The Indiana Fever ruled Caitlin Clark out of Wednesday’s game against the Portland Fire with a back injury less than two hours before tipoff, marking her first missed game of the season.
Indiana went on to beat the Fire 90-73, but Clark’s late scratch raised concerns about her availability for Friday’s matchup against the Golden State Valkyries.
Those concerns proved short-lived, as Clark was back in the lineup just two days later.
Indiana Fever players Sophie Cunningham, Monique Billings, Raven Johnson and Kelsey Mitchell high-five during the first half of a game against the Golden State Valkyries at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on May 22, 2026.(Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Clark was not listed on the Fever’s injury report Thursday, and despite missing practice the previous day, she returned to score 22 points in Indiana’s 90-82 win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year also recorded nine assists, finishing just shy of a double-double.
In the third quarter, Clark knocked down another 3-pointer from well beyond the arc.
Fever center Aliyah Boston finished second in scoring Friday night with 20 points and 16 rebounds, recording a double-double.
Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever reacts after a call during the second half against the Golden State Valkyries at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on May 22, 2026.(Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
The Fever and Valkyries will switch venues when they meet again Thursday in San Francisco.
A string of injuries sidelined Clark in 2025, limiting the NCAA’s all-time scoring leader to 13 games in her second WNBA season. The injury woes last year included a groin strain followed by an ankle bone bruise.
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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark jogs up the court during the first half of a WNBA game against the Los Angeles Sparks in Los Angeles on May 13, 2026.(Jae C. Hong/AP)
Jun 10, 2025; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin Kevin O’Connell watches practices during minicamp at the Minnesota Vikings Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
The Vikings had to commit some meaty guaranteed cash within Goodwine’s deal, which is an important detail for anyone who doesn’t get picked. His overall cap charge comes in at $888,333 (OTC). As for guarantees, that number is sitting at $257,500. Compared to most players, that’s a modest total, but it’s quite a good haul for an undrafted free agent, suggesting he was a coveted player after the 2026 NFL Draft concluded.
The Vikings Guaranteed Much to Sign Monkell Goodwine
If, per chance, you’re not super familiar with Goodwine, then fear not.
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The recent addition is 23. A South Carolina alumnus, Goodwine stands at 6’4″ and 290 pounds. As a result, his job is likely to involve being a 3T/5T, someone who lines up across from the guard and/or offensive tackle rather than the center. Generally speaking, players who are asked to soak up double teams inside are a decent bit larger, suggesting the UDFA is going to get tasked with playing closer to the end of the line than the middle.
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Last season, Goodwine’s main job was to be a 3 technique (PFF), somebody who lines up across from the guard. He was in that spot for 428 snaps. He had 49 snaps in more of a 1 technique area and 27 in more of a 5 technique role. He even had a trio of snaps out wide as an edge rusher.
Looking at Goodwine’s snap breakdown illuminates much. His 2025 season involved a hearty helping of work, playing 508 snaps. That’s an amount that jumps off the page since he only had 153 snaps in 2024 alongside single-digit snaps in each season from 2021 to 2023.
The Vikings may have therefore landed someone who is still raw, a diamond in the rough who will sparkle after there has been an effort to shine him up.
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Similarly notable is that his first three seasons in college took place at Alabama, a juggernaut program where he never broke through to play consistently. Moving to South Carolina for 2024 and 2025 involved being able to play.
The rookie’s stats in 2025 show 31 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 pass defended, and 2 forced fumbles. At no point did he pickup a sack in his college career. He nevertheless made an impact in the passing game in 2025, hurrying the quarterback 10 times while hitting the quarterback 3 times.
Oct 24, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores watches from the sidelines against the Los Angeles Rams in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
No longer is Jalen Redmond just a nice story. Instead, the Vikings are leaning on the former UDFA to be the top defensive tackle, somebody who continues to create issues at the line of scrimmage as the unquestioned top option. The ability is there; so is his resilience and work ethic. Expect Redmond to keep being fantastic.
The Vikings are then leaning on Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange. The 1st-Round selection and 3rd-Round selection are carrying beefy expectations. Most have at least some degree of hesitance for Banks given the injury problems, but his upside is massive. Orange, meanwhile, appears ready to be a good ball player in time for Week 1.
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But then the Vikings are going to give Monkell Goodwine a chance to prove he can help. He’ll be looking to mirror Elijah Williams, Taki Taimani, and Jalen Redmond as recent examples of Vikings defensive linemen who arrived as unheralded UDFA pickups who eventually proved capable of making the final roster.
