Saudi Arabia held two-time champions Uruguay to a 1-1 draw in their World Cup opener on Monday, four years after defeating future champions Argentina in their debut match in Qatar. Abdulelah Al Amri’s opener for ​the ‌Gulf nation was cancelled out ⁠by Maxi Araujo in a game where both sides ‌profited from goalkeeping errors.

The draw means the two teams are level in Group H with Spain and tournament newcomers Cape Verde, who earlier made history by holding off the European champions in their first ever appearance on football’s biggest stage.

Read moreDebutants Cape Verde hold European champions Spain to shock draw

The first half was ⁠dominated by Uruguay but Saudi Arabia took the lead against the run of ​play in the 41st minute ‌when Fernando Muslera made a costly error on a set-piece, parrying the ball into the ‌path of Al Amri who poked the ball past ​the veteran keeper.

The majority of the second period was played in Saudi Arabia’s half as Uruguay ​frantically searched for an equaliser and ​their persistence paid off when ​goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais also made an error when a ​save fell nicely for Araujo to fire home.

This page will be updated soon.

NBA champion Karl-Anthony Towns is singing his finacée, Jordyn Woods‘, praises after his team’s electrifying win over the San Antonio Spurs. During the post-game press conference, Anthony Towns, often referred to as KAT, opened up about the key role Woods played in his life after the loss of his mother in April 2020.

Anthony Towns, 28, was all smiles on Saturday, June 13, after his team (New York Knicks) won the 2026 NBA Finals. During the post-game conference, the 7-foot elite athlete praised his partner, Woods, and credited her for holding him down after the loss of his mother in April 2020.

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“Her presence is always felt in my life,” Anthony Towns said about his mother, Jacqueline Cruz-Towns, who died in 2020 from complications with COVID-19.

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According to Anthony Towns, although the loss was challenging, his relationship with Woods kept him steady. “You always pray you’re going to pick the right woman for you, and I know I did in my fiancée,” he said.

“It’s crazy, when she passed, there was so much turmoil in my life. Funny enough, my fiancée was the one who was a friend at the time, was the only person I got to call before I had to go out there and say bye to her at the hospital,” he continued.

Karl-Anthony Towns Says His ‘Bond’ With Fiancée, Woods, Goes Beyond What People Can See

Anthony Towns continued boasting about his connection with Woods, telling the media that their “bond … goes deeper than just physical features and everything like that.” The University of Kentucky alum went on to say that their relationship began after years of “true friendship.”

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Regarding his late mother, Anthony Towns said that he attempts to connect with her in other ways. “In moments of true pressure and a lot of things going on, I always feel this calming come to me, and it’s always her,” he said, adding that it’s “great” to “always feel her arms around me and always to feel her love in my life, in so many different ways.”

Anthony Towns added that he didn’t feel that kind of love in his life following her death until he connected with Woods. “It really means a lot that, in a way —without sounding weird—Jackie Jr. was able to be here celebrating this moment with me,” he said.

Woods Said Her Relationship With Karl-Anthony Towns Was Built On ‘Friendship’

According to a previous report from The Blast, Woods opened up about her relationship with Anthony Towns, revealing that it was built on two things: friendship and trust.

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The influencer and TV personality said that the pair started as besties before things eventually progressed between them. “We’ve been through a lot together,” she said. “We’ve seen each other at all different ways, times, and phases, so I think we have a very strong foundation.”

In December 2025, the pair made headlines after posting about their engagement on social media. Major celebrities, including Angel Reese, Kylie Jenner, Bella Hadid, and Simone Biles, congratulated the superstar couple on their special moment.

Anthony Towns wasn’t the only Knicks player to get emotional following their thrilling win on Saturday. According to PEOPLE, Jalen Brunson was also overcome with emotion, especially after seeing his dad, Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson.

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“I was good. [After] the final buzzer, I walked right to half court, shook Mitch Johnson’s hand, and then turned around. My dad was there,” he said. “I just remember Josh [Hart] talking into my ear and him just saying, like, ‘We did it. We did it,’ and then I was emotional for a good like 5, 10 minutes.”

