Phil Foden is a “victim” of football’s “crazy” schedule after being left out of England’s World Cup squad, according to PFA chief executive Maheta Molango.
Molango also fears this summer’s tournament in North America could be determined by “survival of the fittest” due to the impact of the sport’s relentless calendar.
Manchester City midfielder Foden was named PFA Players’ Player of the Year in 2024 but was overlooked by Thomas Tuchel for the World Cup following an underwhelming season.
The 25-year-old was among a handful of high-profile players cited during a FIFPRO meeting examining concerns about cumulative fatigue caused by excessive workloads.
Chelsea forward Cole Palmer, who was also not selected by England manager Tuchel, was another player mentioned.
“Phil was voted less than two years ago by his peers as the best player of the (Premier) League,” said Molango, who is a board member of FIFPRO, the world players’ union.
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“The number of games that he’s been available has dropped and when he has been available it has not been the version of Phil Foden that we saw two years ago.
“Is it just a coincidence? We think it is not.
“Unfortunately, he is one of the victims of this crazy calendar that only makes sense for those who pursue commercial gain to the detriment of the quality of the show, and to the detriment of the protection of those who should be football heritage.
Manchester City’s Phil Foden, centre, and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, right, were notable omissions from England’s World Cup squad (Martin Rickett/PA) (PA Wire)
“It’s a very sad state of affairs if someone like Phil is not on the pitch, because we love people who make us dream and we love people of pure talent.”
Foden and Palmer have both had limited summer breaks in recent years after featuring at Euro 2024 and last year’s expanded Club World Cup. Palmer also represented England at the European Under-21 Championship in 2023.
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According to FIFPRO, players cannot sustain “high-threshold competitive seasons” year after year and will eventually suffer injuries or declines in performance.
Data collected by the organisation suggests Declan Rice and Virgil van Dijk are among the players at risk of dips in form or injuries next season because of their recent workloads.
Both England midfielder Rice and Netherlands captain Van Dijk are set to feature at the forthcoming World Cup, which has been expanded to 48 teams and will take place in high temperatures across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
According to FIFPRO, Arsenal and England midfielder Declan Rice is one of the players at risk of injury or a dip in form next season (John Walton/PA) (PA Wire)
Molango believes a guaranteed summer break is the best solution to player burnout.
“We fear that in the end the World Cup will just turn into the survival of the fittest,” he said.
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“Will it be the best or the most talented team that prevails, or will it be the fittest?
“I really hope it won’t be just the fittest but there is a big chance this may be the case because some of the most talented (players) who play for the most prestigious teams will get to a stage where it is just too much.
“You cannot get to a competition having already played 60 or close to 60 games.”
May 24, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) comes out for the start of the fourth quarter against the Dallas Wings at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
The New York Liberty have dropped three consecutive games at home for the first time since the 2022 season.
They will look to halt the skid Wednesday as they continue a seven-game homestand against the Phoenix Mercury.
“Nobody expected this,” Liberty star Breanna Stewart said. “But I’m glad (the slump) is happening early and not late.”
Stewart urged patience. After all, the Liberty have yet to play with their complete roster. On Monday, when it blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead and lost 81-74 to the expansion Portland Fire, New York was missing four-time All-Star Sabrina Ionescu (rest), Leonie Fiebich (rest) and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (personal).
In addition, three-time All-Star Satou Sabally played just four minutes due to illness.
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Ionescu needed the rest after missing the season’s first five games with an injured foot, and the Liberty did not want to play her on consecutive nights. Fiebich needed the rest because she just came back from Europe, where she won a Spanish League title. All four of those players are day-to-day.
Meanwhile, Phoenix also has lost three straight games, most recently an 82-80 setback at Atlanta on Sunday.
The Mercury have talent, but they are an older team led by triple-double threat Alyssa Thomas, 34, who is averaging 18.0 points, 8.0 assists and 7.9 rebounds. Kahleah Copper, 31, is averaging a team-high 18.7 points, and DeWanna Bonner, 38, is averaging 9.7 points and 5.9 boards.
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Guard Jovana Nogic has been a Mercury bright spot. The 28-year-old undrafted rookie from Serbia is averaging 14.7 points while shooting 93.1% on free throws and 51.3% on 3-pointers.
Ironically, the missing piece for Phoenix is Sabally, who bolted to New York as a free agent following the 2025 season. Sabally helped Phoenix go 27-17 last year, but now the Mercury are just 2-5.
Still, Nate Tibbetts — who is in his third season as the Mercury coach — remains optimistic, especially following Sunday’s close loss to the Dream.
“Obviously, we’re not into moral victories,” Tibbetts said. “But I thought we took a step in the right direction. We battled.”
