game 4, from down 29 points, energized the fan base.On Saturday, June 13, 2026, a dream turned into reality.The New York Knicks came from behind again, defeating the San Antonio Spurs, 94-90, to win Game 5 of the best-of-seven NBA Championship.More: Celebrate Knicks' NBA championship with commemorative book, page printThe victory gave the Knicks their first NBA championship since 1973. Jalen Brunson of the Knicks was given the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP award.Around New York City, fans celebrated at watch parties. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Knicks fans celebrate first NBA title since 1973 across New York

Japan’s legislature is drafting a plan to allow the imperial family to adopt distant male relatives. But some in Japan would prefer a female emperor.

After becoming allies to disastrous effect in the 1940s, Berlin and Tokyo are finding new reasons to team up — including rebuilding their militaries.

Scotland's John McGinn says his "scuffed" goal which downed Haiti in their World Cup opener left him "beaming with pride" - and he hopes kids around the country wake up feeling exactly the same way.The Aston Villa midfielder's deflected effort in the first half gave Scotland their first World Cup win since 1990 at their first finals since 1998.They sit top of Group C as they aim to reach the knockout stages for the first time ever, despite a nervy second half during which Haiti threatened to equalise."It wasn't my best of goals but who cares? It's been a long time coming," McGinn told BBC Sport. "I scuffed it a wee bit. "Haiti are a decent team by the way. We had to work hard for it. Could we play a bit better? Aye. But it was a must-win game and we won. I'm absolutely over the moon."Scotland still have to face Morocco and Brazil - two sides with the potential to go far at the World Cup - on Friday 19 June and Wednesday 24 June respectively.Steve Clarke and his side know they will need to improve, but McGinn says they will relish this victory on their return to football's biggest stage."We've been through a lot of hurt as a country," he said. "A generation of supporters haven't seen this. But the pride on my face this morning seeing all the kids going to the parks in a Scotland kit and painting their faces. "Hopefully when kids get up tomorrow they'll be beaming with pride because I am. It sets things up for Friday [against Morocco]."Scotland beat Haiti for first World Cup victory in 36 years'He's become Scots' chief creative force' - how the players rated'My boys are alright'After back-to-back Euros appearances without a win, Scotland went into their World Cup opener as favourites.After impressive warm-up victories against Curacao and Bolivia - with eight goals scored - expectations were high for the Scots' return to the global stage.They were far from their fluent best in attack, but head coach Clarke praised his side's resilience as they kept Haiti at arm's length in Foxborough."Just said to [captain] Andy Robertson there, it's about time we won a game in the group stage," Clarke said. "Everyone said must win... we won."That's what this team is all about. They can play, but if they have to dig in they do that as well. Defensively outstanding."After such an edgy contest, the sizeable Scotland contingent at Boston Stadium celebrated wildly at the full-time whistle, having seen their country's fifth ever win at World Cup finals and only their fourth clean sheet."The supporters were unbelievable at the end," Clarke added. "It's was a good night for the fans and my boys are alright."World Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup

[BBC]John McGinn's first-half goal sealed victory for Scotland in their World Cup opener in Boston - their first victory in the tournament since 1990.BBC Sport Scotland's Andy Burke assessed how the players performed – and you can see how BBC Sport readers rated them at the bottom of the page too.Scotland starting XIAngus Gunn – Very fortunate not to concede after spilling a fairly routine shot. Otherwise, Haiti's erratic finishing meant he was not overly tested. 6Aaron Hickey – Lapse in concentration early on almost cost Scotland dear, but one vital intervention to deny Ruben Providence. 6Jack Hendry – Great bit of defending to prevent Wilson Isidor from heading home. Largely restricted Haiti to efforts from long range. 7Grant Hanley – Solid display from the big centre-back. Great ball over the top to Adams which led to McGinn's goal. 7Andy Robertson – Some outstanding deliveries from wide on the left could have brought more goals. Linked-up well with McGinn. 7Ben Gannon-Doak – Pace and directness caused alarm bells in Haiti backline every time he got the ball. Final delivery can still frustrate, but he has become Scotland's chief creative force. 9Scott McTominay – Unlucky to see a curling effort come crashing off a post. Robbed of possession in dangerous areas on a couple of occasions. Short of his imperious best. 6Lewis Ferguson – Anticipated and cut out the danger on numerous occasions as the Haitians broke at pace. 8John McGinn – Scored Scotland's first goal at a men's World Cup since Craig Burley's strike against Norway at France '98. Missed a huge chance for a second. 8Lawrence Shankland – Did his defensive work, but struggled to get into the game. Unable to find the sort of form in his goalscoring displays in the warm-up games against Curacao and Bolivia. 6Che Adams – Great run and exquisite first touch in build-up to McGinn's opener. Partnership with Shankland did not quite click. 6Scotland beat Haiti for first World Cup victory in 36 yearsMcGinn 'beaming with pride' - and hopes kids around Scotland are tooScotland substitutesNathan Patterson (75 mins) - One good intervention to halt a Haiti attack. 6Lyndon Dykes (75 mins) - Gave Scotland an aerial option but most of the play was down the other end during his time on the pitch. 5Ryan Christie (75 mins) - Little impact as Haiti finished the stronger side. 5Kenny McLean (82 mins) - Perhaps lucky to receive only a yellow card for a reckless tackle in stoppage time. 5Finlay Curtis (82 mins) - Used his pace to exploit gaps in the Haiti defence in closing stages. 6World Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup

Jalen Brunson finally proves Becky Hammon wrong by leading the Knicks to a championship originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.When anyone looks back at NBA history, there have been an abundance of big centers and forwards who have led their teams to a championship. Players like Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and many more were icons of the game.Basketball is a sport where big men naturally rule. The 2026 NBA Finals were the exact argument against that notion because at 6'2", Jalen Brunson led the New York Knicks to their first championship in 53 years.Jalen Brunson gets the last laugh over Becky HammonThe Knicks played against the San Antonio Spurs, a team headlined by the perfect example of a superstar big man, Victor Wembanyama. It was a true David vs. Goliath matchup between Brunson and Wembanyama, but, like the famous story, it was the smaller one who won.Back in 2023, Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon was on ESPN's NBA Today. She talked about the Knicks and how they are floundering in the Eastern Conference against teams led by massive wings or centers.MORE: Why Jalen Brunson became the 2026 NBA Finals MVPShe pointed out how they lacked a true 1A star, and she thought that size would be a factor there. Throughout NBA history, that point is valid with only a couple of outliers.Those outliers are Stephen Curry and Isaiah Thomas, who were the best players on their teams when they won their championships. Now, it seems Brunson is included in those outliers.Hammon herself said that she is "up to be proven wrong." Brunson has proven her wrong, and she will most likely take it with grace and admit that she was indeed wrong. However, that should not invalidate NBA history that involves big men typically being the foundation of success.In the WNBA, that is also true as Hammon herself speaks from experience. She was a small guard who failed to lead her team to a championship. Thankfully for her, she has become an iconic head coach with the Aces, where she has won multiple titles with a star big, A'ja Wilson.More NBA news:The Knicks' celebration plans get revealed after the first title in 53 yearsJalen Brunson matches the great Michael Jordan in this legendary statisticThe New York Knicks have finally mended decades of heartbreak for their fansWhy Victor Wembanyama received boos during Game 5 of the NBA FinalsOG Anunoby has revealed who has reached out to him after his legendary Game 4 performance

New York's Jalen Brunson puts up a shot over De'aaron Fox in the Knicks' victory over the San Antonio Spurs to seal the NBA championship (POOL)The New York Knicks, fueled by a sensational 45 points from Jalen Brunson, rallied again to beat the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 and win their first NBA title in 53 years on Saturday.The Knicks won the best-of-seven championship series 4-1, denying Victor Wembanyama and his young Spurs teammates on their home floor to lift the trophy for the first time since 1973.The Knicks, who recovered from 29 points down in game four to produce the biggest comeback in Finals history, erased a double-digit deficit to win for the fourth time in the series.They trailed by 16 in the second quarter and were down by 10 early in the fourth, but Brunson wouldn't let them lose."I've got no words," Brunson said after setting a Knicks record for points in a Finals game, surpassing Willis Reed's 38 in game three of the team's 1970 triumph over the Los Angeles Lakers."I don't know what I'm feeling," added Brunson, who was named Finals Most Valuable Player. "I'm in awe. Whenever someone counts us out, we find a way to come back and do something about it."French star Wembanyama scored 19 points, pulled down 14 rebounds and blocked five shots and rookie Dylan Harper scored 25 points off the bench for San Antonio.But once again the Spurs team that vanquished the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals were unable to hold off the crafty and determined Knicks.The win marked the final chapter of a dramatic playoff run which had captivated New York, with tens of thousands of long-suffering fans packing neighborhood watch parties throughout the Big Apple as the team inched towards a first title in more than half a century.Within moments of clinching victory on Saturday, the Empire State Building was lit up in the Knicks' signature orange and blue colors, as raucous celebrations erupted outside the team's Madison Square Garden home.There was a boisterous blue and orange-clad contingent cheering them on at the Spurs' Frost Bank Center as well, where the celebrities on the sidelines included not only longtime Knicks fans but also Britain's Prince Harry, who sat with NBA commissioner Adam Silver.Mikal Bridges scored 14 points and Josh Hart added 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks. Karl-Anthony Towns scored just two points before fouling out in the fourth quarter but pulled down 10 rebounds and came up with three steals and a blocked shot.Fouled on a three-pointer, Brunson made all three free-throws to put the Knicks up 86-85 with 3:40 left to play.It was their first lead since the opening minutes and they wouldn't trail again.Game four hero OG Anunoby drove for a dunk that made it 88-85 and after the Spurs knotted it at 88-88 Brunson put New York back in front with a driving basket and the Knicks held on.- 'We weren't ready' -With their backs against the wall the Spurs were locked in defensively from the opening tip-off.Wembanyama set the tone, blocking three shots in the first quarter as the Spurs powered to a 23-13 lead, holding the Knicks to their fewest points in any quarter this post-season.Wembanyama tied a Finals record with five blocks in the first half and drilled a three-pointer that pushed the Spurs lead to 16 early in the second period.But the Knicks were heating up, cutting the deficit to three before Devin Vassell's fadeaway basket at the buzzer sent the Spurs into the interval with a 42-37 lead.San Antonio quickly rebuilt a double-digit lead, but Brunson and the gritty Knicks wouldn't let them get away."We weren't ready to win an NBA championship," Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. "The better team won. We did a lot of good things, and we didn't finish the job. That's what it is."bb/rcw

What channel is NASCAR on today? TV schedule, start time, live stream for 2026 Pocono race originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.After a thrilling race in Michigan last weekend, the NASCAR Cup Series will now head further east for the Great American Getaway 400 taking place in Pennsylvania this weekend.Denny Hamlin is officially on a roll, dating all the way back to the All-Star race last month at Dover. The veteran driver has won three of four starts since May 17 — the exception being the Coca-Cola 600, in which he finished third.To no surprise, Hamlin is expected to have another solid performance this weekend, especially since Pocono Raceway is historically one of his best tracks. Fans should expect both recent winners Ryan Blaney and Chase Briscoe to put up a strong fight though, especially considering Briscoe edged Hamlin for the checkered flag just last year. Who will excel in Long Pond?Here's everything you need to know about the Great American Getaway 400, including TV channel and streaming options for the Pocono race.What channel is NASCAR on today?TV channel: N/ALive stream: Prime VideoThe 2026 Great American Getaway 400 will not be broadcast nationally on cable channels. Instead, fans can only tune in by streaming the race on Prime Video. Adam Alexander will have the race call with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Steve Letarte providing analysis. Great American Getaway 400 start timeDate: Sunday, June 14Time: 3 p.m. ET The 2026 Great American Getaway 400 will get started at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday. The race will take place at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania.Great American Getaway 400 starting lineup gridPos.DriverCar No.Team1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.13.14.15.16.17.18.19.20.21.22.23.24.25.26.27.28.29.30.31.32.33.34.35.36.37.Related LinksLatest NASCAR news and updatesPrintable 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule2026 O'Reilly Auto Parts Series schedule2026 Craftsman Truck Series schedule

