England continue their long pursuit of international glory, still chasing their first World Cup title since 1966, when Bobby Moore famously lifted the Jules Rimet trophy at Wembley. Decades later, despite several close calls in major tournaments, belief is stronger than ever that 2026 could finally be the year football comes home again.

With Thomas Tuchel now at the helm and a squad filled with some of the world’s most elite talent, England arrive in North America with renewed confidence and a clear sense of purpose.

Perfect Qualification Campaign

England produced a flawless qualifying run for the 2026 World Cup, finishing with an unbeaten record of 8 wins from 8 matches. They scored 22 goals without conceding a single one, underlining both attacking efficiency and defensive discipline.

Harry Kane led the charge with 8 goals, while Declan Rice topped the assist charts with 4, highlighting England’s balance between creativity and control.

Tuchel’s side cruised through their group, comfortably defeating Albania, Serbia, Latvia, and Andorra twice each. Beyond the results, it was England’s style of play that stood out, free-flowing, attacking football that fully utilised the depth and quality of their squad.

England’s Group L in FIFA World Cup 2026

• 
  England
• 
  Croatia
• 
  Ghana
• 
  Panama

Can Kane and co. bring it home?

Harry Kane remains England’s central figure heading into the tournament, serving as captain, all-time top scorer, and the team’s key reference point in attack. When he is in form, his unique ability to drop deep and link play while still positioning himself for close-range finishes makes England significantly more dangerous and balanced in the final third.

Meanwhile, Elliot Anderson has emerged as a surprise breakout talent. Having started the season outside the senior international setup, he has rapidly earned Thomas Tuchel’s trust and is now expected to play a key midfield role. The Nottingham Forest midfielder’s technical skill and creativity have quickly gained attention.

England operate in a base 4-2-3-1 formation under Thomas Tuchel, built around a high-intensity, possession-based approach. In reality, the system often transforms into a fluid 2-3-5 shape during attacking phases, with centre-backs staying deep, full-backs stepping into midfield, and one midfielder pushing higher to support the front line. 

England Strengths

One of England’s biggest strengths is their ability to dominate possession through fluid positional play and sharp, direct passing. The system allows constant movement and rotation, making it difficult for opponents to track their attacking patterns. 

The wide areas become especially dangerous as wingers and advanced midfielders combine with overlapping full-backs to stretch defences. The tactical freedom given to creative players also increases unpredictability in the final third, while Kane’s ability to drop deep adds another layer to their attacking structure.

England Weaknesses

Despite their attacking strength, England remain vulnerable to quick counterattacks, particularly when full-backs move into midfield and wingers push high up the pitch, leaving space in wide defensive areas. This risk is amplified against teams with fast transitions. 

Another concern is the lack of high-quality backup for Harry Kane, meaning England can suffer a drop in attacking efficiency if he is unavailable or heavily marked out of games. Overall, the system is high-risk, high-reward, and can expose defensive gaps when possession is lost.

Vanie Gandler (left) and Erika Santos will bring their solid partnership to the Solar Spikers. —MARLO CUETO

Towards the end of Cignal’s amazing run in the PVL All-Filipino Conference last month, Erika Santos and Vanie Gandler took pride in how they always had each other’s backs.

The Super Spikers are no more, their tenure coming to an end after their franchise took a leave of absence.

But the duo remains inseparable.

“I’m also thankful because Vanie is still with me,” Santos said after joining Capital1 for the next PVL season. “During the past conferences, we really had each other’s backs and shared the responsibilities together.”

They have a different task now. Once the spearhead of a tireless Cignal offense, the two will add much-needed experience to an attack that features perhaps the best hitter in the league today, young star Bella Belen.

But the former 1-2 punch of Cignal, both Most Valuable Player winners, will approach the task with the same mentality.

“The experience and momentum we’re bringing into this new team [will be] a big factor,” Santos said, adding that she is eager to share “the experience and lessons that Vanie and I gained” with their new teammates.

Integrating into the Solar Spikers’ system should not be a problem for the two, who joined Capital1 alongside former Nxled setter Jaja Maraguinot. After all, they’ve gone through so much together that they function almost like a single entity.

“That’s a huge thing for me because of the chemistry we already built both inside and outside the court,” Santos, a former PVL On Tour MVP, said. “We have open communication and no matter what happens, we know we can always talk to each other properly.”

Gandler, the most recent All-Filipino Conference MVP, was grateful for the chance to compete beside Santos.

“The connection we built both on and off the court really took time, patience, and conscious effort from both of us,” the former Ateneo standout said. “We made it a point to constantly communicate, call each other out when needed and talk not just about volleyball but also about our work ethic and mindset.”

“That’s why I’m really grateful Erika is still with me because she understands how I work, knows how to call me out when needed and it’s the same the other way around.”

Santos transferred from PLDT to Cignal last year and came out of her shell, rising as the first PVL on Tour MVP. She emerged as one of the league’s top opposite hitters and an All-Star starter.

But the former La Salle stalwart had to embark on a new journey after Cignal’s sudden leave.

“It wasn’t an easy decision because we really had to process everything that happened. It wasn’t a small decision to make. I had already become attached to my teammates and to the system we had, so starting a new journey again is definitely challenging. But now, we’re here with Capital1,” she said.

On May 30, Santos will be crowned as the season’s Most Improved Player in the 2nd PVL Press Corps Awards Night at Novotel, where Creamline’s Alyssa Valdez will receive the Miss Quality Minutes trophy and Kianna Dy of PLDT will be named as the Comeback Player of the Year.

Santos is expected to make an immediate impact for the Solar Spikers, who haven’t reached the semifinals since joining the league two years ago.

“There are a lot of expectations and adjustments along the way. It won’t be easy, so we’ll really work hard,” Santos said.

The Triple Crown is off the table at the 2026 Preakness Stakes, but the prestige remains for the second jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown. Fans also will see the Preakness Stakes run at a different venue for the first time in more than a century. With renovations ongoing at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, the Preakness Stakes 2026 is set to be held at Laurel Park, about 30 miles southwest in Laurel, Md. The race is expected to return to Pimlico next year. The Grade I stakes race is the shortest of the Triple Crown runs at 1 3/16 miles — 1/16 a mile shorter than the Kentucky Derby — and offers a $2 million purse. Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo is out and looking ahead to the Belmont Stakes on June 6.

Post time for Preakness Stakes 2026 is set for 6:50 p.m. ET on Saturday. The Preakness Stakes 2026 odds have Iron Honor listed as the 9-2 favorite, with three horses at 5-1 — Chip Honcho, Incredibolt and Taj Mahal. Ocelli (6-1) and Napoleon Solo (8-1) are also top 2026 Preakness Stakes contenders. Before making any 2026 Preakness Stakes picks, you’ll want to see the 2026 Preakness Stakes predictions from SportsLine’s Michelle Yu. 

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She started off 2025 by correctly going all-in on Citizen Bull to win the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, and she also predicted Forever Young’s win in the Saudi Cup, Journalism’s win in the San Felipe Stakes, Sandman’s win in the Arkansas Derby and Mindframe’s win in the Churchill Downs Stakes. She also hit the exacta in the 2025 Kentucky Derby. In August she hit the Fierceness-Journalism exacta in the Pacific Classic, and in March 2026 she nailed the Renegade-Silent Tactic-Taptastic trifecta in the Arkansas Derby. 

Now, with the 2026 Preakness Stakes post positions set and odds on the board, Yu is sharing her 2026 Preakness Stakes betting picks and 2026 Preakness Stakes predictions over at SportsLine. You can head to SportsLine now to see them.

Top 2026 Preakness Stakes predictions

One surprise: Yu is really high on Taj Mahal this week, as the horse is 3 for 3 in his career at Laurel Park. At the Kentucky Derby, trainer Cherie DeVaux became the first woman to win the top race at Churchill Downs. Now Yu thinks another female trainer could be on the verge of making history in the Preakness. Brittany Russell is prepping Taj Mahal, and the colt has the resume to pull it off. That’s why he is among the favorites at 5-1. All three of Taj Mahal’s victories — in fact, all of his races — have come at Laurel Park, most recently the Federico Tesio Stakes, which he won by 8¼ lengths.

Taj Mahal “is certainly a horse for the course,” said Yu, who has been impressed by his limited performances. “He isn’t inching out these wins, he’s winning going away.” Taj Mahal got a bit of a bad break drawing the inside rail, but 12 horses have won the Preakness from that spot, and the horses just to the outside might not have the speed to squeeze him out. Yu thinks Russell could finally break her 0-for-32 run in graded stakes races on dirt and make history Saturday. “A woman won the Derby,” she said, “maybe one wins the Preakness too?” See which other 2026 Preakness Stakes horses to back at SportsLine.

Another one of Yu’s surprising Preakness Stakes picks: She is not taking Iron Honor as her top win contender. Yu says the Gotham Stakes winner “really faltered” in his last outing and isn’t convinced that this race’s length will play to Iron Honor’s strengths. She says trainer Chad Brown’s horse is “lightly raced.” Yu has identifed better value elsewhere in the field. See which other horses to fade at SportsLine.

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How to make 2026 Preakness Stakes picks

Instead, Yu’s top pick is a horse who is in “super shape.” She’s also high on a massive double-digit longshot who is “sneaky.” She’s sharing which 2026 Preakness Stakes horses to back at SportsLine.

So who wins the 2026 Preakness Stakes? What double-digit longshot is a must-back, and how has Yu constructed her wagers? Visit SportsLine to see Yu’s picks for the Preakness Stakes, all from the Santa Anita-based racing insider who has a long history of success in the Preakness Stakes, and find out. 

2026 Preakness Stakes odds, post positions

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — For the second straight major, Bryson DeChambeau is headed home early. This time, there wasn’t a dramatic collapse on Friday afternoon like at the Masters. Instead, DeChambeau did his damage with a Thursday 76 and never threatened to mount a charge in Friday’s second round. By the end of 36 holes, DeChambeau shot 7 over and missed the cut at the 2026 PGA Championship by three shots. 

DeChambeau entered the week desperate to make a statement about his place in the game’s hierarchy amid LIV Golf’s uncertain future; instead, he only added to the questions facing him as he tries to figure out what’s next in his career. As much as the big picture questions loom over him, what stands out is how his problems on the course are much more immediate. 

DeChambeau’s issues with his iron and wedge play were once again at the forefront of his struggles, finishing the week well outside the top 100 in strokes gained approach and around the green. What’s most concerning is that he doesn’t seem all that close to a breakthrough with those clubs, spending hours on the range this week trying to find a feel that just won’t come. 

The only good news for DeChambeau? Beyond finishing his 36 holes with three straight birdies, the next time we see him play in a major, it will be at the U.S. Open, where he’s a two-time champion. Perhaps that can bring him the positive vibes he needs, but Shinnecock Hills will be an exacting test of his ball-striking again and demand that he find the answers he currently doesn’t have. 

They say misery loves company, and DeChambeau has plenty of that at Aronimink this week. He is far from the only notable name to miss the cut, as he’s joined in the trunk-slamming club on Friday by a host of stars who just couldn’t crack the code of the Philly area gem. 

2026 PGA Championship cut line: Notables missing weekend

• Michael Block (+5)
• Sungjae Im (+5)
• Akshay Bhatia (+5)
• Russell Henley (+5)
• Tommy Fleetwood (+5)
• Robert MacIntyre (+5)
• Garrick Higgo (+5)
• Wyndham Clark (+5)
• J.J. Spaun (+6)
• Viktor Hovland (+6)
• Keegan Bradley (+6)
• Gary Woodland (+6)
• Tyrrell Hatton (+6)
• Bryson DeChambeau (+7)
• Adam Scott (+8)
• Max Homa (+12)

Block entered the day at even par, but he couldn’t recapture the magic from Oak Hill and slowly fell outside the cutline, ending his round with two closing bogeys. Henley, Fleetwood and Im came in with high hopes on a ball-strikers course but never found their A-game. Bhatia got off to a fast start but had it all go wrong after his first nine, while Hovland struggled from the jump and never seemed comfortable with the course. 

Higgo might be the accidental breakout star of the PGA Championship, as his two-stroke penalty for being late for his Thursday morning tee time became one of the stories of the day. Unfortunately for Higgo, that penalty cost him the weekend and a paycheck, which might not be worth the publicity he picked up. 

Abounding’s scratching has ended the uncertainty for Napoleonic’s participation in the Doomben 10,000, enabling the colt to line up in the premier Group 1 sprint contest.

After a week of tension, the three-year-old’s connections saw him shift from second emergency in the $1.5 million spectacle, with Beadman taking the first reserve spot Wednesday courtesy of Lady Of Camelot’s sting ray-related withdrawal.

Tom Charlton, trainer of Napoleonic, had an alternative scheme prepared but expressed delight at the confirmation, solidifying their three-race campaign including the Doomben 10,000 (1200m), Fred Best Classic (1400m) and Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).

“It’s important because he looks like he’s in a big race with a chance,” Charlton said.

“It has always been the plan, and it’s not normally a race where you get a full field. Normally a (benchmark rating) 103 three-year-old gets in, so it was a bit of a spanner in the works.

“But thankfully, we’re in.”

Napoleonic reached Brisbane Thursday by float, not having raced since holding his own in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m) against elite sprinters in March.

Charlton reported a smooth voyage following an impressive gallop earlier in the week under Doomben 10,000 jockey James McDonald.

“He worked very well with Linebacker on Tuesday. James came in and rode him, which makes our life easy because he knows where we’re at, and he was very pleased,” Charlton said.

“We can’t fault the preparation thus far.”

Napoleonic co-holds the second betting spot for the Doomben 10,000 betting at $6.50 with Grafterburners, with Jimmysstar leading at $3.50.

Visit leading betting sites for Doomben 10,000 odds.

Rain or Shine Elasto Painters’ Andrei Caracut during a game vs San Miguel Beermen in the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals. –PBA IMAGES

Rain or Shine knows the second game of a twice-to-beat bonus isn’t as safe as the first one.

Not with the Painters paired with powerhouse San Miguel Beer in the quarterfinals of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

“We earned the twice-to-beat advantage, but we knew that if we got to Sunday, we wouldn’t be able to beat SMB,” coach Yeng Guiao said after his team’s 113-104 victory over the Beermen on Sunday at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.

The Sunday schedule would have materialized had Rain or Shine lost in its quarterfinal opener. There, the Painters would have been the one facing pressure.

“This was our best chance to beat SMB. We took care of business today,” Guiao said. “We felt that this was our best chance to get to the semis.”

Caracut shines

Rain or Shine used a 13-3 run to dig itself out of a four-point hole and take a 99-93 lead at the 6:13 mark of the final quarter, with Andrei Caracut capping that exchange with a huge triple.

It wouldn’t be the last big shot that the Painters got from Caracut.

Jericho Cruz and Bennie Boatwright helped push San Miguel closer, 99-97, but Rain or Shine showed how unwilling it was to get dragged to a Sunday decider when it responded with nine straight points, which featured a triple from Caelan Tiongson and a four-pointer from Caracut, to pull away for good, 108-97, 2:35 remaining.

“I just became consistent [through] practice,” said Caracut, who finished with 29 points, six rebounds and five assists.

“We’re happy because it’s been a while since Rain or Shine defeated SMB in a series, but we still need to work. The semis won’t be easy,” he added.

Jaylen Johnson had 23 points and 12 rebounds to lead the No. 3 seed, but he got a lot of help from his teammates. Tiongson also had 23 points, while Adrian Nocum finished with 18 points and six rebounds.

Forced deciders

Bennie Boatwright finished with 24 points and seven rebounds while June Mar Fajardo tallied 12 points and 12 rebounds in the San Miguel loss. CJ Perez added 19 points for the Beermen.

Rain or Shine, the first team to make the semifinals after two higher seeds were forced into deciders on Wednesday.

The Painters await the winner of the Barangay Ginebra-Phoenix matchup, which got going at press time.

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — In some ways, it should come as zero surprise that Justin Thomas is in the mix at the PGA Championship.

Thomas is a two-time winner at this event, after all; he won the 2017 PGA at Quail Hollow and the 2022 edition at Southern Hills. He’s among this generation’s very best golfers. Of course, he’s inside the top 10 at Aronimink’s halfway mark.

But here’s what’s strange: in 15 majors since that 2022 win, Thomas has logged exactly one finish inside the top 30. He’s missed seven cuts in that span. It defies logic that the 16-time PGA Tour winner would be an also-ran in the game’s biggest events, but that’s been his frustrating reality.

“Just got to get back to work and try to get better,” Thomas said at the conclusion of last year’s Open Championship, where he finished T34.

And that’s why Thomas’ back-to-back rounds of one-under 69 to start this week’s PGA meant a little something extra.

“A lot of satisfaction for sure,” Thomas said after Friday’s round. “I felt like — I was very comfortable getting there. I think that’s what I’m probably more proud of or happy about than the scores itself was I didn’t put any extra pressure on myself these first couple days. I didn’t feel like I made this moment bigger than it was.”

That was a window into Thomas’ mind; it’s clear that he’s been trying to solve the riddle, and sometimes trying too hard, and then trying not to try too hard. So he was proud to stay the course even after two bogeys in his first three holes on Friday.

“It’s just, I really have felt like I’m doing a lot of things well and swinging well and playing well and been putting it well. So, just go out and play,” he said. “It sounds so easy when you say it, but it’s one of the hardest things to do in this sport, in my opinion.

“So I’m very, very pleased and proud of myself for doing that these first couple days and, yeah, just kind of playing what the course kind of gives me. So just try to do more of that this weekend.”

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The Minnesota Vikings finally answered their WR3 question last week with the free agency acquisition of Jauan Jennings. The move looks like a good fit for both parties, and I’m predicting a successful year for Jennings in Minnesota.

Jennings Could Thrive in Kevin O’Connell’s Offense

Jennings agreed to a one-year deal that includes a base salary of $8 million, which can rise to $13 million. It was a bigger splash than I was expecting from the Vikings. I thought they might roll with the cheap option of promoting Tai Felton up the depth chart. The move for Jennings makes sense, though.

He brings something different to Kevin O’Connell’s offense. His predecessor, Jalen Nailor, brought speed and the ability to stretch the field. Jennings is a big physical WR at 6’3 “and 212 lbs, with great hands. Jennings will be a great target in both the underneath and intermediate areas of the field.

He should also be a great target in the red zone, and this is where my bold prediction comes in. With Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison occupying the minds of opposing teams, there should be plenty of space for Jennings to work.

O’Connell likes to take advantage of the spaces his two-star players create, and he has the perfect guy to do that in Jennings. Now, O’Connell has a target, T.J. Hockenson, who will make it tough for defenses looking to slow down Jefferson and Addison.

My bold prediction is Jennings leads the Vikings in touchdowns in 2026.

Jennings Career So far

Jennings joins the Vikings after spending the first six seasons of his career with the 49ers. This past season, the 28-year-old  caught 55 passes for 643 yards and nine touchdowns in 15 games. For reference, Jordan Mason led the Vikings last season with just six touchdowns, and the departed Nailor led the team in touchdown catches with just four. Of course, Minnesota will be hoping for more consistency and better luck with injuries at the quarterback position this year.

Overall in San Francisco, the former seventh-round pick compiled 210 receptions for 2,581 yards and 22 touchdowns, including a career-high 975 receiving yards in 2024. Jennings is capable of stepping up to a larger role, which he regularly did for a 49ers team that always seemed to be plagued by injuries. 

The Vikings offense became more dangerous with Jennings in it, thanks to his ability to pick up yards after the catch and his great run-blocking. There is plenty of competition to be the Vikings’ leading touchdown scorer in 2026, but as the guy who teams will perhaps fear least, the stage is set for Jennings to take the crown.

Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.