We now know who, where and when England and Scotland will play this summer in the men’s football World Cup. The tournament runs from 11 June to 19 July 2026 and is being hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, but both home teams will play their initial three group games at American venues.
For Scotland’s first men’s World Cup appearance in 28 years, the first two matches are both in Boston: against Haiti on 14 June and Morocco on 19 June. Boston is the closest venue to Scotland. Their final match of the group, against Brazil, is in Miami on 24 June.
With days to fill between games, it’s a big geographical puzzle. The answers to the key questions are here.
Scotland players celebrate on the pitch after the World Cup 2026 qualification match against Denmark on 18 November (AFP via Getty Images)
What do fans need to know before travelling to the World Cup?
It’s going to be hot – particularly for England’s first match against Croatia in Dallas, where the average daily high is 33C. For Scotland’s final group game against Brazil in Miami, expect 31C and high humidity.
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It could be expensive: although there is evidence that international air fares are actually falling compared with summer 2025, domestic flight prices are soaring. Accommodation is also looking pricey: the cheapest hotel in downtown Dallas on the night of England’s first match is nearly £400.
And before you do any planning, sort out the red tape. Apply for an Esta permit, which costs $40 (£31) ahead of any financial commitment to travel arrangements.
While most are granted within a couple of days, Estas can be refused for all kinds of reasons – such as having a similar name to someone on a watchlist. If your application is turned down and you have to apply for a visa, the process will be slow and expensive. You will need to attend the US Embassy in London or Consulate in Belfast, and there is no guarantee of success. The wait time for an interview at either of the UK locations is six weeks.
How do transatlantic airfares look?
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I am tracking the price of flights from the point of view of an England fan who takes the first non-stop departure from London Heathrow to Dallas-Fort Worth on 16 June, the eve of the opening game, and returns from New York JFK during the day after the last group match on 27 June. Before the locations were confirmed, the fare on American Airlines was £837. Within three hours, it had gone up by one-sixth to £993. While normally such fares would be expected to increase steadily, the price has remained unchanged in three months – indicating sales are sluggish.
London has by far the highest concentration of transatlantic flights, with Manchester and Edinburgh a long way behind.
Travelling via Continental Europe allows connections from many English and Scottish airports. From Newcastle to Dallas on 16 June, returning from New York on 27 June, costs £1,005 on KLM via Amsterdam (with an added transfer outbound at JFK to a Delta flight).
You can keep the cost down by connecting in Dublin; Ireland sadly failed to qualify for the World Cup. On those same dates, United has a flight from Dublin via Newark or Washington DC to Dallas-Fort Worth, returning nonstop from Newark, for £787. Ryanair has return flights from Birmingham to Dublin for £43, though these are not guaranteed connections.
The fare on American Airlines from London to Dallas before the first England group match, returning from New York on the day after the last group game has remained stable since the draw was made (AFP via Getty Images)
What about travel within the US?
Loads of US domestic flights serve Boston, Dallas, New York and Miami – England’s and Scotland’s match venues. But there will also be huge demand from fans, the media and the organisers – and it seems clear that fares are already rising.
OAG, a global provider of digital flight information, has analysed fares currently being charged for June and July 2026 and compared them with the same months last summer. Miami, which Scotland fans will need to reach from Boston, is at present 65 per cent more expensive for domestic flights than in 2025.
Boston and New York, where England and Scotland will play their other matches, are seeing rises of 36 per cent and 28 per cent respectively.
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The cheapest flight from Boston to Miami the day after Scotland’s second game, against Morocco, is £164 – and involves a 6am departure. Some flights latter than day are priced at over £1,000.
Delaying the trip a few days and flying south the day before the last match against Brazil, you can pay just £85.
Can I take the train instead?
Yes, and there are some reasonable fares on Amtrak intercity trains. Between Boston and New York, venues for England’s second and third matches respectively, Amtrak “Northeast Regional” trains take about four hours 15 minutes. Fares are as low as $25 (£19). “Acela” branded trains are about 40 minutes faster but are business and first class only – with the cheapest ticket, for a journey of barely 200 miles, costing $226 (£171).
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From Boston to Miami on the day after Scotland’s second game, the fare on Amtrak via Washington DC is $258 (£195).
Greyhound and FlixBus fares are surprisingly high – typically $75 (£57) for the four- to five-hour trip from Boston to New York.
How do I get match tickets?
At this stage, by throwing money at the problem. For the Scotland-Haiti match in Boston on 13 June, for example, Fifa is selling a match hospitality package including a good ticket plus access to the Pitchside Lounge for $3,900 (£2,954).
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For more normal prices, the “Last Minute Sales Phase” began on 1 April through Fifa.com/tickets. This is the fourth and final official tranche of tickets, and will remain open until the end of the tournament. It is strictly first-come, first-served.