After 53 long years of watching both contending teams fall short of the finish line and others appear on a collision course with the NBA Draft lottery, the New York Knicks are NBA champions. And, as in the first four games of the 2026 NBA Finals, Mike Brown's team had to rebound from a slow start. However, unlike their other three wins, the Knicks had to rely mainly on Jalen Brunson to get the job done in San Antonio on Saturday night. The Knicks' captain went off for 45 points, leading the team to a 94-90 win over the San Antonio Spurs at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. Unsurprisingly, he was named the winner of the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP award. Shooting 8-of-15 from the field and 12-of-13 from the foul line, Brunson scored 29 points in the second half alone. No other Knick scored more than seven points (Josh Hart) in the second half, as Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby struggled with foul trouble for most of the night. San Antonio built up double-digit leads in all five games of the series. However, except for Game 3, they were unable to keep the Knicks from clawing their way over the finish line. Towns shot 1-of-7 from the field, scoring just two points before fouling out, while Anunoby finished with 11 points on 3-of-11 shooting. Mikal Bridges (14) and Josh Hart (13) also scored in double figures, with the Knicks' three Villanova alums combining to score 72 of the team's 94 points. Given how lead executive Leon Rose put this team together, it is fitting. Spurs rookie Dylan Harper capped his series with another outstanding performance, scoring a team-high 25 points while also accounting for five rebounds and four assists. Victor Wembanyama added 19 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks, but the struggles of Stephon Castle and De'Aaron Fox were too much to overcome. They shot a combined 4-of-25 from the field, with Castle not scoring his first field goal until late in the fourth quarter. Given San Antonio's youth, the expectation is that they'll have more opportunities to hang another banner. However, as the Knicks can attest, getting back onto this stage is not guaranteed.

The 2026 World Cup has well and truly found its groove as Scotland put the exclamation point on a frantic third day with a historic win on their long-awaited return to the global stage.Steve Clarke’s side beat Haiti in their first World Cup match in 28 years to shoot straight to the top of Group C after Brazil and Morocco could not be separated in the earlier game.But there was far more to day three than football - from Ghana’s response to Thomas Partey being refused entry into Canada, to the England base being hit by a tornado, here is everything you need to know from day three of the super-sized tournament:Scotland mark first World Cup in 28 years with winScotland fans following the Fifa World Cup win over Haiti (PA)We begin with a World Cup party in Boston. Scotland are back on the global stage for the first time in 28 years... and they have a win to their name.John McGinn got the decisive goal, firing a deflected effort beyond Haiti goalkeeper Johny Placide after a brilliant Ben Gannon-Doak cross forced the issue.Haiti, who never looked out of the game, fought until the very end in search of an equaliser, with striker Frantzdy Pierrot seeing a late header go agonisingly wide in what was probably the Caribbean nation's best chance of the game.But by clinging onto their clean sheet, Scotland were able to get the win over the line in a legacy-defining triumph for Steve Clarke. A huge boost to their hopes of getting into the knockouts, his side now go straight to the TOP of Group B after Brazil and Morocco drew 1-1 in New York.Controversy surrounds Switzerland penalty in Qatar drawQatar snatched a last-gasp equaliser to earn their first ever World Cup point (Reuters)Switzerland were punished for playing with their food as Qatar snatched a last-gasp equaliser in their controversial Group B opener, delivering the country a first ever World Cup point.Breel Embolo put Switzerland ahead from the spot early on, though the penalty was engulfed in contention after it was undetermined whether the player fouled was offside or not. No replay was shown, with Gary Neville labelling Fifa “a dictatorship” for a lack of transparency. Fifa later explained in a statement that a “a brief technical outage” had prevented the images being broadcast.The Swiss took control of the game from that moment, and it didn’t look like they would cease it. But after failing to add to their lead with 26 efforts on goal, Qatar’s Boualem Khoukhi wrote himself into history in the 94th minute, heading home to open Group B right up.A seismic moment for Qatari football, the match was still played out in front of noticeable patches of empty seats, despite the official attendance claiming the 68,500-capacity Levi’s Stadium was 99.2 percent full.Ghana respond after Thomas Partey denied entry into CanadaGhana’s Thomas Partey was denied entry into Canada (Reuters)Ghana have spoken out against the “flimsy” grounds on which Thomas Partey has been denied entry to Canada for the 2026 World Cup, with sports minister Kofi Adams urging a review of the decision.The ex-Arsenal midfielder will, as it stands, miss Ghana’s World Cup opener on Wednesday against Panama in Toronto after being denied a Canadian visa. The 33-year-old has been charged with seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault by London’s Metropolitan Police and is awaiting trial. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges."If any Ghanaian is touched anywhere, we will not keep quiet over it," Adams told local station Channel One TV on Friday. "Through the appropriate channels, we have communicated to the rightful authorities and are requesting for them to use all processes to review and give opportunity for a review of such a decision that we think frowns on international laws and conventions, which both Ghana and Canada are party to.”England engulfed by disruption as they arrive in Kansas CityEngland were greeted with a warm welcome as they arrived in Kansas City (Getty)England have arrived at their World Cup home away from home in Kansas City, the day after it emerged that equipment had been stolen from their base.Some of the team’s boots and official tournament balls were discovered stolen on Friday, though Football Association sources have indicated the majority of the equipment, which wasn’t irreplaceable, has now been recovered.The incident is expected to have no impact on the preparations of Thomas Tuchel’s team, but that isn’t the only extraordinary incident that’s hit the camp over the past few days.It also emerged that England’s team chef was stopped from boarding a train to Orlando ahead of Wednesday’s warm-up clash with Costa Rica... because of his cooking knives!And now, on their first night in Missouri, the Kansas City region has been hit by a tornado. They’ll hope this isn’t an omen for their campaign to come.US World Cup ticket prices skyrocket after win over ParaguayAmericans have caught World Cup fever after their nation’s stellar opening performance (Getty)Fans eager to join the United States men's national team's World Cup journey are facing rapidly escalating ticket prices on the resale market, with some matches seeing over a 60 percent jump in just three days.This dramatic surge follows the USMNT's impressive 4-1 victory over Paraguay in their opening match on Friday, igniting a wave of optimism among supporters.The "get-in price" for the upcoming group stage clash against Australia now starts at $1,735, according to TicketData. The Americans' Group D finale on 25 June against Turkey back in Los Angeles, has seen an even greater proportional spike over the same stretch, with the get-in price up 73 percent to $1,516.Two arrested for peace officer assault at Canada vs BosniaTwo fans were arrested at Friday's match (Getty)Toronto police arrested two men “associated with a Bosnian fan group” during Canada’s 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday, it has been revealed.The Toronto Police Service confirmed in a statement that the two men, of Germany and aged 25 and 27, were both arrested and charged for assaulting a peace officer after forces were called to an altercation in the stands at the Toronto Stadium around 2.20pm local time on Friday afternoon.The Toronto Police Association warned on X: “We’re glad you’re here to enjoy the World Cup but please do so safely.“Never put your hands on a police officer. They will arrest you. You will be charged. Our holding cells do not have TVs. You will miss the game you came to enjoy.”