Brunson Said Josh Hart Sent Him And His Teammate A Special Text Following Knicks’ Win

And the emotions didn’t stop there. Brunson spoke with “The Today Show” after their win and told the hosts that Hart sent him and his teammate, Mikal Bridges, a special text the day after becoming NBA champions.

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“He said, ‘I don’t know if I can say this in person because I may be emotional, but I really love you guys, and it really means the most to me to know you guys are here doing this with me.’ We have a special bond,” Brunson said.

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Brunson, Bridges, and Hart all played together at Villanova, winning an NCAA championship together in 2016.

“When we were younger, we all had a goal of obviously trying to make the NBA,” Brunson added. “In that long-term goal, we were able to achieve something great in college.”

Brunson continued, boasting about their “awesome” connection. He said, “We all have love for each other.”

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The Karl-Anthony Towns Sings Jordyn Woods’ Praises Following NBA Finals Win first appeared on The Blast

Abasiofon Uwah has spoken out after the controversy that followed the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) Super Six final day, where she was involved in a mix-up over the top scorer award.

Abasiofon Uwah of Rivers Angels and Atume Doosuur both finished the season with 13 goals each, but only one award portrait was initially presented, leading to tension between the two players.

In a statement released on Monday evening, Uwah explained her emotions at the time and admitted she could have handled the situation better.

“To everyone who has reached out, thank you for caring, and I want to be honest with you,” she wrote.

She said her reaction was not out of anger towards her fellow striker, but because of what the award meant to her after a long season.

“Atume and I both gave everything this season to finish as joint top scorers. When only one award was presented, I held on, not out of anger, but because I had poured my heart into this season and that trophy represented every sacrifice I made,” she said.

Uwah also admitted she reflected on her actions after the incident.

“Still, looking back, I could have handled that moment better, and I acknowledge that,” she added.

She was quick to clear any misunderstanding between her and Doosuur, stressing that there was no bad blood.

“There is no bad blood between Atume and I. We represent each other as players and as people,” she said.

Uwah further confirmed that the issue had been resolved, as both players would now receive their awards.

“The league has done the right thing by ensuring we each receive our award, and I’m truly grateful for that,” she added.

She ended her message by dedicating her achievement to her teammates, coaches, and fans who supported her throughout the season.

Uwah, who captained Ibom Angels last season and won the Federation Cup top scorer award before joining Rivers Angels, was one of the standout performers in the NWFL Season.

International industry lobbying associations are calling for physical activity and strength training to be deeply integrated with GLP-1 treatment.

Five organisations – UK Active, the Health and Fitness Association, the HFA Foundation, AusActive, Exercise New Zealand and Fitness Industry Council of Canada – have joined forces following a multinational study which found that pairing GLP-1 therapy with regular structured exercise would improve long-term health outcomes, reduce downstream costs and generate positive economic returns across multiple countries. 

Developed by FTI Consulting’s Center for Healthcare Economics and Policy, the white paper From Weight Loss to Lasting Value: Structured Exercise and the Economics of GLP-1 Therapy compares impacts of GLP-1 therapy as a standalone obesity treatment with GLP-1 therapy combined with exercise. 

Adding structured exercise to GLP-1 therapy can help patients preserve muscle during weight loss; maintain strength, mobility, and bone health; keep more weight off over time; reduce weight regain after stopping medication and lower the risk of costly health events later on. 

The trade associations are calling for structured exercise, including strength training, to be an essential part of obesity care and embedded into GLP-1 care models. They are also asking for patients to be supported to find qualified exercise professionals and fitness facilities and for referral pathways to be built between healthcare providers and qualified exercise professionals and fitness facilities and for outcomes beyond weight loss to be measured, such as long-term weight loss and economic value.

The analysis used a health-economic model adapted across Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the United States. Across all five countries the analysis found that a combined approach supports improved long-term health outcomes, reduced healthcare costs, and produced positive economic returns. 

Greta Wagner, interim president and CEO of the Health and Fitness Association and president of the HFA Foundation, says: “The health and fitness industry has long known that lasting wellness requires more than a number on a scale, it requires strength, function, and sustainable healthy life habits.  

“This research confirms that exercise, especially strength training, helps patients sustain the benefits of GLP-1 treatment over time.”  

Cameron Saunders, CEO of UK Active, says: “The evidence is clear and the bill for inaction is one that health systems cannot keep picking up. Our members are ready to be delivery partners – we have the facilities, the professionals and programmes to make it happen at scale.”  

In the UK, combining regular exercise with GLP-1 therapy could generate an estimated £2.7bn in economic and societal value over 10 years and a 164 per cent return on investment, rising to 717 per cent and £13bn over 30 years.

For the US, the economic and societal value over 10 years was estimated at US$120bn  and a 496 per cent return on investment, rising to 1,572 per cent and US$393bn over 30 years. 

Estimates for Australia were A$182m in economic and societal value over 10 years and a 59 per cent return on investment, rising to 457 per cent and A$1.4bn over 30 years. 

Canada could expect to generate C$3.5bn in economic and societal value over 10 years and a 105 per cent return on investment, rising to 526 per cent and C$17.9bn over 30 years. 

For New Zealand: the figures were NZ$51m in economic and societal value over 10 years and a 27 per cent return on investment, rising to 306 per cent and NZ$592m over 30 years. 

Few expected Cabo Verde to leave Atlanta with anything from their first-ever FIFA World Cup match. Fewer still expected them to shut out one of the tournament favourites.

Yet after more than 90 minutes of relentless Spanish pressure, Cabo Verde emerged with a historic 0-0 draw against Spain in Group H, producing a defensive display that will be remembered as one of the nation’s greatest footballing achievements.

Early warning signs ignored

Spain dominated possession from the opening whistle and spent much of the evening camped inside the Cabo Verde half. However, every attack was met by a blue wall that refused to crack.

The opening stages set the tone for the contest. Spain monopolised possession while Cabo Verde struggled to build from the back under intense pressure.

By the 16th minute, Pedri had already tested goalkeeper Vozinha after being picked out by Rodri on the edge of the box. The effort lacked power, but it served as an early warning that Spain would continue to come.

A few minutes later, Spain had already established more than 60 per cent possession, yet Cabo Verde’s compact shape ensured the favourites were largely restricted to efforts from less dangerous positions.

When Ryan Mendes attempted to launch attacks from the right flank, Marc Cucurella tracked back quickly, but Cabo Verde remained patient and committed to their defensive structure.

Vozinha’s first-half heroics

The defining moments of the first half arrived in the closing stages.

In the 36th minute, Pedri struck from outside the box and forced Vozinha into a smart save as Spain increased the pressure. Two minutes later came the moment that could have changed the game.

Rodri floated a superb pass into the penalty area for Cucurella, whose header back across goal found Mikel Oyarzabal. The Spain forward’s header beat Vozinha but crashed against the post. As the rebound fell kindly to Ferran Torres, the goalkeeper seemed beaten.

Instead, Vozinha reacted brilliantly to tip Torres’ effort over the crossbar and preserve the deadlock with one of the saves of the tournament so far.

Spain continued to push before half-time. In the 45th minute, Torres tested the goalkeeper once again, while deep into stoppage time Aymeric Laporte met a corner with a powerful header. Vozinha was equal to that too, producing another excellent save to send Spain into the break frustrated despite registering 12 shots.

The blue wall stands firm

Spain returned after half-time with renewed urgency. In the 56th minute, Rodri found Cucurella on the left, and the full-back delivered a dangerous cross into the box. Fabian Ruiz met it with a free header but directed the effort straight at Vozinha.

A minute later, Laporte tried his luck from distance, while Spain continued to flood forward in search of an opener.

As the pressure increased, every Cabo Verde defender contributed. Borges cleared crosses, Cabral tracked runners, and the midfield worked tirelessly to close spaces around Pedri and Rodri.

Even when Lamine Yamal entered the match in the 71st minute, Cabo Verde adapted quickly. The teenage star repeatedly found himself facing two or three defenders whenever he received possession near the box.

Lopes leads the resistance

If Vozinha was the hero in goal, Roberto Lopes was the commander in front of him. The centre-back grew in influence as the match entered its closing stages.

