A video of Senegalese players testing the ball during football training has racked up millions of views across social media. It shows them repeatedly throwing a series of balls into the air and seeing it rebound on the pitch, with the players seemingly surprised that the balls don’t bounce.

It triggered criticism and concern from football fans online, who said “it completely changes the game” and that “this is going to be the worst World Cup in history.” Others mentioned potential effects for players, posting “a carnival of injuries is coming” and “if you plant your foot wrong, you’ve ruined your career.”

However, there is key context missing from this viral video. It’s an authentic clip with no indication it was modified by AI, and filmed in recent days at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina ahead of a Senegal-US friendly match. However, the stadium where it was filmed is not being used to host World Cup matches across the US, meaning the video isn’t necessarily a reflection of the conditions that players will see during the tournament.

Venues like the Bank of America stadium – which is primarily used for NFL matches – are often used for multiple sports, and use temporary turf or grass that can be unrolled before games. It’s therefore unlikely to have had the same standards or maintenance as the pitches to be used by FIFA.

The turfgrass researchers hired by FIFA spoke to outlet The Conversation about the strictness of the pitch rules across multiple playing conditions and cities for the games, and how they’re confident that all the surface performance tests “met FIFA standards.”

That being said, the 2026 World Cup has not been without controversy. Due to FIFA introducing dynamic pricing for the first time, fans are left with eyewatering ticket prices. There’s also criticism of the “greedy” price hike by US transport authorities during the tournament period, as well as against the “Americanization” of adding the first ever halftime show.

Political controversies have also been present due to Donald Trump’s extensive travel ban rendering fans from multiple participating countries unable to visit, as well as uncertainty about Iran’s participation considering the ongoing war and concern that ICE will be mobilised in US stadiums.

Australia levels the series (Image: X)

Australia produced a disciplined all-round performance to defeat Pakistan by 41 runs in the second ODI at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday, leveling the three-match series 1-1 and setting up a winner-takes-all decider.After being asked to bat first, Australia overcame early setbacks to post a competitive 231/9 in their 50 overs. Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi struck with the very first ball of the match, dismissing Alex Carey and giving the hosts a dream start. The Australian innings, however, was rebuilt through crucial contributions from Josh Inglis and Cameron Green.Inglis top-scored with 51 off 74 deliveries, while Green compiled a composed 53. The duo steadied the innings after Australia slipped to 51/3, adding valuable runs in challenging batting conditions. Youngster Oliver Peake then provided a late flourish to push Australia past the 230-run mark.Pakistan’s bowlers shared the wickets, with Shaheen leading the attack and finishing among the standout performers. Despite keeping Australia in check for large parts of the innings, the hosts were left chasing 232 for victory.Australia’s bowlers responded brilliantly. The visitors struck twice inside the opening three overs before trapping former captain Babar Azam early, leaving Pakistan reeling at 35/3. Matthew Short and Nathan Ellis played key roles with the ball as wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals.Shadab Khan mounted a spirited resistance with a fighting 71, keeping Pakistan’s hopes alive despite the collapse around him. Arafat Minhas also offered support, but the required rate continued to climb as Australia maintained relentless pressure.Nathan Ellis emerged as the chief destroyer, producing career-best ODI figures of 4/33. Matthew Short also made a major impact, and together they claimed seven wickets to derail Pakistan’s chase. Eventually, the hosts were bowled out for 190 in 44 overs, falling 41 runs short of the target.The victory marks a strong comeback for Australia after their defeat in the opening ODI and keeps the series alive heading into the final match. For Pakistan, Shadab’s valiant knock was one of the few positives on an otherwise disappointing batting display as they failed to capitalize on a strong start with the ball.Result: Australia 231/9 (50 overs) beat Pakistan 190 (44 overs) by 41 runs. The three-match ODI series is now tied 1-1.

After June 1st, a date well-known in the NFL as a salary cap milestone and reset each year, the Minnesota Vikings have over $13 million in cap space. SI.com‘s Will Ragatz wrote Monday, “For much of May, after signing Jauan Jennings, the Vikings were pretty tightly up against the salary cap, with maybe 1 or 2 million dollars to spare.”

“That changed on Monday, as the NFL’s June 1 processing date provided Minnesota with a solid chunk of cap space. The Vikings released defensive tackle Jonathan Allen in March with a post-June 1 designation, allowing them to spread out the dead cap hits over 2026 and 2027. The Vikings also get another $1.3 million from Harrison Smith’s contract coming off the books, bringing the total to $12.5M.”