PHOENIX (AP) — Kelsey Plum scored a career-high 43 points, offsetting Kahleah Copper's career-best 41-point effort and the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Phoenix Mercury 111-102 in overtime Saturday night to improve to 3-2 in Commissioner's Cup play.Nneka Ogwumike hit a jumper to start OT, Plum followed with two free throws and reserve Cameron Brink added a four-point play as Los Angeles (7-6) scored the first eight points in the extra session en route to its third straight victory. Plum passed her previous high of 40 points when she scored on a layup with 1.6 seconds left to force OT at 98. She made 14 of 26 shots with five 3-pointers, was 10 of 12 on foul shots and had seven assists.Rae Burrell came off the bench to score a career-high 24 points for Los Angeles. Ogwumike added 15 points and 15 rebounds.Copper made 16 of 29 shots with six 3-pointers and had 10 rebounds for Phoenix (4-11), which has lost three in a row and nine of 11. Natasha Mack had 11 points and 12 rebounds, while Alyssa Thomas had 10 points and 12 assists. Phoenix is 2-3 in Commissioner's Cup play.Up nextSparks: At Golden State on Monday night.Mercury: Host Las Vegas on Wednesday night.___AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

⚠️ Tornado warning in Kansas: Dibu documents it allAlarms are going off in Kansas City, where the Argentina national team has set up its base ahead of its World Cup debut. There is a tornado alert due to “destructive winds” and severe storms. All the city’s residents took shelter and even an Argentine journalist showed how the safety protocol was carried out. However, “Dibu” showed that the bad weather did not dampen the team’s spirits, as they had previously enjoyed a barbecue with the entire squad “through thick and thin.” This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

World Cup: Curaçao coach Advocaat welcomes Germany testOne of the four World Cup debutants, Curaçao will face Germany on Sunday night in Houston. Their experienced coach Dick Advocaat looks forward to the big test for the smallest nation to play in the competition’s history.“The fact that we're playing Germany right at the start is fantastic,” said the coach who is set to become the oldest World Cup coach at the age of 78. “We want to advance to the next round. An upset is always possible. And an upset could be all it takes to advance. “We have a chance. There's a lot of ambition in this team. And when you have that, you can achieve a lot." Curaçao ended their four-game winless run just before the tournament with a 4-0 victory over Aruba. Ivory Coast face Ecuador in the other Group E fixture later on Sunday.