Fifa says: “Fans will be able to immediately see the matches and categories for which tickets are available, select specific seats, proceed with the purchase and receive confirmation once payment is completed.”
After you have waded through the security system, you can select “Display only available matches”. As of early April, these are entirely group matches, range from the Canada-Bosnia game in Toronto on 12 June (minimum US$1,645/£1,243) to the Democratic Congo-Uzbekistan fixture in Atlanta on 27 June ($380/£290).
Other routes to the stadium?
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The secondary market is extremely active. Fifa has a resale portal, which could offer some decent value for less in-demand matches, involving teams with few travelling supporters and without large local communities with links to the nations. These include:
Curacao v Ivory Coast in Philadelphia
Qatar v Switzerland in San Francisco
Iran v New Zealand in Los Angeles
Cape Verde v Saudi Arabia in Houston.
But most of the action is focused on the commercial resellers. Intermediaries are selling the cheapest tickets for England’s first match against Croatia for £840 – over four times face value.
“To enter the stadium, you will need an official ticket on the FIFA World Cup app. Printed copies or screenshots may not be accepted at stadium gates. Each ticket is linked to the purchaser’s details, and ID checks may be required upon entry.
“Tickets sold on unofficial resale websites, social media, or through third-party vendors may not be genuine. Fraudulent tickets can look legitimate but may be rejected at the stadium gate, leaving you without entry on match day.
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“Some scammers sell the same ticket to multiple buyers or resell tickets that have already been voided by Fifa Ticketing.”
What about accommodation?
Unless you are lucky to have friends or family with spare beds near the venues, be prepared for some credit card shock – especially for the England match in New York.
On the night of 27 June, when England play Panama, hotel rates are already absurd. A typical budget hotel, the Holiday Inn Express in midtown Manhattan, is $591 (£448) for that night. And while it’s fun to stay at the YMCA in Manhattan, the price for a very basic single room with a shared bathroom is $337 (£255) on 27 June.
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I would not book at those prices. You could head for one of the other New York City boroughs – my standby is the Best Western out at Coney Island, with good Subway connections. Last summer I paid £120. On the “England night” it’s £212.
Are there any alternatives for a cheaper bed?
Yes: be patient. I have seen the standard pattern for big sporting events and it goes like this: hotels and other accommodation providers think this is the best get-rich-quick scheme in history. They set their rates high, especially for games involving teams with many travelling fans, such as Brazil, Germany and England.
Yet because many “normal” business and leisure guests will be avoiding in World Cup host cities, there is likely to be plenty to go around – with prices falling in the weeks before the tournament.
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Also, with rates high, increasingly more people will be tempted to put their place on platforms like Airbnb and escape on vacation for the duration. That should put downward pressure on prices.
Fans should treat the trip as a holiday with some football attached, says travel correspondent Simon Calder (AFP via Getty Images)
There’s a lot of time to fill between the games…
Fans should treat the trip as a holiday with some football attached. Boston is a fine city that is well worth 48 hours of exploration, with much to see elsewhere in Massachusetts – from billionaires’ row on Cape Cod to the city of Lowell, a mill town regarded as the cradle of America’s industrial revolution. It’s also where Jack Kerouac, author of On The Road, grew up.
Talking of road trips, England fans travelling from Dallas to Boston, as well as Scotland fans going from Boston to Miami, have excellent opportunities for adventurous journeys between the matches. Check out these two custom-built itineraries.
From Dallas, you can meander through the music state of Tennessee, stopping in Memphis and Nashville, then following the line of the Appalachian mountains. Hertz has a five-day rental for a Chevrolet Malibu (or similar), picking up at Dallas-Fort Worth airport on 18 June and dropping off in downtown Boston, for £758.
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For Scotland fans: south from Boston, the I-95 runs all the way to Miami via New York and Washington DC, with Savannah and the Kennedy Space Center top tourist spots right next to the freeway – but you can take your pick of diversions, including a day at the theme parks of Orlando.
Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ Scottie Thompson during a game in the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals vs Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Barangay Ginebra may have tied its PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinal series with Rain or Shine on Friday, but the crowd favorites know that they haven’t imposed their character on this series just yet.
Especially against a team which, in Scottie Thompson’s mind, looks like a mirror image of the Gin Kings.
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“May dugo din silang ‘never say die,’ (they also have that never say die blood)” Thompson said after Ginebra’s 109-101 win at Mall of Asia Arena that square their best-of-seven duel as the Gin Kings bounced back from squandering a 10-point lead two nights ago in Antipolo.
Coach Tim Cone was convinced after that 115-111 defeat that Ginebra is playing Rain or Shine’s uptempo, free-flowing style. He didn’t change his tune even after getting on the board.