So, the question becomes: how will they spend the new dough? We have theories.

Minnesota Has Four Salary Cap Paths This Summer

1. An Extra Outsider Linebacker

Here’s a simple way to look at it: if the Vikings sign another prominent free agent soon, an outside linebacker is the most likely target.

The position is currently the weakest link on Minnesota’s roster. The trade of Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles in April transformed what was once a major strength into a noticeable question mark.

While Bo Richter and Tyler Batty might be ready for expanded roles, Jake Golday could contribute as an inside/outside linebacker hybrid, and Brian Flores might even experiment with Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins as a stand-up outside linebacker. But these are largely speculative scenarios for a team with playoff aspirations.

Golday could certainly impress at training camp and quickly prove to be the solution. However, the Vikings’ recent approach with rookies suggests they prefer a more gradual integration rather than immediate reliance. Therefore, OLB (OLB3 specifically) remains the clearest area of focus for Minnesota before the season begins. Here are the highest-profile free agent options:

• Cameron Jordan
• Derek Barnett
• Haason Reddick
• Jadeveon Clowney
• Joey Bosa
• Kyle Van Noy
• Leonard Floyd
• Marcus Davenport
• Von Miller
• Yannick Ngakoue

2. A Center Trade or Ethan Pocic from Free Agency

Pocic remains the one free-agent center the Vikings could sign today and reasonably insert into a training-camp battle against Blake Brandel. He’s 30 years old and fired up a 63.8 Pro Football Focus grade in 2025. PFF also ranked him as the league’s 12th-best center entering 2025. At this stage in the offseason, he’d likely cost between $5 million and $9 million.

Otherwise, Minnesota could shoot for the stars and trade for Miami Dolphins center Aaron Brewer, an established center who paired with offensive coordinator Frank Smith in the Dolphins’ offense for the last two seasons. Smith is now the Vikings’ assistant head coach. The problem? The trade would cost a mid-round pick, and Minnesota may not want to part ways with precious draft capital after Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s poor drafting habits dating back to 2022. Minnesota must connect on draft picks henceforth, and subtracting them seems silly.

The Vikings could also peek at Matt Hennessy down in Dallas. The former 3rd-Rounder is still only 28 years old. What’s unusual is that he hasn’t had a real opportunity to consistently play center in five years, despite performing well in his last extended run at the position.

While he’s unlikely to start for Dallas this season, as the Cowboys appear set with Cooper Beebe at center, leaving Hennessy as a backup, this situation could pique the Vikings’ interest.

His PFF body of work:

3. Contract Extensions

Perhaps the most realistic option, Minnesota has more players seeking new contracts than usual, at least at this time on the offseason calendar. Heading into an ordinary training camp, the Vikings generally have 1-3 key players looking for extensions. This is the list in 2026:

• Jordan Addison (WR)
• Blake Brandel (C)
• Blake Cashman (ILB)
• Jordan Mason (RB)
• Brian O’Neill (RT)
• Isaiah Rodgers (CB)
• Andrew Van Ginkel (OLB)
• Jay Ward (S)

All of those men are slated to hit free agency next March. New general manager Nolan Teasley could simply lock in his existing players.

4. Save for a Rainy Day

Last year, fans studied Minnesota’s available cap space, wondering what the previous boss, Adofo-Mensah, might do with it — and then he just sat on it. That could happen again.

The Vikings may not be in a rush to spend their savings, setting the stage for a nest egg during the regular season that could be used to sign emergency free agents or to carve out space ahead of the NFL trade deadline in November.

Then, if that isn’t used, Teasley can roll the funds over to the 2027 cap, leaving more cash on hand for the future. The San Francisco 49ers, for example, are sitting on a pile of $72 million. They could be waiting to ease some future pressure. The Vikings could do that, too.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle says Nigeria will play for victory when they face Poland in Wednesday’s international friendly in Warsaw.

The Nigerian team received a major boost on Tuesday with the arrival of Fulham defender Calvin Bassey, taking the number of players in camp to 20 ahead of the clash at the 58,000-capacity PGE Narodowy Stadium.

Bassey’s arrival gives Chelle more defensive options as the coach continues shaping his squad following Nigeria’s recent Unity Cup triumph in London.

“Now, we have a team and we are preparing to go out there and win. Winning is the mentality that we are trying to create in the team, in the players. We will go for a win on Wednesday,” Chelle said.

The former Mali coach now has several defensive combinations available, with Semi Ajayi, Igoh Ogbu and Emmanuel Fernandez also in camp.

Nigeria’s goalkeeping department also looks competitive, with Maduka Okoye arriving in strong condition after joining training on Monday. Arthur Okonkwo, who kept clean sheets in his first two appearances for Nigeria during the Unity Cup, is also pushing for a starting place alongside Francis Uzoho.

In midfield, captain Wilfred Ndidi is expected to play a leading role alongside Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Tochukwu Nnadi and Abdullahi Bewene.

The attack contains several in-form forwards including Moses Simon, Terem Moffi, Akor Adams, Rafiu Durosinmi and Philip Otele.

One of the biggest talking points in camp, however, has been Paul Onuachu after the striker woke up in Warsaw to news that he had won the Turkish Super Lig Goal of the Season award.

The towering Trabzonspor forward was reportedly one of the standout performers during training as confidence continues to grow within the squad.

Poland are also expected to experiment with several younger players after handing debut opportunities during their recent match against Ukraine.

Coach Jan Urban may rely on winger Jakub Kamiński alongside a group that includes Oskar Pietuszewski, Mateusz Żukowski, Norbert Wojtuszek, Kacper Potulski and Oskar Wójcik.

Wednesday’s match kicks off at 8:45pm local time in Poland (7:45pm Nigeria time).

Iran finalized a 26-man World Cup squad on Monday to play in the United States including 17 home-based players whose clubs have not played since February due to the Middle East regional war.

Star forward Mehdi Taremi, who plays in Greece for Olympiakos, was among nine overseas players but they did not include his strike partner at the 2022 World Cup, Sardar Azmoun.

Azmoun was dropped from coach Amir Ghalenoei’s squad in March, reportedly because of a social media post that angered Iranian authorities during the ongoing war with the United States and Israel. His teammate at Dubai club Shabab Al-Ahli, Saeid Ezatolahi, was picked.

Iran features five players with clubs in the United Arab Emirates, two in Belgium, Taremi in Greece and one in Russia. Belgium-based Dennis Dargahi on the official squad list is known as Dennis Eckert Ayensa at his club Standard Liege.

Iran is preparing for the World Cup at a training camp in Antalya, Turkey, before a scheduled departure on Friday to its tournament base in Tijuana, Mexico.

Citing complexities with visa issues to enter the U.S., Iran got FIFA approval 10 days ago to move from a planned training base in Tucson, Arizona.

Iran plays two games in World Cup Group G in Inglewood, California – against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium six days later – then goes to Seattle to face Egypt on June 26.

Iran and the U.S. could meet in the round of 32 on July 3 at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium in Arlington, Texas, if both place second in their groups.

Iran: 
Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Tractor), Hossein Hosseini (Sepahan), Payam Niazmand (Persepolis) 
Defenders: Danial Eiri (Malavan), Ehsan Hajsafi (Sepahan), Saleh Hardani (Esteghlal), Hossein Kanaani (Persepolis), Shoja Khalilzadeh (Tractor), Milad Mohammadi (Persepolis), Ali Nemati (Foolad), Ramin Rezaeian (Foolad) 
Midfielders: Rouzbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal), Saeid Ezatolahi (Shabab Al-Ahli), Mehdi Ghayedi (Al-Nasr), Saman Ghoddos (Kalba), Mohammad Ghorbani (Al-Wahda), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Dender), Mohammad Mohebi (Rostov), Amir Mohammad Razzaghinia (Esteghlal), Mehdi Torabi (Tractor), Aria Yousefi (Sepahan) 
Forwards: Ali Alipour (Persepolis), Dennis Dargahi (Standard Liege), Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh (Tractor), Mehdi Taremi (Olympiakos), Shahriar Moghanlou (Kalba).

Alice Capsey hits 82 whilst Heather Knight finishes unbeaten on 70 as England chase down 181, the highest run-chase in women’s T20 history in England, to secure a six-wicket win against India, sealing an impressive 2-1 series win in Taunton.

READ MORE: Capsey & Knight star as England seal series win

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A couple of months ago, Megha Ganne, the 2025 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion and a decorated collegiate player, surprisingly missed the cut at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. And how did she take it?

She called it cool.

Let her explain.

“ANWA was cool for me because I have not played that poorly in a big event in a long time, so I guess there has always been a little pocket of my head where it’s like, What happens when you don’t play well at a really big tournament?” she said Monday at the U.S. Women’s Open, her first start as a professional.

She seems to already think and talk like a pro.