Nov 23, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) throws the ball over Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks (88) during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings will be beginning OTAs next week. Goodwine’s task involves impressing at each and every step.
Football’s biggest tournament is back on North American soil this summer, 32 years after Italy’s Roberto Baggio sent the ball flying over the crossbar in the final, tragic act of one of the most iconic World Cups to date.
Before the US hosted the world of “soccer” in 1994, neighbouring Mexico had become the first country in the world to organise two World Cups, first in 1970 and again in 1986, when it stepped in for Colombia.
As the two countries team up with Canada for an unprecedented three-host World Cup, running from June 11 to July 19, we look back at some of the highlights of the first three tournaments held on the continent.
1970: Pelé strikes back
Brazil’s captain Carlos Alberto with his English counterpart Bobby Moore at the 1970 World Cup.AP file photo
The first tournament held in North America is still regarded by many as the finest yet, won by a legendary Brazil team boasting the likes of Gerson, Rivelino, Tostao, Jairzinho and, of course, Pelé. The latter – already a two-time champion – was making his comeback to the Selecao, after injury had forced him out of the 1966 World Cup.
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Brazil faced their toughest test in the group stage when they took on defending champions England in a clash of titans that saw Gordon Banks famously deny Pelé with one of the greatest saves in history, before Jairzinho sealed a hard-fought 1-0 win in the searing heat of Guadalajara.
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Many had put their money on the two sides meeting again in the final. But Franz Beckenbauer’s West Germany, who faced the Three Lions in the quarterfinals, had other plans.
England looked to be in command when coach Alf Ramsey decided to rest Bobby Charlton with his side 2-0 up and only 20 minutes left in the game. But the Mannschaft came roaring back against the ageing English squad, prevailing 3-2 in overtime to set up a semi-final showdown with Italy – who had earlier ended home favourites Mexico’s dream run to the knockout stages.
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Dubbed the “Game of the Century”, the Italy-West Germany clash had it all: goals galore, refereeing blunders and Beckenbauer fighting on with his dislocated arm in a sling before 100,000 delirious fans at the Estadio Azteca. Despite the German captain’s sacrifice, it was the Azzurri who prevailed this time in a thrilling five-goal overtime, with Gigi Riva’s 111th-minute strike sealing a 4-3 win for Italy.
Days later, in the final, the Azzurri held their ground in a tight first half before the mighty Brazilians romped to a 4-1 victory. The sublime passing game that led to Carlos Alberto’s final goal summed up the virtuosity of the 1970 Selecao. And Pelé became the first player to lift the World Cup for the third time after 1958 and 1962 – a feat unmatched to this day.
1986: The ‘Hand of God’
“Thank you God for football and for Maradona!” It’s a cry of joy many have heard before, watching replays of Argentina’s quarterfinal victory over England at the 1986 World Cup, with the legendary live commentary of Uruguayan journalist Victor Hugo Morales.
The stage is once again the Estadio Azteca, and El pibe de oro (the golden boy) has just scored his second, memorable goal. “Cosmic kite, what planet are you from that you can leave so many Englishmen in your wake?” the commentator rambles on, sobbing with joy at a feat celebrated across Argentina – and much of Latin America – as revenge for the Falklands War in 1982.
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Maradona’s glorious run past England’s hapless defenders is the stuff of legend, second only in fame to the goal he scored minutes earlier with his hand, the “hand of God”, as he coined it. It has come to define both the tournament and its star player – the brilliance and the trickery, the prodigy and the myth.
The second World Cup on Mexican soil produced plenty of other memorable moments, starting with Morocco’s famous run to the knockout stages – the first for an African team. It saw the Lions of the Atlas top their group, ahead of England, before losing out to West Germany in a narrow 1-0 defeat.
Maradona aside, it was Michel Platini’s France who delivered the match of the tournament, edging out the likes of Socrates, Zico and Careca on penalties in a legendary quarterfinal. Both sides sported an unusual number of players in their 30s, and the Guadalajara heat took its toll on the French, who went on to lose 2-0 against West Germany in the semis – four years after their traumatic defeat at the same stage and against the very same opponents in Seville.
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Maradona did not score in the final, which saw the Germans once again claw their way back from a 2-0 deficit in the second half. But he did provide the through pass that set up Burruchaga’s 3-2 winner in the 84th minute, carrying the Albiceleste to their second World Cup title.