So will Cone and the Gin Kings buy time to make a 180-degree turn, or do it as quickly as possible?
“It really comes down to the energy war,” Cone said. “We don’t want to play a break-neck pace and wear our guys down because our guys play a lot of minutes than their guys do. We have to be conscious of that and that dictates what our gameplan’s all about.
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“Right now, if you ask me, if I have to be honest with you which I don’t like to be,” he continued before taking some long pauses. “I think the pace and the way the game’s being played is at Rain or Shine’s favor at this point.
“And even if it’s at 1-1, we have to figure it out.”
Game 3 is set Sunday at the same venue, as Ginebra hopes to make key adjustments in a short amount of time to set up a possible shift to its benefit.
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Cone will be glad to see his big guns deliver, like Justin Brownlee who erupted for 31 points on the night he played his 270th game, tying Sean Chambers—also a Cone import at defunct Alaska—for second on the all-time list among imports.
RJ Abarrientos also played big for the Gin Kings and finished with 25 points and six assists, although his status for Game 3 could depend on how well he can recover from a broken nose he suffered from an inadvertent hit from Jhonard Clarito in the fourth quarter.
Abarrientos assured that he’s going to be good to go, hoping to help the Gin Kings solve the Elasto Painters puzzle.
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“We need to match Rain or Shine’s tempo. We can’t let them play their game,” Abarrientos said.
Meanwhile, TNT’s chances of going further in the playoffs took a big blow when import Bol Bol was carried to the locker room during Game 2 of the other semis series with Meralco being played at press time.
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A TV report said that the Tropang 5G were fearing a potential Achilles injury on Bol, the much-talked figure during the course of the midseason tournament.
Saturday 23 May 2026 | Pearse Stadium, Salthill | 7.30pm | Live on RTÉ2
Fixture
Galway v Kildare All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Round 1
Venue
Pearse Stadium A historic first championship game under lights in Salthill.
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Referee
Paul Falloon Down official takes charge.
Galway Looking For A Response
Galway begin their All-Ireland series against Kildare on Saturday evening with plenty to prove after their narrow Connacht Final defeat to Roscommon. Pádraic Joyce’s side were edged out 3-21 to 2-22 in a thrilling provincial decider, but the bigger target remains very much alive.
The Tribesmen are clear favourites for this one, priced at 1/10, and the handicap line of Galway -8 shows the level of expectation around the home side. However, Galway have had issues in recent years when heavily fancied, so the performance will matter almost as much as the result.
There are four changes from the Connacht Final team. Cian Hernon, John Daly, Ciarán Mulhern and Matthew Tierney all come in, with Johnny McGrath, Kieran Molloy, Ryan Roche and Daniel O’Flaherty making way.
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Key Galway angle: Damien Comer and Shane Walsh looked sharp against Roscommon, while Matthew Tierney and Cian Hernon returning to the starting side gives Galway a much stronger balance heading into the All-Ireland series.
Kildare 2-20 Laois 2-15 Westmeath 2-21 Kildare 0-23 AET
Galway’s championship record this year shows both attacking power and defensive vulnerability. They scored heavily against Leitrim and Roscommon, but conceding 3-21 in the Connacht Final will have annoyed the management team.
Kildare arrive as Tailteann Cup champions and gave Westmeath a serious battle in Leinster before losing after extra-time. They are improving, but this is a major step up in class.
Previous Championship Meetings
This will be only the sixth championship meeting between Galway and Kildare. Galway have won three of the previous five, with Kildare’s wins coming in 1919 and 1926.
Year
Result
2018
Galway 0-19 Kildare 0-16
2000
Galway 0-15 Kildare 2-6
1998
Galway 1-14 Kildare 1-10
1926
Kildare 2-5 Galway 0-2
1919
Kildare 2-5 Galway 0-1
There is also a strong Pádraic Joyce connection. The Galway manager played full-forward in the 1998 All-Ireland Final and 2000 All-Ireland semi-final wins over Kildare.
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Betting Odds & Market View
Galway are very short in the match betting at 1/10, which makes sense given the quality gap, home advantage and Kildare’s mixed 2026 form. The more interesting market is the handicap, where Galway are asked to cover -8 points.
Match Odds – Galway 1/10
Handicap – Galway -8
All-Ireland Outright – Galway 12/1
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Kildare Angle- Massive underdogs
In the outright market, Galway are available at 12/1 for the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. That puts them behind Kerry, Donegal and Armagh in the market, but still very much in the chasing pack.
Team
All-Ireland Outright Odds
Kerry
13/8
Donegal
4/1
Armagh
5/1
Galway
12/1
Roscommon
14/1
Dublin
20/1
Derry
25/1
Odds based on the market shown at time of writing. Prices can change quickly.
Where The Game Could Be Won
1. Galway’s Kickout Pressure
Galway were hurt badly by Roscommon’s short kickout strategy in the Connacht Final. If they allow Kildare the same easy exits, the Lilywhites can stay in the game longer than expected. Expect Galway to press higher and try to force turnovers early.
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2. Comer And Walsh Inside
Damien Comer and Shane Walsh are Galway’s biggest match-winning threats. If Galway move the ball quickly and isolate them inside, Kildare could be in trouble. Galway will want goals, not just points.
3. Kevin Feely v Galway’s Middle Third
Kildare need Kevin Feely to have a huge game around midfield. Galway have serious power there through Paul Conroy, John Maher, Céin Darcy and Cillian McDaid, so Kildare cannot afford to be cleaned out on primary possession.
4. Galway’s Focus As Heavy Favourites
The danger for Galway is not quality. It is concentration. At 1/10, everyone expects them to win. The best version of Galway wins this by double digits. A loose, casual Galway performance gives Kildare belief.
Verdict
Kildare are better than their league record suggests and they will come west with nothing to lose. Their Tailteann Cup success has given them momentum, and they pushed Westmeath all the way in Leinster.
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However, Galway have more scoring power, more proven championship players and a stronger bench. With the hurt of the Roscommon defeat still fresh, this feels like a game where Galway should start fast and look to make a statement.
The handicap is high, but if Galway get their kickout press right and Comer or Walsh hit form early, they are capable of covering it.
Prediction
Galway by 10 points
Predicted score: Galway 2-18 Kildare 0-14
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Betting lean: Galway -8 handicap
Outright note: Galway at 12/1 remains interesting if they tighten defensively, but they need to show far more control than they did against Roscommon.
The anchor of the Toronto Raptors‘ fifth-ranked defence is being rightfully acknowledged.
Scottie Barnes was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive second team on Friday, the league announced. It marked the first selection of his five-year career.
The news comes after he finished fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting earlier in May, when Victor Wembanyama won the award.
Barnes’ 250 stocks (steals plus blocks) ranked third in the NBA behind Victor Wembanyama (322) and Ausar Thompson (268). He was also the only player in the league to record at least 100 steals and 100 blocks during the regular season.
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The 24-year-old forward also led the league with nine clutch blocks — blocks that came within the final five minutes of a game when the score was within less than five points.
Joining Barnes on the All-Defensive second team were Cason Wallace (Oklahoma City Thunder), Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), OG Anunoby (New York Knicks) and Dyson Daniels (Atlanta Hawks). Barnes received 42 first-team votes and 46 second-team votes — he was the top first-team vote-getter among those on the second team.
The 2025-26 first-team all-defence squad comprised of Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs), Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder), Ausar Thompson (Detroit Pistons), Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Derrick White (Boston Celtics). Wembanyama was the only player to be unanimously voted to the first team.
As for Barnes, he finished 2025-26 averaging 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.5 blocks over 80 regular-season games. In the playoffs, Barnes found a new gear, averaging 24.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 8.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.7 blocks.
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Barnes made the all-star team for the second time in his career this season and was also named the Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month for October and November. He joined Anunoby (2022-23) and Kawhi Leonard (2018-19) as the only other Raptors to make the All-Defensive second team — none have been selected to the first team.
Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković was effusive in his praise of Barnes’ defence throughout the season, declaring him the Defensive Player of the Year in February.
“Scottie is Defensive Player of the Year, Scottie is an all-star, Scottie is going to be NBA Finals MVP one day,” Rajaković said.
Barnes’ versatility on defence is of particular note, as he’s been able to effectively guard both frontcourt and backcourt players, as he did against Cleveland Cavaliers bigs Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen and guards James Harden and Donovan Mitchell in their first-round playoff series.
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The Raptors were ultimately eliminated by the Cavaliers in seven games, ending their first playoff appearance in four years, despite Barnes’ best efforts.