“Maybe not fear is the right word, but just curiosity of what that would look like and how that would affect me,” she continued, answering the question about how she stays confident when things don’t go her way. “At ANWA I learned the answer, and the answer is absolutely nothing. Life goes on. Then you wake up the next day and go practice. So I think just knowing there is so many opportunities, so many opportunities to prove yourself is the main thing I learned.”

That next opportunity is this week, at the 81st U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera in Pacific Palisades, Calif., and Ganne enters with some momentum. Last week, she helped her Stanford women’s golf team win the NCAA Championship, its third win in the last five years. Ganne finished second in stroke play and then went undefeated in match play, even clinching the title-winning point in the final against USC.

That put a bow on her senior year at Stanford, where over the last few years she continued to morph into one of the best amateur golfers in the country.

Now, as a professional — she finished atop the LPGA’s LCAP Ranking, meaning she has full Epson Tour status — she has new goals, like “just being comfortable being uncomfortable,” as she gets used to life on tour.

This will be Ganne’s fourth major start — and third U.S. Women’s Open — and she’s five years removed from her first, where for most of the week she was the talk of the tournament. As a 17-year-old, she held a share of the first-round lead, was tied for 3rd after 54 holes and ultimately finished 14th at the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open at The Olympic Club.

She’s played in pro events since then, but for amateurs playing up with professionals, the whole thing can feel so novel, she said. Now it’s a job.

“When you go on Tour just with an exemption or just once, you spend so much time getting accustomed to the stuff that feels a little bit different, you don’t feel like you can maybe delve into your routines as much,” she said. “So I’m excited to build those new routines and see what they look like.”

English football legend David Beckham is set to be honored with a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, organizers announced on Tuesday, as the United States counts down to the FIFA World Cup, which it is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada.

The 51-year-old former England captain’s plaque on the famous Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles will be unveiled at a ceremony on June 12 ahead of the first game of the tournament on US soil between the United States and Paraguay in nearby Inglewood later that evening.

“David Beckham’s recognition with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in the Sports Entertainment category comes at a fitting moment as the United States prepares to host the FIFA World Cup,” said Ana Martinez of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

“Beckham’s role in elevating soccer’s profile in America and his lasting influence on sports, entertainment, and global culture make this honor especially meaningful,” she said.

Beckham: From English talent to global celebrity

In a highly decorated club playing career, Beckham enjoyed most success at Manchester United where he won six Premier League titles and the Champions League – the latter as part of an unprecedented treble in 1999.

He went on to star for European giants Real Madrid, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, as well as American MLS side LA Galaxy, and also made 115 appearances for England, who he represented at three World Cups.

Since retiring in 2013, he has become a co-owner of the American team Inter Miami CF, which signed Argentine superstar Lionel Messi and won the Major League Soccer Cup Championship last year.

Beckham, who was knighted by the United Kingdom‘s King Charles III last year, has also ventured into the entertainment industry, co-founding the content production company Studio 99 in 2019.

Ever since meeting his wife Victoria, a former pop singer with the Spice Girls, in the late 1990s, Beckham has enjoyed global celebrity status far beyond the football pitch.

The World Cup kicks off on June 11 when co-host Mexico faces South Africa in Mexico City.

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Edited by: Roshni Majumdar

Man Utd had a successful summer transfer window last year and are hoping to make similar signings in this window.

Last summer, Manchester United’s transfer business suggested the penny may have finally dropped with recruitment at Old Trafford.

United signed Matheus Cunha (£62.5m), Bryan Mbeumo (£65m + £6m), Benjamin Sesko (£66.4m + £7.3m) and Senne Lammens (£18.2m), and all four players have played important roles in a season in which United finished third.

Cunha, Mbeumo and Sesko reached double figures for goals, and there was not a single period of the campaign without one of the trio being in form, despite there being peaks and troughs for them all.

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They perfectly dovetailed. Mbeumo made an exceptional start to the season, Cunha started to find his feet in December, and Sesko enjoyed a purple patch in 2026.

Lammens was so good that he was named the Premier League’s Transfer of the Season, beating the likes of Rayan Cherki, Joao Pedro, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Granit Xhaka to the award.

United’s strategy was a mix of signing Premier League-proven players, Cunha and Mbeumo, and players that the data department, along with scouts, had strongly recommended.

Cunha and Mbeumo were seen as players who could make an immediate impact at United due to their experience in the Premier League, while Sesko and Lammens were expected to need a period of adaptation.

Sesko got off to a slow start in Manchester, scoring just two goals before Christmas, while Altay Bayindir was played ahead of Lammens until he was finally handed his debut against Sunderland in October.

A few weeks ago, United sources admitted that club chiefs felt their approach of targeting Premier League-proven players had been vindicated, and that a similar approach would be used in future windows.

That suggests United’s approach for the foreseeable future will be considering players from the Premier League, along with some signings from abroad when the data and financials align for a deal.

Ederson falls into the latter category. The 26-year-old can play as a deep-lying midfielder or as a No.8, and he has built a reputation in Italy for his running power, averaging 10.6km per game in the Champions League this season.

Those are the kind of running stats that endear a player to United’s data department. The Reds’ record of signing players from Serie A does not bode well, but the key decision-makers believe Ederson will be a good addition.

The Brazilian is being signed to strengthen the squad ahead of a season in which the schedule will return to normal, and everything is moving in the right direction for the midfielder to arrive in a deal worth around £38m.

Ederson’s arrival at Old Trafford is not expected to alter United’s plans to sign a marquee midfielder to replace Casemiro, with significant investment earmarked to secure a replacement.

Elliot Anderson is at the top of United’s midfielder shortlist, and he’s an example of a Premier League-proven target. Anderson has been brilliant for Nottingham Forest, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox were in attendance when he impressed at Old Trafford last month.

The downside of targeting Premier League players is the cost attached to those deals. Forest value Anderson at around £100m, and Manchester City also want to sign him, which could spark a battle for his signature. United are not prepared to be drawn into a bidding war with City, though.

United are exploring a signing at left-back, and Newcastle defender Lewis Hall is admired, but he is contracted at St. James’ Park until 2029, and Newcastle’s financial position has been strengthened by the sale of Anthony Gordon to Barcelona, which alleviates pressure to sell more top players.

Newcastle signed Hall in a £35m deal two years ago, and the expectation is they would at least double that to consider a sale, which shows why United’s new strategy in the market is sometimes difficult to execute.

The good news is that United have the power to turn the heads of players from Premier League rivals. They are England’s biggest club, can pay top wages and will compete in the Champions League next season.

Transfers between Premier League clubs are rarely cheap, but they come with less risk attached.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

Welcome to Play Smart, a regular GOLF.com game-improvement column that will help you play smarter, better golf.

Early extension is a golf-swing killer.

We’ve covered this topic ad nauseam on this site — but for good reason. When you thrust your hips toward the ball too early in the downswing, you eliminate the space needed to effectively turn through the ball. When that happens, your ball striking always suffers.

Understanding the proper technique to eliminate early extension is extremely important. However, for some golfers, understanding the issue is only half the battle. Because of physical limitations in their bodies, they simply can’t execute the technique that eliminates early extension.

“Everybody talks about mobility and strength, but I think one thing that is often overlooked is stability,” says GOLF Top 100 Teacher Tony Ruggiero. “If you’re not stable enough in that [front] leg, you’re gonna want to stand.”

If you’re someone who suffers from early extension, check out the video below. In it, Tony shares three different exercises you can do to strengthen your body so you can move in a way that doesn’t result in early extension.

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3 exercises to fix early extension

What I love about the exercises Tony showed me is that they incorporate the movements of a golf swing. They don’t simply target the necessary muscle groups; they also force your body to move in the same way that they do during the golf swing.

1. Punch exercise

The first drill is what I call the punch exercise. To set up, get into your golf posture and then drop your trail foot back away from the ball. Next, grab an exercise band that is tethered behind you and pull it across your chest with your trail arm. From there, reach around your body and punch toward the target as you turn your body through.

“That’s pure rotation,” Ruggiero says. “That’s your ribcage rotating through and over to your left leg. When you do that and isolate your weight over your left leg, it’s helping build stability.”

2. Rowing exercise

The next drill is the rowing exercise. For this exercise, get into your golf posture. This time, grab either end of the exercise band in each hand with the center of the band tethered on the ground in front of you. From there, make a rowing motion going back with your trail hand, and then as you turn through to your lead side, make a rowing motion going back with your lead hand.

“There you should actually feel with this resistance having to push off the ground a little,” Ruggiero says.

3. Hinge exercise

For the final exercise, get into your golf posture once again with your trail foot dropped back behind you. This time, hold the shaft of the club across your shoulders. From there, rotate fully toward the target, posting up on your lead leg.

“A lot of people when they do that the first time, they’ll feel that their foot is fighting to hold the ground,” Ruggiero says.