World Cups are not always best remembered for their winners. For all but fans of Italy, the defining image of the 2006 final is likely to be Zidane headbutting Materazzi – rather than Cannavaro lifting the trophy. The same could be said of the 1994 final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, which many neutrals remember as the scene of the most famous penalty miss in World Cup history.
The choice of venue that year was a strategic bet for FIFA, which hoped to establish soccer as a permanent fixture in the home of American football. Although heavyweights like England, France and Uruguay were absent, there was still an abundance of stars to sell the game to American audiences, including the likes of Romario, Dennis Bergkamp, Thomas Brolin, Gheorghe Hagi, Jürgen Klinsmann and Hristo Stoichkov.
Maradona also joined the party, though his fairytale comeback for Argentina was cut short in the group stage after he tested positive for a banned drug – just days after scoring a wondergoal against Greece – and was promptly banished from the tournament. A more sinister tragedy struck days later when Colombian captain Andrés Escobar was gunned down on his return to Medellin, after scoring an own goal while playing the US hosts.
On the pitches, however, there were plenty of compelling sights, including the five goals Russia’s Oleg Salenko scored in a single game against Cameroon – a record that still stands. The home side also earned their stripes, narrowly losing 1-0 to the future champions in what Brazil captain Carlos Dunga later called “probably the hardest game” the Selecao played in the entire tournament.
In truth, the Brazilians had a lot of hard games, relying on a sturdy defence and the attacking flair of Romario and Bebeto to overcome Bergkamp’s flying Dutch (3-2) and surprise package Sweden (1-0) enroute to the final, where Italy lay in wait.
The Azzurri had also laboured their way to Pasadena, with Baggio scoring five of their six goals in the knockout round as they battled past Nigeria, Spain and then Bulgaria – each time winning by a single goal, just like Brazil. Neither side was able to score in the final, with the tournament’s two best defences pushing the contest to the first penalty shootout in the history of World Cup finals.
Romario duly scored his penalty and would go on to be named player of the tournament. But Baggio’s miss is the one everyone remembers.
Italy were already in a tight spot when the “Divin Codino” (Divine Ponytail) walked up to take his fateful penalty, having carried the Azzurri to the final with his guile and genius. Both Baresi and Massaro had missed, meaning Brazil could still have won with their last kick even if Baggio scored. But his shot into the sky has come to embody Italy’s defeat – and with it the sheer injustice of the game.
For approximately 58/60ths of his round, Si Woo Kim was good. So let’s start with the overwhelming majority.
He was good with playing partners Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka, and he was good with their conversation, which apparently was so good that he said he couldn’t share what was said, and he’ll leave it at that. “But it was enjoyable,” he said. He was good, too, with TPC Craig Ranch, in McKinney, Texas, which is close to Kim’s home, and he was good with the event, the Byron Nelson backed by CJ Cup, which backs Kim. “So everything feels like home and feels comfortable,” he said.
He was good on hole 1. Birdie on a 6-foot putt. And hole 3. Birdie again, on a 17-footer. And hole 5. Birdie again, after nearly getting home on the par-5 in two. And hole 6. Birdie again, after dropping a wedge to 4 feet. And hole 7. Birdie again, after rolling in a 19-foot putt. And hole 9. Birdie again, his sixth of the front nine, after sitting just over the green in two on the par-5.
Then came the back nine. More good.
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Birdie on 10, on a 17-footer. Birdie on 11, after sticking an iron to 2 feet. Birdie on 12, after hitting to 5 feet from a greenside bunker on the par-5. Birdie on 14, after making an 8-foot putt. Birdie on 15, after hitting his tee shot on the par-3 to 8 feet, though Kim said he felt funky. “Some guy was making sneeze during my backswing,” he said, “so I pull out back and hit a wrong shot, and it went straight.” At this point, folks were starting to talk about a 59, which only 14 players have accomplished in PGA Tour history, or a 58, which only Jim Furyk has shot. Hell, if Kim birdied his last three holes, he could fire a 57.
“I was joking there earlier,” Scheffler said, “I felt like I was hitting all my shots to 15, 20 feet and Si Woo was hitting all his shots to like 8 feet or closer.
“Yeah, it was fun to watch.”
Kim parred 16. But he birdied 17, which was good, and so was the putt. From just over the green and 16 feet away, Kim curled in a right-to-lefter. Maybe the most interesting stat of Kim’s round was that he took just 20 putts. He put himself in makable range, and he made putts — and when he was off the green, like he was on 17, he made those, too.
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On to 18, where a par would’ve given him the 59. From the tee, he found the fairway. Good. That was stroke 56.
From 200 yards away, stroke 57 went 215 yards, and it sailed over the green.
Adrenaline, he said. After 17, he admitted he was dreaming of the 59, though he said he even chose a 6-iron over a 5.
“I think it was too much pumping,” he said of his heart. “So it went farther than I thought.”
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Stroke 58, from over the green, came up well short. Kim said he spun it too much.
May 22, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) slides into thirdbase past Colorado Rockies third baseman Chad Stevens in the second inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Chad Stevens delivered the tiebreaking single with one out in the top of the ninth to help the Colorado Rockies notch a 3-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night at Phoenix.
Stevens’ first hit of the season and third of his career plated Sterlin Thompson with the decisive run as Colorado ended a three-game losing streak. TJ Rumfield came through with a tying double in the eighth for the Rockies.
Arizona left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (left hamstring tightness) had two RBIs before he exited in the sixth after making a sliding grab of Rumfield’s fly to shallow left.
The Diamondbacks let a 2-0 lead get away to halt their season-best five-game winning streak.
Called up earlier Friday, Sterlin Thompson doubled to center — his second career hit — off Ryan Thompson (2-1) with one out in the top of the ninth and Stevens followed with an RBI single to right to give Colorado its first lead. It was
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Antonio Senzatela (4-0) entered with two on and one out in the bottom of the eighth and inducted Ildemaro Vargas to ground into an inning-ending double play.
Senzatela then tossed a perfect ninth to end it.
Hunter Goodman had two hits and two steals for Colorado. Willi Castro and Ezequiel Tovar each had two hits.
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Corbin Carroll and Ryan Waldschmidt had two hits apiece for the Diamondbacks.
Arizona’s Michael Soroka allowed one run and four hits in six innings. He struck out two and walked none.
Colorado’s Tomoyuki Sugano gave up two runs and six hits over 6 2/3 innings. He fanned three and issued one walk.
Colorado trailed 2-1 when Goodman walked against Juan Morillo to start the eighth and he moved to second on a passed ball by Gabriel Moreno. Rumfield then laced a grounder inside the first base line that went for a double to knot the score.
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Arizona took the lead in the second inning when Nolan Arenado doubled to center, moved to third on Vargas’ fly to right and scored on Gurriel’s sacrifice fly to center.
The Diamondbacks added another tally in the fourth when Geraldo Perdomo walked and was later at second when Gurriel hit a two-out RBI single to left.
The Rockies loaded the bases in the fifth when Castro and Tovar singled and Sterlin Thompson was hit by Soroka’s pitch.
After Stevens struck out, Jake McCarthy hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Castro. Soroka then got Goodman to tap the ball in front of the plate for the out that ended the inning.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson (55) celebrates after a defensive play during the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sep. 14, 2025, in Minneapolis. Wilson energized the crowd with his reaction following a key stop as Minnesota’s defense attempted to control the pace against Atlanta during early-season NFC action at home. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings revealed their 2026 schedule one week ago, and aftermarket prices have since stabilized enough to provide an accurate picture. If you wish to attend a regular season game at U.S. Bank Stadium in 2026, the most affordable contest is against the Atlanta Falcons.
Atlanta brings the softest get-in price on Minnesota’s home schedule.
Of course, prices could swing between now and the regular season, but circle Atlanta as the most affordable option, with single ticket prices starting around $90.
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Atlanta Offers the Best Bargain on the Vikings Schedule
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts catches a touchdown pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during first-quarter action on Oct. 27, 2024, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Pitts remained a focal point of Atlanta’s passing attack in 2024 as the former first-round pick continued searching for a full breakout season at tight end. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Cheapest Vikings Game? ATL
Minnesota will host Atlanta right after Thanksgiving on November 29th, and the cheapest spot in the house from a May standpoint is $90, according to TickPick. If the Vikings start the season 0-4, for example, that price could fall to $50 or so by October, but right now, Atlanta takes the lead for affordability.
Playing the Falcons at home has become an annual tradition as of late, with Minnesota beating Kirk Cousins’s Falcons in 2024, losing to Atlanta last year, and playing them at home for a third consecutive campaign in 2026.
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Atlanta will likely trot out Michael Penix Jr. or Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback.