Chennai Super Kings’ head coach Stephen Fleming, left, with MS Dhoni (PTI Photo)
Former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth has strongly criticised the Chennai Super Kings management over the handling of MS Dhoni’s fitness during IPL 2026, accusing the franchise of misleading supporters throughout the season. Speaking on his YouTube channel after CSK’s crushing 89-run defeat to Gujarat Titans, Srikkanth said the constant uncertainty surrounding Dhoni’s availability created false hope among fans. The former chief selector took aim at captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, head coach Stephen Fleming and the support staff for repeatedly suggesting the veteran wicketkeeper could return soon despite him missing the entire campaign. “Before the season started, they said he has got a leg injury and that they are hoping to have him soon,” Srikkanth said. “Fleming also sang the same song, Ruturaj Gaikwad also sang the same: ‘He might be ready for the next match’. And then before the match, CSK will have a video of Dhoni training to show the fans and hint he is fit and he might play.” Dhoni was initially ruled out because of a calf injury suffered before the tournament. While the injury was expected to keep him sidelined briefly, reports later mentioned a thigh strain and eventually suggestions emerged that he was being rested due to team balance concerns. Despite the uncertainty, CSK never officially confirmed that Dhoni would miss the entire season. The veteran batter also did not travel with the squad for away fixtures and was seen only during CSK’s final home game at Chepauk, where he participated in the customary lap of honour. Even then, speculation about a comeback continued. Ironically, after CSK’s final league game, Gaikwad fuelled more speculation when he responded to broadcaster Graeme Swann’s question on Dhoni’s future by saying: “You will know next year.” Srikkanth believes the franchise should have been transparent with supporters from the beginning rather than keeping fans guessing throughout the campaign. “Then they said, ‘no, no. He is still recovering from the injury’. And then they said he got injured in the thigh,” Srikkanth said. “Stop this deception. You should make it clear. If he is not going to play the entire season, fair enough. Fans would have been mentally prepared had you made that clear.” The former opener added that the management continuously created expectations on a game-by-game basis instead of openly addressing Dhoni’s status. “If you ask them on a match-by-match basis, Ruturaj will say ‘the big man will be available for the next game’. He kept repeating it. That is where the management, the captain and Stephen Fleming should have said it forthright: ‘He is not playing this season, he is not fully fit’. Fans would have agreed and moved on,” he added. Srikkanth also stated that CSK supporters are prepared for life after Dhoni and no longer expect the franchise icon to continue indefinitely. “If you look at it honestly, nobody is missing Dhoni. Nobody is asking for Dhoni in the matches. I think people are asking why he is not in the dressing room, but how many are asking that he is not playing? The Dhoni era is over. Dhoni is one of the greatest cricketers the IPL has produced and one of the greatest captains. You should have made it clear. Why do you keep deceiving fans?” CSK’s disappointing season ended with the franchise missing out on the playoffs for the third consecutive year. The five-time champions finished with only 12 points from 14 matches and are set to remain in the bottom four of the standings.
It was only four years ago when a relatively fresh-faced Scottie Barnes told the NBA that he wanted to be an all-NBA defender.
“I feel like that’s what I do best,” Barnes said after his second training camp as a pro, before the 2022-23 season. “That’s one thing I always pride myself on, trying to guard. That’s my goal.”
Given he’d been just as vocal about his goal of winning rookie-of-the-year honours and ended up taking home that trophy after the 2021-22 season, you can’t blame the guy for trying to speak his future into existence.
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But stating goals isn’t as simple as achieving them.
Barnes didn’t make the NBA’s All-Defensive team in his second season, the start of what were three successively ominous years as the Toronto Raptors failed to bridge the gap between the post-championship years with Barnes driving a new era alongside Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam.
And he didn’t make the NBA’s All-Defensive team in his third or fourth seasons — an almost impossible task because the Raptors won 25 games (in 2023-24) and then 30 (in 2024-25) while undertaking a rebuild on the fly, trying to find a formula that could win with Barnes as a cornerstone.
But the Raptors turned a corner this past season, winning 46 games, making the playoffs for the first time since Barnes’ rookie year and performing admirably during their first-round loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are now in the Eastern Conference Finals.
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And in related news, Barnes reached his goal: On Friday night, the fifth-year star became just the third Raptor in franchise history — Kawhi Leonard and Anunoby being the others — to be recognized as one of the NBA’s 10 best defenders.
Barnes got 42 first-team and 46 second-team votes and finished sixth overall in the voting conducted by a panel of media members. I had a ballot and gave Barnes a first-team vote.
His ability, willingness and determination to take up any challenge Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic could dial up for him became impossible to ignore as the Raptors finished the regular season (the NBA’s awards voting takes place before the playoffs) with the league’s fifth-best defensive rating, allowing just 112.1 points per game. Last season, the Raptors were 17th in defensive rating, the year before they were 25th.
On its face, it was a minor miracle. The only significant roster additions the Raptors made in the off-season were Brandon Ingram and Sandro Mamukelashvili — each important players, but neither considered ‘plus’ defenders. Fellow starters Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett were willing defenders, but neither are considered game-changers on that end. Jakob Poeltl — the Raptors starter with the best defensive acumen other than Barnes — played just 46 games and was not at his best in many of them as he dealt with back problems for most of the season. Even Collin Murray-Boyles, the rookie who teamed with Barnes in the Raptors’ best defensive lineups, played just 57 games and averaged only 21.9 minutes per game.
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So how, exactly was the Raptors’ defensive renaissance happening? Credit Rajakovic and his coaching staff, and credit the Raptors for buying into being a high-effort, high-event defensive approach to generate the volume of turnovers the Raptors needed to ignite their offence, but none of it works without Barnes, who seamlessly morphed from off-ball menace to deep-in-the-paint rim protector to perimeter shutdown guy in the space of single games — even quarters — this season.
There is plenty of data to support Barnes’ all-defence status.
He was the only player in the NBA to rack up at least 100 steals (114) and 100 blocks (116) this season, the first to hit the double century in seven seasons. The Raptors were 4.3 points per 100 possessions better with Barnes on the floor and he was the common denominator across nearly all the best defensive lineups. Among players with at least 2,000 minutes, Barnes ranked seventh in defensive versatility and 14th in match-up difficulty, per craftednba.com.
But the eye test was pretty convincing, too.
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“He’s impacting the game defensively more (than in the past), I feel like,” said Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy late in the regular season. “Counting stats can be very misleading. We talk a lot about blocked shots, for example. There are some players in our league that people won’t go near, so they maybe don’t get as many blocks as they could because people see them and go, ‘I don’t want to do that.’
“I think Scottie’s become such a great all-around player. When you watch him on film, it’s hard to say, ‘Oh, this is the one thing he does that will change the game.’ He can affect it in a bunch of different ways. Consistency in terms of contributing to winning, sometimes it’s quiet. There are players in our league who produce very loud stats and that’s great, but Scottie is one of those guys where you coach against him or play against him and go, ‘Man, he had 14 and 12 but it felt like he was everywhere.’ That’s the great part about our sport: you still have to watch.”
And if you watched, Barnes was everywhere. There was a week in late March when Barnes was the primary defender on Cade Cunningham — the Detroit Pistons point guard who will almost surely earn first or second team All-NBA honours in the coming weeks — and two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, the hulking centre with the Denver Nuggets.
“Every single night, he gets the best match-up on the opposing team and he’s not shying away from that,” Raptors head coach Rajakovic said. “He prides himself on the defence end, and that’s a hard job … he’s going to be guarding point guards, wings, and five-man … he does a lot for us.”
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And while ‘clutch’ offence is a very well-understood aspect of elite NBA performance (‘clutch’ being defined as games within five points with five minutes left to play), Barnes proved himself with clutch defence, leading the NBA with nine ‘clutch’ blocks. Remarkably, four of them came in the final minute of games when the Raptors were up by four or less points to preserve wins, perhaps most memorably when Barnes rose up and blocked Oklahoma City star Chet Holmgren to preserve a two-point lead with 29 seconds left in a win over the Thunder on Jan. 25 and then against Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green, up four with 43 seconds to play in a March 13 win.
All of which was a warm-up for Barnes’ performance against Cleveland during the first round of the playoffs which — while not part of the consideration for the regular-season awards — only served to bolster his growing reputation as one of the NBA’s best game-plan wreckers, as he took turns bottling up Cavs big man Evan Mobley or star guards Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, all while leading the series in points, assists and blocked shots.
“Scottie Barnes, man, he’s a dog,” Cavaliers guard and former Raptor Dennis Schröder told me after the series. “He’s an animal, that was like some Kawhi (Leonard) stuff.”
It’s high praise in Raptors lore, being compared to Leonard, whose two-way mastery lifted Toronto to the 2019 NBA championship.
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Barnes isn’t there quite yet: Leonard was a two-time defensive player of the year by the time he joined the Raptors in his eighth season and had been recognized as an all-NBA defender four times. Not to mention his accomplishments offensively.
But perhaps the highest compliment that Barnes could earn at this stage of his career is that mentioning him and Leonard in the same sentence doesn’t seem outlandish.
“I feel like I’ve been great defensively,” Barnes said after the regular season concluded. “For sure, I took it to another level. But we’re winning. I feel like once we’re winning, my name is going to be in those conversations (for all-defence and defensive player of the year). I feel like I’m great defensively, I help our team a lot and I’m one of the best defenders in the NBA, I take pride in that.”
As he should. He’ll need to build on this past season, and the Raptors will need to help him.
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But Barnes has reached one significant goal. There’s no reason he can’t reach higher.
New York Giants starting quarterback Jaxson Dart put himself in a complex position on Friday. After a solid rookie season, Dart brought hope to Giants fans, even though they only won four games in the 2025 season.
With free agency and the draft in the books, the Giants look like a potential candidate to contend in 2026, led by Dart and new coach John Harbaugh.
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However, the relationship between the quarterback and the fans could get strained ahead of the upcoming season. On Friday, journalist Aaron Rupar shared a video of Dart introducing none other than Donald Trump before a New York rally.