In the 87th minute, Yamal produced a clever cross that found Dani Olmo, who controlled and laid the ball into the path of Oyarzabal. The Spain striker looked set to score, only for Lopes to throw himself in front of the shot and make a crucial block.

Moments later, Spain introduced Nico Williams for one final push. But Lopes was not finished.

A night for the history books

The statistics will show Spain dominated possession, created more chances and spent most of the match on the front foot.

What they will not fully capture is the discipline, resilience and determination that Cabo Verde displayed throughout the night.

From Vozinha’s saves in the first half to Lopes’ late interventions and the collective effort of every player in blue, Cabo Verde delivered a defensive masterclass.

For Spain, it felt like two points dropped, but for Cabo Verde, it felt like history had been made.

The 2026 World Cup has a four-match slate on Monday, with the nightcap featuring New Zealand versus Iran in Group G play. Iran are slotted 20th in FIFA rankings as they seek to advance past the group stage for the first time in their seventh tournament appearance. New Zealand are the lowest-ranked team in the World Cup 2026 as FIFA has them 85th, and they’ve failed to win any of their prior six World Cup matches. Belgium are -250 favorites to win Group G, with Iran at +700 and the Kiwis at +2500.

Kickoff is 9 p.m. ET from Los Angeles Stadium. This is the teams’ first meeting since 2003. The latest Iran vs. New Zealand odds from FanDuel Sportsbook list the Iranians at -130 (risk $130 to win $100) on the 90-minute money line, with New Zealand at +400 and a draw at +240. The over/under for total goals is 2.5. Before locking in any New Zealand vs. Iran picks or World Cup 2026 predictions, check out the Iran vs. New Zealand predictions from SportsLine’s Jon Eimer.

Eimer is a high-volume bettor who has vast knowledge of leagues and players across the globe. Since joining SportsLine, he has covered the English Premier League, Champions League, Serie A, the FA Cup, and much more. He’s been red-hot on his soccer betting picks in 2026, posting a 31-13-2 record and returning over $1,200 of profit on his Champions League picks. He’s also off to a fast start in the World Cup, entering Monday on a 12-5-2 run on WC picks (+407.5). Anyone wanting to follow his World Cup betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could see big returns.

Now, Eimer has studied New Zealand vs. Iran and just revealed his 2026 World Cup picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several World Cup odds and soccer betting lines for Iran vs. New Zealand:

Top Iran vs. New Zealand predictions

After examining New Zealand vs. Iran from every angle, Eimer is leaning Under 2.5 total goals. New Zealand enter the 2026 World Cup failing to score in four of their last five matches. They are the lowest-ranked team in this tournament, and the Kiwis last World Cup appearance saw all three of their group matches have under 2.5 total goals.

As for Iran, they don’t typically engage in high-scoring affairs in this competition, which is the fourth in a row that they’ve qualified for. Nine of the Iranians last 11 World Cup matches have seen under 2.5 total goals. With the undermanned New Zealanders expected to attempt to control possession and notch a late goal, backing the Under is the value play. See Eimer’s best bets for Iran vs. New Zealand at SportsLine, and you can bet the Under in New Zealand vs. Iran at FanDuel here:

How to make New Zealand vs. Iran picks

After studying the Iran vs. New Zealand matchup from every angle, Eimer has locked in another two best bets, including one plus-money pick. You can head to SportsLine to see what they are. 

So what are the best bets for New Zealand vs. Iran? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for Iran vs. New Zealand, all from expert on an 31-13-2 roll on UCL picks, and find out.

Belgium and Egypt drew 1-1 in their World Cup opener on Monday after a second-half Belgian equalizer spoiled Mohamed Salah’s 34th birthday. Emam Ashour opened the scoring early in the first half in Seattle, before Romelu Lukaku came off the bench after the hour to force Egypt’s Mohamed Hany into an own goal. With the draw, seven-time Africa Cup of Nations champions Egypt’s wait for a first victory at a World Cup goes on. This is their fourth participation in the global showpiece and with Group G fixtures to come against Iran and New Zealand, they will hope to break that hoodoo in North America.