The Ringer‘s Diante Lee ranked the Falcons at No. 22 in power rankings this week, explaining, “Tua Tagovailoa is getting a fresh start in Atlanta, but I’m skeptical that he’ll be the answer the Falcons are looking for. He’ll be competing with Michael Penix Jr., who struggled with his accuracy before suffering a season-ending knee injury last season. It’s a bummer that this QB battle is so underwhelming because the rest of the offensive roster is ready-made for a playoff run.”
“Running back Bijan Robinson is a game-changing talent, receiver Drake London has proved himself as WR1, and there’s enough depth at tight end for a multiple offense that can keep opponents off guard. New head coach Kevin Stefanski has to find ways to manage his limited quarterbacks and make Atlanta successful, a task he should be comfortable with after his time in Cleveland.”
Other Affordable Options
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If the Falcons are not your cup of tea — or you’ve already seen them at U.S. Bank Stadium in the last two seasons — other recently-priced alternatives exist. These contests start in the same neighborhood price-wise as MIN-ATL:
Vikings-Dolphins, October 4th: $95
Vikings-Colts, October 25th: $97
Vikings-Panthers, December 6th: $99
The price dips per team quality, as most don’t expect Miami, Indianapolis, or Carolina to seriously contend for a Super Bowl in 2026.
At Jets Is Cheap on the Road
Looking for an affordable trip to see the purple team? While fuel prices are merciless, ticket prices at the New York Jets in December are quite affordable. New York is tentatively pegged to be one of the league’s worst teams — probably because Geno Smith is the QB1 solution — and outsiders can attend Jets-Vikings for cheap. Prices start around $70 for nosebleed seating.
New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith reacts while leaving the field after a road loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 17, 2016, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Smith later revived his NFL career years after his Jets tenure and eventually emerged as a Pro Bowl quarterback with Seattle. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
USA Today‘s Nate Davis noted on the Jets after the draft, “We’ve dropped ‘trust the process’ in here rather frequently since GM Darren Mougey and HC Aaron Glenn began dissolving the core of this team at last year’s trade deadline.”
“But NYJ fans’ trust, hard as it is to garner, was at least partially rewarded by a seemingly spectacular draft that sowed hope anew for the future. The shadows of misery still extend to 1968, but maybe they’re starting to dissipate. Trust. The. Process.”
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Meanwhile, tickets to Saints-Vikings in New Orleans on October 11th are also low. One can score a ticket right now around $55. If you’re looking for a lifelong excuse to visit New Orleans, now’s the time.
Most Expensive?
The most expensive Vikings game at U.S. Bank Stadium, through a May lens, is the Josh Allen experience. Buffalo hasn’t rolled into the Twin Cities since 2018 — when they stunned the Cousins-led Vikings — and now they’re back as bonafide contenders.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen scrambles for a first down while outrunning Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle James Lynch during second-quarter action on Nov. 13, 2022, at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. Allen helped engineer one of the NFL season’s wildest games in Buffalo’s overtime victory against Minnesota. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
For upper-level “bad” seats, the prices start at $135. It’s also unlikely that Buffalo will struggle out of the gate in 2026, so these prices may never come down.
Finally, if the goal is to attend the 49ers-Vikings game in Mexico City, start saving now. Prices start at about $1,000 per ticket just to get into the facility.
After three years in Saudi Arabia, Cristiano Ronaldo has finally lifted the Saudi Pro League trophy. The Portuguese forward scored twice in Al-Nassr’s decisive victory against Damac on the final day of the Saudi league season. This win crowns Al-Nassr champions for the first time since 2019.
Manuel Neuer is back! The German goalkeeper has come out of international retirement and will be in goal for the German national football team at the 2026 FIFAWorld Cup. At 40 years old, he is ready to play in his fifth FIFA World Cup.
Lens are the strong favourites for the French Cup final against OGC Nice on Friday. After finishing second in Ligue 1 behind Paris Saint-Germain, they could end a fantastic season with a historic trophy they have never won.
In tennis, Arthur Fils has received a favourable draw at the French Open: the Frenchman cannot face Jannik Sinner before the final.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 21: Josh Hart #3 reacts after scoring a basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the third quarter of the New York Knicks in Game Two of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden on May 21, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
The New York Knicks are now two wins away from the NBA Finals after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-93 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Josh Hart delivered one of the biggest playoff performances of his career, finishing with 26 points and 7 assists as the Knicks took full control in the second half.
The game was still close early in the third quarter before New York exploded on an 18-0 run that completely changed the night. Cleveland went scoreless on nine straight possessions during that stretch and never fully recovered.
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All five Knicks starters scored at least 18 points, while Jalen Brunson focused more on creating for teammates instead of forcing shots. Brunson finished with a playoff career-high 14 assists.