The New York Knicks are champions — winning the franchise's first title in 53 years — after eliminating the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals, and now the offseason is upon us.We are here — while you are still celebrating, New York; while you are commiserating, everyone else — to set the table with the six most massive storylines of the summer. Giannis Antetokounmpo's futureAntetokounmpo has made it clear he wants to play for a team with a legitimate chance to win a championship, and the Bucks are far from that, which makes the partnership awkward. The two-time league MVP has all but publicly requested a trade from Milwaukee, and the Bucks reportedly opened business for a deal last month (if they had not done so already).So, we fully anticipate Antetokounmpo to change teams this summer, perhaps even as soon as before the draft, and that's a big deal. He remains one of the NBA's best players, averaging a 28-11-6 on 62.4% true shooting in the past decade as, really, a point forward.He also turns 32 years old in December and has mounting injury concerns. Knee and calf ailments cost him all but 36 games this past season, as the Bucks won 32 games. He is owed $58.5 million next season and holds a $62.8 million option for the 2027-28 season. He is due a massive contract extension. And you will have to gut your assets to get him.But he might be worth it. With Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton as his co-stars, Giannis led Milwaukee to the 2021 championship. He's won a single playoff series since, though that has more to do with the roster around him than his contributions. When healthy, his effort level is always on tilt, and he is a wrecking ball of a force on both ends of the floor.Some team will convince itself it is an Antetokounmpo away from a title. The Miami Heat are reportedly in hottest pursuit and fear the Boston Celtics as their chief competition on an expanding list of suitors that include the Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic and Portland Trail Blazers, according to multiplereports. Does Miami have enough to get him? Would Boston part with Jaylen Brown? These are questions that need answering — soon.A loaded — and homegrown — 2026 NBA draftThe NBA's 2026 draft class is considered a stacked one. At the top, it boasts a group of four could-be franchise cornerstones, all from collegiate basketball: BYU's AJ Dybantsa, Duke's Cameron Boozer, Kansas' Darryn Peterson and North Carolina's Caleb Wilson.After them, there's a run of really talented guards, any of whom could be a star, all of whom you saw in the NCAA tournament: Louisville's Mikel Brown Jr., Arkansas' Darius Acuff Jr., Illinois' Keaton Wagler, Arizona's Brayden Burries, Houston's Kingston Flemings.Even 7-foot-3 Spaniard Aday Mara — considered the top international prospect in the draft, if only as a defensive counter to Wembanyama — played for the NCAA champion Michigan Wolverines this past season. If you even paid cursory attention to basketball beyond the NBA, you should recognize a ton of these names, and if you didn't, well, just know this, as always: good players will fall deep into the first round, even into the second.To better familiarize yourself with this year's draft class, check out our NBA Draft Guide, featuring in-depth analysis of each prospect and a two-round mock by Kevin O'Connor. How do contenders respond to a Knicks title?Every season, it seems, whenever a team wins a championship, others try to draw lessons from the reigning champion, as if there is some definitive blueprint for a title.What can we learn from these Knicks? You don't necessarily need a top-five player to win the whole thing. Jalen Brunson made this year's All-NBA Second Team. Karl-Anthony Towns made the Third Team last season and was left off the rosters this season. Neither OG Anunoby nor Mikal Bridges have ever made an All-Star team. They, and the rest of the rotation, are just a bunch of really good players around an extraordinary clutch performer.Do teams, then, consider themselves closer to a title than they imagined? You think New York scares the Celtics or Pistons? The East's top two seeds wish they had a shot at the Knicks, but fell short before they could meet them. Might they, respectively, put Brown or Jalen Duren on the table in an attempt to better balance the roster around a superstar?Then again, the other lesson we learned from these Knicks is that continuity matters. Undoubtedly, the fact they were mostly all together for a couple of years now — and for Brunson, Bridges and Josh Hart, dating back to Villanova — benefited the Knicks. Their chemistry, really, is what won them the title, and that cannot be slapped together. It might have required a different coach to tap into it, but the same players remain the heartbeat.So, should the Celtics and Pistons instead move on the fringes, continuing to build around their existing cores? There is a case to be made in front offices for that, too.If you're not as far from a title as you may have thought, if these 53-win Knicks can catch lightning in a bottle for two months, should you take a big swing — for Antetokounmpo, for New Orleans' Trey Murphy III, for whoever — to supplant them as betting favorites? Or should you tinker around the edges, hoping continuity — and coaching — carries the day?How teams answer these questions could dictate the availability of, say, Evan Mobley in Cleveland, Paolo Banchero in Orlando, De'Aaron Fox in San Antonio, Chet Holmgren or Jalen Williams in Oklahoma City, anyone but Nikola Jokić or Anthony Edwards in Denver and Minnesota, respectively, or actually everyone in Houston. The list of could-be contenders is long, especially if we expand it to include every 50-win outfit in the league.Really, teams might be more scared of the Spurs and what they could become as Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper mature. Do rivals, then, say, screw it, the window is open, let's make a big swing, let's go for Antetokounmpo and take advantage?Someone will bite, but there is only one Giannis, and he will cost you your continuity. LeBron James' free agencyYes, LeBron James, one of the greatest players in the history of the game, is an unrestricted free agent. His talents have not been on the market, really, since 2018, and not since The Decision in 2010 has his status been so uncertain. All of which makes him 41 years old. The most accomplished 41-year-old in basketball history. But 41 years old.He can still play. He made the All-Star team for the Lakers this past season and was the league's best third option for a spell, at least until the much younger Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves suffered injuries that impacted their playoff availability. Then, James could not carry those Lakers beyond the second round, which is impressive nonetheless. But not good enough in Los Angeles, where championships are expected from superstars.So, do the Lakers believe they can win a title with James as a third option? Would he be willing to be paid as a tertiary star, as both Dončić and Reaves command higher salaries?Likewise, does James believe he can win a title with these Lakers, given how far they were from defeating the Thunder? If he must take less money to re-sign in L.A., might he consider accepting a below-value deal to join a more ready-made contender elsewhere?We recently dove into LeBron's options, and the list of potential destinations — ones that James would accept, and ones that could accommodate him — is shorter than you think.Aspiration scandalWe should soon have a resolution to the Aspiration scandal, which alleges the Clippers funneled funds through the company to pay superstar Kawhi Leonard, violating the NBA's salary cap rules. The league launched its investigation when journalist Pablo Torre first broke news of alleged cap circumvention in September, and it has yet to be resolved.NBA commissioner Adam Silver reminded us prior to the Finals that an independent law firm is conducting the investigation, and while there has been a rush to judgment in the public sphere, the league is taking its time to ensure that it at least gets its ruling correct."I don't have a specific timeline on when they will be completed," said Silver. "I think it's clear they are far along. … I think they understand that you could keep going on and on, but I think we are close to the point now where I think we need to wrap this up, because you also need finality. The team has to understand what situation they are going to be operating under, and so do the other 29 teams. So that's where things currently stand."The Clippers, for what it's worth, own the No. 5 pick in this year's draft. At least for now.Nikola Jokić and looming contract extensionsWhile more than 100 players become eligible for contract extensions this summer, and we should expect dozens to sign them, there are a few important ones to keep an eye on.First and foremost, as the Finals conclude, Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokić, the league's three-time MVP, becomes eligible for a contract extension that could be worth an additional $278 million through the 2030-31 season. If Jokić, who holds a $62.8 million option for the 2027-28 campaign, does not sign the deal, how will the Nuggets respond?Do they panic and try to maximize the return for one of the game's truly elite players? Or, more likely, do they (again) retool a roster around Jokić, ultimately convincing him to stay?Or, of course, Jokić could just sign the extension. He did inform reporters in the aftermath of a first-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, "I still want to be a Nugget forever."The Cavaliers face a similar situation with Donovan Mitchell. While the All-NBA guard has publicly pledged his allegiance to Cleveland, nobody will truly know Mitchell's desire until he puts pen to paper on a deal that could keep him under contract on the Cavs until 2031. And if he doesn't, well, that might signal that he is not so committed to the organization.It is not dissimilar to what has happened with Giannis, who becomes extension eligible on Oct. 1, when he could stun everybody by re-signing with the Bucks. Everybody gets anxious around these extensions, and for good reason: It is nerve-wracking not to know how a superstar feels. Not until an offer is on the table does any player believe he will get a maximum extension, and not until he signs it does his team know he wants to stay.It takes trust between a superstar and his front office, trust that can be frayed in any number of ways, especially when it comes to finances, and maybe that's the biggest lesson we have learned from these Knicks, one that is impossible to replicate, since Leon Rose, New York's top executive, is the actual godfather of their best player, Brunson, the 2026 Finals MVP.