CLEVELAND, OHIO – MAY 25: The New York Knicks celebrate with the Bob Cousy Trophy after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-93 in Game Four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 25, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The New York Knicks are heading to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 after completing a dominant 4-0 sweep over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
New York crushed Cleveland 130-93 in Game 4 to officially book their place in the Finals and continue an incredible playoff run.
The Knicks have now won 11 straight postseason games and look like one of the most dangerous teams left in the playoffs.
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One of the NBA’s most historic franchises is finally back in the Finals after nearly three decades of frustration and disappointment.
Now, New York moves one step away from a championship that generations of Knicks fans have been waiting to see again.
Stephen A. Smith’s nephew, Josh Smith, took a big swing at Jaylen Brown following the Knicks’ qualification to the NBA Finals. New York punched their ticket to the Finals following a 130-93 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday.
Shortly after the Knicks’ victory, Josh Smith shared a video on his Instagram account. In the video, Stephen A. Smith’s nephew showered the Celtics star with insults.
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“Jaylen Brown, change your f****** name, there is only one Jalen in this Eastern Conference, you bum a**,” he said.
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“F*** Jaylen Brown, Jaylen Black, Jaylen Pink and f*** that s*** you’ve been putting in your head too.”
Jaylen Brown and Stephen A. Smith have been involved in a beef that started during the 2026 playoffs. On May. 6, Smith called out the Celtics star for naming the time without Jayson Tatum as his favorite this season. He told Brown to be quiet if he did not want to be traded.
The following day, the Celtics star fired back at the “First Take” host on his Twitch livestream. He told Smith to retire from sports journalism if he wanted him to be quiet. Later, the Celtics star accused Smith of not being a true journalist.
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Jaylen Brown challenges Stephen A. Smith to a live debate
On May. 18, Stephen A. Smith responded to Jaylen Brown calling him out on his professional responsibilities. He warned the Celtics star not to provoke him. On Monday, Brown reacted to Smith’s comment on his livestream.
He challenged the “First Take” host to a live debate at Harvard or MIT.
“Stephen A., here’s my proposal: Why don’t we have a live audience debate, traditional media versus us athletes?” he said. “And let’s do a live debate in front of a live-streamed audience at a mutual location like Harvard or MIT. And let’s talk about it. Let’s see who comes out on top. Should be easy. Should be a piece of cake.”
“Mainstream traditional media versus the athlete. Let’s set it up. Harvard, MIT, live and let’s see who comes out on top. You know where to find me.”
Stephen A. Smith has not yet responded to the Celtics star’s proposal. Brown had one of the best runs of his career this season. He averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game on 47.7% shooting. He finished in sixth place in the MVP race.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ ex-girlfriend, Storm Reid, posted an Instagram Reel on Saturday, where she lip-synced, and danced at a gas station at night.
For the music video, Reid wore a long-sleeved black top with white stripes on the sleeves, a gold necklace and loose-fitting grey sweatpants. A black SUV was parked next to her.
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She made hand gestures and grooved to the beat of the music while lip-syncing to her music track, “Clean Sweep.”
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The lyric from the track that played was: “First thing in the morning/ Last thing before I go to sleep/ You only gon’ know me/ Basically you sweet/ You know how I’m coming/ Now they ain’t f*ckin’ me/ Should be down on your knees/ Cause you’re only with me.”
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Shedeur’s step-sister, Deiondra Sanders responded in the comments section.
“🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥,” Deiondra wrote.
Reid replied with three red-heart emojis.
Source: (Via Instagram/ @stormreid)
Notably, Deiondra is the oldest daughter of Deion Sanders from his first marriage to Carolyn Chambers. Shedeur is the son of Deion and his second ex-wife, Pilar Sanders.
Storm Reid and Shedeur Sanders began dating around the fall of 2022. Back then, Shedeur was playing quarterback under his father at Jackson State University before transferring to Colorado Buffaloes.
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The couple made their red carpet debut in January 2023 at the Los Angeles premiere of Reid’s film Missing.
For the event, Reid wore a sleeveless, floor-length gown featuring feathers in shades of burgundy, rose and burnt orange. Meanwhile, Shedeur was dressed in charcoal grey, double-breasted suit over a black turtleneck. He accessorized the look with a silver chain featuring a large “2” pendant (his jersey number), a silver watch and black leather loafers.
While attending the event on Jan. 12, 2023, at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Downtown, Storm Reid opened up to Entertainment Tonight about he romance with Shedeur.
“He’s super sweet, super talented,” Reid shared with the publication, adding, “I’m just glad to have him here supporting me.”
However, they reportedly broke up later in 2023.
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Storm Reid showed up to support Shedeur Sanders in September 2022
On Sept. 4, 2022, the Jackson State Tigers pulled off a dominant performance at the Orange Blossom Classic and crushed the Florida A&M Rattlers with a 59-3 win.
Storm Reid showed up at Miami Gardens, Florida, to support Shedeur Sanders.
After the Jackson State Tigers’s victory, she posted pictures from Hard Rock Stadium on Instagram. One of the pictures featured Shedeur in the locker room.
“2 can play this game!!!! Congratulations,” Reid wrote in the caption.
Source: (Via Instagram/ @stormreid)
The game was the season opener under Shedeur’s father, Deion Sanders.
NEW DELHI: Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to field against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the high-voltage IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 clash at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Tuesday.
The winner of the contest will secure a direct spot in the IPL 2026 final, while the losing side will get another opportunity in Qualifier 2 against the winner of the Eliminator.
Gujarat Titans made one change to their playing XI, bringing in Kulwant Khejroliya in place of Arshad Khan.
“We’re gonna bowl first. It looks like a good wicket, you know, but we have seen and in this ground particularly, there is a bit of dew in the second inning, so it’s always good to have a total on the board and a big win and then try to chase it down. I think, this match is all about taking the equation out of the game. We have been playing some really good cricket and hopefully we’ll continue to do so,” Shubman said during the toss.
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“I’ve played a lot here in the under 14, under 16 days. I’ve spent quite a bit of time here, so yeah, hopefully it’s gonna be a good use of us. And yes, it is one of the prettiest grounds, in the world. We have one change. Kulwant comes in in place of Arshad Khan,” he said.
On the other hand, defending champions RCB brought in Jacob Duffy as part of their changes for the knockout clash.
“I think, to be honest, the wicket looks pretty good. It’s pretty hard. It will come nicely on the bat, so I think it will not change in 40 overs. So we’ll try to put a good total on the board and keep them under pressure. I think the first qualifier game is, I think it’s a nice game to go straight in the final after winning this game, but we are just taking this one game at a time. We’ll give our best in this game,” RCB captain Rajat Patidar said.
“I think we’ve played good cricket and we are just focusing more on our strength, rather than focusing more on the opposition. So yeah, focusing more on the strength is our motto this year. I think the surface looks pretty good. It’s pretty hard. There’s no grass cover on it, I think so. It will be nice to bat on,” he said.
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Playing XIs:
Gujarat Titans (Playing XI): Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Jos Buttler(w), Washington Sundar, Nishant Sindhu, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Kulwant Khejroliya, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Playing XI): Venkatesh Iyer, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam Dar
Here are the Impact substitutes for both the teams:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Impact subs: Romario Shepherd, Suyash Sharma, Kanishk Chouhan, Abhinandan Singh, Jordan Cox
The 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge begins this week at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the PGA Tour tournament, including a full Charles Schwab Challenge TV schedule, streaming information and complete tee times for the first and second rounds once they are released.
How to watch Charles Schwab Challenge
The PGA Tour is sticking in the Dallas-Fort Worth area this week for a return to long-running host course Colonial CC for the Charles Schwab Challenge.
Among the stars in the field are U.S. Ryder Cup team members Ben Griffin, who is also the defending champion, Russell Henley, J.J. Spaun and 2025 U.S. captain Keegan Bradley. Popular American pro Rickie Fowler is also teeing it up as he continues his ascent back into the top echelon of the Tour.
But the betting favorite is a member of the European Ryder Cup team, Ludvig Aberg. Aberg already has six top-10 finishes this season, including a T4 at the 2026 PGA Championship.
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CBS and Golf Channel will provide TV coverage of the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge, while PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will offer streaming coverage and featured group coverage all week long. Paramount+ will air simulcasts of CBS’s coverage.
You can find complete information about streaming or watching the tournament on TV below.
What: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge Where: Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas When: Thursday-Sunday, May 28-31 Purse: $9.9 million ($1.710 million winner’s share)
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How to watch on TV
CBS and Golf Channel will air TV coverage of the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge this week. Check out the full TV schedule below.
Thursday, May 28: 4-7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel) Friday, May 29: 4-7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel) Saturday, May 30: 1:30-3:30 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); 3:30-6:30 p.m. ET (CBS) Sunday, May 31: 1-3 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); 3-6 p.m. ET (CBS)
How to watch online, streaming
You can watch the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge online via PGA Tour Live on ESPN+, including exclusive early coverage starting at 8 a.m. ET on Thursday, Friday and Sunday and 8:30 a.m. ET on Saturday. ESPN+ will also provide featured hole and featured group coverage for every round. You can stream CBS’s coverage on Paramount+.
