Cape Verde's 40-year-old goalkeeper has become a star at this World Cup, and a Senegal teenager scored in his tournament debut.Here's a look at some of the oldest and youngest players as the 48-team tournament enters its second week.Elder statesmenNo better place to begin than the 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portugal star will be disappointed to not have found the back of the net in a 1-1 draw with Congo on Wednesday. FIFA said Ronaldo became the oldest outfield player to start a World Cup match.Luka Modric, 40, led Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final but got off to a rough start against England on Wednesday, when his foul led to Harry Kane's penalty goal. The midfield great was subbed off before the hour mark in a 4-2 loss.There are several 40-year-old goalkeepers on World Cup rosters. Manuel Neuer of Germany might be the best known of the bunch, but Cape Verde's Vozinha has joined the chat. The unheralded goalkeeper played a big role in holding Spain to a 0-0 draw. His mom hopes to be at their next match — Sunday against Uruguay in Miami.Lionel Messi is a sprightly 38 — he turns 39 next week — and dazzled in Argentina's opener by scoring a hat trick against Algeria.Young gunsMexico teenager Gilberto Mora got a big cheer from the home fans when he entered as a substitute in the second half of El Tri's 2-0 victory over South Africa. The 17-year-old midfielder, the youngest player on the World Cup rosters, plays for Tijuana in Liga MX and is being tracked by several top European clubs. Mexico faces South Korea on Thursday in Guadalajara.Senegal forward Ibrahim Mbaye made an immediate impact in his World Cup debut. The 18-year-old French-born Mbaye came on in the 75th minute against France and scored in stoppage time of their 3-1 loss to Kylian Mbappé and company. Senegal will play Norway on Monday.Ayyoub Bouaddi, 18, stood out in the midfield for Morocco in its 1-1 draw with Brazil. The teenager played for France at youth level but switched to Morocco just in time for the World Cup.Egypt forward Hamza Abdelkarim, 18, came on as sub in 1-1 draw with Belgium, replacing star Mohamed Salah in 76th minute.The biggest of the young guns is Spain's Lamine Yamal, who turns 19 next month. He only recently returned from a hamstring injury and was pressed into action as a sub in Spain's draw with Cape Verde.___AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup

Jun. 17— Austin Post 91 gained a road win over Rochester Mayo on Tuesday evening by a score of 3-1.John Rollie carried the win all seven innings on the mound, giving up just one run on four hits and striking out seven.Offensively, Post 91 broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the sixth inning with a pair of runs to seal the win.Dylan Wencl, Cooper Jacobson and Haydn Quitmeyer all went 1-for-3 from the plate.Austin 001 002 0 — 3 5 0Rochester Mayo 000 100 0 — 1 4 0Austin pitching: John Rollie (W) 7 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 1 ER, 7 KAustin hitting: Dylan Wencl, 1-for-3, BB; John Rollie, 0-for-3, BB; Cooper Jacobson, 1-for-3, RBI, HBP; Haydn Quitmeyer, 1-for-3, double, R, BB; Keagen Duholm, 0-for-3, R BB; Rob Lillis, 0-for-2, BB; Brandon Rye, 0-for-2, RBI BB; Cody Pederson, 0-for-2; Jonah Klein, 0-for-1; Casey Denzer, 2-for-2, RBI, R, BB

At the Group of 7 gathering in France, President Trump’s oscillations on his Iran deal and Ukraine left European leaders racing to catch up.

CHICAGO (AP) — Sabrina Ionescu hit the winning layup with 10 seconds remaining, Jonquel Jones scored 19 points and the New York Liberty beat the Chicago Sky 96-95 on Wednesday night in Commissioner’s Cup play.Ionescu subbed back onto the floor with 15.6 seconds remaining, caught the ball and drove to the basket before finishing with her left hand to seal the Liberty's eighth-straight win. She finished the night with 10 points.Jones hauled in eight rebounds and finished 6 for 9 from the field. Breanna Stewart and Satou Sabally each scored 17 points, and Rebekah Gardner added 10 off the bench.Rookie Sydney Taylor scored 24 points in her first career start, hitting 57% from downtown, for the Sky. Olivia Miles is the only rookie with more 20-point games this season. Gabriela Jaquez, also a rookie, added a season-high 22 points for Chicago. The Liberty clinched a perfect Commissioner’s Cup record versus the East with the win.Up nextThe Liberty host the Washington Mystics on Friday.The Sky visit the Dallas Wings on Saturday.___AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Jun 17, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Tyler Rogers (71) throws in the eighth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Jaiden Tripi-Imagn Images | Jaiden Tripi-Imagn Images Blue Jays 3 Red Sox 0It seems weird to get a shutout in a game that the Jays pitchers really didn’t look great An impromptu bullpen day, with Max Scherzer scratched with back tightness (landing him on the IL), Jays pitchers walked seven and allowed seven hits. You’d imagine one of those baserunners would have come around to score. The Red Sox were 0 for 12 with RISP.We did get some good defense. Kazuma Okamoto made a couple of terrific plays (two in the eighth in particular) and Vladimir Guerrero had just an excellent night with the glove. Davis Schneider also made an excellent catch in left field. On the pitching side:Braydon Fisher got the first four outs, giving up two walks in the process.Simeon Woods Richardson, the forgotten man in the pen, played bulk guy, going three innings, with three hits and three walks with one strikeout. He was helped by the spectacular catch in left field by Schneider. SWR was awarded the win.Mason Fluharty only got one out, with one walk, one his and one strikeout. Spencer Miles came in with Fluharty’s two runners on base and left them there, getting four outs, with one hit and one walk, with a strikeout. Jeff Hoffman pitched the seventh and was the first Jays pitcher not to walk someone. He gave up a one-out single, but got out of the inning with three ground outs. It took him 25 pitches to throw that scoreless inning, but put up a zero.Tyler Rogers had his usual inning, giving up a single, but getting three ground outs. And Louis Varland was untouchable in the ninth, three strikeouts on ten pitches. He was amazing. Save number 14. We only got three runs, but it was enough:Two in the third: Davis Schneider hit a double off the left field wall. After Myles Straw (one of Spencer Miles or Myles Straw has to change the spelling of their name, I keep forgetting which is which. Add in all the variations on Brandon on the team and it is too much for a bear of very little brain) struck out, Andrés Giménez singled Davis in. Giménez then stole second. George Springer was hit by pitch (it looked like he got it off the foot again). The pair pulled off a double steal and Andrés scored on a Guerrero ground out. I thought IKF could have come home on the play, but I’m not going to complain.One in the eighth: Giménez singled and stole second. Springer flied out, moving up the runner. and Vlad popped one up just out of the reach of the Red Sox second baseman Andruw Monasterio. We had eight hits (but no walks) on the day. Vlad and Andrés had two each. Springer (with a hit by pitch), Okamoto (2 k), Kirk (2 k) and Clement (2 k) had 0 fors. We were 2 for 9 with RISP, infinitely better than the Red Sox. Giménez had 3 steals and Springer had 2 which set a new Jays single game record with 5 steals in a game. Beyond that, the English soccer fans gave a bit of atmosphere to the game. They had fun. I’ve been to a few soccer games in England and the fans are half the fun of the game. Jays of the Day: Spencer Miles (0.18 WPA), Giménez (0.17), Woods Richardson (0.15) and Hoffman (0.09). I’d give honorable mention to Davis, Kazuma and Vlad for their defense.No one gets the number for the Other Award. Straw had the low mark at -0.08 but he did make a nice catch too. Tomorrow is a day game. 1:30 Eastern, which messes with my day. Trey Yesavage (3-3, 3.78) and Sonny Gray (8-1, 3.03) are the starters. I’d say runs will be hard to get, but I said that you should take the ‘over’ on runs scored today and only three runs were scored.Sportsnet says we are 7-1 on bullpen days. Of course, we were over-using the arms in the pen. And Tyler Heineman was traded to the Angels for the ever famous ‘cash considerations’. No word on what uniform number cash will be wearing with the Jays. Yeah, bad joke.

Illini Isaac and Robby Nardini of The Champaign Room battle against one another to draft the most painful losses of Brad Underwood’s career as the coach of Illinois Basketball. *Loyola Chicago not included*Check out State Farm Agent Brian Hanson for a home, auto, business, and life insurance needs quote today: https://linkly.link/2k0Ei

16 June 2026, USA, Winston-Salem: Soccer, 2026 World Cup, national team, Germany, press conference, ahead of the second World Cup match against Ivory Coast. Joshua Kimmich (Germany) attends a press conference. Photo: Federico Gambarini/dpa (Photo by Federico Gambarini/picture alliance via Getty Images) Germany got off to a good start in their World Cup campaign with a 7-1 win over Curaçao, but the same can’t be said for European champions Spain who were held to a goalless draw by a resolute Cabo Verde side. In a recent press conference, Germany captain Joshua Kimmich gave his take on that result, the effect of the expanded tournament, and the visible improvement of lesser teams in the World Cup.“Generally speaking, it’s getting more difficult to win games,” Kimmich explained (as captured by X account @iMiaSanMia). “The so-called smaller nations are getting better, both from a footballing and tactical point of view. Curaçao actually played football against us, I had expected more long balls.“I watched Haiti against Scotland, and they also played a good game. It’s no longer straightforward. The bigger nations have to get even better to win these games. It shows that our 7-1 against Curaçao is not a given. You have to work for it.”Die Mannschaft face two stern tests in the form of Ivory Coast and Ecuador in their group. Should Germany succeed in defeating both those countries, then maybe a deep run isn’t out of the question.

NEW YORK (AP) — Cody Bellinger hit an early homer and finished a triple shy of the cycle, Paul Goldschmidt homered for the third time in four games and the surging New York Yankees used another big inning to beat the Chicago White Sox 10-5 on Wednesday night.After Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart threw out ceremonial first pitches to continue the celebration for the NBA champion New York Knicks, the Yankees won their fourth straight and for the ninth time in 13 games since losing star slugger Aaron Judge indefinitely to a fractured right rib. New York also equaled its largest lead atop the AL East by moving 3 1/2 games ahead of Tampa Bay.Bellinger hit a two-run homer in the first off Anthony Kay (6-2), doubled in the third against the left-hander and started a five-run fifth with a single. Bellinger finished with three hits for the fifth time this season.Goldschmidt capped New York’s big inning with a three-run drive into the right-field seats off reliever Tyler Davis, who entered after Sean Newcomb took a liner hit by Anthony Volpe off his left triceps. Goldschmidt's homer was his 11th, surpassing his total in 146 games last season.Jazz Chisholm Jr. became the fifth Yankees player to reach double-digit homers this year when he went deep in the seventh for a 10-3 lead.José Caballero added a two-run single in the fifth and Volpe hit an RBI triple in the second. Ali Sánchez contributed an RBI single in the second and reached base three times.Carlos Rodón (3-2) allowed three runs and seven hits in five innings against his former team. The lefty struck out seven and walked one.Colson Montgomery hit a three-run homer off Rodón in the third to get the White Sox within 4-3. Montgomery also homered in the eighth for his first career multihomer game. Sam Antonacci homered in the ninth but the White Sox lost their ninth straight game in the Bronx and fell to 5-5 in a challenging stretch of 11 straight against the Phillies, Braves, Dodgers and Yankees.Kay allowed four runs and six hits in four innings.Up nextChicago RHP Sean Burke (3-4, 4.15 ERA) faces New York LHP Ryan Weathers (2-5, 4.36) in the series finale Thursday night.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

[BBC]which you can follow here - is now under way.You can rate both sets of players out of 10 below and come back 30 minutes after full-time to see the final ratings.World Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup

Former NBA champion defends Victor Wembanyama from being called a dirty player originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Victor Wembanyama has been the darling of the NBA and its many fan bases since he arrived in 2023. In just his third season, he proved that he was worth the hype, leading the San Antonio Spurs to the NBA Finals in his first postseason run.Along the way, Wembanyama faced all kinds of matchups, which were quite physical. Unfortunately, he has retaliated against his opponents, which has now given him a stain on his reputation for being a "dirty" player.Matt Barnes comes to Victor Wembanyama's defense against "dirty" accusationsIn the 2026 Playoffs, teams prepared for the Spurs by playing physical basketball. This happened with the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Wembanyama himself has experienced some frustrations, which were clear with his elbow against Naz Reid.As he continued playing against the Thunder and the New York Knicks, Wembanyama began to have a reputation for being a dirty player. This is now something that has stuck with him, which will be tough to shake.MORE: How Victor Wembanyama might become even better from the NBA Finals collapseSome of the criticism is deserved because he did have some bad moments, like his elbow and how he shoved Jalen Brunson in the NBA Finals. Former NBA champion Matt Barnes has defended Wembanyama against those who called him dirty."People were taking a lot of cheap shots at him this year. I just think he got to a point, end of the season, I'm worn out... If you're going to take a cheap shot at me, I'm going to elbow you in the face, and I'm going to mush Brunson. I want that for my superstar," Barnes said on All The Smoke about Wembanyama.Retaliation is a big part of what Barnes is talking about. Wembanyama has not been the instigator across all the incidents because there is always context to the bad moments seen on the live broadcast.Understandably, Wembanyama is getting frustrated because no other big man is getting that physicality. Moving forward, it seems he will be locked in more, which is a good sign for the Spurs.More NBA news:The Spurs have a huge De'Aaron Fox question they must answerOG Anunoby's game-winner in Game 4 might be on par with Willis Reed's return, according to Ben StillerAll the key details for the Knicks' big championship paradeHow moving on from Mitchell Robinson can work for the KnicksTracy McGrady feels Jalen Brunson is just as clutch as Kobe Bryant

Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty ImagesTrae Young is reportedly set to turn down his $48.97 million player option and enter free agency, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s planning to leave the Washington Wizards.The timing might catch some off guard, especially with the Wizards’ recent momentum. The team not only brought in Anthony Davis but also landed the top pick in the NBA Draft Lottery.Even so, Spears added that Washington is still seen as the favourite to re-sign Young, despite his decision to test free agency.Photo by G Fiume/Getty ImagesWhy Trae Young is turning down his $48.97 million optionMarc J. Spears shared on Threads that the four-time NBA All-Star intends to decline the 2026-27 player option and hit the open market on Monday.According to Spears, Young’s move is less about leaving and more about seeing what’s out there in the NBA market.He’s expected to draw plenty of interest from teams with max cap space, giving him the chance to lock in a longer-term deal rather than playing out one final year.Spears also noted that Young remains fond of both the Wizards and Washington, D.C., reinforcing the idea that this is more a business decision than a basketball one.With another All-Star-level season under his belt, Young has the leverage to negotiate a new contract — and the option he’s declining is one he signed back when he was still with the Atlanta Hawks, before his move to Washington in the 2025-26 season.Washington’s outlook is brighter than everYoung’s decision comes at a time when the Wizards’ future is looking particularly bright.The addition of Anthony Davis gave the team a legitimate co-star, and winning the draft lottery only added to the excitement.BYU standout AJ Dybantsa is widely expected to be the top pick, which would give Washington an intriguing trio: a proven point guard, an All-NBA big man, and a potential generational talent.That context makes Spears’ report even more meaningful. While Young is heading to free agency, all signs suggest the Wizards remain in a strong position to keep their franchise star as they prepare for what could be a transformative offseason.Read more:Darryn Peterson makes a risky bet to be the No. 1 pick before 2026 NBA DraftJaylen Brown gives unfortunate reality check to Trae Young’s No. 1 seed in the East dreamsFranchise shakeup? AJ Dybantsa seen as 2026’s can’t-miss prospect with Wizards holding top pick

Right: Credit MSG; Left: Credit Kyle Terada-Imagn ImagesThe Knicks have tapped legendary ABC play-by-play voice Mike Breen, who is also the team’s local play-by-play voice on MSG, to be the emcee of the championship ceremony at New York’s City Hall.The news comes from Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. According to Bondy, Breen will also be part of the larger parade down New York’s “Canyon of Heroes.”Breen grew up a Knicks fan in Yonkers, New York, just north of the Bronx. He would go on to attend Fordham University in the Bronx.He has been associated with Knicks broadcasts since 1991, when he was hired on Knicks radio on WFAN. He moved to the television booth in the 1997–98 season, replacing Marv Albert after Albert’s firing. Breen later returned to radio from 1999 to 2004 before rejoining the television booth, where he has remained ever since.Nationally, Mike Breen worked with NBC as a backup play-by-play announcer and primary WNBA voice from 1998 to 2002 before joining ESPN in 2003. He became ESPN’s lead NBA voice in 2006 and has called every NBA Finals since.“It’s over! It’s over! Knick fans, this is not a dream!” Breen said in the closing seconds of Game 5. “Your long, long wait is ended. Go ahead and cry: after 53 years, the Knicks are finally NBA Champions once again!”This is not the first time a local play-by-play voice who also works national games has served as emcee for a championship ceremony. Joe Davis, the local voice of the Los Angeles Dodgers, hosted the Dodgers’ championship parade following their 2025 World Series win.It will be fascinating to see the reaction to a beloved national play-by-play voice, who is supposed to be unbiased, serving in such a biased role for the Knicks. When it was Davis, legendary New York radio voice Chris “Mad Dog” Russo was not a fan of the arrangement.“When you’re a national broadcaster, and you’re the voice of the sport on the big stage, when you did a million playoff games, and one of the crippling losses that a franchise is gonna have in the history of the sport, that’s as bad a loss as you’re going to have!” Russo ranted. “The body’s not even cold yet! And I got Joe at Dodger Stadium doing the freaking Dodger parade! Oh my god! That’s bad! I’m sorry! I don’t care what you say! You can say I’m screaming and yelling about nothing! That would piss me off if I’m a Blue Jay fan!”Joe Davis is used to facing accusations of Dodgers bias, especially from personalities in New York, so it will be interesting to see if anyone wants to stick their neck out and have a similar take on Mike Breen hosting for the Knicks.The post Mike Breen set to emcee Knicks championship ceremony appeared first on Awful Announcing.