The New York Knicks are NBA champions, and perhaps there was no better person to call the final moments than Mike Breen.The 65-year-old Yonkers native and ESPN's lead NBA broadcaster is also the longtime voice of the Knicks for MSG. He was at the mic Saturday night when the Knicks ended a 53-year drought to bring home the Larry O'Brien Trophy after their NBA Finals Game 5 win over the Spurs in San Antonio.“It’s over! It’s over!" Breen said on the broadcast, "Knicks fans, this is not a dream!”Here's how it all looked and sounded:The drought is OVER 🏆53 years later, the Knicks are champions again! pic.twitter.com/jtuYWvyseX— ESPN (@espn) June 14, 2026This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: How Mike Breen called NY Knicks' epic NBA championship on TV

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 13: Taylor Walls #6 of the Tampa Bay Rays makes an error that allowed Jo Adell #7 of the Los Angeles Angels to score in the fourth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 13, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) | Getty Images The best, most positive bright spot of this game and this series is that it happened late at night on the West Coast, in between a packed World Cup slate, and during Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Ideally the absolute minimum amount of people were exposed to the completely lifeless version of the Rays that June has wrought.Rays couldn’t make the key defensive plays needed to win. They couldn’t come up with any clutch hits or even weak hits with runners in scoring position. Rays pitched well enough but not well enough. Angels on the other side did all of those things. And isn’t that the true biggest level of agony: the Angels?! The freaking Angels? The Martin Prince of baseball teams are bully balling their way to shoving the Rays into a locker? Oh, that does it!Let me make this relatively quick and painless for those lucky enough not to have watched.Griffin Jax continued to be sharp in a starting role. 5 innings, 5 hits, no walks, and 5 Ks. The only run he gave up, and the reason for the L on his ledger, is a very sharp grounder directly to Taylor Walls which Walls could not handle and hopped wickedly off of him into the outfield. A fairly harsh error, but also a ball I know Walls would say he needed to make, especially with 2 outs to preserve the shutout. Rays bullpen was less sharp, but Cash wisely chose not to chase the late trailing game (1 run seems like 10 right now) and used the strugglers and returners. Garrett Cleavinger continued to be ineffective, but at least it was quick. 3 batters, 1 K, 2 hits, and 1 out recorded. Recently returned Craig Kimbrel was very wild and got tagged for MORE 2 out offense from the Halos. Later on, Cash got more of the low leverage struggle bus involved and Cole Sulser gave up a 2 run dinger to Jose Siri. The Angels would feast some more off of Sulser, who also could not finish a full inning, leaving with just 2 outs recorded 5 hits and 1 walk and 4 ER given up.On the offensive side of things, there was nothing to really write home (or in recap) about. Yandy Diaz extended his on base streak to 26 games and the Rays didn’t get no-hit. The went 0-7 with RISP and left 6 on base, but there never really was a serious threat of scoring. This yard sale whiff from Caminero pretty much sums up the Rays June:With a Yankees thrilling win and Tampa Bay’s humiliating loss tonight, the Rays sink to 2nd place for the first time since May 8th. Oh, I just thought of more good news: June only has 30 days.

Mitch Johnson's De'Aaron Fox plan for Game 5 of NBA Finals backfired in embarrassing fashion originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.De’Aaron was easily the most popular NBA player on Wednesday night, and not for a positive reason. In addition to taking low-percentage shots in the second half of the San Antonio Spurs’ Game 4 NBA Finals match-up vs. the New York Knicks, the former Sacramento Kings star made the most costly mistake of the contest with under 15 seconds remaining. After collecting a steal with the Spurs possessing a slim one-point lead, Fox had the option of maintaining his dribble, getting fouled, and heading to the free throw line with a chance to extend San Antonio’s lead to three points.Instead, Fox attempted a left-handed layup with OG Anunoby sticking with him stride for stride, resulting in a game-changing block. After a go-ahead Anunoby tip-in following a Jalen Brunson three-point miss and one final defensive stop, the Knicks officially completed a 29-point comeback, putting San Antonio in a demanding 3-1 series hole. Head coach Mitch Johnson was asked about Fox’s late-game blunders after their unreal collapse, and instead of committing to making adjustments that would benefit the Spurs in the long run, the 39-year-old revealed his head-scratching Game 5 game plan centered on Fox."I don't get into social media,” Johnson said. “I think I've probably been fired 212 times, and we've traded Fox 72 times. People have their opinions.”“I don't care. De'Aaron Fox will have the ball in his hands at the end of the game tomorrow, and I have nothing but the utmost confidence that he's gonna deliver like he's done countless times for us.”Johnson clearly wasn’t lying, as the ball was in Fox’s hands down the stretch of the Spurs’ Saturday night elimination contest. However, the 28-year-old’s play indicates Johnson made a poor decision that ultimately backfired, as Fox failed to score a field goal in quarter No. 4 and was essentially a liability during the most crucial portion of the ball game (he finished the contest with seven points on 20% field goal shooting and 12.5% three-point shooting).Unsurprisingly, the Spurs suffered a 94-90 loss to the Knicks and missed the chance to extend the series to at least six games.Although Johnson undoubtedly has a bright future as an NBA coach, he’ll have to live with the fact that his loyalty to a player who had already proven he wasn’t prepared for prime time doomed San Antonio in a winnable Finals series.More NBA news:Warriors named landing spot for disrespected $186 million ex-Lakers superstarLakers rumor is good news for Luka Doncic, bad news for LeBron JamesLakers predicted to cut ties with Dalton Knecht, acquire $175 million two-time MVP

Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty ImagesThe BC Place Stadium is one of the stadiums hosting games at the 2026 World Cup and is one of the few that doesn’t have to change its name.Based in Vancouver, Canada, the 54,500-capacity ground will host seven games throughout the tournament, including Canada vs Qatar.Several stadiums such as the Estadio Azteca have been forced to change their name, but the BC Place stadium is exempt from this rule.Photo by Sarah Stier – FIFA/FIFA via Getty ImagesWhy the BC Place stadium didn’t need to change the rulesFIFA prevent sponsors not affiliated to the governing body or the World Cup from being displayed during the tournament.This has even seen the labels of some condiments covered up at the stadiums.However, the BC Place Stadium is allowed to keep it’s actual name as it is publicly owned by the province of British Columbia and doesn’t have a naming rights deal with a sponsor.There is only one other stadium which has been allowed to keep it’s sponsor. Although renamed to the Atlanta Stadium, the Mercedes-Benz stadium will keep the logo as organisers did not know how to remove it without causing damage or safety concerns.How to reach BC Place Stadium’s only entrance for World Cup gamesOne bonus of holding World Cup games here is the stadium’s central location in the city of Vancouver.However, due to extensive road closures, only one entrance to the stadium will be open, meaning that fans have been advised to arrive in plenty of time.Fans have been asked to arrive at Expo Line’s Main Street-Science World Station, one stop east of Stadium-Chinatown Station on the Skytrain, the latter of which is the usual stop.There, supporters will be able to make their way to the ground.

“I feel the same as I did 50 years ago,” President Trump said. “It’s crazy.”

FOXBOROUGH — In its first World Cup match in 28 years, Scotland defeated Haiti 1-0 at Gillette Stadium Saturday night.The victory came in front of a majority Scottish crowd that electrified the stadium all night.It was Scotland’s first time winning its World Cup opener since 1982.For Haiti, the loss marked its second-ever appearance in the tournament and first since 1974.It was the first of seven World Cup matches that Gillette will host.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.Scenes from the 2026 World Cup opener between Scotland and Haiti on June 13 at Gillette Stadium.McGinn breaks the sealIn the 28th minute, John McGinn delivered the first-ever World Cup goal at Gillette Stadium, giving Scotland an early advantage.It was the 21st goal of McGinn’s senior international career in his 88th appearance for his country.Haiti burns early chancesLes Grenadiers were not without scoring opportunities against the Scots. In the early minutes Haiti had multiple looks on net but launched them well high in haste.In the first half Haiti outshot Scotland eight to seven but tallied just one attempt on net.In the second frame, Haiti threatened late with five shots in the final 20 minutes, but once more the Scottish defense stood tall. How this impacts Group C:Following the 1-1 draw between Brazil and Morocco earlier in the day, Scotland jumped to first place in the group with the win.Haiti falls to the bottom of the group with the loss.Group CGPWDLGFGAPtsScotland1100103Brazil1010111Morocco1010111Haiti1001010Cards: In the 39th minute, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde picked up the first card of the match. The midfielder was shown a yellow for his tackle of Lawrence Shankland.Almost immediately after the second half began, Scotland’s right back Aaron Hickey picked up a yellow after dragging down Ruben Providence.In the 91st minute, Findlay Curtis picked up the second yellow for Scotland. Three minutes later, Kenny McLean picked up a third card for his side after kicking Josué Casimir in the knee.Next up:Scotland will stay in Foxborough for its next match, facing Morocco on Friday, June 19 at 6 p.m. On the same day, Haiti will play Brazil in Philadelphia at 8:30 p.m.More World Cup 2026 CoverageThousands of World Cup fans pack South Station, turn Boston into global celebrationTrain tickets from Boston to World Cup game sold outWorld Cup 2026: U.S. gets dominant win, Brazil-Morocco on deckOn home soil with a global audience, the U.S. opened the World Cup with a brilliant performanceRead the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Watch a tour of the arena outside the White HouseThe Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is heading to the White House on Sunday, becoming the first ever professional sporting event staged at the US presidential residence. About 4,300 people are expected at the invite-only mixed martial arts event on the South Lawn, with another 85,000 expected at a nearby fan zone. A lawsuit failed to halt the event, but hot weather and thunderstorms forecast to sweep across the city on Sunday could dampen the spectacle.The event coincides with President Donald Trump's 80th birthday, which is also Flag Day, and is part of celebrations for America's 250th anniversary.The seven-bout card was arranged between Trump and his longstanding friend Dana White, UFC president. The UFC spent about $60m (£45m) on the event, including $700,000 for grass repairs afterwards on a lawn that hosts the annual Easter Egg Roll.The centrepiece is the "Claw" - a 92ft high metal structure that looms over the octagon and many of the seats. It weighs 600 tonnes.[BBC]'Greatest show on Earth', Trump saysA total of 14 fighters will compete in back-to-back fights, ending with the main card between Georgian-Spanish lightweight Ilia Topuria and American Justin Gaethje. The action begins at 20:00 EDT (midnight GMT). It will be screened exclusively on Paramount+, which is run by Trump ally David Ellison. Last year, UFC signed a $7.7bn deal with the Netflix rival streaming service.The ultimate winner may be UFC - making it to the White House is a fist-pumping brand boost for a sport that was once shunned by sponsors and venues and denounced as "human cockfighting" by a US senator.Administration officials - including Trump - have repeatedly praised the event, with the president referring to it as "the greatest show on Earth" and comparing the Claw to the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Secretary of State Marco Rubio this week lauded the UFC as the "definition of American soft diplomatic power" and announced the launch of a private-public partnership to use the UFC as a diplomatic tool. Fans attended a UFC festival in central Washington DC on Saturday [Getty Images]Fighters Sean O'Malley and Aiemann Zahabi at the Lincoln Memorial [Anadolu via Getty Images]Lawsuit sought to get the fight cancelledJust days before the fight, a lawsuit was filed on behalf of two Virginia residents - a Vietnam veteran and a local civic activist - to try halt the event.The legal action, filed by the Public Integrity Project, a self-described anti-corruption law firm in Washington, argued the event was "deeply corrupt".It cited a lack of approvals for the weigh-in at the nearby Lincoln Memorial and President Trump's close personal and financial ties with Dana White and the UFC.But on Friday, a judge denied an emergency injunction to stop the fight - a ruling welcomed by the White House, which described the lawsuit as "frivolous". Americans aren't thrilled about UFC fightA Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Friday, however, suggested many Americans were sceptical of the event. The survey found that only 16% of Americans believed it appropriate to hold the UFC fight at the White House, compared to 46% who thought it inappropriate.Only about a third of Republicans approved of the plan.The UFC fight is one of several marquee events planned to mark the 250th anniversary of the country, which will also include an IndyCar race around the National Mall later this summer and a "Great American State Fair" in July. Weather could cast a cloud on fightThe weather could cause delays during the event on Sunday, with thunderstorms forecast in Washington DC.It's going to be a hot and humid day on Sunday in the nation's capital, with mid-afternoon temperatures peaking at around 91F (33C), according to forecasts.As the heat and humidity builds, scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop through Sunday afternoon and into the evening, with the risk of lightning, downpours and wind gusts of over 50mph (80km). The summer humidity in Washington often attracts an unpleasant number of insects.A news conference for the event at the Lincoln Memorial on Friday was briefly delayed over "inclement weather" and fans were urged to seek shelter. [BBC]'Cancel it', Trump says after artists drop out of US Freedom 250 festivalTrump attacks artists dropping out of US Freedom 250 concert and mulls appearing himselfTrump cancels concerts for America's 250th birthday - but how else is it celebrating?Topuria shoves Gaethje in front of Lincoln Memorial