2026 Charles Schwab Challenge tee times: Round 1 (ET)
(TBA)
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2026 Charles Schwab Challenge tee times: Round 2 (ET)
I am hoping you can clarify Rule 23.8 – the restriction on a player standing behind their partner when stroke is played. At my club, we inform all foursomes match competitors that any breach of this rule will result in the general penalty being applied. Yet when you watch the Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup or that televised Parent-Child tournament, you sometimes see a player clearly stand directly their partner to get a read on how the putt moves. Can this rule be excluded from the playing conditions? – Ken Shaw, New Zealand
Ken, we haven’t seen what you have been, at least in the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup, but your query is a chance to elucidate some related issues.
The restriction on being in the standing-behind position has a start time and a stop time. A player is allowed to be in this position for any reason before their partner starts taking their stance, and for any reason other than helping their partner’s aiming up until the stroke is made.
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Again, in neither the Ryder Cup nor the Solheim Cup have we seen a partner in breach of Rule 23.8 or Rule 10.2b(4) given the requisite timelines. (We’ve seen plenty of horrible fan behavior, yes, but not that.)
Now, you may well have seen these Rules excluded in the parent-child event, the PNC Championship, which is a two-person scramble. Officially, no, you can’t just throw out a Rule of Golf; that said, scrambles are just a different beast and already toss aside any number of Rules, so there’s been general acceptance that 23.8 and 10.2b(4) just get excluded/ignored in scrambles.
Should the USGA or R&A ever put on a Scramble Championship, which might happen should hell freeze over, perhaps that would change.
For more partner-related guidance from our guru, read on …
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Upon reaching our drives, my playing partner and I found that our golf balls were touching and perfectly lined up toward the hole. My ball was in front, so I marked it. His approach produced a massive divot; to replace my ball in its original spot would have meant being in this newly created divot. I claimed I was entitled to a free drop, he said I wasn’t. Who was right? – Brick Rigden, Parkville, Mo.
In a word, neither.
Under Rule 14.2d, you were entitled to relief but not a drop.
When you lifted for interference, you were required to replace the ball … but when the lie of a ball to be replaced is altered, you must replace it in a specific way. Namely, by replacing it on the nearest spot with a lie most similar to the original lie that’s within one club-length of said spot, no nearer the hole and in the same area of the course.
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(Your scenario, we will note, more commonly occurs in bunkers, but the process is the same.) We hope this info doesn’t hit you like a ton of bricks, Brick!
Got a question about the Rules? Ask the Rules Guy! Send your queries, confusions and comments to rulesguy@golf.com. We promise he won’t throw the book at you.
He will turn 40 years old before the start of next season. Malkin just finished the final year of a four-year deal with Pittsburgh that he signed ahead of the 2022-2023 season and was a free agent.
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The veteran was also mulling retirement, but he will be back with the Pens for at least the 2026-2027 season.
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Malkin was the second overall pick in the 2004 NHL Draft by the Penguins. He made his debut with the franchise in 2006, and this new contract will take him through his 21st season in Pittsburgh.
The veteran has played in 1,269 career games and has 533 goals with 874 assists. Malkin won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2007, the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2012 and the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2009.
He has helped the Penguins to three Stanley Cup titles. Malkin was on all three championship teams with Sidney Crosby, and fans have wanted both to be lifelong members of the Pens.
Feb 23, 2026; Scottsdale, Arizona, USA; Athletics pitcher Gage Jump (79) throws against the San Francisco Giants in the third inning at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Top prospect Gage Jump is set to join the Athletics’ roster when starter Aaron Civale is placed on the injured list, according to multiple reports Tuesday.
A left-handed strikeout pitcher, Jump has fanned 56 batters in 38 innings over nine starts at Triple-A Las Vegas this season. The 23-year-old has walked 20 and posted a 4.50 ERA with an 0-2 record.
A second-round draft pick out of LSU in 2024, Jump is the No. 41 overall prospect in baseball per MLB Pipeline, which rated him third among A’s prospects behind shortstop Leo De Vries and left-hander Jamie Arnold. Arnold was the 11th overall pick in the 2025 draft out of Florida State and is currently pitching at Double-A Midland.
Civale was pulled after four innings on Monday, raising red flags with a velocity drop that manager Mark Kotsay traced postgame to an issue with his right shoulder or lat. The A’s said Civale would undergo testing Tuesday.
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He allowed seven runs on nine hits and one walk, tossing only 73 pitches in Monday’s 9-2 loss to the visiting Seattle Mariners. He allowed five runs in five innings to the Los Angeles Angels last week, when he said he had been “working through” the arm issue “for a little bit.”
His fastball velocity averaged 88.3 mph on the stadium radar gun on Monday, more than 3 mph off of his 2026 season average.
Civale, 30, is 5-2 this season and his ERA stands at 4.20 through 11 starts. Prior to facing the Angels and Mariners in the past two turns through the rotation, he had a 2.70 ERA. He surrendered 14 hits (six home runs) and 12 earned runs in those two games.
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