For Wednesday’s #PFTPM, a viewer from the U.K. asked a question regarding three significant legal issues the NFL is facing. Between the Jon Gruden case, the Brian Flores case, and the Sunday Ticket case, which one will have a new development first?The most likely case to move forward is the Sunday Ticket litigation.The Gruden and Flores lawsuits have entered the discovery phase, which will feature information-gathering activities spanning months. The Sunday Ticket case is pending on appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The issues have been briefed. The oral argument has occurred. A ruling could come at literally any time.And the ruling could be very significant. Two years ago, a jury found that the NFL violated the antitrust laws through the pricing of Sunday Ticket. The league's goal was to price it at a level that discouraged customers from buying it, instead watching whatever games were available in their local markets on CBS and Fox.It was, and still is, a delicate balance. CBS and Fox want to maximize viewership. They hold their noses and allow their feeds to populate the out-of-market package, which currently is streaming but previously (and for years) was available only by satellite. Consumers have to choose between paying a lot to watch the games they want to see, or settling for the games delivered to the areas where they live.The jury in the Sunday Ticket case entered a $4.7 billion verdict, which by law would be tripled to $14.1 billion if/when it becomes a formal judgment. The judge threw out the award, but not the finding of an antitrust violation.On appeal, the Ninth Circuit could uphold the judge's decision, reverse it and reinstate the verdict, or reverse it and send the case back for a new trial on the issue of financial damages.It's also possible that, eventually, an injunction will be issued against the NFL, forcing it to stop distributing Sunday Ticket through a deliberately overpriced product.For now, the NFL has adhered to the status quo. Despite the potentially enormous financial liability flowing from the effort to continue to have it both ways — collecting large fees from CBS and FOX for in-market broadcasts, and a large fee from YouTube for the out-of-market package.Regardless of what happens with Congress or the FCC or the Department of Justice as to the current broadcast antitrust exemption, the Sunday Ticket case continues to hover over the NFL. The final outcome could cost the league billions, it could force the NFL to revolutionize Sunday Ticket pricing and distribution, or both.It may not be full-blown chaos, but the outcome could be quite chaotic for the NFL.

James Dolan said he was “very proud” to bring his championship team to Washington. It would be the first N.B.A. team to visit the White House with Trump as president.

PWHL Draft Tracker 2026: Full Results, List of Picks & Boston Fleet Selections originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.A transformational offseason continued on Wednesday night with 12 teams adding young prospects to their rosters during the 2026 PWHL Draft.Unsurprisingly, the Vancouver Goldeneyes selected Wisconsin's Caroline "KK" Harvey with the No. 1 overall pick. Badgers stars Laila Edwards (PWHL San Jose), Lacey Eden (PWHL Las Vegas), Kirsten Simms (Toronto Sceptres) and Vivian Jungels (Ottawa Charge) also came off the board in the first round.MORE:PWHL Beginner's Guide: Everything New Fans Need to KnowThe Boston Fleet selected Cornell's Grace Dwyer with the No. 10 overall pick, providing a boost along the blue line.You can check out the full list of picks from the 2026 PWHL Draft below.PWHL Draft tracker 2026: Full results, list of picksRound 1Pick TeamPlayer1Vancouver GoldeneyesCaroline "KK" Harvey, D, Wisconsin2Seattle TorrentAbbey Murphy, F, Minnesota3PWHL Las Vegas (via Detroit)Tessa Janecke, F, Penn State4PWHL San JoseLaila Edwards, D, Wisconsin5PWHL Las VegasLacey Eden, F, Wisconsin6PWHL HamiltonNelli Laitinen, D, Minnesota7New York SirensEmma Peschel, D, Ohio State8Toronto SceptresKirsten Simms, F, Wisconsin9Minnesota FrostSara Swiderski, D, Ohio State10Boston FleetGrace Dwyer, D, Cornell11Ottawa ChargeVivian Jungels, D, Wisconsin12Montreal VictoirePetra Nieminen, F, LuleaRound 2Pick TeamPlayer13PWHL Las Vegas (via Vancouver)Isabel Wunder, F, Princeton14Seattle TorrentSydney Morrow, D, Minnesota15PWHL DetroitAndrea Brandli, G, Frolunda HC16PWHL San JoseSloane Matthews, F, Ohio State17Vancouver Goldeneyes (via Las Vegas)Thea Johansson, F, Minnesota Duluth18PWHL HamiltonJade Iginla, F, Brown19New York SirensElisa Holopainen, F, Frolunda HC20Toronto SceptresJamie Nelson, F, Minnesota21Minnesota FrostViivi Vainikka, F, Brynas22PWHL Detroit (via Boston)Casey Borgiel, D, Colgate23Ottawa ChargeJordan Ray, F, Yale24Montreal VictoireAvi Adam, F, CornellRound 3Pick TeamPlayer25Vancouver GoldeneyesJules Constantinople, D, Northeastern26Seattle TorrentEmerson Jarvis, F, Quinnipiac27Boston Fleet (via Detroit)Leah Stecker, D, Penn State28PWHL San JoseTia Chan, G, UConn29PWHL Las VegasJosefin Bouveng, F, Minnesota30PWHL HamiltonElyssa Biederman, F, Colgate31New York SirensCarina DiAntonio, F, Yale32Toronto SceptresBrooke Disher, D, Ohio State33Minnesota FrostMadelyn Christian, F, Penn State34PWHL Detroit (via Boston)MaryKate O'Brien, F, Minnesota Duluth35Ottawa ChargeTereza Pistekova, F, SDE36Montreal VictoireZoe Uens, D, QuinnipiacRound 4Pick TeamPlayer37Vancouver GoldeneyesKatelyn DeSa, G, Penn State38Seattle TorrentGrace Elliott, F, British Columbia39PWHL DetroitKyla Josifovic, F, UConn40PWHL San JoseLily Shannon, F, Northeastern41PWHL Las VegasSaskia Maurer, G, SC Bern42PWHL HamiltonMegan Woodworth, F, UConn43New York SirensKatelyn Roberts, F, Penn State44Toronto SceptresJane Kuehl, F, Princeton45Minnesota FrostTova Henderson, D, Minnesota Duluth46Boston FleetJaden Bogden, F, Northeastern47Ottawa ChargeTory Mariano, D, Northeastern48Montreal VictoireHailey MacLeod, G, Ohio StateRound 5Pick TeamPlayer49PWHL Las Vegas (via Vancouver)Kendall Butze, D, Penn State50Seattle TorrentGracie Gilkyson, D, Yale51PWHL DetroitSena Catterall, F, Clarkson52PWHL San JoseMckenna Van Gelder, F, Cornell53PWHL Las VegasAlexis Petford, F, Colgate54PWHL HamiltonEmma-Sofie Nordstrom, G, St. Lawrence55New York SirensGrace Wolfe, D, St. Cloud State56Toronto SceptresEmerson O'Leary, F, Princeton57Minnesota FrostDarya Gredzen, G, Birusa Krasnoyarsk58Boston FleetJenna Goodwin, F, Frolunda HC59Ottawa ChargeNeena Brick, F, MoDo60Montreal VictoireErica Rieder, D, LuleaRound 6Pick TeamPlayer61Vancouver GoldeneyesAshley Messier, D, Minnesota Duluth62Seattle TorrentGabriella Durante, G, Real Torino63PWHL DetroitGeorgia Schiff, F, Cornell64PWHL San JoseReichen Kirchmair, F, Providence65PWHL Las VegasSydney Healey, F, Boston66PWHL HamiltonMya Vaslet, F, Penn State67New York SirensNaomi Boucher, F, Yale68Toronto SceptresAlyssa Regalado, D, Cornell69Minnesota FrostLara Beecher, F, Clarkson70Boston FleetMaeve Kelly, D, Boston71Ottawa ChargeTaylor Otremba, F, Minnesota State72Montreal VictoireEmilie Lavoie, F, ConcordiaBoston Fleet PWHL Draft picks 2026RoundPickPlayer110Grace Dwyer, D, Cornell327Leah Stecker, D, Penn State446Jaden Bogden, F, Northeastern558Jenna Goodwin, F, Frolunda HC670Maeve Kelly, D, BostonHow to watch PWHL Draft 2026: TV channel, live streamTV channel: N/ALive stream:PWHL YouTubeThe 2026 PWHL Draft will be available to stream on the PWHL's official YouTube channel with no blackout restrictions.PWHL Draft 2026 start timeDate: Wednesday, June 17Time: 5 p.m. ETLocation: Fox Theatre (Detroit)The PWHL Draft is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 17. The event will be held at the Fox Theatre in Detroit.

One of the state’s most intriguing prospects has his first football offer.Cleveland wide receiver Evan Nañez was offered by New Mexico last weekend, he announced Friday via social media.“Blessed to receive my first Division I football offer!” he posted via X. “Thank you (UNM head coach Jason Eck) and (wide receiver coach Carson Walch) for believing in me.”The 6-foot-1, 165-pound incoming junior caught 51 passes for 996 yards and 16 touchdowns last season with the Storm, emerging as one of the state’s top receiver prospects. He rushed for an additional 199 yards and four touchdowns as Cleveland won a state title and placed 10 athletes — Nañez included — on the Journal’s All-Metro team.Nañez is also among New Mexico’s most prized basketball prospects, holding offers from New Mexico State, Southern Utah and Northern New Mexico. His father, Michael Nañez, walked on to the NMSU basketball team in the 1998-99 season.Evan Nañez played basketball with and took classes at ABC Prep Academy last season, but will “probably” attend Cleveland in an attempt to play basketball with the Storm this season, a decision he’s been mulling over the last few weeks.“We just thought it was a better decision for me … It’s a lot of driving (back and forth) for me,” he said.Blessed to receive my first division 1 football offer! Thank you @Coach_Eck @Carson_Walch for believing in me. #2028 @Beau_Davidson @Coach_Ridenour @Coach_RGarza @coach_crow @PrepRedzoneNM @nmpreps @247Sports @UNMLoboFB @tony_mccoy3 @_teamgoi pic.twitter.com/ILePx0eBIm— Evan Nanez (@EvanNanez5245) June 12, 2026Nañez was offered at UNM’s football prospect camp last weekend, one he called an “amazing” experience. He previously visited the Lobos at their spring game in April before receiving an official offer after speaking to Eck, general manager Beau Davidson and other members of the coaching staff.“They had, like, a few rough years and I know they’ve turned it around a bit with coach Eck,” Nañez said of UNM. “I know (the players) work hard, they’re bought in with stuff and they just listen to coaches and everything.”Nañez said he has not made a decision on if he will pursue football or basketball at the next level.“I’m just playing all my cards right now, to be honest” he said. “I’m just both the sports that I love, and then I know God will take me wherever he wants to take me.”Locked inDefensive lineman Gunner Edwards has committed to UNM, he announced Wednesday via social media.The 6-5, 240-pound incoming senior made 26 total tackles (one for a loss) last season at Frenship (Texas) High School. He holds additional offers from New Mexico State and North Texas.Edwards visited UNM last weekend before announcing his commitment. He joins Central Catholic (California) High School tight end Colin Benninger as a recruit who committed following a visit over the weekend.First and foremost, all glory to God! None of this would be possible without Him, and I’m beyond grateful for every opportunity He’s placed in front of me.This OV was special. From the moment I stepped on campus, it felt like home. The facilities are incredible, and what… pic.twitter.com/NqXG3TuXBG— Gunner Edwards (@GunnerEdwards56) June 17, 2026“This (official visit) was special,” Edwards posted via X with a commitment graphic attached. “From the moment I stepped on campus, it felt like home. The facilities are incredible, and what they’re building here is something special.“The coaching staff made a huge impression on me. Their belief in me, the culture they’ve built, and even making the time to call and speak with my family individually. Something special is happening here, and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at @lenaweereider.

Greg Hurst appreciates his opportunities to cut through the fat and set the record straight. That’s especially true when it comes to the rumor that’s been marinating over the last 24 hours.The thing causing the sizzle? The rumor that the New Mexico United forward was carried by Journal reporter Nakayla McClelland — with some help from Rio Grande Credit Union’s David Miles — during the Big Texan 72 oz. steak challenge, which made an appearance in Albuquerque on Friday.“It’s not true,” Hurst said with a smirk. “I finished my steak first. I could have kept going, but I had to stop because I had the game (Saturday). So, I can go home happy with that.“But appreciate you asking and thanks for clearing that up. I can’t have my name tarnished like that.”That was best left for the used utensils afterward. The challenge, after all, was quite simple — or rather, straightforward.Traditionally held at the Big Texan Steak Ranch and Brewery in Amarillo, Texas, but making stops around Route 66 to honor the highway’s 100th anniversary, individual participants are required to eat a 4 1/2-pound steak, three shrimp, a baked potato, a side salad and a roll. Teams split everything except the dough.Each entry had an hour to show they were a cut above in front of a crowd and the event’s MC.“I used to watch ‘Man vs. Food’ when I was younger all the time and even then, I don’t think I’ve seen a steak that big,” Hurst said. “So fair play to the guy who did it themselves. That was impressive. I could never imagine doing that.”The thing is, Hurst almost didn’t have a seat at the table.United President Ron Patel was initially supposed to be the club’s representative, but with a 6-week-old daughter at home, he opted to pass the opportunity along to goalkeeper Kris Shakes.That idea got the boot, too. A conflict on the schedule. So, Hurst, who hails from Scotland, filled the spot in the lineup — with an open mind, and of course, an open stomach.His trio, which featured McClelland and Miles, finished in around 33 minutes, per McClelland.It helped that the steak was medium rare — “I think anything other than that and you’re not doing it right.” Sorry, Billy Hurst (Greg’s father, who is a fan of the well done variety) — while the sides were also “great.”There was also the matter of having some extra motivation, which provided a bit more seasoning to the mix.“I couldn’t have people watch me and embarrass myself,” Hurst said. “And I didn’t, so I was happy with that.“... I said to Jules (Myers, United’s senior manager of production and impact) after, ‘If we have any more eating competitions, sign me up.’ It would be great if it wasn’t the day before a game. I’m not a big eater, but something came over me there and I just decided I was going to eat as much as I can.”Hurst’s preference? Perhaps another steak challenge. Maybe even some haggis. “I can put a lot of haggis away.” Oh, those Scottish roots.“To be a part of Route 66 and what they were doing was really cool for me, not being from America,” Hurst said. “Growing up and learning about it a little bit, it was pretty cool to have that experience and the chance to do stuff like that.”David Glovach covers New Mexico United and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at dglovach@abqjournal.com or via X @DavidGlovach.More New Mexico United reading*I survived the 72 oz. steak challenge (kind of)Journal and others compete in Big Texan steak challenge*NM United is getting scoring chances, but now it needs to start capitalizingNMU again goes without multiple goals in draw with Orange County SC*NM United academy players receive their honorary kitsNMU's first team holds ceremony for recent high school graduates*NMU's Keller debuts new cornrows and his teammates, coaches weigh inDespite mostly strong reviews, the United defender is still undecided if new look will be long-term hairdo*Match day: Orange County SC at New Mexico UnitedNMU looks to keep unbeaten streak against California club intact*Taren Wente opted to bet on himself and it paid off with an ACC programNMU developmental academy goalkeeper set to play his college soccer at Pitt*'You want a hot take?' NM United has plenty of thoughts on soccer's biggest eventPlayers and coaches pick favorites, underdogs, best moments and tournaments heading into World Cup opener*Noël finds himself the popular player to seek out after NM United routMidfielder scores 1st goal of season in USL Cup win over Phoenix Rising FC*Match day: Phoenix Rising FC at New Mexico UnitedUNM gets rivalry matchup as USL Cup play resumes*Hurst believed a 'pretty real talk' was needed after NM United's last match against PhoenixClub sees plenty of benefits from honest conversation entering rematch