England arrived at their permanent World Cup base in Kansas City on Saturday and immediately got down to business.Shortly after dropping their bags off at the Inn at Meadowbrook Hotel in Prairie Village, where the team will stay for the duration of their stay in the United States, they made the 20-minute trip to their training centre at Swope Soccer Village for their first session since arriving in Missouri.The locals welcomed Thomas Tuchel's men into their community with open arms but also with a high security, the team escorted by a motorcade of protection.There was nothingm however, to protect the players from the searing sun, with temperatures reaching around 31C, as the team were put through their paces.And this is what BBC Sport noticed from England's opening training session in Kansas City.Same again for England?BBC Sport reported on Friday that there was an emerging sense that the team that started against Costa Rica on Wednesday will be the side that Tuchel selects in the team's first game against Croatia on Tuesday - and there were further reasons to believe that may be the case on Saturday.For part of the session the 10 outfield players that started versus Costa Rica: Jude Bellingham, Ezri Konsa, John Stones, Nico O'Reilly, Elliot Anderson, Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke and Reece James trained away from the rest of the squad.Of course, it may simply have been a coincidence that the 10 were grouped together - but if you were looking for clues into how Tuchel's team may look in Dallas on Tuesday then reading something into that would be understandable.One obvious potential alteration to the team that beat Costa Rica would be Bukayo Saka for Madueke, but Tuchel's confirmation that the former requires managing through the tournament due to fitness concerns has raised questions over the Arsenal attacker's involvement.Saka trained away from what appeared to be the starting group and still did not look like he was moving freely.Robbery being downplayed by EnglandSpeaking after the training session, players appeared to be conscious of trying to play down the impact of the theft that saw equipment stolen on Friday.It emerged on Friday night that items had been stolen from a vehicle that was carrying equipment from England's pre-tournament camp in Florida to Kansas City.On Saturday night, Kansas City police confirmed that two men, Mustafa Salik and Erfan Kamal, had been charged in connection with the incident that saw $18,000 worth of property sold.The Football Association, however, has been clear that no elite performance equipment had gone missing and that the majority of what was stolen has now been recovered.It was claimed that the property taken was four pairs of football boots, one ball, a pair of goalkeeper gloves and training kit.And speaking about the theft, Dan Burn said: "I've not lost anything personally, we found out from you guys (the media)."It's with the police now so not sure how much I can comment. It's not really been spoken about so that just shows for us that they aren't too worried about it - it's not really disrupted our preparations."Preparations step up a gearWith England's World Cup preparations now in full swing, the focus on the group matches will shift up a level.If the Florida camp was about acclimatisation to the hot and humid conditions, training in Kansas City will narrow in on preparation for their group games versus Croatia, Ghana and Panama.Head coach Tuchel said: "We have acclimatised, they have worked hard enough and been exposed to enough heat - we are in a good place."The focus is on Croatia, today is about settling in and from tomorrow it's about three days preparation for Croatia."Captain Harry Kane provided similar sentiments, saying: "This is where the business starts, this is going to be our home for the next six weeks hopefully - we look forward to getting started."I thought it was a high level performance against Costa Rica – and now we prepare for a tough first game. Croatia are a difficult team, they have proved in the last two World Cups that they can be one of the best teams in the tournament and we have to be ready for that."World Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup