England midfielder Jude Bellingham has stressed the importance of needing to “feel loved” as he looks to help them enjoy World Cup success this summer.

The tournament in North America got under way on Thursday as Mexico – hosts alongside USA and Canada – beat South Africa 2-0.

England’s tournament does not get under way until next Wednesday, when they take on Croatia in Arlington, Texas.

Bellingham was part of the England squad that reached the final of Euro 2024, where they were beaten by Spain.

However, the national team – then managed by Gareth Southgate – were often accused of playing poorly in that tournament, with Bellingham saying previously he felt like a bit of a scapegoat for England’s failure to win that tournament.

Bellingham admitted something felt that the group were “not quite connected” during the Euros but has stressed there is a different feel around the camp now.

“At the Euros we got some things a little bit wrong off the pitch,” he said on England’s Lions’ Den show.

“I don’t feel like the group connected as well as it could have for a number of reasons. Expectation was part of it – we had done well in 2018 and done well in Qatar [for the 2022 World Cup] and when it came to that tournament we were seen as one of two or three teams that should win it.

“We were not playing particularly well so even when we were winning you didn’t get the feeling you were as happy as you should be.

“There has to be that element of relentless and wanting to win but it is the nature of football that wins go out of the system quickly and we should hold on to that moment a little more.

“I think this time round having those experiences… and knowing, for example, that the guy who scores the winning goal in the World Cup final isn’t always the one you’d bet your house on so you’ve always got to be ready, everyone’s got to feel loved and feel a huge part of the team. The other thing is just to enjoy it.”

If I told you that South Korea scored a go-ahead goal to secure all three points in a 2-1 victory over Czechia, you’d assume that it was their captain and one of the greatest ever goal scorers in Asian soccer history, Son Heung-Min, who made the difference. But instead, it was actually the player who replaced him, Oh Hyeon-Gyu, a winger with Besiktas in Turkiye, who latched onto Hwang In-Beom’s pass to put South Korea ahead for good, cancelling out a set-piece goal from defender Ladislav Krejci.

On paper, in an expanded tournament with 48 teams, this is a great result, especially with a tough match against tournament co-hosts Mexico up next. Three points and an okay goal difference could be enough to see South Korea make it through to the round of 32 of the tournament. But this is a team with higher ambitions than that. They’ve been in every World Cup since 1986 and were able to make it to the round of 16 in Qatar in 2022.

Their captain, Son, is now 33, and it would be a shame for him to retire from international soccer without the Taegeuk Warriors going on a serious run. But Son hasn’t scored in the World Cup since 2018, and he also hasn’t scored for his club, Los Angeles FC, in MLS play this season. He does have eight assists, so this isn’t to say that he’s a liability by any means, but for someone who has been outrunning his expected goals for his career due to being such an excellent two-footed finisher, seeing him miss shots against Czechia is a bit of a concern. Son took six shots during the match, only putting one on target, and when he left the pitch, the team seemed more cohesive due to not looking for their talisman and playing an excellent game of out-pass the big lads on Czechia. 

The highs of South Korea’s attack weren’t as high, but they were able to keep Czechia from creating anything in the second half of play. Having a training camp in Utah at altitude helped with fitness, but to go on a run during this tournament, the time when Son needed to put the team on his back by shooting could be in the past. He’s still an excellent soccer player, but in Hwang Hee-Chan and Lee Kang-In, there are other excellent players who can put the ball in the back of the net as well. 

If this is going to be the year that the Taegeuk Warriors finally go on a run as dark horses at the World Cup, they’ll need to figure out that balance on the fly. Taking Son off before the 70th minute shows that manager Hong Myung-Bo is willing to make the changes that are needed to win, and that’s a great start because this is a talented, organized side that can make some noise if they keep it up. And if Son can deliver, even more so.

“Son is a very stable player and I have no worries about him,” the coach said.

Mexico delivered a statement in the 2026 World Cup‘s opening match, dominating South Africa 2-0 at the Azteca Stadium.

Julian Quinones scored the opening goal of the tournament and veteran striker Raul Jimenez added a second as the co-hosts’ bid for qualification from Group A got off to smooth start.

South Africa meanwhile never looked like spoiling the opening day fiesta, and finished with only nine men after Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane were sent off.

Watch moreWorld Cup: Excitement mounts in Mexico City ahead of opening game

The Mexican-colored red, green and white smoke from pre-game fireworks had barely dissipated before Quinones fired the hosts into the lead on nine minutes, drilling a low shot through the legs of South Africa’s goalkeeper and captain Ronwen Williams.

A deafening roar cascaded down from the stands of the Azteca, the footballing cathedral that became the only stadium to host games at three different World Cups.

South Africa coach Hugo Broos had warned his players to be ready for the intimidating atmosphere created by a capacity 80,824 crowd at the imposing concrete arena.

Two red cards 

But South Africa’s players looked to have a bad case of stage fright as Mexico’s fans greeted each completed pass with a raucous chorus of “Ole!” in the opening minutes.

Sithole seemed particularly affected, being caught in possession trying to play out of the back for Quinones’ opening goal.

Sithole’s miserable afternoon ended with a 49th minute dismissal after bundling over Mexico’s Brian Gutierrez when clean through on goal.

Read moreMexique – Afrique du Sud : Les Mexicains remportent le match d’ouverture

Mexico rammed home their advantage in the 67th minute, with a fine counter attack culminating in Roberto Alvarado crossing for Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Jimenez to nod home at the far post.

It got worse for South Africa in the 84th minute when Zwane was dismissed after a VAR review for flinging an arm into the face of Alvarado.

There was still time for late drama when Mexican defender Cesar Montes was shown a red card for a clumsy challenge on Khulisa Mudau on the edge of the penalty area.

(FRANCE24 with AFP)

CBF held an inaugural meeting with representatives of clubs from the Brazilian Serie A and B championships and the State Federations to begin the debate on the creation of a Football League in Brazil, with CBF president Samir Xaud calling it “a historic day for Brazilian football” as clubs came together “to discuss an issue that will define our future: the creation of a single league.” The meetings represent the latest phase in CBF’s broader internationalization strategy, which includes bringing Brazilian stakeholders to the United States to study league governance models.

CBF’s Miami Office as Strategic Hub

The move marks the first step in a broader global network designed to strengthen the CBF brand, deepen commercial partnerships, engage the Brazilian diaspora, and expand technical collaboration with the United States Soccer Federation and Major League Soccer. Located near key stakeholders such as FIFA and CONCACAF, the Miami office operates as an embassy for Brazilian football, supporting sponsorship deals, institutional relationships, youth scouting initiatives, and women’s development.

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Since opening the Miami office five to six months ago, CBF has already seen tangible results, closing new agreements with major companies such as Uber, Volkswagen, and iFood. These partnerships are the direct result of the relationships and communication being built from Miami within the broader CBF ecosystem.

Learning from MLS Governance Structure

The analysis was deepened following an international immersion in Europe in January, when the Brazilian delegation learned about concepts, governance models and strategies used by the leagues and federations of England, Germany and Spain on topics such as financial fair play, technology and the professionalization of refereeing. The US meetings extend this research to North American models, particularly MLS’s structure.

The national governing organisation said that the league is undervalued and presented a plan to finalise the league’s statutes by the end of 2026. If successful, the process could end the competition’s division into two rival blocks of clubs – FFU and Libra – which has handicapped the league. At present, the two blocks compete over revenue and commercial rights.

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The Structural Challenge

CBF presented studies carried out since the first months of the current administration to show the full untapped potential of Brazilian football, whose top national division is nevertheless the sixth most valuable league in the world. The CBF listed a series of problems that needed addressing in Brazilian club football, including the match calendar, kick-off times, stadium infrastructure, financial fair play and marketing.

“The league needs to belong to the clubs. That is a fundamental, non-negotiable principle. CBF will be present, with an active role as mediator and one of the leaders of the process.” This approach mirrors MLS’s club-centric governance model, where individual franchises maintain significant autonomy within a centralized structure.

Implications for US Soccer

Today, there is significant movement between Brazil and MLS. Many Brazilian players are coming to MLS, and there are also transfers from MLS clubs to the Brazilian league, which is organized by CBF. Because of this exchange, it’s essential for CBF to stay informed and bring the best insights and information back into our ecosystem.