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Jason Walk and Dasan Harris each hit two home runs and Trey Gambill also went deep to lead Oklahoma to the College World Series finals with a 11-4 win over Georgia on Wednesday night.The Sooners (41-22) will meet North Carolina in the best-of-three championship round beginning Saturday night. They're in the finals for the first time since 2022 and will be playing for a third national title in baseball.Oklahoma's five homers were a season high and a continuation of the heater the Sooners have been on since the second week of May. OU has hit 43 of its 91 homers in the last 16 games, including 26 in 10 NCAA Tournament games. The Sooners had 48 in their first 47 games.Walk and Harris were improbable power sources. Each entered the game with four homers. Walk sent a wind-aided flyball 417 feet over the wall in straightaway center field leading off the third inning. In the fourth, Gambill and Harris went deep to make it 4-0 and chase Georgia starter Paul Farley (8-2). Harris and Walk connected again in the eighth to give the Sooners a six-run lead.Harris' five RBIs were his most in 107 career games, and three of his six homers have come in the last four games.OU freshman starter Nick Wesloski (2-1) held the Bulldogs (53-14) to one run in the first five innings but ran into trouble in the sixth and was pulled with two outs and two men on base. An error loaded the bases, and reliever LJ Mercurius walked in two runs. Mercurius earned his fourth save after allowing one run on two hits in 3 1/3 innings.Georgia had one of the nation's most potent offenses all season but struggled at the cavernous Charles Schwab Field. The Bulldogs arrived at the CWS leading the nation with a program-record 174 homers and was in the top five with 9.4 runs per game and a .326 batting average. They got a ninth-inning homer from Kolby Branch to finish with five in four CWS games. They averaged four runs per game and batted .183.Daniel Jackson, who won the Dick Howser Trophy as the nation's player of the year, batted .157 with a home run Monday that gave him 32 for the year.___AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports

SAN DIEGO: San Diego State running back Kenan Christon runs the ball during a college football game between the Boise State Broncos and the San Diego State Aztecs on September 22, 2023, at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, CA. (Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesThough crates, boxes and moving vans will not be present, the first day of July is like moving day in college football. That is when teams changing conferences and/or subdivisions are officially given the keys to their new home. In the case of Sacramento State, neighbors are not exactly close. Here is a look at conference realignment that becomes official July 1. Changes for 2026 do not include power conferences, though a former power conference has been revamped and may immediately have a seat at the playoff table.FBS adds North Dakota State, Sacramento StateThe Mountain West will have a much different look (see below) for the 2026 season, including the addition of FCS behemoth North Dakota State for football only. Beginning in 2011, the Bison collected 10 national titles, including eight in a nine-season stretch. Among teams they defeated on the championship stage were James Madison, Jacksonville State and Sam Houston State, each of which elevated to the FBS. The Bison went 12-1 in 2025 with the lone defeat to Illinois State in the second round of the playoff. Each of the coaches who led the Bison to titles left to take over an FBS program: Craig Bohl (Wyoming), Chris Klieman (Kansas State) and Matt Entz (Fresno State). Bohl and Klieman have since retired.Sacramento State, which built up an NIL treasure chest in the hope of joining the new-look Pac-12, had its request to elevate to the FBS denied by the NCAA last spring. The school kept knocking on the door and was granted admittance and joins the MAC on a football-only basis. The Hornets bring a resume to the MAC that includes a recent run of four straight seasons -- 2019-23 with 2020 cancelled due to the pandemic -- of making the playoff under Troy Taylor (2019 and 2021-22 as Big Sky champs) and Andy Thompson (2023). The former left to take over the top job at Stanford with the latter joining him as an assistant following the 2024 season. That stretch represented a refreshing change for a program that had all of four winning seasons in the previous 18.Alonzo Carter leads the Hornets into the FBS after spending the past nine seasons working under Brent Brennan at Arizona and San Jose State, including as assistant head coach the past two seasons with the Wildcats. He took over for Brennan Marion, who guided the Hornets to a 7-5 mark in 2025 after serving as the offensive coordinator under Barry Odom at UNLV. Marion left in December to become the offensive coordinator at Colorado. Neither team will have the opportunity to play for a conference championship and may not compete in a bowl until 2028. Such are the restrictions of a woefully outdated NCAA bylaw that mandates a two-year transition period during which reclassifying programs are ineligible for postseason play. North Dakota State petitioned the NCAA and a determination had yet to be made as of the date of this post. During a transition period, a team can still qualify for a bowl if there are not enough six-win teams to fill all bowl slots. That was the case with Delaware and Missouri State in their initial FBS seasons last year.The addition of North Dakota State and Sacramento State bring FBS membership to 138. In addition to Delaware and Missouri State in 2025, other programs that recently joined the ranks were Kennesaw State in 2024 and Jacksonville State and Sam Houston State elevated in 2023. MAC stretches west to Sacramento State The MAC remains a 13-team league, though with a little change and West Coast membership. As Northern Illinois departs for the Mountain West, Sacramento State arrives from the FCS in a move that has certainly raised eyebrows, and not just because of an $18 million MAC entrance fee and $5 million reclassification price tag. A California school in the MAC? At about 2,000 miles away, Ball State in Muncie, Ind. is the Hornets’ closest conference opponent. As such, the MAC has followed other conferences in becoming a coast-to-coast entity, from California to Massachusetts. SAN JOSE, CA - The Sacramento State Hornets are elevating to the FBS in 2026. (Photo by Larry Placido/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesThe MAC previously took on teams outside what has generally been a tight footprint dominated by Michigan and Ohio. Until this year, Northern Illinois was the westernmost school when it first joined the league in 1975 and then again for a second term in 1997. Marshall, which also became a MAC member for the second time in 1997, UCF (2002), Temple (2007) and UMass (2012) have all since come and gone with the Minutemen returning to the conference in 2025 following nine years of independence.Only one Mountain West champ remainsWith the departure of conference titan Boise State as well as Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State to the Pac-12, the Mountain West lost almost half of its membership from what was a 12-team conference a year ago. It also leaves San Jose State as the only school to have a won a MWC title, which it did in 2020. The new-look 10-team league will have North Dakota (FCS), UTEP (C-USA) and Northern Illinois (MAC) joining incumbents Air Force, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, UNLV and Wyoming. As noted above, North Dakota State is the new big boy on campus, though at a cost of $12.5 million to the conference and $5 million to the NCAA for reclassifying. There is no reason to think North Dakota State will not have immediate success in the Mountain West especially given the teams that departed. Third-year coach Tim Polasek guided the Bison to a 26-3 mark and a national title (2024) in the program’s final two seasons at the FCS level. As for the other newcomers, Northern Illinois was a MAC juggernaut in the 2010s with quarterbacks Chandler Harnish and Jordan Lynch leading the way. In seven years under former Huskies’ running back Thomas Hammock, NIU won a conference title in 2021, though went 35-47 overall. Hammock left DeKalb in February to be an offensive assistant with the Seattle Seahawks. Rob Harley, who joined Hammock at NIU in January as defensive coordinator, took over on an interim basis. UTEP has been at or near the bottom of the FBS for much of the past two decades. In a 20-season span beginning in 2006, the Miners have had two winning years, both 7-6 and both concluding with bowl losses. In fact, UTEP has been to only six bowl games this century and, remarkably, the last bowl victory was in 1967!Revitalized Pac-12 an eight-team conferenceOregon State and Washington State have company after two years of keeping the Pac-12 brand alive while in a schedule arrangement with the Mountain West. Five of those MWC teams join the Beavers and Cougars: Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State. Texas State arrives from the Sun Belt to make it an eight-team league. Boise State is the king of the hill until proven otherwise. As such, the Pac-12 is an immediate player when it comes to representing the Group of Six in the College Football Playoff. Though 2025 was a disappointing five-loss campaign that opened with a disheartening 34-7 loss at USF and ended in similar fashion (38-10) against Washington in the LA Bowl, Spencer Danielson’s Broncos nonetheless won another Mountain West title. It was the Broncos’ third straight championship and fifth in a 10-year stretch. Visit this page for more on Boise State and the new Pac-12.Sun Belt and Conference USA changesThe Sun Belt lost Texas State to the Mountain West and remained a 14-team league with the addition of Louisiana Tech, which arrives from Conference USA. C-USA also lost UTEP to the Mountain West reducing its inventory to 10 teams for the 2026 season. Seven of the teams joined the conference since 2023.This article was originally published on Forbes.com

Photo by Hector Vivas/LatinContent via Getty ImagesSouth Africa coach Hugo Broos has used Lionel Messi’s World Cup controversy to question the severity of Themba Zwane’s suspension.Zwane was sent off in South Africa’s 2-0 defeat to Mexico on June 11 after catching Roberto Alvarado in the face in the 84th minute. FIFA later handed him a three-match ban for violent conduct, leaving Bafana Bafana without a key midfielder for a crucial stretch.The frustration is not just about losing Zwane. Broos believes the punishment looks even harsher when compared with a Messi challenge that went without a card.Photo by Maja Hitij – FIFA/FIFA via Getty ImagesLionel Messi VAR controversy fuels Hugo Broos criticism over Themba Zwane banSport Africa shared Broos’ frustration after he compared Zwane’s suspension with Messi avoiding punishment against Algeria.Broos first raised the issue before South Africa’s match against Czechia, saying, “I think that the red card is too severe.”He then referenced the Messi incident, adding: “I don’t think it was a red card when I see what happened yesterday with [Lionel] Messi. I don’t agree, certainly not. I think there was not even a VAR with Messi,” Broos later added.Broos also argued that Zwane had been impeded before making contact, saying: “When you see the situation, the Mexican player blocked my player…When you get the red card for that, and then a three-game suspension. I’m sorry, but this is much, much too severe.”Themba Zwane red card leaves South Africa with World Cup problemBroos had already questioned the decision after the Mexico defeat, saying: “The ‌second red card we can discuss. It was the Mexican player who was blocking my player. But it’s the position of the referee, and we have to accept it also, but I think it was too soft ⁠to give that as a red card.”For South Africa, the consequences are immediate. Zwane’s ban follows Yaya Sithole’s red card in the same match, forcing Broos to reshape his midfield against Czechia in Atlanta.South Africa are expected to appeal Zwane’s punishment, but the larger argument is about consistency. Broos is not asking for Messi to be banned, he is asking why similar flashpoints appear to be judged so differently.That is why the issue has grown beyond one red card. South Africa’s World Cup hopes are now tied to a disciplinary debate they believe has already cost them too much.Read more:Ex-Premier League striker slams ’embarrassing’ Roberto Martinez ‘scared’ to take Cristiano Ronaldo offWhen was the last time Cristiano Ronaldo scored in a World Cup amid disastrous start vs DR Congo‘Scandalous’ – Soccer fans fume over beer prices at England vs Croatia

Emy Wardle is staying in Peoria to continue her basketball career.The Peoria Notre Dame senior-to-be announced on social media her verbal commitment to play for Bradley University. Wardle had scholarship offers from DePaul, Eastern Kentucky, Northern Illinois, Southern Indiana, Lindenwood, Eastern Illinois, North Alabama and Vermont."Staying home ❤️ #committed," she posted on Wednesday, June 17.Staying home ❤️ #committed@coachchaiahuff@HeartofIllinois@PNDLadyIrishpic.twitter.com/kmnKJtivzD— emy wardle (@emy_wardle) June 17, 2026During her junior season, the 5-foot-9 guard averaged 11.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 2.8 steals for Peoria Notre Dame, which went 21-8 and appeared in a Class 3A regional semifinal. She earned all-Big 12 Conference first team, Journal Star All-Area first team, Illinois Basketball Coaches Association all-state first team and Illinois Media Class 3A second team.Wardle, who is the youngest daughter of Bradley men's basketball head coach Brian Wardle, will join her older sister, Mya Wardle, on the Hilltop for the 2027-28 season. Bradley went 20-13 overall and 13-7 in Missouri Valley Conference under head coach Kate Popovec-Goss, who left to be the Boston College head coach in March.From the archives: Sisterly bond something special for Peoria Notre Dame's newest basketball teammatesNew head coach Chaia Meier will make her debut in the 2026-27 season.This article originally appeared on Journal Star: NCAA women's basketball: Emy Wardle commits to Bradley in Peoria, Ill.

There were boos from England and Croatia fans when the game was paused for hydration breaks on Wednesday [AFP via Getty Images]England may have made the ideal start to their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 4-2 victory against Croatia on Wednesday but there were still boos during the match.They weren't directed at the players or the officials. Instead, they were targeted at a controversial addition to games for this tournament - hydration breaks.There are two pauses per game - one in the middle of each half, each for three minutes - and they were introduced to help players deal with the summer heat in North America.While they have been welcomed by some national team bosses, the fans seem less keen and both England and Croatia supporters united in the air-conditioned Dallas Stadium to jeer the break in play on Wednesday.The main source of criticism for their addition is that they are viewed as additional financial revenue, with broadcasters utilising the breaks to show more adverts."The hydration breaks are obviously for one purpose and that's big money for advertisements," said one England fan after the game."In this stadium, I don't think they were needed but in another with no air conditioning and you are playing in 90 degrees plus, they are absolutely essential." Another Three Lions supporter added: "Yes, if you are outside you need a hydration break, I get that. But you are in an air conditioned stadium - you don't need one."It stops the flow. Football is about the flow and there's no need to stop the flow in an air-conditioned stadium."World Cup hydration breaks - who are the winners and losers?'It is the Americanisation of football here'This was not the first game where boos have been at the hydration break, and the wave of dislike for them among fans appears to be gathering momentum.On Tuesday, during Norway's match against Iraq in Boston, the pause in play was greeted by boos from the crowd, with the temperature a more than manageable 23C at the time.It was goalless just before the break but Iraq conceded four minutes after play resumed, and went on to lose 4-1.There were loud boos for the pause during Sweden's 5-1 thrashing of Tunisia on Monday and Spain's goalless draw with Cape Verde on the same day, with that game played in the air-conditioned Atlanta Stadium.And after England's win against Croatia, the first hydration break during the match between Ghana and Panama was also greeted by jeers.The hydration breaks have effectively turned games into four quarters rather than two halves, a concern for some of those England supporters who booed the break."It is like the Americanisation of football here," said one."It is turning the game into quarters and I don't love it. I get why people were booing and I was one of them."But some supporters do think there are benefits to them."I think they are badly marketed," said another fan."If they were not called a hydration break, and were called a relief break then everyone doesn't miss a goal. "I think we have to think about it in a new way, corporate [bodies] get what they want, we get what we want and everyone is happy."'Good practice' but 'not great for TV'Fans may have made their feelings known regarding hydration breaks, but they have been a welcome addition for many coaches and players.Many national team bosses are using them to regroup and regain momentum, gathering their players to pass on instructions, while players welcome the chance to take on fluids, particularly with fixtures in tougher conditions to come."It is good practice to have them to prepare for New York and Boston," England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford said."It is still humid in the stadium, they are not going to stop happening, so we may as well get used to them and treat them as an advantage not a disadvantage."Defender Nico O'Reilly accepted they can useful, but would also be happy if they were not a feature."I don't feel like we need them, we've acclimatised well," he said."They're in the tournament and we can't do anything about it. They are a good chance to get information and take fluids on board."Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk watched a number of the games before playing in the 2-2 draw with Japan, and admitted that they are "not great for TV".Could hydration breaks be here to stay?There has been no indication from world football's governing body that hydration breaks are here to stay at World Cups.They were introduced for this tournament because of the hot conditions players and fans had to contend with at last summer's Club World Cup, played in the United States."It's not two half-times, it is four quarter-times basically that we've got," said France coach Didier Deschamps."This is what's been decided and so the players and the coaches adapt to this new reality."Some supporters do believe that this new reality is something that will become the norm in the game as a whole."It won't be long before it becomes just a natural advertisement break," added an England supporter coming out of the Dallas Stadium after the defeat of Croatia.Another one said: "I hope it doesn't become part and parcel of the English game because it will totally ruin it."Follow your club with BBC SportListen to the latest Football Daily podcastGet football news sent straight to your phone

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 07: Kyoji Horiguchi of Japan is interviewed after defeating Amir Albazi of Iraq in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Meta APEX on February 07, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) UFC Vegas 119is live this weekend (Sat., June 20n 2026) inside META APEX and streaming on Paramount+. We are going from the White House to the Nevada warehouse this weekend, but the card waiting for us isn’t half bad.The main event is Manel Kape vs. Kyoji Horiguchi, which is a rematch from their RIZIN days. The winner of this is likely the next man up after Joshua Van rematches with Alexandre Pantojafor the Flyweight strap.The co-main is Ion Cutelaba vs. Navajo Sitrling. Stirling showed some signs that he might be worth the hype in his last fight. And Cutelaba is always worth a watch.Rounding out the main card is Christian Rodriguez vs. Hyder Amil, Andre Lima vs. Kevin Borjas, Vinicius Oliveira vs. Andre Fili and Melsik Baghdasaryan vs. Murtazali Magomedov.The featured “Prelim” is soon to be contender Bia Mesquita vs. Melissa Mulins. There’s also Mitch Raposo vs. Allan Nascimento and Michael Aswell Jr. vs. Gaston Bolanos.As always, there’s lots to bet on this card and we’ve got odds for all the fights below:UFC Vegas 119 Main Card Money Line OddsManel Kape (-162) vs. Kyoji Horiguchi (+136)Kape looked like a serious contender in his last fight — a first round destruction of Brandon Royval (see it here). That was his third win in a row, following finishes over Asu Almabayev and Bruno Silva. Both those wins were a little sketchy, though. He got away with eye pokes against Almabayev and a groin shot on Silva (after Silva put him down with a pair of nasty groin shots himself).Horiguchi, meanwhile, has looked like a contender in his two bouts since returning to UFC, too. In Nov. 2025, he schooled Tagir Ulanbekov on the ground and scored a rear-naked choke win (see it here). In February he boxed up Amir Albazi.This is a rematch from Kape and Horiguchi’s RIZIN days. They fought in 2017 and Horiguchi won by third round head and arm choke. This is such a great fight to have right now. Both these men have really shown out in the last six months and both could pose some very interesting questions for Joshua Van (should he remain champ). I don’t think it’s worth paying too much attention to what happened when they faced each other nine years ago. Kape is a much better fighter today than he was then. Horiguchi hasn’t progressed as much, but I still think he’s a tough match-up for Kape.Kape will hope to have the striking advantage in this fight. He has amazing power for a Flyweight and he’s got a five inch reach advantage on Horiguchi.Horiguchi has never shied away from a fist-fight, though. He’ll like his striking in this match-up and he, too, has some power (though that was more evident when he fought at Bantamweight). Horiguchi will have a very big wrestling advantage in this fight, though. In his last loss, Kape was taken down three times by Muhammad Mokaev and that was the most significant thing that happened in the fight (Mokaev attempted eight takedowns). He managed to stay on his feet against Almabayev, who attempted six takedowns. That’s pretty good takedown defense from Kape.However, Horiguchi is a different kind of wrestler than those two. Mokaev and Almabayev are extremely wrestle-heavy and when Kape got the timing on their takedowns he was able to stay out of a lot of trouble. Horiguchi mixed his takedown attempts with his striking in ways that we wish everyone else could. It’s going to be much harder for Kape to read when and where the takedown is coming from on Saturday.Because of this I’m siding with the above average striker and elite wrestler to defeat the elite striker and below average wrestler. The Gooch straight-up is a great bet for me, since I’m getting plus money. I’ll be going there, but let’s look at some other interesting things, too.The round total is 4.5 with the over at -135 and the under at +105. I think this likely goes over. Both these guys are extremely durable. Horiguchi by decision is +250 and Kape by decision is +240. I think that’s a good bet if you like either guy. Kape by KO/TKO/DQ is surprisingly short at +185. Horiguchi is +900 to win by KO/TKO/DQ and +800 to win by submission.Ultimately, give me Horiguchi on the moneyline. I think we’re in for a fun scrap, but those takedowns and top position will make the difference.Best bet: Kyoji Horiguchi moneyline (+136)Ion Cutelaba (+260) vs. Navajo Stirling (-325)Cutelaba has been feasting on the shiny new toys at Light Heavyweight for the past two years. That started with a decision over the debuting Ivan Erslan (a feared knockout artist back then). And it was followed with a first round submission over Ibo Aslan (who was coming off two big finishes). He then lost a split decision to Modestas Bukauskas, which was a robbery. In his last fight he submitted former highly touted prospect Oumar Sy (see it here).Stirling is 4-0 in UFC. He’s got some hype behind him, despite three of his wins being very forgettable decisions. He looked good in his last fight, though, a TKO over Bruno Lopes (see it here).Light Heavyweight is wild, man. There’s so many guys who fight like flailing maniacs and who throw themselves into highlight reel wins and losses. Cutelaba has that wild streak in him, but he’s also proved very good at catching guys who get silly with him.Stirling is not very silly. He’s very risk adverse and, could probably do with being a little more wild. In this match-up, though, I think he reservedness will really help him stay away from what Cutelaba is good at. Stirling’s discipline will help him keep Cutelaba at arm’s length, which is pretty far away for someone with a freakish 79-inch reach. Cutelaba did beat Sy (who has an even freakier 83-inch reach), but Stirling is far more technical on the feet, and better coached, than Sy.I think this could be a pretty boring fight where Stirling leads the dance from afar and doesn’t let Cutelaba get close enough to make this a barn-burner. I think Stirling’s coaching and intelligence might also help him if this goes to the ground.I’ll take Stirling minus the points, because I think he’s got an outside shot at stopping Cutelaba. But mostly I see him winning a lopsided decision.Best bet: Navajo Stirling -3.5 (-190)Vinicius Oliveira (-285) vs. Andre Fili (+230)Oliveira flubbed his lines when given a chance to crash the Bantamweight title picture in February. He was shutout and then tapped out by Mario Bautista in just under three rounds (see it here). He’d won four straight bouts before that, beating names like Kyler Phillips and Said Nurmagomedov. That one loss was enough to chase him from the division, though. He moves up to Featherweight here and was initially booked to face Giga Chikadze. Chikadze is out, though, so in comes the veteran Fili.Fili has gone win-lose, win-lose for eight straight fights now. That’s given him a 13-12 1 NC record in UFC. Last time out, he fought really well against Jose Delgado, but lost a split decision. Before that he got the split decision win over Christian Rodriguez.I don’t like this move for “Lok Dog.” This is one of those changes in division that looks a little bit like a band-aid solution. Oliveira looked very at home at Bantamweight and his only bad performance was against Bautista, who — we have to admit — is one of the top Bantamweights around right now. Oliveira isn’t a particularly big Bantamweight and it’s not like age is a factor in why he can’t cut weight anymore. He’s only 30. Featherweight doesn’t feel like a very safe place to move up to, either. There’s some big dudes up here.Fili is a lot bigger than Oliveira. I think that might provide some issues for Oliveira. He might struggle to get past Fili’s jab and he might not have the muscle to put him on the ground or stay on top of him. There’s a few underdogs I like deeper on the card and I’ve chickened out of taking them on the moneyline. I’m not going to do that here. I feel like the vibes are off on this move for Oliveira and I think Fili might continue his win-lose pattern here.Best bet: Andre Fili moneyline (+230)Christian Rodriguez (-185) vs. Hyder Amil (+154)Rodriguez has had a very up and down UFC career. He’s 5-4 with underdog wins over Raul Rosas Jr., Isaac Dulgarian and Austin Bashi. But, he’s lost, as a favorite, to Andre Fili, Julian Erosa and Melquizael Costa.Amil, on the other hand, is looking to get back to winning ways. He announced himself with a Tekken combo finish on Jeong Yeong Lee in 2024 (see it here). But, then he squeaked past William Gomis with a split decision and then lost in 26 seconds to Jose Delgado. Last time out, he dropped a decision to Jamall Emmers.This is an awful fight to try and predict. Both these guys have under-performed a lot lately and, with both of them, it’s hard to know which version of them is going to show up.Amil will be throwing the kitchen sink at Rodriguez on Saturday. I just don’t know if he’s going to hit or miss. On his best night, Rodriguez is great at slipping and ripping (he has a lovely trip, too). But, I don’t know if he will pull the trigger.Something that is consistent, with Rodriguez, is that he doesn’t get stopped a lot. He’s never been finished with strikes and only been submitted once (by Erosa, who was going through a purple patch at the time). That’s impressive given that he’s fought 16 times. Rodriguez also doesn’t get many finishes (all but one of his UFC wins were by decision).Since I doubt Amil finishes him, and that he can finish Amil, I’m looking at this finishing by decision.Best bet: Fight to Go the Distance – Yes (-150)Responsible BettingBetting on sports involves risk, so please only wager amounts you can afford to lose. If you or someone you know if struggling with gambling help can be found with the organizations listed below:USA: National Problem Gambling Helpline — Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER to receive support and learn about available services.UK: GamCare – Call 0808 8020 133 to speak to an advisor about gambling (or visit gamecare.org.uk for live chat and forum options).Canada: Visit responsiblegambling.org for resources on helplines in Canada’s various provinces and territories.Australia/New Zealand: National Gambling Helpline — Call (800) 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.Andre Lima (-600) vs. Kevin Borjas (+440)If Lima were more active, he might be a Top 10 Flyweight and someone we talk about as a potential title contender. As it stands, though, the 11-0 Brazilian is just 4-0 in UFC despite joining the promotion in 2023. His last fight was a submission over Daniel Barez in March, 2025. Since then he’s had three fights fall through.Borjas has lost his last two bouts. He was TKO’d by Imanol Rodriguez at the Mexico City card in February (see that here). Before that he lost a decision to Sumudaerji. Borjas is 1-4 in UFC, though he’s had a tough schedule.I’m a big booster for Lima. At times he’s looked he could give anyone in the Top 5 a tough night. He just needs to fight more often to convince us that’s the case.Borjas has been pretty underwhelming lately, with his amazing striking display over Ronaldo Rodriguez looking like a fluke now. I don’t think he can compete with Lima on the feet or on the ground. Lima has a 60 percent accuracy and 57 percent defense on significant strikes. Borjas has 44 percent accuracy and 49 percent defense.And Lima’s got a very high 75 percent takedown accuracy. Borjas’ has a 70 percent takedown defense, but I still think Lima will be able to get him down and then style on him with submission attempts.I think Lima gets the finish in this one, one way or another. I don’t have the line for it, but I would take him minus the points in this match. Since I don’t have that, I’ll go with the under.Best bet: Under 2.5 rounds (+100)Melsik Baghdasaryan (+250) vs. Murtazail Magomedov (-310)Baghdasaryan hasn’t fought since Feb. 2025. That was a memorable beatdown he suffered at the hands (and elbows) of Jean Silva (see it here). He was supposed to get back in there in Dec. 2025, but had to pull out of a fight with Joanderson Brito on a few days notice. His UFC wins are over Tucker Lutz, Bruno Souza and Collin Anglin (all of whom has a combined UFC record of 1-7).Magomedov got a first round technical knockout on Contender Series back in Sept. 2025. He’s 26 with a 10-0 record. Other than that APEX fight, he’s fought close to his home of Kyrgyzstan, most notably at the Octagon promotion.Magomedov looks pretty good getting off the bus, but I think that covers up a little for how raw he is. He’s very athletic and powerful, but the decision making might not be there yet. Baghdasaryan is the best fighter Magomedov has faced and I think there’s a chance the crafty veteran could cause an upset here. The lay-off for Baghdasaryan does concern me, though, enough for me to not straight up pick him here.I will take Baghdasaryan with the +3.5 point spread, though. This covers me if Magomedov is totally out of his depth and also if we go to a close decision.Best bet: Melsik Baghdasaryan +3.5 (+130)UFC Vegas 119 ‘Prelims’ Under Card OddsBia Mesquita (-550) vs. Melissa Mullins (+410)Mesquita has looked like the real deal through two UFC contests. She has totally dominated both Montse Rendon and Irina Alekseeva and scored career submissions four and five in those bouts. She’s now 7-0 with most her previous wins coming in LFA (where she was a champion). Mullins is 2-2 in UFC and has had some entertaining brawls. Her last fight was more than one year ago — a unanimous decision loss to Darya Zheleznyakova (someone she beat on the regional scene). Her last win was a ground-and-pound technical knockout over Klaudia Sygula (see it here). I’ve already seen enough of Mesquita to say she deserves to be in the Bantamweight title picture. Her 10 world championships and 10 Brazilian national championships make her one of the most decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu players in UFC, regardless of gender. And she might be one of the best women we’ve seen at translating her BJJ game to MMA. She hides her takedowns behind strikes and she does not mess around with position over submission, she goes for the kill.Mullins is not on her level, on the ground. Her hope is that she can scrap and hurt Mesquita enough to make her BJJ less dangerous. I don’t see it happening, though. I’ll take the under here, since I don’t have a line for Mesquita by submission.Best bet: Under 1.5 rounds (-140)Mitch Raposo (+164) vs. Allan Nascimento (-198)Raposo’s last fight was in Oct. 2025. That’s when he took a decision over Azat Maksum as a +325 underdog. That’s a fact he made sure everyone knew after he had his hand raised. He was supposed to fight Nascimento in April, but he got sick on weigh-in day. Before the Maksum win, he lost back-to-back split decisions against Sumudaerji and Andre Lima.Nascimento’s last fight was in Nov. 2025. He dominated Cody Durden back then and scored an anaconda choke submission. That was his fourth win in a row, following a decision over Jafel Filho and submission over Carlos Hernandez.I feel like Raposo is finding it tough to calibrate himself for UFC competition. He won over Maksum with his boxing and despite being taken down seven times. He lost to Sumudaerji after just focusing on wrestling and offering just nine sig. strikes. So, I’m not sure if he knows what he wants to be in there. Those two performances might suggest that he can do well if he can figure out when and how much to mix his striking and wrestling.Nascimento has himself figured out. He’s confident in striking, but wants things to hit the ground so he can go for submissions. I think he’s going to be spending some time on the ground with Raposo in this one. He might get a takedown, but he’s also good at getting the upper-hand when grappling from the bottom or when pressed into the cage. I don’t see Raposo being able to stay on top of Nasicmento for long, if he wants to play that game. And I’m not sure how well he can box against him with a five inch reach disadvantage.Best bet: Allen Nascimento moneyline (-198)Michael Aswell Jr. (-425) vs. Gaston Bolanos (+330)Aswell Jr. couldn’t keep up with hot prospect Luke Riley in his last fight. He lost the decision there in March. Before that he got a first round finish over Lucas Almeida. Almeida came into that fight trying to hide a clearly broken hand. Aswell’s other UFC appearances are decision losses to Bolaji Oki and Bogdan Grad (on Contender Series).Bolanos was submitted by Quang Le in his last fight. That was all the way back in May 2025. Before that he got a decision win over Cortavious Romious. Bolanos is 2-2 in UFC with his other loss being a technical knockout to Marcus McGhee.I’m a little surprised by this line here. I haven’t seen enough from Aswell to buy him as a -425 favorite against anyone. And I don’t think he and Bolanos are too far apart. Aswell is more of a brawler and has gained a reputation for being in fun fights (of which he’s mostly lost). Bolanos is one of those guys who is well rounded, but doesn’t excel at any one thing.Aswell will want to brawl here, too. If Bolanos is wise, he’ll try and make this more of a mixed martial arts fight.I’m not feeling bold enough to pick Bolanos outright, but I will go with the over to essentially fade Aswell’s chance of finishing him early.Best bet: Over 2.5 rounds (-166)Karol Rosa (-118) vs. Luana Santos (-102)Rosa hasn’t competed since Aug. 2025, taking a decision over Nora Cornolle. She’s 8-4 in UFC now. Her other wins include decisions over Pannie Kianzad, Yana Santos and Joselyne Edwards. Her losses are to pretty decent opposition, including Ailin Perez and Irene Aldana.Santos has won two straight thanks to a decision over Melissa Croden in Dec. 2025. She also beat Tainara Lisboa with an Americana (see it here). She’s now 5-1 in UFC action. Her only loss was to Casey O’Neill in 2024.This is a really tough fight to call. Santos has the higher ceiling in this match-up, by far. But Rosa is a really tough out and she’s been in there with top opposition. Rosa is the more active striker, she lands almost twice the amount of sig. strikes a minute than Santos does. Santos is the more active grappler. She lands twice the number of takedowns per 15 minutes than Rosa does. If this fight stays standing, then Rosa is probably going to chip away and get the decision. If Santos gets takedowns, then she probably racks up enough control time to get the decision go her way. I’m thinking we’re going to see a bit of both those things happening and that this leads to a split decision.I am leaning Santos, though. She’s six years younger and I think her striking is closer to Rosa’s striking than Rosa’s grappling is to her grappling.Best bet: Luana Santos moneyline (-102)Leon Shahbazyan vs. Levan ChokheliShahbazyan was knocked out by Phil Rowe on Contender Series in 2019. He went 5-2 since then, but has won his last four. He’s got technical knockout losses to Ryan Loder and Gabe Green on his record. He’s 12-4 with eleven submission wins.Chokheli had a long tenure in Bellator and went 4-3. He knocked out Sabah Homasi with a front kick back then. His losses include a submission against Goiti Yamauchi and a technical knockout to Lorenz Larkin.Shahbazyan is a huge Welterweight. He’s 6’ 4” with a 74 inch reach. Chokheli isn’t small, though. He’s just three inches shorter with an inch less in reach. There’s no odds on this one, at this time of writing, but I expect the more experienced Chokheli to be the favorite. Shahbazyan is quite slow and lumbering. And his striking is not great. See him faceplant below, after whiffing on an elbow strike.I’ll bet against the guy who did that.Best bet: Levan Chokheli moneylineShane Collins vs. Otari TanziloviThis fight has been thrown together rather late. Collins is 26, 7-0 and has never been on a UFC property. He was a long time amateur, going 9-2 from 2019 to 2022. He’s fought mostly around California and he was a champion in Urijah Faber’s promotion.Tanzilovi lost a split decision to Josias Musasa on Contender Series in 2024. Musasa has since proven to be a bit of a bust. Tanzilovi has won on some recognizable promotions, including Fury FC and UAE Warriors. He’s 28 and 10-1.There’s no odds for this one, either, at this time of writing. Tanzilovi has done more, on bigger stages, than Collins has at this point. He’s a flashy kicker, but not terribly effective with it, though. But he compliments that with pretty solid Georgian wrestling (he has some good sweeps from the bottom, too).Collins looks busy, but defensively quite porous. He’s also got some wrestling. I think Tanzilovi will have his number, though.Best bet: Otari Tanzilovi moneylineUFC Vegas 119 Long Shots!Here’s a couple of long shots for Saturday night’s action …Kyoji Horiguchi to win by submission (+800)Who says lightning can’t strike twice? Horiguchi submitted Kape nine years ago and maybe he does that again here? I’m projecting him to enjoy his wrestling advantage over Kape and I think there’s a good chance that ends up putting Kape in some submission trouble.Two-bet parlay: Andre Fili +3.5 and Melsik Baghdasaryan +3.5 (+406)I like both these underdogs. I think Oliveira has chosen the wrong time to move up to Featherweight. And I don’t totally buy Magomedov as a big favorite. Give me both the dogs in those match-ups, plus the points please!Bia Mesquita vs. Melissa Mullins – First Minute Finish (+950)I’m so high on Bia Mesquita. She’s no spring chicken, so she has to work fast to get a title shot. I think she works fast on Saturday, too, and stays undefeated.To checkout the latest and greatest UFC Vegas 119: “Kape vs. Horiguchi” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.

Iman Shumpert admits that Victor Wembanyama has rightfully earned the NBA villain tag originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.After reaching the NBA Finals in their first run as a core group, the San Antonio Spurs have become one of the top teams. Naturally, more eyes are on them, and unfortunately for them, they have become villains in the eyes of many NBA fans.As the face of the franchise, Victor Wembanyama himself has been labelled a villain by a lot of people. Some of it is earned with how he retaliates against physicality, but some of it is also because of how good and imposing he really is as a giant.Iman Shumpert believes Victor Wembanyama has earned his villain reputationBeing an NBA villain is not inherently a bad thing because it just means a player is doing something right. Of course, the elbows and the shoves are not a good look, but Wembanyama can torment teams just because of how he dominates games.Former champion Iman Shumpert believes that Wembanyama being such a dominant player while remaining an authentic personality has made him such a huge NBA villain.MORE: Matt Barnes comes to Victor Wembanyama's defense amid "dirty" talkShumpert believes that Wembanyama is good for the league because he is such an imposing figure. People will hate him from time to time, but it seems the Frenchman does not care about that."We have to realize that you have to be good enough for me to hate you. You know how many players people don't like, but people don't care? You got to worry about Wemby; he messes up a lot of people's sleep," Shumpert said on Run It Back about Wembanyama's new status as a villain.As his career progresses, Wembanyama will continue to learn and show that he is a mega star. The NBA Finals loss to the New York Knicks was a heartbreaking one for him and the Spurs, but it also serves as a massive lesson.More NBA news:Tracy McGrady sees Jalen Brunson on the same level as Kobe Bryant in terms of clutch playIsiah Thomas sees Jalen Brunson's Finals MVP as proof that smaller guards can still stand outJeff Teague thinks Dylan Harper's postseason run put him above Cooper FlaggDraymond Green sees the San Antonio Spurs as sore losersKarl-Anthony thinks Victor Wembanyama is the future of the league

A social media post making light of the NXT women’s division roster is sparking talk online about the abundance of competitors who look the same in the company.The post was written by @ItsGresh in response to a photo of NXT star Meghan Walker with the new pink ring gear, “How many are there now?” The original post poked fun at a trend in NXT of mostly athletic-looking, blonde women.Ok, how many are there now? https://t.co/TSIeMHReOz— Joshua Gresham • “Gresh” (@ItsGresh) June 17, 2026Walker, 21, is a former University of Nebraska track star who signed with WWE through their name, image, and likeness program. The glamour and appearance she used at her NXT debut with thigh straps also drew comparisons to Tiffany Stratton.Commenters in response to the post mocked the idea that “clones” or “variants” seemed to exist throughout the women’s division and made comments about Shawn Michaels and his training as the head of NXT development.Many also referred to this as “Pokémon”- like evolutions of talent, where they are all evolving, joking, “like Charmander to Charlotte.” Several comments called for adding different ring gear styles to the women’s division.One comment read: “It’s like a cookie cutting factory, there are 4 of these characters already f—ing drivel man.”Another read: “They are really trying to recreate the lighting in a bottle they got with Tiffy.”A third: “This variant doesn’t use as much makeup, that’s about the only difference.”And one comment finished by saying: “Nineteen Charlotte Flair archetypes on the roster, it feels like.”The post Former Track Star Turned WWE NXT Talent Sparks “Tiffany Stratton Clone” Debate Online appeared first on Where Is The Buzz | Breaking News, Entertainment, Exclusive Interviews & More.

Oscar Collazo needs a new opponent for Saturday, and he just may have one.Lance Pugmire reports that Golden Boy secured Mexico’s Neider Alvarez to face Collazo this weekend in a DAZN-streamed main event. Pugmire also says that the WBA and WBO have not yet officially confirmed whether they’ll sanction the replacement bout as a title fight.Collazo was originally set to face Joey Canoy, who had visa issues. Miguel Cotto Promotions tried to get Luis Castillo in as the replacement, but he also doesn’t have a visa.Alvarez (15-3-3, 12 KO) is something of a last-ditch call on paper. He’s 2-3-1 in his last six fights, with losses to contenders Erik Badillo and Erick Rosa, notably. He’s coming off of a six-round draw with .500 record club fighter Gerardo Rodriguez on May 30, so he just fought, too.Collazo (14-0, 11 KO) will obviously be a huge favorite. He was a clear favorite against Canoy, but Canoy’s level of quality has been proven significantly more than that of Alvarez.

Harry Kane has a patch on the sleeve of his England shirt that none of his team-mates has [AFP via Getty Images]When England began their World Cup campaign against Croatia on Wednesday, viewers may have spotted something a little different about Harry Kane's shirt.That's because on the sleeve below the tournament badge was a golden patch, something none of his other Three Lions' team-mates were wearing.Why was Kane's shirt different? Well, the patch is only allowed to be worn by players who have won the Golden Boot at a World Cup.Kane took that award in 2018 in Russia, where he scored six goals to help England reach the semi-finals.Eagle-eyed viewers on Tuesday will also have seen France striker Kylian Mbappe also wearing a golden patch during their win against Senegal, after he won the Golden Boot four years ago by scoring eight goals at the finals in Qatar.Only one other player at this summer's World Cup can wear a golden patch on their sleeve - James Rodriguez of Colombia, in recognition of his six goals at Brazil 2014.Are there any other special patches at the tournament?Players making their World Cup debut have the above patch on their sleeve at this tournament [AFP via Getty Images]Yes, there are a few - marking a number of different achievements.A gold World Cup badge will be worn by the seven teams at these finals - including England - who have won the tournament before.Players making their debut at this World Cup will have a patch to show that - a tournament logo accompanied by the words 'Debut Fifa World Cup'.At the other end of the scale, players who are World Cup veterans are also being recognised. A flag of the player's country will sit below the World Cup logo alongside the word "legacy" if they have appeared in five or more World Cups.Another one people will notice is worn by goalkeepers which - like the Golden Boot for top scorers - recognises the shotstoppers who have been named the best at the tournament.This design once again sits below the World Cup logo and shows a crest with a glove in the middle.Gold badge for World Cup winners: Brazil (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002), Germany (1954, 1974, 1990 [all as West Germany], 2014), Argentina (1978, 1986, 2022), France (1998, 2018), Uruguay (1930, 1950), Spain (2010) and England (1966).Golden boot winner's patch: Harry Kane (England), Kylian Mbappe (France), James Rodriguez (Colombia).Golden glove winner's patch: Emiliano Martinez (Argentina), Thibaut Courtois (Belgium), Manuel Neuer (Germany).'Legacy' patch: Argentina's Lionel Messi (Argentina), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) Luka Modric (Croatia), Manuel Neuer (Germany) and Yuto Nagatoma (Japan).Why have they been introduced?Lionel Messi was seen wearing a legacy patch during Argentina's game with Algeria [AFP via Getty Images]The patches are part of a long-term collaboration between football's world governing body Fifa and Topps trading cards.As part of this, they will removed from match-worn shirts immediately after games and then become physical memorabilia for football fans to collect inside packs.The deal with Topps - which is owned by Fanatics - does not start until 2031, when Fifa's long-time deal with rival trading card company Panini ends.Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor gameWorld Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup

Thunder predicted to beat out Warriors for $149 million ex-Spurs superstar, two-time Finals MVP originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Oklahoma City Thunder were hoping to repeat as NBA champions in 2025-26. Everything seemed to be lining up perfectly for Oklahoma City to go back-to-back, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continued to play MVP-level basketball on the offensive end, and the Thunder boasted one of the deepest benches in the league once again. Unfortunately for Oklahoma City, they were defeated by the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals, and Chet Holmgren’s timid demeanor on both ends undoubtedly contributed to the Thunder’s unsuccessful title defense. Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes believes it’s time for Oklahoma City to move on from Holmgren and bring in a former San Antonio Spurs superstar and two-time NBA Finals MVP who is viewed as a legitimate trade target for the Golden State Warriors.“Everybody seems pretty upset with Chet Holmgren's poor performance in the Conference Finals, to the point that they seem to have forgotten he played a critical role during an OKC title run just over a year ago,” Hughes wrote Monday. “That's the kind of ‘in’ we need to get him into an outgoing package for Leonard, a battle-tested two-time Finals MVP who proved last year that he's still got something pretty close to his 'A' game. “Leonard could effectively slot into a power forward role vacated by Holmgren to provide the kind of high-volume shooting that would make it impossible for defenses to cheat away from him. Holmgren was a reluctant gunner against the Spurs and couldn't punish schemes that dared him to create shots for himself or teammates.”“The thought of opponents treating Leonard the same way is laughable; he's still a first-option superstar who'd require a top-flight wing defender's full attention.”For clarity, the Thunder would send Holmgren and Isaiah Joe to the Clippers for Leonard in Hughes’ hypothetical trade idea. If the Thunder want to send Holmgren packing while keeping their win-now window wider than ever, swapping him for Leonard would likely do the trick.Leonard continued his two-way dominance in 2025-26 following a campaign in which he was injured for more than half the year. The 34-year-old contributed 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game this year, connecting on 50.5% of his field goals and 38.7% of his triples.It’s reasonable to assume that playing alongside a confident and physically imposing killer who can take over games on either end when he pleases would do wonders for Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder next season. The only problem is that the general manager, Sam Presti, has already shut down the idea of the Thunder trading Holmgren anytime soon, making Hughes’ trade concept a massive long shot.More NBA news:Spurs predicted to cut ties with $229 million point guard after all-time NBA Finals blunderSpurs predicted to outbid Warriors for $101 million Lakers star, four-time NBA championLuka Doncic sends clear message to Lakers on roster they can't afford to ignore

BBC Radio 5 Live commentary also available via 'watch & listen' tab Fayzullaev heads in Uzbekistan equaliser but Diaz restores leadMunoz volleys brilliant openerUzbekistan's rise to the World CupPortugal & Congo DR also in Group KTeam guides; World Cup 2026 new laws; Premier League top scorers Watch as Diaz restores Colombia's lead against World Cup debutants Colombia

Max Kellerman believes Jalen Brunson could have led the Thunder past the Spurs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Jalen Brunson has rightfully earned the reputation of being a winning player. He was the primary driving force behind the New York Knicks' first championship since 1973. Now, he is being hailed as one of the most impactful players in the NBA.With that kind of success, he will be put up in all kinds of conversations. Now, some people think that if he were on the Oklahoma City Thunder, they could have won the series against the San Antonio Spurs.Max Kellerman thinks Jalen Brunson could have led the Thunder past the SpursIt is challenging to stand out in the NBA, especially with how the game is catered to the bigger players. One of the rare outliers is Brunson because he has the special skill set that has made him carry the Knicks past the Spurs to a title.Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the best players in the league, as evidenced by his back-to-back MVP awards and the Finals MVP from 2025. However, it seems people are now doubting him as a leader for the Thunder.MORE: Jalen Brunson gets clutch comparison to Kobe Bryant from Tracy McGradySGA did not have the best series against the Spurs, but he did step up in Game 7. Unfortunately, they could not win the series, and the Spurs made it to the NBA Finals. Prominent media member Max Kellerman thinks that if Brunson and Gilgeous-Alexander swapped places, the Thunder would have been in the NBA Finals. It is a bold claim, but it seems he thinks Brunson is the better fit in high-pressure situations."I know Shai did not have his second-best player; he was the Finals MVP the year before. If you take SGA off the Thunder and replace him with Jalen Brunson, the Thunder beat the Spurs," Kellerman said on his Game Over podcast with Rich Paul.It is a bold take because SGA himself has led his team to a championship. This Kellerman statement has recency bias written all over it because it is hard to see what SGA is doing in OKC, and saying that other players can replicate it or do even better than him.More NBA news:The Knicks receive a new honor before their championship paradeMike Brown is now paying the emotional price of leading the Knicks to their first title in 53 yearsHow letting go of Mitchell Robinson is a natural decision for a championship-winning teamIsiah Thomas hails Jalen Brunson as one of the best examples of small guard excellenceKarl-Anthony Towns sees Victor Wembanyama as the future of the league

If you've been to a hockey game, you've likely seen them dressed in black windbreakers, stepping onto the ice to clear buildup from the fast-paced action. They're the Carolina Hurricanes ice crew, a group of dedicated people who play a key role behind the scenes and say this season is one they won't forget.The crew, made up of about 20 members, prepares the ice and rink for game day, ensuring players have the best possible surface. For members like Robb Wade, the job comes with a unique distinction."The only people that get to go on the ice are the players, the officials, and the ice crew. So, we're in a pretty select group there."Crew members arrive roughly 3 1/2 hours before puck drop, working tirelessly to get the rink ready. During games, they shovel excess ice and operate resurfacing equipment known as the Olympia, often taking the ice during intermissions while players rest.Longtime crew member Bill Alfano says their work puts them close to the action."We get a little bit maybe closer to the action because we put the ice in, and pretty obvious if there's no ice, there's no game. "Wade says their mission is simple but critical."Our job really is to provide the best possible playing surface that we can for the players, and the officials, and to try to help them do the ultimate, you know, the best they can do," he said.For Alfano, the intensity of the Stanley Cup Final stands out the most."When the playoffs get here, it's just bonkers. I mean, it goes up exponentially. And we get to participate in that from a work perspective, but also as a fan. And it's just a lot of fun," he said.ALSO SEE |Caniacs soaking up every moment ahead of Saturday's Stanley Cup victory paradeGame 2 is the one he remembers most."When we're down to zero, and it's, I don't know, middle of the third period, and, you know, you can feel the pressure of the moment, said Alfano. "We can't lose this game. And then suddenly it, you know, Stankoven does what he does, and the rest is kind of history."Wade was a fan watching in the stands in 2006 for the first Stanley Cup victory. This time, he was a part of the ice crew with a front row seat."I was a fan in 2006, and I was excited to be just in that atmosphere. It was the craziest sporting atmosphere that I've ever seen," said Wade. "It's just nice to see the whole thing come together, because who knows when it will happen again. You know, I don't expect I'll be shoveling snow in 20 years if it happens again."Even though the season has wrapped, celebrations continue as the team and staff mark their championship run."Getting to celebrate something like this. This is just an awesome occasion for the team and the staff. They've worked incredibly hard."Wade says being part of the moment, even in a small way, is meaningful."I'm just happy just to see it happen twice and be a little very tiny, minuscule part of it," Wade said.Most members of the ice crew work part-time and return to their regular jobs in the offseason, which include serving in the military and teaching at N.C. State. They also hand-paint the ice, a detail that highlights their commitment to the team and the game.Download the ABC11 News app