For Belgium, this tournament is likely the last chance for the remnants of their golden generation to better their third-placed finish in Russia eight years ago and finally win silverware.

Veterans Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois and Lukaku are the main protagonists of that group still involved in Rudi Garcia’s squad. 

With all eyes in the Pacific Northwest on Salah and De Bruyne, it was the ex-Manchester City playmaker that created the first moment of note in the match when he dragged a sharp effort narrowly wide in the seventh minute.

However, it was Ashour who upstaged the pair just before the hydration break when he received the ball in a similar position to De Bruyne but his sweetly-struck effort left Courtois no chance as it whistled into the bottom-right corner.

It was just the second time in their history that Egypt had taken the lead in a World Cup match — after Salah opened the scoring in a 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia in 2018.

De Bruyne came within inches of levelling early in the second period when he whipped a close-range free-kick over the Egyptian wall, only to see it rocket off the outside of the post.

Salah responded at the other end as he ghosted into the box but had his downward header punched away by Courtois with Ashour getting his follow-up effort all wrong.

The match became stretched as both sides came close on a couple of occasions, including a screaming left-footed volley by Belgian captain Youri Tielemans.

With 65 minutes gone, Rudi Garcia decided to send on Lukaku.

The change immediately paid dividends as Belgium’s all-time top goalscorer showed his predatory instincts to dash in on a Thomas Meunier cross, with his presence enough to destabilize Hany who put through his own net.

Salah departed the field with 15 minutes remaining as Egypt sought to shut up shop and ultimately held out for a point.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Having taught in the Hamptons for many years at Atlantic Golf Club and Sebonack, I had the opportunity to play many of Long Island’s great golf courses, including Shinnecock Hills. With so many outstanding courses in the area, Shinnecock always stood out as one of the most challenging and rewarding. It is always exciting to watch the U.S. Open there and see both the course and the players put on a great show.

Here are five shots and skills the winner will need to master to score well at Shinnecock.

1. Fairway-finder tee shot

The rough at Shinnecock can be brutal. Finding the fairway off the tee provides a huge advantage and makes approach shots significantly easier.

A controlled tee shot with a slight fade is often an effective fairway-finding shot. To produce this shape, the trail-hand grip can be positioned slightly more on top of the club, which tends to open the forearms and shoulders slightly and encourage a controlled fade.

2. Rough escape

The rough and fescue at Shinnecock are demanding but manageable with the right technique.

Club selection is critical. Using a club with sufficient loft helps combat the thick grass, which can grab the hosel, twist the clubface, and make it difficult to launch the ball high enough to advance it back into play.

At address, tilting the upper body slightly forward so the lead shoulder sits lower than the trail shoulder and favoring the lead foot can help create a steeper angle of attack. This allows the clubhead to strike the back of the ball more directly before entering the turf, reducing the amount of grass trapped between the clubface and the ball.

3. Flighted wedge

Wind is one of Shinnecock’s greatest defenses. Long Island often experiences strong coastal winds, making trajectory control essential.

The ability to flight wedge shots lower allows players to better manage both distance and direction. Moving the ball slightly back in the stance can help produce a lower trajectory. Players can also favor the lead foot throughout the swing while dropping the lead foot slightly back to align the shoulders and maintain forward pressure.

A three-quarter swing both back and through helps keep the ball flight down and minimizes the wind’s influence.

4. Touch on the greens

Fast hardly does justice to the speed of Shinnecock’s greens, especially when combined with their significant undulation.

Avoiding three-putts will be critical, making distance control one of the most important putting skills throughout the week. While tour professionals generally excel in this area, it is also one of the skills recreational golfers can improve the most through focused practice and distance-control drills.

5. Par-3 tee shots

Shinnecock’s par 3s are both beautiful and demanding. The 11th hole immediately comes to mind.

Hitting the green should be the primary objective. The elevated putting surface requires exceptional distance control, particularly when the wind is blowing. There is nothing wrong with aiming for the center of the green and prioritizing a safe target, given how easily shots can roll away when they miss the surface.