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A unified Brazilian league could strengthen the player pipeline between Brazil and MLS, particularly as the 2026 World Cup approaches. International groups such as City Group and Red Bull GmbH have invested in Brazilian clubs, representing an important cultural change for Brazilian football and bringing the model closer, in some ways, to what we see in the United States. In Brazil, investors can now own clubs, but the leagues and competitions are still organized and run by the CBF.

CBF’s US presence positions Brazilian football to capitalize on North America’s growing soccer market while potentially creating more structured pathways for talent exchange and commercial partnerships with MLS ahead of the World Cup.

This 48-team extravaganza is the biggest World Cup there has ever been, and it might just be the most complex too. Twelve groups of four teams might be enough to follow in the first place, but those fans of brackets who have a familiarity of past tournaments might have a sense of what the issue is here. A dozen groups do not a round robin path to the final easily make.

As such, eight of the 12 groups will send their third-placed team to the first knockout rounds, meaning 72 games will be required to trim a third off this field. Those third-placed teams will be ranked first by the points they accrue and then by goal difference, goals scored, their team conduct score (yellow and red cards), and then their FIFA ranking.

In short, this could get complicated. There’s going to be a lot to follow, an awful lot of permutations that might, for example, decide whether Scotland get through and Sweden don’t. Catch up with all the standings below.

Group A

Thursday, June 11
Mexico 2, South Africa 0
South Korea 2, Czechia 1

Thursday, June 18
Czechia vs. South Africa, 12 p.m.
Mexico vs. South Korea, 9 p.m.

Wednesday, June 24
Czechia vs. Mexico, 9 p.m.
South Africa vs. South Korea, 9 p.m.

Group B

Friday, June 12
Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 p.m.

Saturday, June 13
Qatar vs. Switzerland, 3 p.m.

Thursday, June 18
Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 p.m.
Canada vs. Qatar, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, June 24
Switzerland vs. Canada, 3 p.m.
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar, 3 p.m.

Group C

Saturday, June 13
Brazil vs. Morocco, 6 p.m.
Haiti vs. Scotland, 9 p.m.

Friday, June 19
Scotland vs. Morocco, 6 p.m.
Brazil vs. Haiti, 9 p.m.

Wednesday, June 24
Scotland vs. Brazil, 6 p.m.
Morocco vs. Haiti, 6 p.m.

Group D

Friday, June 12
USA vs. Paraguay, 9 p.m.

Saturday, June 13
Australia vs. Turkiye, 12 a.m.

Friday, June 19
USA vs. Australia, 3 p.m.
Turkiye vs. Paraguay, 12 a.m.

Thursday, June 25
Turkiye vs. USA, 10 p.m.
Paraguay vs. Australia, 10 p.m.

Group E

Sunday, June 14
Germany vs. Curacao, 1 p.m.
Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador, 7 p.m.

Saturday, June 20
Germany vs. Ivory Coast, 4 p.m.
Ecuador vs. Curacao, 8 p.m.

Thursday, June 25
Ecuador vs. Germany, 4 p.m.
Curacao vs. Ivory Coast, 4 p.m.

Group F

Sunday, June 14
Netherlands vs. Japan, 4 p.m.
Sweden vs. Tunisia, 10 p.m.

Saturday, June 20
Netherlands vs. Sweden, 1 p.m.
Tunisia vs. Japan, 12 a.m.

Thursday, June 25
Japan vs. Sweden, 7 p.m.
Tunisia vs. Netherlands, 7 p.m.

Group G

Monday, June 15
Belgium vs. Egypt, 3 p.m.
Iran vs. New Zealand, 9 p.m.

Sunday, June 21
Belgium vs. Iran, 3 p.m.
New Zealand vs. Egypt, 9 p.m.

Friday, June 26
Egypt vs. Iran, 11 p.m.
New Zealand vs. Belgium, 11 p.m.

Group H

Monday, June 15
Spain vs. Cape Verde, 12 p.m.
Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay, 6 p.m.

Sunday, June 21
Spain vs. Saudi Arabia, 12 p.m.
Uruguay vs. Cape Verde, 6 p.m.

Friday, June 26
Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia, 8 p.m.
Uruguay vs. Spain, 8 p.m.

Group I

Tuesday, June 16
France vs. Senegal, 3 p.m.
Iraq vs. Norway, 6 p.m.

Monday, June 22
France vs. Iraq, 5 p.m.
Norway vs. Senegal, 8 p.m.

Friday, June 26
Norway vs. France, 3 p.m.
Senegal vs. Iraq, 3 p.m.

Group J

Tuesday, June 16
Argentina vs. Algeria, 9 p.m.
Austria vs. Jordan, 12 a.m.

Monday, June 22
Argentina vs. Austria, 1 p.m.
Jordan vs. Algeria, 11 p.m.

Saturday, June 27
Algeria vs. Austria, 10 p.m.
Jordan vs. Argentina, 10 p.m.

Group K

Wednesday, June 17
Portugal vs. DR Congo, 1 p.m.
Uzbekistan vs. Colombia, 10 p.m.

Tuesday, June 23
Portugal vs. Uzbekistan, 1 p.m.
Colombia vs. DR Congo, 10 p.m.

Saturday, June 27
Colombia vs. Portugal, 7:30 p.m.
DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan, 7:30 p.m.

Group L

Wednesday, June 17
England vs. Croatia, 4 p.m.
Ghana vs. Panama, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, June 23
England vs. Ghana, 4 p.m.
Panama vs. Croatia, 7 p.m.

Saturday, June 27
Panama vs. England, 5 p.m.
Croatia vs. Ghana, 5 p.m.

The biggest World Cup in history is upon us. Over 104 matches across 38 days in 16 host cities in three countries, the world champions will be crowned. This 48-team tournament is a competition unlike any other. Its field includes every former champion bar Italy and four debutants: Cabo Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan.

Hosting for the second time, the U.S.A. face perhaps the greatest expectations that have ever been placed on them at a World Cup. The so-called golden generation have struggled to build on the hype that followed their run to the knockout stages in 2022 and now face the pressure of having to capture the imagination of a nation. Will they do so? Will the same happen for co-hosts Mexico and Canada?

Teams to watch out for from the outset include holders Argentina in what will surely this time be Lionel Messi’s last dance on the biggest stage of all. The same will be true for a host of other superstars, most notably his old rival Cristiano Ronaldo. It is hard to believe that Neymar, Luka Modric or maybe even Mohamed Salah will have much left in their tank for 2030. Meanwhile, France will be looking to reclaim the title they won in 2018 and lost in the dramatic final four years later. Spain are many people’s favorite, while Brazil, Portugal and England are sure to number among the contenders.

In short this promises to be a World Cup as full of stories, drama, and thrills as ever. Here’s how you can watch it:

How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Every single game of the competition is available live on Fubo (try for free). Matches will air on English on Fox and in Spanish on Telemundo. 

FIFA World Cup schedule

All times Eastern
Thursday, June 11
Mexico 2, South Africa 0
South Korea 2, Czechia 1

Friday, June 12
Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 p.m.
USA vs. Paraguay, 9 p.m.

Saturday, June 13
Qatar vs. Switzerland, 3 p.m.
Brazil vs. Morocco, 6 p.m.
Haiti vs. Scotland, 9 p.m.

Sunday, June 14
Australia vs. Turkiye, 12 a.m.
Germany vs. Curacao, 1 p.m.
Netherlands vs. Japan, 4 p.m.
Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador, 7 p.m.
Sweden vs. Tunisia, 10 p.m.

Monday, June 15
Spain vs. Cape Verde, 12 p.m.
Belgium vs. Egypt, 3 p.m.  
Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay, 6 p.m.
Iran vs. New Zealand, 9 p.m.

Tuesday, June 16
France vs. Senegal, 3 p.m.
Iraq vs. Norway, 6 p.m.
Argentina vs. Algeria, 9 p.m.

Wednesday, June 17
Austria vs. Jordan, 12 a.m.
Portugal vs. DR Congo, 1 p.m.
England vs. Croatia, 4 p.m.
Ghana vs. Panama, 7 p.m.
Uzbekistan vs. Colombia, 10 p.m.

Thursday, June 18
Czechia vs. South Africa, 12 p.m.
Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 p.m.
Canada vs. Qatar, 6 p.m.
Mexico vs. South Korea, 9 p.m.

Friday, June 19
Scotland vs. Morocco, 6 p.m.
USA vs. Australia, 3 p.m.
Brazil vs. Haiti, 9 p.m.

Saturday, June 20
Turkiye vs. Paraguay, 12 a.m.
Netherlands vs. Sweden, 1 p.m.
Germany vs. Ivory Coast, 4 p.m.
Ecuador vs. Curacao, 8 p.m.

Sunday, June 21
Tunisia vs. Japan, 12 a.m.
Spain vs. Saudi Arabia, 12 p.m.
Belgium vs. Iran, 3 p.m.
Uruguay vs. Cape Verde, 6 p.m.
New Zealand vs. Egypt, 9 p.m.

Monday, June 22
Argentina vs. Austria, 1 p.m.
France vs. Iraq, 5 p.m.
Norway vs. Senegal, 8 p.m.
Jordan vs. Algeria, 11 p.m.

Tuesday, June 23
Portugal vs. Uzbekistan, 1 p.m.
England vs. Ghana, 4 p.m.
Panama vs. Croatia, 7 p.m.
Colombia vs. DR Congo, 10 p.m.

Wednesday, June 24
Switzerland vs. Canada, 3 p.m.
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar, 3 p.m.
Scotland vs. Brazil, 6 p.m.
Morocco vs. Haiti, 6 p.m.
Czechia vs. Mexico, 9 p.m.
South Africa vs. South Korea, 9 p.m.

Thursday, June 25
Ecuador vs. Germany, 4 p.m.
Curacao vs. Ivory Coast, 4 p.m.
Japan vs. Sweden, 7 p.m.
Tunisia vs. Netherlands, 7 p.m.
Turkiye vs. USA, 10 p.m.
Paraguay vs. Australia, 10 p.m.

Friday, June 26
Norway vs. France, 3 p.m.
Senegal vs. Iraq, 3 p.m.
Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia, 8 p.m.
Uruguay vs. Spain, 8 p.m.
Egypt vs. Iran, 11 p.m.
New Zealand vs. Belgium, 11 p.m.

Saturday, June 27
Panama vs. England, 5 p.m.
Croatia vs. Ghana, 5 p.m.
Colombia vs. Portugal, 7:30 p.m.
DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan, 7:30 p.m.
Algeria vs. Austria, 10 p.m.
Jordan vs. Argentina, 10 p.m.

Knockouts

Round of 32

Sunday, June 28
Runners-up A vs. Runners-up B, 3 p.m.

Monday, June 29
Winners C vs. Runners-up F, 1 p.m.
Winners E vs. Best 3rd (A/B/C/D/F), 4:30 p.m.
Winners F vs. Runners-up C, 9 p.m.

Tuesday, June 30
Runners-up E vs. Runners-up I, 1 p.m.
Winners I vs. Best 3rd (C/D/F/G/H), 5 p.m.
Winners A vs. Best 3rd (C/E/F/H/I), 9 p.m.

Wednesday, July 1
Winners L vs. Best 3rd (E/H/I/J/K), 12 p.m.
Winners G vs. Best 3rd (A/E/H/I/J), 4 p.m.
Winners D vs. Best 3rd (B/E/F/I/J), 8 p.m.

Thursday, July 2
Winners H vs. Runners-up J, 3 p.m.
Runners-up K vs. Runners-up L, 7 p.m.
Winners B vs. Best 3rd (E/F/G/I/J), 11 p.m.

Friday, July 3
Runners-up D vs. Runners-up G, 2 p.m.
Winners J vs. Runners-up H, 6 p.m.
Winners K vs. Best 3rd (D/E/I/J/L), 9:30 p.m.

Round of 16

Saturday, July 4
TBD, 1 p.m.
TBD, 5 p.m.

Sunday, July 5
TBD, 4 p.m.
TBD, 8 p.m.

Monday, July 6
TBD, 3 p.m.
TBD, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, July 7
TBD, 12 p.m.
TBD, 4 p.m.

Quarterfinals

Thursday, July 9
TBD, 4 p.m.

Friday, July 10
TBD, 3 p.m.

Saturday, July 11
TBD, 5 p.m.
TBD, 9 p.m.

Semifinals

Tuesday, July 14
TBD, 3 p.m.

Wednesday, July 15
TBD, 3 p.m.

Third-Place match

Saturday, July 18
TBD, 5 p.m.

Final

Sunday, July 19
TBD, 3 p.m.

Texas Tech athletics defended its controversial decision to allow quarterback Brendan Sorsby to return to campus in a lengthy video. In a message featuring its president, athletic director and head coach, the athletic department made its case for why they’ve stood by Sorsby despite admitted violations of NCAA gambling rules.

In the video, Texas Tech officials claim that Sorsby returning to campus as a member of the football team will help support his recovery from a clinically diagnosed gambling addiction. 

“We have a long time before we have to think about when he’s going to play football again,” Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire said. “We have a long time to continue to work with him to help him with this addiction and deal with a lot of different things in his life. Right now, our top priority is getting him back in this environment with his teammates, with people who love and care about him, and then deal with the football.” 

In legal filings, Sorsby admitted to placing several thousand bets over the course of four years, including many on Indiana athletics while he was a redshirting athlete. Placing bets on your own team or athletic department is grounds for permanent loss of eligibility under NCAA rules. 

Sorsby received an injunction from a Lubbock County District Court on Monday that prevents the NCAA from enforcing any punishments while he awaits his full trial in February 2027. The full trial is scheduled for two weeks after the national championship game, when Sorsby’s college career will be over. As part of the injunction, Sorsby will receive a two-game suspension. 

Criticism for Judge Curry’s decision has been swift from all corners of college athletics. Georgia and Nebraska have publicly declared that they will not schedule Texas Tech in any sports heading forward. Big 12 administrators have met to consider sanctioning Texas Tech or Sorsby. On Thursday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton informed the Big 12 that any such attempt would be met with legal action by the state. 

Returning to campus

After the NCAA denied Sorsby’s application for reinstatement, Texas Tech president Lawrence Schovanec penned a lengthy letter expressing his public support for the quarterback. In it, he argued that Texas Tech’s addiction recovery center and campus support would help Sorsby. At the time, there was little guarantee that he would be ruled eligible. 

“Our concern for him was sincere,” Texas Tech president Lawrence Schovanec said. “We did not know what the outcome [of the hearing] would be. We would not just welcome him back under the expectation that he would necessarily play, we just thought, this is the place for you. Our support for him is unwavering.” 

After a five-week stint at an inpatient recovery center in Arizona, Sorsby returned home to the Dallas area and later returned to Lubbock. He was not present in the courtroom on June 4, when his high-powered attorneys argued for eligibility. 

Texas Tech senior athletic director Grant Stovall outlined some of the key conditions Sorsby was asked to meet when he was brought back to campus. Many of the steps were laid out in the court order released on Monday, including continued individual and group treatments for gambling addiction. 

Additionally, Sorsby will have constant monitoring of his tech devices, including software installed by Texas Tech to block gambling sites. He will also have continuous monitoring of his devices and a custodian to oversee his finances. In the hours after Sorsby’s eligibility was reinstated, he reported to the athletic department’s IT services to have monitoring software installed on his phone. 

Key questions

Texas Tech has stood by Sorsby through the tumultuous past six weeks, even after the NCAA ruled him permanently ineligible. But while officials made a reasonable case for why the school could support him in his recovery, the argument for his return to action is more specious. 

By his own words, Sorsby has a diagnosed anxiety disorder. After the attention surrounding this case, he is now perhaps the most scrutinized player in college football. President Schovanec also noted that part of his return to campus is to help prepare him for his future career endeavors. 

“We are attending first of all to his medically diagnosed condition, and we are prepared to support him as he pursues that career that he’s spent his whole life working towards,” Schovanec said. “That’s what we do at Texas Tech.” 

However, Sorsby would still be able to pursue playing professional football without returning to campus. In fact, he could enter the 2026 NFL Supplemental Draft and perhaps even land on a roster this fall. 

Granted, Sorsby has yet to participate in a real practice or play in a game since his reinstatement. As McGuire points out, there are still more than three months until he is eligible to take his first live snap. 

“He can play, is what the judge said,” McGuire said. “What we’re trying to do is get him into a healthy space to where he can feel great about what he’s doing and he can deal with this addiction, and that’s day by day.” 

But with all the money and pressure involved, is there really a choice? 

McGuire told the story of Sorsby’s parents calling him on Monday after the backlash reached fever pitch. They asked whether Texas Tech would be okay. With even Big 12 colleagues irate, it’s a question the athletic department should keep top of mind.