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - APRIL 14: Head coach Lane Kiffin of the LSU Tigers clapping during spring practice at the LSU Football Operations Center on April 14, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Gus Stark/University Images via Getty Images} It feels like forever since the Virginia Tech Hokies landed the No. 1 overall player from the state of Virginia. That didn’t used to be the case. However, in recent years, Virginia Tech has seen Penn State, Florida State, Georgia, Florida, and others raid the state’s top talent. It felt different this year. Chris Whitehead, an edge from L.C. Bird High School in Richmond, is the consensus No. 1 player in the state and a five-star prospect. The Hokies felt confident in landing Whitehead. On Wednesday, Whitehead broke the hearts of Hokie Nation, choosing LSU over Virginia Tech and others. It remains to be seen if the Hokies were the runner-up, but losing this one stings. BREAKING: Elite 2027 EDGE Chris Whitehead has Committed to LSU, he tells me for @RivalsThe 6’4 240 EDGE chose the Tigers over South Carolina, Virginia Tech, and Ohio State“Just Different”⁰https://t.co/OCDgDNbBS2pic.twitter.com/DWfpcJbhyP— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 17, 2026It’s worth noting that while Whitehead committed to LSU, the Hokies will continue recruiting him. Does that mean head coach James Franklin could flip Whitehead before December? Maybe. Maybe not. A good season on the field would go a long way for the Hokies. But whether Franklin can flip Whitehead or not, this one feels different. Why?When the Hokies lost a commit like this before, fans would hit social media and message boards to complain. And rightfully so. Some fans stopped following recruiting altogether. Could you blame them? But with Franklin and VT’s commitment to the football program, this one is a mere bump in the road. Sure, there’s no consolation prize for losing the state’s top player, but you’re confident that Franklin and his staff can find other quality recruits. After all, Virginia Tech still sits in the top 10 of 247Sports’ 2027 team recruiting rankings. When Whitehead committed to LSU, so did his younger brother, 2028 offensive tackle Isaiah Whitehead. So, while the Hokies lost a priority recruit on Wednesday, it’s not the end of the world. It’s a tough blow, but we’re living in different times. With James Franklin, the Hokies will be just fine. Good luck to the Whitehead brothers in Baton Rouge.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 14: Carolina Hurricanes player celebrates in the locker room after winning the 2026 Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images One of the biggest criticisms in years past by the hockey experts around the league was that the Carolina Hurricanes did not have a superstar to take them to the next level. They did not have that all-time reliable player they could count on to score a goal when they absolutely needed it. The Canes had a few players who were close, although they were not quite there. But as it turned out Carolina didn’t need a superstar, they just needed a couple more “regular stars” to get the job done. Still missing a true superstar, who I will define as a player averaging more than a point a game in his career or someone considered one of the best at his position in the league, the Canes added K’Andre Miller and Nikolaj Ehlers to their stable of “ regular stars.” Both of these players fit in perfectly and played their best hockey in the heat of the playoffs. Miller, who was acquired via trade from the New York Rangers, had signed an eight year contract with an average annual cap hit of $7.5 million. He is locked up until 2032-33. The defenseman led the team in the playoffs averaging just over 24 minutes a game. He added 9 assists, 29 blocked shots, and had a plus +12 rating, good for second best on the team. Ehlers, who was signed during the free agency period for $8.5 million a year, certainly scored his share of timely goals and chipped in with several nifty assists as well. He finished with 8 goals and 10 assists with a plus +9 rating. The rest of the Pack are not “superstars” either, but they ain’t too shabby. Who would have picked Jackson Blake to lead the team in postseason scoring? (7G 13A). He is signed until 2033-34 at $5.1 million a year. The winger was supposed to be suffering from his sophomore slump this year but scored a career high in goals (22) instead.Perhaps a former “superstar”, Taylor Hall, was playing like a man possessed at times in these playoffs. He was a hitting machine with 24 hits, some of them crushing. Oh yes, he also had 7 goals and 12 assists, good for second on the team. He is locked up for two more years at $3.166 million a year.Next up is Logan Stankoven, part of the return for the true superstar, Mikko Rantanen, who signed up for $12 million a year at Dallas. Stankoven, who has been a winner wherever he’s played, was like a pitbull on the ice, doggedly fighting for the puck. This “pitbull” also has some skill and contributed a team high 11 goals along with 5 assists. Stankoven is signed for $6 million a year until 2033-34.The closest player to a superstar on Carolina would be Sebastian Aho, who is nearly a point-a-game scorer. Aho was a bit inconsistent on offense this postseason, but held his own defensively. The other team’s best players were not scoring either. Aho is under contract until 2030-31 at $9.75 million a year.Another player on the fringe of being a superstar is Andrei Svechnikov. The Russian winger can do it all, hit, shoot, play defense, whatever you ask of him. He had 6 goals and 11 points and was third on the team with 74 hits this postseason. Svechnikov is signed through 2028-29 at $7.75 million a year. What about the Captain, Jordan Staal? Certainly no superstar and he was not even nominated for the Selke, which would be a no-brainer. Staal played arguably the best hockey of his career starting off with a fight with Ottawa Captain, Brady Tkachuk, and ending up by dominating the Stanley Cup Final along with winning the Conn Smythe. He had the second highest hit total on the team, 86 and had an amazing 56.6% faceoff winning percentage. Who cares about the Selke? The Captain is currently signed for one more season at $2.975 million. Seth Jarvis, who had a team high 32 goals in just 71 games in the regular season had 4 goals and 7 assists in the playoffs. Jarvis is signed at $7.421 million a year until 2031-32. Jordan Martinook is not a big scorer but is known to be a heart and soul guy. He was moved to the first line with Aho and Svechnikov late in the Final and did well. He is signed for one more season at $3.125 million. The fourth line did what they were supposed to do. They played defense, created chaos, and even chipped in with a few points. Eric Robinson led the way in that category with 3 goals and 5 assists. Mark Jankowski won 50% of his faceoffs and William Carrier did what William Carrier does best…..hit people. He had a total of 91 hits while playing just 10 minutes a game. That comes to a 28.68 hits per 60 minutes average, almost double second place Staal. Robinson is signed through 2028-29 at $1.7 million, Jankowski through 2027-28 at $1.85 million and Carrier is through 2029-30 at $2.150 million.Jaccob Slavin at times did not look perfect. He might even have had a bad game or two, but he was back to being the “human eraser” in the Final. He was second averaging 23:30 a game on the ice and he was tied for the team lead with Chatfield with 34 blocked shots. Slavin is signed until 2032-33 for $6.4 million per. Speaking of Chatfield, again he was tied for the team lead with 34 blocked shots. Chatfield is signed for one more year at $3.075 million.Miller’s partner, Sean Walker upped his game in these playoffs, especially his physicality. He was fourth on the team with 68 hits, one of them knocked William Karlsson out of the final series. He had 29 blocked shots and averaged 22:30 minutes of ice time per game. He is signed through 2028-29 at $3.625 million per. Shayne Gostisbehere helped to ramp up the powerplay in the Final. He finished with 12 points in his 19 games and also had a +2. Gostisbehere has one more year on his contract for $3.2 million. Alexander Nikishin finished up the postseason looking a bit tentative. He still had 25 hits in his 17 games played. Nikishin needs a contract before playing again next season.Frederik Andersen did the heavy lifting during these playoffs and was sterling for the most part. Word is that he hurt his knee during game two of the Final. Brind’Amour waited until Vegas had scored four goals on him in game three before taking him out. He also needs a contract before playing next year although Pyotr Kochetkov should be ready to play. When Andersen got hurt, Brandon Bussi was called in and had a superb postseason. He finished up with a 1.60 GAA and a save percentage of .931. Bussi is signed for the next three years at $1.9 million per. (Stats taken from NHL.com https://www.nhl.com/stats/skaters?report=realtime&reportType=season&seasonFrom=20252026&seasonTo=20252026&gameType=3&playerPlayedFor=franchise.26&sort=hits&page=0&pageSize=50 )(Salaries taken from https://puckpedia.com/team/carolina-hurricanes )Once again, there are no superstars listed above. There are no players paid more than $10 million per year. But there is a team of “regular stars” who gelled together and who dominated this postseason with an overall record of 16-3. Maybe the Hurricanes don’t need a superstar.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 02: David Benavidez arrives at David Benavidez vs Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez presented by Thomas J. Henry at T-Mobile Arena on May 02, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images for Thomas J. Henry) | Getty Images for Thomas J. Henry David Benavidez is reportedly in “advanced” discussions to face Noel Mikaelian in a cruiserweight unification in his next fight.Lance Pugmire had the report, and the news comes not long after the WBC ordered that Mikaelian defend against Benavidez. It’s rare that the WBC or any sanctioning body orders a unification, but Benavidez is a big name now and gets those “Rolly privileges.”Benavidez (32-0, 26 KO) moved up to cruiserweight in early May, thrashing Zurdo Ramirez to take the WBA and WBO titles and becoming a three-division world champion.The 35-year-old Mikaelian (28-3, 12 KO) regained the WBC belt from Badou Jack in a December rematch. He is a good fighter, and obviously ordering unifications is better than a lot of what gets ordered, but very few will see him having a real chance to upset Benavidez.The report says that Sampson Lewkowciz, part of Benavidez’s team, had a long talk with Mikaelian’s promoter, Don King, which is a reminder to not get too far ahead here, either, because King can be tricky to negotiate with in the last 15 years or so especially. Still, with the WBC behind the idea, that makes it seem likely to happen, at least for now.Is Benavidez vs Mikaelian good for you? Does the unification make it worthwhile, especially if Benavidez simply can’t get anything bigger?

Homeowners and businesses in the region, which relies heavily on imported oil, are installing rooftop solar panels to reduce the sting of soaring energy costs.

Here is what to know about the by-election on Thursday in Makerfield, the outcome of which could lead to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s ouster.

The 2026 World Cup continues on Thursday with Groups A and B in action.Here's what you need to know for Day 8 of the World Cup.Czechia vs. South AfricaThursday, June 18 | 12 p.m. ET | Atlanta | TV: FoxOdds: Czechia (-125), South Africa (+340), Tie (+260)This is a must-win for both teams after both teams lost their openers. South Africa fell 2-0 to Mexico in the first game of the World Cup while Czechia lost 2-1 to South Korea.South Africa will be without both midfielders Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane for the rest of the group stage after they both received straight red cards against Mexico. Sithole was sent off for the denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity while Zwane was ejected for contact to Roberto Alvarado’s face. Will South Africa’s game plan be more aggressive now that it isn’t playing one of the host nations?Czechia will look to hold onto a lead after it failed to do so against South Korea. Ladislav Krejci scored in the 59th minute, but the game was tied just eight minutes later.Switzerland vs. Bosnia and HerzegovinaThursday, June 18 | 3 p.m. ET | Inglewood, Ca. | TV: FoxOdds: Switzerland (-190), Bosnia-Herzegovina (+500), Tie (+310)It’s separation Thursday in Group B. The group is the only one level with all four teams on one point after Switzerland tied Qatar and Bosnia-Herzegovina got a late tie against Canada.A tie would probably favor Bosnia-Herzegovina more than Switzerland in this matchup. The Swiss were dominant against Qatar but also extremely wasteful in the second half. That cost them mightily as Qatar scored in added time to steal a point.Breaking down Bosnia-Herzegovina is going to be an even tougher ask. The Bosnians are used to playing without the ball as Canada had 61% possession. However, that possession turned into just four shots on goal.Canada vs. QatarThursday, June 18 | 6 p.m. ET | Vancouver | TV: FS1Odds: Canada (-350), Qatar (+900), Tie (+450)Canada absolutely needs a win against Qatar to feel good about its chances of getting to the Round of 32. It can’t go into the last game of the group stage needing a win against Switzerland to advance.Both teams are looking to get out of the group stage at the World Cup for the first time and Qatar will be buoyed by how well it held up defensively against Switzerland. Canada will likely again be without star Alphonso Davies as he’s still recovering from a hamstring injury suffered while with Bayern Munich. The Canadians would be even bigger favorites with Davies on the field. But there’s little excuse for Canada not to get all three points from this one.Mexico vs. South KoreaThursday, June 18 | 9 p.m. ET | Guadalajara | TV: FoxOdds: Mexico (+100), South Korea (+290), Tie (+220)A draw likely puts both teams in a great position to advance to the Round of 32 while a win sets the winner up extremely well for the chance to win the group.Mexico’s fans got frustrated at times during the opener as Julián Quiñones’ ninth-minute goal was the only one Mexico could muster before Raúl Jiménez scored the first World Cup goal of his career in the 67th minute to give Mexico a two-goal lead.This game also comes amid some off-field issues for South Korea. A drone was taken down by the Mexican military on Tuesday after it flew over a closed South Korean training session in Guadalajara. South Korea team members are also staging a media blackout after a video was leaked of media members making mocking comments about Son Heung-min and his military exemption.

It briefly got a bit more complicated than expected, but Colombia began its 2026 World Cup with a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan on Wednesday.Colombia was heavily favored against Uzbekistan, a team playing its first World Cup game in history, and entered the game with a golden opportunity to grab control of Group K after Portugal’s shocking tie against the Democratic Republic of Congo earlier Wednesday.That all bore out throughout the first half, in which the ball barely entered Colombia’s side of the field. They only got one goal out of the period, but it was a beauty.Bayern Munich star Luis Diaz found Daniel Muñoz with a perfect feed and Muñoz found the back of the net with some incredible mid-air touch.Uzbekistan’s response came in the second half, when it scored its first World Cup goal on a sequence ending with a header by Abbosbek Fayzullaev, off a rebound of a blocked shot from Eldor Shomurodov.The game was tied, but only briefly.Diaz struck again with his own first World Cup goal, allowing the heavily pro-Colombia Mexico City crowd to breathe easy again.Uzbekistan got a couple more scoring opportunities in stoppage time, but no further drama came for Colombia, who sealed the game with a goal by Jáminton Campaz. Colombia now leads Group K while Portugal and DR Congo sit with a point each.Colombia can lock in a place in the knockout rounds with a win over DR Congo in its next match on June 23. Uzbekistan will continue its World Cup debut against Portugal on the same day.

ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 17: Injured Atlanta outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) in the dugout during the MLB game between the San Francisco Giants and the Atlanta Braves on June 17th, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images As Ha-Seong Kim has been perhaps the worst player to play as much as he has in baseball this season, Walt Weiss made a number of changes including Matt Olson playing right field to avoid Kim hitting in the eighth. Kim’s performance and Weiss’ clear lack of faith in the Korean makes it fair to wonder if he will make it all season on the roster the way things are going, much less receiving regular playing time. He has been a catastrophe at the plate and not much better in the field. While I do think it remains a worthwhile contract to hand out in the offseason, it has gone about as poorly as possible, starting with his offseason injury. Braves NewsAtlanta is expecting to miss Ronald Acuna for a while, as they will slow-play his return from his second injury to the same hamstring this season. The Braves transferred Spencer Strider to the 60-day IL in a flurry of mid-day transactions. The Braves’ losing skid continued with a loss in the afternoon and a loss at night, each featuring sub-par pitching and less-than-sparkling offense. MLB NewsThe Phillies optioned top prospect Andrew Painter back to triple-A, as he has been quite poor in his 65.0 major league innings this year. The Guardians put promising rookie Chase DeLauter on the IL with a fractured rib, calling up former top draft prospect Kahlil Watson to make his MLB debut. Tigers’ Gleyber Torres is hitting the IL with an oblique strain that appears to be a reoccurrence of an injury he suffered earlier this season.

San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey has a shot at one of the NFL's more overlooked receiving records in two yearsSports Illustrated's Eva Geitheim identified McCaffrey as the top candidate to break Marshall Faulk's career receiving yards record for a running back. Faulk, the Hall of Fame running back who played for the Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Rams, set the mark at 6,875 yards over his 12-year NFL career.McCaffrey currently sits at 5,390 career receiving yards, leaving him 1,485 short of Faulk's record. He would need at least two more seasons of 750 receiving yards or three more seasons with at least 500 receiving yards to surpass the mark. It's a realistic but far-from-easy target. While McCaffrey had 924 receiving yards in 2025, that was his highest mark since 2019, when he rushed and caught for 1,000 yards. It also took McCaffrey a career-high and NFL-high 413 touches, including 129 targets.McCaffrey turned 30 earlier this month, and the durability question is real. He missed most of the 2024 and 2022 seasons with injuries, and could also see a reduced workload in 2026.Still, the case for McCaffrey rests on what he's shown throughout his career. His pass-catching ability out of the backfield has been a cornerstone of San Francisco's offense under Kyle Shanahan, and nothing about his work ethic or preparation suggests a sudden dropoff.Faulk's mark has stood since 2005. McCaffrey may be the best chance it has of falling anytime soon.This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Analyst predicts 49ers star to break long-standing NFL record