After the game, Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson praised Brunson’s decision-making.
“That’s what great players do,” Atkinson said. “He made the right reads, right plays.”
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Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points for Cleveland, but the Cavaliers struggled badly from three-point range, shooting just 9-for-35 from deep.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US has banned entry from non-Americans who have been in the DR Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the previous 21 days.
All DR Congo’s players are based outside the country and will not be affected by the restrictions now the training camp has been cancelled.
“If there are other people that are going to be coming in, they need to have a separate bubble from that team,” Giuliani said.
“If they end up coming, and any of those people end up symptomatic, they are risking the entire team being able to come and compete in this World Cup.”
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On Friday the public health risk from the Ebola outbreak in the DR Congo was raised from “high” to “very high” by the World Health Organization (WHO).
WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the risk in the wider region in Africa was “high” but that it remained “low” globally.
Dr Congo are due to play friendlies against Denmark on 3 June in Belgium and Chile on 9 June in Spain.
The World Cup runs from 11 June to 19 July, and DR Congo play Portugal in their opening game on 17 June.
Ederson has been linked with a move to Manchester United in recent days as the club look to beef up their options in the middle of the park this summer
Ederson appears to be on the brink of leaving Atalanta amid continued speculation linking him with a move to Manchester United. There has been a growing expectation that United’s major moves in the summer market will come in midfield.
Speculation around the midfielder’s future is now expected to grow after he was an unused substitute in his side’s 1-1 draw with Fiorentina on Friday night.
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Although Atalanta boss Raffaele Palladino stopped short of naming United, he revealed the reason behind Ederson’s absence was because of a transfer.
He said: “Ederson out? It was a decision we agreed with the boy because there’s something going on in the transfer market. The fact that such a player is being followed by such a big club should be a source of pride.”
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Elliot Anderson is understood to be at the top of United’s transfer shortlist ahead of the summer transfer window.
Both United and Manchester City are monitoring Anderson’s progress before a potential summer move for the £100million-rated Nottingham Forest star.
Since joining Forest from Newcastle United in the summer of 2024, the 23-year-old has established himself as one of the best young midfielders in the Premier League.
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Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are also believed to be keen on signing Anderson this summer, but a two-way battle between City and United is expected to take place.
When asked if Anderson would stay at the City Ground, Forest boss Vitor Pereira admitted last weekend: “This is an answer that I don’t have.
“The market is the market, everything can happen. What I can say to you is the club wants to keep him playing for us for sure.
“The club wants to keep the players. This is a very good group with quality, with character and we are in a very good place for the next season.”
Good news finally for the Indian football fans. After months of uncertainty and behind-the-scenes negotiations, India is set to officially secure the broadcasting rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the formal announcement expected next week. The deal, understood to be worth between USD 30-35 million, ensures that the biggest World Cup in history will be fully accessible to viewers across India. The development comes as a major relief for football followers in one of the world’s fastest-growing sports markets.
The 2026 edition, to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. FIFA has expanded the tournament from 32 to 48 teams, increasing the total number of matches from 64 to 104. It is expected to become the most commercially lucrative and widely viewed World Cup ever staged.
The Indian market remains crucial for FIFA despite the national team’s struggles on the international stage. Football’s popularity in the country has exploded, driven by the European leagues, the FIFA World Cup’s massive television numbers. Cities like Kolkata, Kochi, Goa and Bengaluru continue to produce passionate football audiences, while younger viewers in Metros increasingly follow global stars and clubs.
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Globally, FIFA appears to have adopted a more flexible commercial strategy for some Asian territories. China reportedly secured its 2026 World Cup rights at nearly an 80 percent discount compared to previous cycles. The FIFA World Cup TV rights command the highest prices in Europe.
Ironically, the broadcast deal comes at a time when Indian football itself is going through one of its most difficult periods in recent years. India’s men’s national team has slipped badly in the FIFA rankings after a disappointing run of results.
The failure to sustain momentum after qualification for the AFC Asian Cup has raised uncomfortable questions about the structure of Indian football. Issues ranging from grassroots development and governance to lack of competitive depth continue to haunt the domestic ecosystem.
The irony also lies in Indian public’s lack of support for country’s footballers, while they continue to crave for European football. Therein is the market that FIFA, PL, and La Liga want to exploit. For now, these fans will be able to satiate their hunger for world football. All 100 plus FIFA matches are guaranteed to be keep them awake for most of the scorching summer.
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