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Plenty of fans reacted to the video to criticize the quarterback’s decision.
“Here we go, now Dart is the most hated football player in the world,” one fan said.
Here we go, now Dart is the most hated football player in the world 🤦♂️
“Never going to another Giants game they lost so much $$$$ after this clown went and sold his soul,” another fan said.
Never going to another Giants game they lost so much $$$$ after this clown 🤡 went and sold his soul
“As soon as you bring in politics I will be a JETS fan Inly wish Dart would read this,” another fan said.
As soon as you bring in politics I will be a JETS fan Inly wish Dart would read this
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The criticism didn’t stop there. Fans turned against Dart.
“As a Giants fan I am sick to my stomach,” one fan said.
“He got the Trump curse. Giants 0-16 season incoming,” another fan wrote.
“Added to the hate watch let’s go,” another fan added.
Jaxson Dart, New York Giants have renewed expectations for 2026 NFL season
After a disappointing start to the season by Russell Wilson, Brian Daboll replaced the quarterback with the rookie out of Ole Miss. Jaxson Dart played 14 games in 2026, going 216 of 339 for 2,272 yards and 15 touchdowns with five interceptions.
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He created a terrific duo with running back Cam Skattebo, although the fellow rookie saw his season cut short due to injury. Dart, Skattebo and wide receiver Malik Nabers are the future of the Giants.
After a productive offseason, they could compete against anybody in 2026. Matt Nagy will lead the offense from the sideline, which adds to the expectations.
The rise of teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is no longer just an Indian phenomenon. The 15-year-old’s extraordinary IPL 2026 campaign has captured global attention, with former England captain Michael Vaughan revealing that even fans in the United Kingdom are tuning in specifically to watch the young batter.Sooryavanshi’s fearless batting and remarkable consistency have turned him into one of the biggest talking points of the tournament. As the hype around the teenager continues to grow, discussions over a potential India debut are becoming increasingly louder. Vaughan believes the only reason the youngster has not already broken into the national side is because of his age.“Not just in India, I reckon it’s happening around the world. I got messages from back home today saying that, over the last few weeks, the IPL hasn’t been watched as much in the UK as it used to be. But there’s one person everyone tunes in for, and that’s this kid,” Vaughan said on Cricbuzz.“The moment he walks out to bat and gets going, people switch on their television screens. Let’s be brutally honest here. If he was 18, 19 or 20, he would already be playing for India. The only thing stopping him is his age,” he added.The former England skipper went a step further and claimed Sooryavanshi has been the standout opener of the entire IPL season. While acknowledging India’s cautious approach towards handling a teenager, Vaughan insisted the Rajasthan Royals batter already deserves a place in the T20I setup.“If you are picking an opening batting combination from this IPL season, who has been the best opener in the competition so far? In my opinion, it’s the young lad. I understand what India are trying to do. They are trying to protect him because he is so young. But he warrants a place in the national team, especially in 20-overs cricket.”“In 50-overs cricket, you could argue he still has a bit to learn because he hasn’t played much of it. But in T20 cricket, he is the best opening batter India have right now. He should be in the national team. And he clearly showed us why with the way he played,” Vaughan said.What has made Sooryavanshi’s rise even more extraordinary is the aura he has already developed at such a young age. Every time he walks out to bat, attention instantly shifts towards him. Vaughan compared the teenager’s growing influence to some of the sport’s biggest entertainers and suggested he may even surpass Chris Gayle in one aspect of power-hitting dominance.“I don’t know how many balls he has faced in comparison. I guarantee that this young chap is a lot higher than Chris Gayle in terms of percentage. He’s a joy to watch. We sit in the green room, and we watch the game. As soon as he’s batting, everyone just goes like that. No one’s on the phone. You’re just watching every single ball that he faces,” Vaughan pointed out.Sooryavanshi has been the leading run-scorer for Rajasthan Royals this season and is enjoying a remarkable campaign. In 13 innings, the teenager has piled up 579 runs at an average of 44.53 and a staggering strike rate above 236. His tally includes one century, three half-centuries and 53 sixes, the most by an Indian batter in a single IPL season.
The Curragh hosts two days of racing this weekend, with the Tattersalls 2000 and 1000 Guineas the feature races on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Breeders’ Cup winner Gstaad will be the headline act at flat racing’s HQ on Saturday afternoon as the runner-up to Bow Echo in the Betfred 2000 Guineas at Newmarket bids to win the first Irish classic of the 2026 season.
O’Brien bids for 13th win
The mount of Ryan Moore, the son of Starspangledbanner, will bid to give champion trainer Aidan O’Brien a 13th success in the colts’ classic, with the Ballydoyle handler also saddling Neolithic, a son of Sioux Nation, who will be the mount of Wayne Lordan.
Speaking earlier this week about Gstaad, Aidan O’Brien said after the colt’s final workout:
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“He worked well earlier too and we’re happy with him. He seems to have come out of Newmarket well so we’re looking forward to Saturday.”
Three English Challengers
There is a three-pronged British-trained challenge. Godolphin’s trainer, Charlie Appleby, will be represented by Distant Storm – who was eight lengths third to Gstaad at Newmarket – and Pacific Avenue. The former will be ridden by Billy Loughnane, who will be bidding for a first Irish classic success, while Jamie Spencer will partner Pacific Avenue, as trainer Charlie Appleby bids to add to his 2022 victory in this race with Native Trail.
Alparslan, winner of the Tattersalls Sales race at The Curragh last September, comes from the Karl Burke yard, a trainer who has had much success in Ireland in recent years.
Fozzy Stack’s Thesecretadversary, more than nine lengths in arrears of Gstaad at Newmarket, Gowran Park maiden winner Go Just Do It from the Joseph O’Brien stable, along with Bamako Beach (Michael O’Callaghan), Power Blue (Robson Aguiar) and Take Charge Star (Johnny Murtagh) complete the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas field.
Caitlin Clark is set to be back in action Friday night in the Indiana Fever’s game against the Golden State Valkyries after missing one game with an injury, the team announced.
Clark, 24, was a late scratch and missed the Fever’s game Wednesday against the Portland Fire. The Fever disclosed Clark’s injury just two hours before tipoff, and she was not listed on the team’s injury report a day earlier when she didn’t practice.
The WNBA warned the Fever for failing to report Clark’s injury status before she was a late scratch.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark warms up on the court before a WNBA game against the Seattle Storm on May 17, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.(Doug McSchooler/Special to IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
The league requires teams to list players who are injured on a report by 5 p.m. the night before the game is played. If a player’s status changes overnight or early in the day, the team is expected to update the injury report. The mishap sparked the warning, the league told The Associated Press.
Despite not having Clark in the lineup Wednesday, the Fever still beat the Fire 90-73. Aliyah Boston (24 points) and Kelsey Mitchell (21 points) led the Fever in the win.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark looks on during the second half against the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Calif., on May 13, 2026.(Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Images)
Clark, now in her third season with the Fever, has gotten off to a torrid start. In four games this season, Clark is averaging 24.3 points, 9 assists and 5 rebounds per game.
The former Iowa star hopes her back issue is not lingering, as she aims to be on the floor much more than last season. Clark was limited to just 13 games last season as she dealt with a litany of injuries.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark plays during the first half of a WNBA game against the Seattle Storm at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 17, 2026.(Doug McSchooler/Special to IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
The Fever (3-2) will tip off against the Valkyries (3-1) at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Rajat Patidar (ANI Photo)
Rajat Patidar added another major milestone to his growing IPL reputation after surpassing former Royal Challengers Bengaluru icon Chris Gayle in the list of fastest batters to complete 100 IPL sixes. The RCB captain reached the landmark in just 933 deliveries, going past Gayle’s tally of 943 balls and moving into third place on the all-time list. Only Andre Russell and Nicholas Pooran have reached the milestone quicker in IPL history.
Fewest balls to reach 100 sixes in IPL
Player
Balls
Andre Russell
657
Nicholas Pooran
884
Rajat Patidar
933*
Chris Gayle
943
Sunil Narine
950
Shivam Dube
992
Patidar achieved the feat during a pressure-filled chase against Sunrisers Hyderabad after RCB were set a daunting 256-run target. Hyderabad’s explosive batting lineup had completely dominated earlier in the evening as Abhishek Sharma blasted 56 off 22 balls, Ishan Kishan hammered 79 off 44 deliveries and Heinrich Klaasen smashed a destructive 51 off just 24 balls to take SRH to 255 for 4. RCB’s hopes of chasing down the mammoth total faded early despite a brisk cameo from Venkatesh Iyer. With qualification scenarios becoming clearer, Patidar shifted focus towards ensuring Bengaluru crossed the crucial qualification mark needed to secure a top-two finish. The RCB skipper produced a composed 56 off 39 balls and stitched together a crucial 84-run stand with Krunal Pandya. During that innings, Patidar reached his 100th IPL six and broke Gayle’s long-standing record. One of his towering hits off Pat Cummins also helped RCB officially seal a top-two finish despite the heavy defeat. Patidar’s rise as a six-hitter has been one of the standout stories of IPL 2026. His fearless approach against both spin and pace, combined with his ability to absorb pressure, has transformed him into one of the league’s most dangerous middle-order batters. Breaking a record once held by Gayle, arguably the greatest power-hitter in IPL history, further underlines how influential Patidar has become for RCB.
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