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JUNE 16: Michael Olise of France drives the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between France and Senegal at New York New Jersey Stadium on June 16, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images) | Getty Images Real, City both plotting big bids on Olise (The Hard Tackle)Real Madrid and Manchester City could be ignoring the warning signs and still working to pursue Bayern Munich star Michael Olise: Per Media Foot, City’s decision-makers have “entered the fray” by contact Bayern Munich and Olise’s representatives. That has prompted a reaction from Real Madrid, with Los Blancos reportedly reopening discussions for a possible deal. The Frenchman is also a long-term target for PSG, but Luis Campos believes the player will not be available for a reasonable fee this summer.Manchester City and Real Madrid are keen on signing 24-year-old French international Michael Olise from Bayern Munich this summer.According to a report by French outlet Media Foot, Manchester City and Real Madrid are interested in Michael Olise. The two European heavyweights are keen on reinforcing their offensive units by signing a productive wide attacker in the upcoming transfer window, and they have set their sights on the 24-year-old Bayern Munich sensation.Bayern Munich has been steadfast that it will not sell Olise, but — if true — it would be curious to see how high City or Real would go with a bid. Chelsea eyeing Wolfsburg defender (ESPN)At one point when he was at Wolfsburg, Maxence Lacroix was on Bayern Munich’s radar, but he eventually moved on and ultimately landed a Crystal Palace. Now, Chelsea, is sneaking a peak at the 26-year-old: Chelsea are tracking Crystal Palace center back Maxence Lacroix, according to The Daily Mail. Lacroix, 26, is playing for France at the World Cup after helping Palace lift the Europa Conference League last season. He has a contract until 2029 but, after reportedly attracting interest from Arsenal and Real Madrid, he is reportedly ready to consider his options. Meanwhile, the Blues held talks with the agent of Atalanta right back Marco Palestra two weeks ago, says Nicolo Schira. However, the Serie A club are holding out for bids of over €50 million this summer.Bayern won’t push for Rashford (Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg via @iMiaSanMia)Despite reports, Bayern Munich is not going to chase Manchester United attacker Marcus Rashford this summer:Regarding Bayern/Rashford, there’s currently nothing to this story. No negotiations, no offer, nothing. And Rashford wouldn’t exactly be a ‘cheap’ option, as he earns a massive salary and wants a big signing fee. Bayern’s full focus is on closing the Saibari and Brown deals. There are no plans beyond that regarding incomings for the time being.Old coach wants Kim back (Sport Bild’s Christian Falk)Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti and Bayer Munich defender Kim Min-jae have a relationship that dates back to their time together at Napoli. Now, the coach could be looking at a reunion:✅ It is TRUE: Luciano Spalletti would like to be reunited with Min-jae Kim at Juventus. The interest is confirmed. It’s not like there are really hot negotiations at the moment, but this could really happen. This would be ideal for Bayern Munich, as it would ensure they get the most amount of money – certainly more than they’d potentially receive for Hiroki Ito. So, if they could sell Kim, they’d likely have a good amount of money to put toward a really good new player, like, for example, Vušković.Real could make play for Dias (ESPN)Real Madrid is scoping Manchester City center-back Rúben Dias: Real Madrid are weighing up a €90 million move for Manchester City defender Rúben Dias as they look to strengthen their back line this summer, The Daily Mirror has revealed. The Portugal international has emerged as a top target for Madrid, who are keen to add more experience and leadership to their defense. Dias, 29, remains a key member of City’s squad, and is under contract until June 2029, but Madrid are reportedly monitoring his situation closely as they assess options ahead of the new campaign.Bayern to miss out on PSG prospect (The Hard Tackle)Bayern Munich was reportedly taking a look at Paris Saint-Germain youngster Senny Mayulu, but the young midfielder is going to commit to a future in France: A host of top suitors in the Senny Mayulu case are set for disappointment, with the young midfielder expected to commit his future to PSGSenny Mayulu is set to sign a new Paris Saint-Germain contract until 2031, according to an update by reputed French journalist Fabrice Hawkins, ending reported interest from Chelsea and Bayern Munich.If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor… Join the conversation!Sign up for a user account and get:Comment on articles, community postsRec comments, community postsNew, improved notifications system!Fewer adsCreate community posts

Warren Barton was hit by a beer during his World Cup 2026 commentary duties in Colombia’s 3-1 win over Uzbekistan while “dripping with blood.”Barton was at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City to team up with Jacqui Oatley during the Fox broadcast. Luis Diaz had inspired Los Cafeteros to victory, assisting the opener and scoring a second either side of Abbosbek Fayzullaev’s historic first goal for Uzbekistan at a World Cup.And Jaminton Campaz sent the Azteca wild in stoppage time with a third goal for Colombia to lift them top of Group K and ahead of Portugal, who were held by DR Congo earlier on Wednesday.The wild atmosphere saw both commentators drenched with beer in the first half after Daniel Munoz broke the deadlock.And Barton appeared to be hit by a projectile in the closing stages of the contest, but persevered with the commentary to the end, which saw a frantic finale, including Campaz’s stoppage time strike.Oatley concluded the broadcast by stating: “Nobody in Mexico City is going to get much sleep tonight.”More to follow...

Colombia beat Uzbekistan to go top of Group KPortugal under threat?Colombia claimed their first win of the 2026 World Cup!Los Cafeteros won 3-1 against Uzbekistan on Thursday morning in their opening match of the tournament, as Uzbekistan were playing the first World Cup game in their history.Abdukodir Khusanov and his teammates showed some promising things, but in the end it was the South American side that took all three points.Daniel Muñoz, Crystal Palace's Colombian right-back, opened the scoring five minutes before half-time, before Abbosbek Fayzullaev equalised on the hour mark.But five minutes later, Luis Díaz restored Colombia's lead to make it 2-1.The final Cafeteros goal was scored by Jaminton Campaz in stoppage time.A few hours after Portugal's 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Colombia go top of Group K and have already put a little pressure on Cristiano Ronaldo and company!This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Gabby Williams scored 25 points, Kaitlyn Chen came off the bench to score 15 points against former UConn teammates Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd, and the Golden State Valkyries beat the Dallas Wings 91-80 on Wednesday night.Arike Ogunbowale scored 21 points and Jessica Shepard made all five of her first-quarter shots on the way to 14 points to go with 10 rebounds for Dallas. Bueckers and first-year guard Fudd had tough shooting nights, Bueckers going 5 of 13 for 15 points with eight assists and Fudd 4 of 13 with 10 points.Veronica Burton and Bueckers collided and went down hard going for a loose ball with 58.1 seconds left but were able to stand. Burton added 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the Valkyries' fourth straight victory and Kayla Thornton had 11 rebounds. Janelle Salaun contributed 12 points and Tiffany Hayes 10 in a 43-point bench performance for Golden State, which got 30 points from the reserves in a 78-58 victory over Los Angeles on Monday night.The Wings were 11 for 17 in the opening quarter and built a quick 26-17 lead before a cold second quarter. Dallas went 2 of 15 — 1 for 6 on 3-pointers — in the second quarter to fall behind 44-33 at halftime.This after Dallas dominated in a 96-66 rout of the defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces on Monday. Fudd made her first visit as a pro to Chase Center where good friend Stephen Curry stars. Fudd joined his brand in November 2021 and the two-time NBA MVP offered his resources during her rehab from right knee surgery last year.Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said before the game Chen — who made 7 of her 10 shots — had offered some insight on her former UConn teammates for the game plan.Up nextWings: Host Chicago on Saturday.Valkyries: Host Minnesota on Friday night.___AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

With one goal and one assist, Luis Diaz led Colombia to a 3-1 win in their World Cup opener against debutants Uzbekistan on Wednesday.Bayern Munich star Diaz hit the post in the 32nd minute but served Daniel Muñoz's opener in the 41st, sending a brilliant long ball to the box.Uzbekistan, coached by Italy's 2006 World Champion Fabio Cannavaro, levelled in the 60th as Abbosbek Fayzullaev scored their firs-ever goal at a World Cup.Eldor Shomurodov hit a volley and goalkeeper Camilo Vargas made a mess of the saving, giving Fayzullaev space to nod it home.But celebrations were short lived as Colombia retook the lead just five minutes later. The ball was played left to Diaz and he slotted it across goal to add his name to the scoresheet.Akmal Mozgovoy had a late chance to bring Uzbekistan level again but he fired high and wide, while on the other side Colombia sealed the deal in the ninth minute of stoppage time.Cucho Hernandez worked hard down the right to retain the ball and once he finally had space, he served a clinical cross to Jaminton Campaz, who powered a header into the net.Colombia surprisingly top Group K ahead of top favourites Portugal, who are third after they started their World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo earlier.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — For the first time in World Cup history, FIFA is mandating all soccer players take hydration breaks to protect them from the threats of extreme heat. But the new rule has sparked criticism from two very different groups. Some experts have warned that this summer's World Cup — co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada — could be the hottest in the tournament's history. In response to concerns about extreme heat, FIFA implemented three-minute hydration breaks midway through each half regardless of temperatures. But some critics say they're interrupting the game's flow and give coaches a chance to shift momentum in their team’s favor, while some scientists have said the breaks are too short to make a significant impact on cooling and rehydration when conditions are sizzling. “When we look at the three minute hydration breaks, we're really looking at this as a way to mitigate anything that could potentially lead to an incident or an emergency,” said Joshua L. DeVincenzo, assistant director of applied research services at Columbia University’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness. Here's a look at the heat risks players face and what the hydration breaks can do: FIFA's mandatory breaks, regardless of temperaturesThis World Cup is the first to implement mandatory three-minute cooling breaks midway through each half, regardless of temperatures or whether stadiums are enclosed and/or air conditioned. The governing body said it was to “ensure equal conditions for all teams, in all matches,” and the rules draw upon the experiences of past tournaments, including the FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S. last summer where temperatures soared into the 90s F (mid-30s C) and above in many areas.Some coaches said the breaks make sense when temperatures are extreme, but they questioned whether they were necessary at every match. Even highly-trained, elite athletes can get heat stressAthletes pushing themselves physically in hot and humid conditions risk getting what's called exertional heat illness. It happens when the body’s temperature gets too hot and is accompanied by significant strain on the heart, nerves, muscles and central nervous systems. Common symptoms include muscle cramps, extreme fatigue, impaired performance, headache, irritability, nausea, dizziness, cramping and dehydration.When internal body temperature exceeds 105 F (40.5 C), athletes might feel confused, aggressive or lose consciousness, said Yuri Hosokawa, associate professor at the Faculty of Sport Sciences in Japan’s Waseda University, in an email, “all of which are characteristic signs of exertional heat stroke and require immediate medical attention.” She co-signed a letter to FIFA in May urging stricter heat guidelines for player safety, including that cooling breaks be at least six minutes. Exertional heat stroke while playing a sport is among the leading causes of death in athletes.Dehydration also exacerbates the risk. Athletes in the heat can sweat 1 to 2 liters (50 to 67 ounces) an hour, and most drink less liquids than they expel. Losing as little as 2% of one's body weight to dehydration can impair physical performance. Ryan Calsbeek, professor of biological sciences at Dartmouth College, said the human body performs better when it’s warmer, but there’s a critical threshold above which that improvement in performance not only stops, but precipitously drops off.“Your body starts to really fall apart, you lose the ability to cool off fast enough,” he said. “And the physiological mechanisms just break down.” That happens when the wet bulb globe temperature, which includes temperature, humidity, cloud cover and wind, reads above about 95 F (35 C), though some people will be more heat tolerant than others.The increased confusion from extreme heat could impact an athlete’s ability to make strategic decisions, he said.“It’s these marginal differences in performance that I think can determine the outcome of a match,” Calsbeek said. “If you have individuals that do better in extreme conditions, whether it’s extreme heat or high altitude or whatever the case may be, those small differences could play a critical, pivotal role in determining the outcome.”Hydration breaks should be longer, some experts sayThe three-minute mandatory hydration breaks are meant to protect players, and referees, from extreme heat illness and help them maintain their physical performance. In that time, players can cool off and replenish lost water and salt from sweating, but how effective it is depends on how aggressive the cooling methods are. That could mean putting wet, cold towels on the exposed parts of a player's body, such as the neck, head, back and arms. If done well, that could reduce their body temperature by about 0.22 F (0.12 C) per minute, said Douglas Casa, CEO of the University of Connecticut’s Korey Stringer Institute who also co-signed the letter to FIFA. “Some people can tolerate a little more fluids comfortably and then do intense exercise. Some people can’t because it sloshes around in their stomach and they don’t feel super comfortable, so they might not drink as much in such a short period of time,” he added. The time, he said, dictates the volume of impact, whether from fluid or cooling, and “that’s why we’re suggesting doing something like five or six minutes, because it just makes such a big impact when you’re dealing with a change of that magnitude.” But how much time a player needs to recover also varies. “Depending on your body, you might need more or less time. But those kinds of breaks are crucial so that your body isn’t just being forced to keep trying to play catch up... to keep trying to cool you down without any kind of rest or a break,” said Bharat Venkat, director of the Heat Lab at the University of California, Los Angeles. As our planet gets hotter, mandating hydration breaks and changing where, when and how sports are played will be necessary. “No matter what sport you play, there’s going to be adjustments that have to be made in the face of climate change,” he said.___The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment

While many of the World Cup’s competing nations are wracked by social divisions, some of their teams offer strikingly positive examples of how players from different backgrounds and religious faiths can cooperate closely in pursuit of a common goal.The phenomenon is particularly notable among Western European teams, which for most of soccer’s history were overwhelmingly white and Christian. As those societies have increasingly diversified, so have the national team rosters — featuring Christian and Muslim players who are open about their faith.England’s national squad, for the first time, includes a Muslim player. France’s roster has multiple players from Protestant, Catholic and Muslim backgrounds. Spain’s emerging superstar, 18-year-old Lamine Yamal, is a practicing Muslim. So is Sweden’s Yasin Ayari, who prostrated himself on the field to thank God after the first of his two goals in a victory Sunday over Tunisia — his father’s homeland.All four of those nations — like several others in Europe — have experienced political polarization related to the arrival of large numbers of Muslim immigrants. Does the diversity of the World Cup teams send a potentially helpful message?“Absolutely,” said Eboo Patel, who — as president of Interfaith America — advocates for religious pluralism and cooperation. “It is symbolic yet also substantive.”He evoked the images of Christian players crossing themselves, and Muslim players cupping their hands in prayer. Their message, Patel said, is, “My identity really matters to me and it makes me a better soccer player.”“They score, they each say their respective prayers, and then they’re hugging each other,” he added. “You’re cooperating to build a community and a team. … It’s not a contrived television ad or a condescending afterschool special. It’s the way you build an excellent soccer team.”These are some of the World Cup players whose openness about their faith has drawn attention:Mohamed Salah (Egypt)By far the best known of Egypt’s players, Salah is a Sunni Muslim who practices his faith openly, on and off the field. After scoring goals, he often prostrates himself to give thanks to God. His positive impact has been tangible: After he joined Liverpool in the Premier League, researchers reported that anti-Muslim tweets by fans dropped by half.Luka Modrić (Croatia)Playing in his fifth World Cup, Modrić, 40, is set to surpass 200 international appearances during the tournament. A Catholic, Modrić has often worn shin guards depicting Jesus and the Virgin Mary. A few days before he and his teammates traveled to the United States, they gathered to celebrate Mass at a chapel in the Croatian town of Icici.Djed Spence (England)Although the Football Association has not kept records of players' religions, the BBC — among other news outlets — has identified Spence as the first Muslim to play for the senior England team. A fullback with Tottenham, Spence played six times for England’s under-21 squad. “It’s good to make history and hopefully inspire young kids around the world that they can make it as well,” Spence told the BBC. “They can do what I am doing.”Lamine Yamal (Spain)Yamal, a Muslim whose father is Moroccan, attracted headlines worldwide when he waved the Palestinian flag during Barcelona’s celebrations after it won the Spanish league in May. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick questioned the decision at the time; Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, later criticized Yamal by saying he was inciting “hate.”Marc Guéhi (England)The son of a Christian minister in London, Guéhi, 25, is playing his first season with Manchester City and was selected to be one of England’s defenders for the World Cup. While captain at his previous club Crystal Palace, Guéhi defied the Football Association’s rules by writing religious messages on his uniform during a Premier League campaign celebrating LGBTQ+ inclusion. Guéhi avoided punishment, though the FA prohibits players from displaying religious messages.Aimar Sher (Iraq)Religious minorities have long faced persecution in Iraq. Yet this year’s World Cup team includes Kurds, Sunni Muslims, Shiite Muslims, and several Christians — notable since Iraq’s Christian population is estimated to have fallen from 1.5 million in 2003 to about 150,000 now. One of those Christians, midfielder Aimar Sher, has eagerly shared his faith, posting photos on social media of him wearing an “I Belong to Jesus” T-shirt.Christian Pulisic (US)U.S. forward Pulisic has spoken openly about his Christian faith and often wears a cross necklace given by his mother. He has led team Bible studies; his Instagram posts have included photos of the Bible, showing passages he has underlined. Several of Pulisic’s teammates also are open about their Christian faith, including Weston McKennie and goalkeeper Matt Freese. McKennie’s Instagram bio contains just four words: “All glory to God.” ___Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.___AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Photo by Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty ImagesIShowSpeed’s visit to Portugal’s World Cup opener produced another viral clip, this time involving a young fan wearing a shirt that caught the internet’s attention for all the right reasons.The streamer was in the stands for Portugal’s 1-1 draw against DR Congo in Houston.Cristiano Ronaldo did not get on the scoresheet, but IShowSpeed still managed to turn the evening into a talking point in the ongoing Messi vs Ronaldo debate. It all started with a child wearing an Argentina shirt.Photo by Roberto Tuero/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesIShowSpeed gives Ronaldo jersey to Argentina fan at Portugal vs DR CongoA video shared by Speedy Updates on X showed IShowSpeed spotting the young fan during the match.According to the post, Speed asked the child where he stood on the Messi-Ronaldo debate. The youngster said both players were equally good, and when Speed also learned that he did not own a Portugal shirt, he handed over a Ronaldo jersey.It was a small gesture, but one that quickly spread online. It had everything fans have come to expect from Speed, with a nod to Ronaldo, a Messi connection through the Argentina shirt and a young supporter walking away with a new World Cup keepsake.The moment resonated because it felt genuine rather than forced. Speed’s reputation is built around his passionate support for Ronaldo, but this time he chose to give rather than argue, and fans took notice.IShowSpeed adds fan moment to Portugal’s frustrating World Cup startThe timing of the moment helped it gain traction too, because it came during Ronaldo’s first game of the 2026 World Cup, a match Portugal expected to win but ended up drawing 1-1.Joao Neves gave Portugal an early lead, but Yoane Wissa equalized before halftime to leave Ronaldo and his side frustrated by full-time. IShowSpeed, who was there supporting Ronaldo as always, found himself in a moment that cut through the noise of the result.An Argentina shirt always stands out at a World Cup match, especially with Messi still drawing headlines. For Speed, it was the perfect setup for a moment his fans would appreciate.But what made the clip stand out was the way it ended. Rather than turning it into another rivalry moment, Speed handed over the Ronaldo shirt, creating a scene both fanbases could appreciate.Portugal’s night did not go to plan, but for one young Argentina fan, it still ended with an unexpected gift from one of the game’s most recognizable supporters.Read more:IShowSpeed issues gloomy response to Lionel Messi dominating AlgeriaNew York Knicks champion Tyler Kolek tells IShowSpeed why he was supporting Senegal vs France at World CupTravis Scott ‘beat’ IShowSpeed in impromptu race at Brazil’s 2026 World Cup opener

In this week's Closer Report, the saves landscape gets one closer back but loses another as Ryan Helsley returns from the injured list. Meanwhile, the Cubs lose Daniel Palencia to the injured list with right elbow inflammation. And the Giants finally settle on a reliever in the ninth inning, naming Caleb Kilian the closer.⚾️ Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.Check out this week’s Stolen Base Report!2026 Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings▶ Tier 1Mason Miller - San Diego PadresCade Smith - Cleveland GuardiansJhoan Duran - Philadelphia PhilliesAroldis Chapman - Boston Red SoxRaisel Iglesias- Atlanta BravesMiller recorded a clean, four-out save against the Orioles on Sunday, striking out three batters. He was then placed on the bereavement/family medical leave list on Monday. Miller could be back on Friday, following Thursday's off day, after the minimum three-day absence.Smith kept it rolling this week with back-to-back scoreless saves against the Tigers on Friday and Saturday. He's in the middle of his best season yet, working to a 2.48 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 49 strikeouts over 32 2/3 innings while converting an MLB-leading 23 saves.Duran tossed a clean frame against the Brewers on Saturday, striking out one batter for his 18th save to go with a 1.90 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 35 strikeouts over 23 2/3 innings. Setup man Brad Keller was placed on the 15-day injured list this week with right forearm tendinitis. Orion Kerkering likely steps into the eighth-inning role behind Duran and would be next in line for saves.Chapman struck out two batters in a scoreless inning against the Rangers on Saturday for his 14th save. He keeps rolling, with a 0.44 ERA that marks the lowest among all closers.Iglesias made one appearance this week, working around a hit and a walk to convert his 14th save against the Mets on Saturday. Didier Fuentes has been working his way up the leverage ladder as the team has opted to keep him in the bullpen this season. He struck out the side in a scoreless seventh inning to record his fourth hold on Saturday.▶ Tier 2Louis Varland - Toronto Blue JaysBryan Baker - Tampa Bay RaysJosh Hader - Houston AstrosTanner Scott - Los Angeles DodgersGregory Soto - Pittsburgh PiratesAndrés Muñoz - Seattle MarinersRyan Helsley - Baltimore OriolesPaul Sewald - Arizona DiamondbacksDavid Bednar - New York YankeesIn Toronto, Varland pitched a perfect ninth against the Yankees on Friday to convert a save, then took the loss on Saturday, giving up two runs. He bounced back on Tuesday, striking out three with a four-out save, and struck out the side on Wednesday against the Red Sox for his 14th save.Baker got some work in on Sunday against the Angels, tossing a scoreless ninth inning with a five-run lead. He remains at 18 saves with a 1.91 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 32 strikeouts over 28 1/3 innings.Hader picked up three more saves this week, first tossing a pair of scoreless innings to start his season with six scoreless frames. The team avoided using Hader in a back-to-back, with Bryan Abreu picking up a save on Saturday. Following Hader's appearance against the Tigers on Tuesday, he took the mound with a three-run lead on Wednesday and gave up his first run on a solo homer before holding on for his fourth save.Scott was impressive on the mound this week, starting with a clean, four-out save with three strikeouts against the Pirates on Thursday. He then picked up two more saves against the Rays on Monday and Tuesday. Scott is up to nine saves since taking over closing duties in Edwin Díaz's absence. Díaz has progressed to throwing bullpen sessions as he recovers from his elbow surgery to remove loose bodies.Soto had a much better week after giving up five runs in his two outings the previous week. He converted a save with a scoreless inning against the Marlins on Saturday, then struck out two to convert his 11th save against the Athletics on Tuesday.Muñoz was removed from Sunday's game against the Nationals with lower back tightness. After one day off, he returned to the mound on Tuesday and worked around one hit, striking out one batter for his 11th save. Muñoz is no stranger to back issues. He pitched through a minor back strain in early 2024, though he never missed any time. Injury aside, Muñoz continues to fall further down the standings as he struggles to match results with underlying skills.The Orioles reinstated Helsley from the injured list on Tuesday following his seven-week absence with right elbow inflammation. He's set to resume closing duties in Baltimore. Helsley made his first appearance back on Wednesday, taking the mound in the ninth with a four-run lead against the Mariners. He gave up a pair of solo homers before finishing out the game.Sewald had a busy week, making four appearances for the Diamondbacks. He locked down three saves, giving him 18 this season to go with a 3.29 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, and 31 strikeouts over 27 1/3 innings. A.J. Puk suffered a setback in his second rehab outing, prolonging his return from elbow surgery.Bednar struck out the side on Saturday against the Blue Jays to lock down his 14th save, then pitched a scoreless inning on Sunday in a non-save situation, extending his scoreless streak to eight games. He's worked his ratios down to a 3.64 ERA and 1.38 WHIP across 29 2/3 innings.▶ Tier 3Jacob Latz - Texas RangersRiley O'Brien - St. Louis CardinalsDevin Williams - New York MetsTrevor Megill - Milwaukee BrewersKenley Jansen - Detroit TigersKaleb Kilian - San Francisco GiantsGrant Taylor/Seranthony Domínguez - Chicago White SoxPete Fairbanks - Miami MarlinsLatz needed only 11 pitches to work the final two innings against the Royals last Thursday, falling in line for a win. He then struck out two to complete a four-out save against the Red Sox on Sunday. Latz has been outstanding this season, posting a 1.62 ERA, 0.60 WHIP, and 35 strikeouts over 33 1/3 innings.O'Brien gave up one run in a non-save situation against the Twins on Saturday, then bounced back with a scoreless outing for his 18th save against the Padres on Tuesday. He certainly hasn't been quite as sharp as he was early on, with a 6.19 ERA over 16 innings since the start of May.Williams appeared in back-to-back games last Thursday and Friday, securing saves against the Cardinals and Braves. He struck out two batters in each outing, including a four-out save against Atlanta. Williams has a 3.14 ERA since the start of May, with four of five runs allowed in one outing against the Marlins on May 24.Megill struck out three in a non-save situation on Saturday against the Phillies, then collected two more strikeouts in a perfect inning against the Guardians on Tuesday for his ninth save with a 4.15 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 36 strikeouts over 26 innings.Jansen returned from the injured list following a two-week absence with pelvic inflammation. He made his first appearance on Saturday, striking out two in a non-save situation against the Guardians. The 38-year-old right-hander steps back into the closer role for the Tigers.We finally get a bit of clarity in San Francisco. After Keaton Winn landed on the 15-day injured list with a right elbow strain and Ryan Walker was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento, Kilian was officially named the Giants' closer. While he leads the team in saves with four, seven different relievers have recorded a save for the team as manager Tony Vitello has played the matchup game in the late innings thus far. Kilian has been one of the most effective relievers in the bullpen, posting a 3.06 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 38 strikeouts over 32 1/3 innings.Domínguez worked the only save chance for the White Sox this week. It was the cleanest outing as he gave up one run on two walks and a hit before holding on for his 12th save on Sunday against the Dodgers. Taylor gave up two runs over two innings in that game. Four of his last five outings have been two-inning appearances, so it doesn't seem like the team is ready to give him looks as a traditional closer just yet.Fairbanks worked a clean inning against the Diamondbacks on Thursday, striking out two for a save. He then gave up a run against the Pirates on Sunday before holding on for his ninth save of the season.▶ Tier 4Alex Lange - Kansas City RoyalsClayton Beeter - Washington NationalsYoendrys Gómez/Eric Orze - Minnesota TwinsJacob Webb/Caleb Thielbar - Chicago CubsLange gave up a run to take a loss against the Astros on Saturday, then bounced back with a scoreless ninth inning on Wednesday with a four-run lead, indicating he's still in line to close. Meanwhile, Beeter struck out two in each of his scoreless outings this week, but did not pick up a save.And we finally have someone emerging in Minnesota as Gómez converted two saves, giving him seven. While his 3.86 ERA has been good enough to get the job done, he's working with an 11% K-BB rate and underlying ERA indicators that suggest he's been quite fortunate.Palencia struck out the side and picked up a win against the Rockies on Tuesday, but was then placed on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday with right elbow inflammation. It's incredibly disappointing, especially after a good outing. Fantasy managers who have been patiently waiting for Palencia to start collecting some saves will have to wait longer. How long Palencia may be out is still unknown. The Cubs' situation hasn't produced many saves altogether. Still, Thielbar and Webb are the top candidates to work in a committee in Palencia's absence. Webb gave up a run in the ninth inning on Wednesday against the Rockies, but held on to convert the save.▶ Tier 5Antonio Senzatela - Colorado RockiesTony Santillan - Cincinnati RedsKirby Yates - Los Angeles AngelsElvis Alvarado/Hogan Harris - Athletics

[Getty Images]Argentina kicked off their World Cup defence with an emphatic win - but are not the best side at this World Cup so far, according to our BBC Sport experts.We've brought together a small team of journalists who, between them, have watched every side's opening game.And they have ranked all 48 teams at the tournament, from first to last.Do you agree with their decisions? You'll also have a chance to rank every nation yourself at the bottom of this page.1-101. FranceGroup I. Beat Senegal 3-1.Lived up to pre-tournament hype with rampant second-half performance. Strength in every position. Deserved favourites.2. EnglandGroup L. Beat Croatia 4-2.Scored four. Could have had more. Brilliant attacking performance led by Harry Kane. Slight concerns at the back.3. ArgentinaGroup G. Beat Algeria 3-0.They have Lionel Messi and a team that is lifted by his presence and genius. That's enough to be top three.4. GermanyGroup E. Beat Curacao 7-1.Any team that scores seven in their opening fixture cannot be ignored - regardless of the (lack of) quality of the opposition.5. USAGroup D. Beat Paraguay 4-1.Surprise inclusion in the top five. Destroyed Paraguay with a slick performance and have the home crowd on their side.6. NorwayGroup I. Beat Iraq 4-1.A team who are built around Erling Haaland and are set up to play to his strengths.7. ColombiaGroup K. Beat Uzbekistan 3-1.Powerful, quick and with a sprinkle of star dust that is Luis Diaz. Colombia will hurt plenty of teams.8. MoroccoGroup C. Drew 1-1 with Brazil.Looked like blowing Brazil away in opening 20 minutes. Then appeared to settle for a draw in second half. More in the tank.9. BrazilGroup C. Drew 1-1 with Morocco.Shaky start left us questioning if this was the Brazil of years gone by. But their wily squad refused to be beaten.10. SwedenGroup F. Beat Tunisia 5-1.Have two of the Premier League's most deadly strikers and a midfield with an eye for goal too.11-2011. AustraliaGroup D. Beat Turkey 2-0.Pacy performance ensured they swept aside a Turkey side who, on paper, were strong favourites going into the match.12. SpainGroup H. Drew 0-0 with Cape Verde.Shock of the tournament so far. But created enough to win their match several times over. They'll still go far.13. NetherlandsGroup F. Drew 2-2 with Japan.Should have killed their game against Japan. Would be higher were it not for defensive concerns.14. MexicoGroup A. Beat South Africa 2-0.Looked levels above an admittedly very poor South Africa side. Cesar Montes' late red card was a blow though.15. JapanGroup F. Drew 2-2 with Netherlands.Impressive fight to snatch a draw from jaws of defeat. But we expected more ambition from the perennial dark horses.16. ScotlandGroup C. Beat Haiti 1-0.Good result. Poor performance. But perhaps that's what 28 years of pressure will do to a team.17. Cape VerdeGroup H. Drew 0-0 with Spain.Everyone's second team at the World Cup now. The surprise package thanks to an inspired performance by veteran keeper Vozinha.18. BelgiumGroup G. Drew 1-1 with Egypt.Needed an own goal to draw with an admittedly strong Egypt side. Created good chances and their toughest group match is now behind them.19. EgyptGroup G. Drew 1-1 with Belgium.Had looked on for their first ever World Cup win. Emam Ashour's goal was good but they created few opportunities otherwise.20. SenegalGroup I. Lost 3-1 to France.No shame in losing to France. Didn't concede until the 66th minute and could even have been leading but for Nicolas Jackson striking the post in the first half.21-3021. PortugalGroup K. Drew 1-1 with DR Congo.They still have Cristiano Ronaldo. And a team that is burdened by his desire to be at the centre of everything.22. CroatiaGroup L. Lost 4-2 to England.Scored two fine goals against big-hitters England. But defensively poor and too reliant on ageing stars.23. DR CongoGroup K. Drew 1-1 with Portugal.Shocked Portugal with some fantastic, organised defending. And they looked threatening on the break.24. SwitzerlandGroup B. Drew 1-1 with Qatar.A real disappointment. Created plenty of chances but very wasteful in attack.25. New ZealandGroup G. Drew 2-2 with Iran.A gutsy performance which belied their status as the tournament's lowest-ranked team. Have breakout star in shape of Elijah Just.26. IranGroup G. Drew 2-2 with New Zealand.Looked flaky at the back and fortunate to escape with a point.27. Saudi Arabia Group H. Drew 1-1 with Uruguay.Well organised and a threat on the break. Uruguay will feel they should have won the game though.28. HaitiGroup C. Lost 1-0 to Scotland.Caused Scotland problems but missed a killer instinct. Strong and physical but lacking quality.29. South KoreaGroup A. Beat Czech Republic 2-1.Struggled for periods to break down the Czech Republic but came good when it mattered. May lack that clinical touch.30. UruguayGroup H. Drew 1-1 with Saudi Arabia.Had 28 shots against Saudi Arabia before eventual late equaliser. Marcelo Bielsa's side will need to work on their finishing.31-4031. TurkeyGroup D. Lost 2-0 to Australia.Stunned by Australia in match where they had more than 70% possession. Hardly the dream World Cup return in first match back since finishing third in 2002.32. AustriaGroup J. Beat Jordan 3-1.Needed an own goal and a penalty to win. Hardly inspiring. Next up, world champions Argentina.33. Ivory CoastGroup E. Beat Ecuador 1-0.Huffed and puffed in opener with Ecuador. The introduction of Amad Diallo added a spark and gives them hope going forward.34. GhanaGroup L. Beat Panama 1-0.Looked poor in large periods against Panama but were saved by a 95th-minute winner. Will struggle against better opposition. England and Croatia to come.35. AlgeriaGroup J. Lost to Argentina 3-0.Hit by Messi magic. Didn't have a shot on target.36. JordanGroup J. Lost to Austria 3-1.Scored a really nice goal. But never really threatened to beat Austria. They will struggle to get out of the group.37. Bosnia-HerzegovinaGroup B. Drew 1-1 with Canada.Looked set for an opening game win but were sunk by a deflected goal in Toronto.38. CanadaGroup B. Drew 1-1 with Bosnia-Herzegovina.Playing in front of a home crowd but needed a deflected leveller to snatch a late draw.39. IraqGroup I. Lost 4-1 to Norway.Not many teams can stop Erling Haaland and Iraq certainly couldn't.40. EcuadorGroup E. Lost 1-0 to Ivory Coast.Tipped as tournament dark horses but, despite creating a few chances, but were disappointing in their 1-0 defeat by Ivory Coast. Nice kit, though.41-4841. Czech RepublicGroup A. Lost 2-1 to South Korea.Slow and ponderous. Squandered a lead. This is not the Czech Republic that stole hearts in Euro 96.42 UzbekistanGroup K. Lost 3-1 to ColombiaNo lack of guts and enjoyed their first-ever World Cup goal. But struggled to cope with Colombia's dynamism.43. South AfricaGroup A. Lost 2-0 to Mexico.Could not have been more generous to their opening day hosts. Offered little in attack. Gave the ball away for fun. And finished with nine men.44. QatarGroup B. Drew 1-1 with Switzerland.A fortunate draw. They were battered by a Switzerland side who should have been out of sight.45. ParaguayGroup D. Lost 4-1 to USA.Hammered by the United States and it could have been even worse. Defensive style is awful to watch.46. TunisiaGroup F. Lost 5-1 to Sweden.History makers - as they sacked their manager after their opening game. That's how bad Tunisia were.47. PanamaGroup L. Lost 1-0 to Ghana.Involved in one of the worst games of the World Cup so far. Were playing for a draw when they were struck by Ghana's 95th-minute winner.48. CuracaoGroup E. Lost 7-1 to Germany.A 7-1 drubbing on their World Cup debut but their equaliser against Germany will at least be a moment they will never forget.Have your sayPlay BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor gameWorld Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup