FIFA World Cup Day 1 Highlights© AFP

Donald Trump is set to be absent from the Los Angeles Stadium when USA begin their 2026 World Cup against Paraguay on Friday night.

The US are one of three co-hosts staging the tournament in North America alongside Mexico and Canada, and each nation’s opening game will feature its own opening ceremony.

State figureheads usually appear at their country’s first match of the tournament and Trump was expected to be in the stands. Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani attended Qatar’s opening game against Ecuador in 2022, and Vladimir Putin watched Russia’s first game of the 2018 World Cup against Saudi Arabia in Moscow.

But it has been widely reported that the US president will not attend, barring a late U-turn, instead leaving secretary of state Mark Rubio to travel from Washington with transport secretary Sean Duffy and secretary of homeland security Markwayne Mullin.

Trump will be at the White House on Saturday evening, however, to host a UFC event, dubbed UFC Freedom, in celebration of his 80th birthday and the USA’s 250th anniversary.

The US president has regularly appeared at major sporting events during his two terms. He flew in to the Ryder Cup in New York last year and was present at the Club World Cup final in New Jersey last summer, inserting himself into Chelsea’s trophy celebrations on stage.

His appearances have not always been welcomed. Trump was loudly booed at the NBA Finals last week after being shown on big screens. His vice-president, JD Vance, was booed at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan earlier this year.

The start of the tournament has been clouded in controversy around high ticket prices and America’s strict border controls. Fans from more than half the qualified countries need visas to enter the United States, adding cost and uncertainty for travellers already wary of tight border enforcement.

The Trump administration also denied a Somali referee entry over alleged links to “suspected members of terror organisations”.

Indian sports lost one of its most decorated servants on Thursday night as shooting coach and multiple Asian Games gold medal winner Jaspal Rana died due to a heart problem. Rana, who was also the coach of double Olympic medal-winner Manu Bhaker, died at a mere 49 years of age after battling cardiac complications. As the news of Rana’s death emerged, his Instagram bio came to the fore, leaving fans stunned by how much Rana was in sync with the reality of life. His Instagram bio became a major talking point on social media as fans and the sporting fraternity mourned his passing.

Rana’s Instagram bio read: “Jab mrityu nishchit ho, swayam ko achhe kaaran ke liye samarpit karna sarvottam hai (When death is certain, it is best to dedicate oneself to a good cause).”

In his own way, Rana highlighted that since death is an absolute certainty, wasting our limited time on trivial pursuits is meaningless. The most honourable way to live is to dedicate our lives to a noble cause that helps others and creates a lasting legacy.

The shooting coach is survived by his wife, Reena Rana, daughter Devanshi, son Yuvraj, father Narayan Singh Rana, and his two siblings, Sushma Singh and Subhash Rana. According to National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) president Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, Rana breathed his last at a Delhi hospital on Thursday night. Sources said he died of complications related to the heart.

He recently underwent a medical procedure after falling ill during the Indian contingent’s return flight from the ISSF World Cup in Munich, Germany. Upon landing in New Delhi, he was immediately hospitalised and had a stent installed to clear a cardiac blockage. According to sources, despite initial reports of him being stable, his condition deteriorated.

Rana was serving as the high-performance coach for Indian pistol shooters. The former shooter, who was considered a maverick in Indian shooting circles for his outspoken demeanour and passion for the sport, was a prodigal talent and won his first national-level gold at just 12 years of age.

His international breakthroughs were the 25m gold medals at the 1994 Commonwealth and Asian Games.

In fact, the Asiad gold was India’s first in 16 years after Raja Randhir Singh opened the account in 1978. Randhir had passed away recently after battling age-related ailments.

Rana’s biggest moment as a shooter came in the 2006 Asian Games when he snared three gold medals and a silver in a sensational performance that included equalling the world record at the time.

With PTI Inputs

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It would be fitting if Ireland’s first win in the T20 World Cup came against the Scots given they denied the Irish a place in the tournament two years ago as they pulled off a shock victory to reach the tournament for the first time.

Lewis said there was “major heartbreak” in the Ireland camp after that sore defeat that forced the squad to have to watch the World Cup from home.

Ireland are in a better place now and come into the tournament off the back of a productive Tri-Nations series in Clontarf where they beat both Pakistan and the West Indies.

“The series was a great success, we’ve got the results behind us. Confidence is high and that’s exactly what you want going into a World Cup,” Lewis added.

Lloyd Tennant’s side are ranked ninth in the world but are in a tough Group B which also has hosts England, holders New Zealand, Sri Lanka and West Indies alongside the Scots.

They will face all five sides with the top two in the group moving through to the semi-finals where they will face the top two from Group A.

Scotland won by 39 runs the last time the two sides met in Nepal in January and Lewis believes getting off to a good start in their first game is “massive” for Ireland in terms of momentum.

“There’s a big rivalry between us and them. They’ve probably got one up on us at the moment after beating us in Nepal. I think we’re looking good and we’re really excited for it.

“They’ve got a new addition in Kirsty Gordon [a former England spinner] which is a boost for them.

“If we get the win, then you never know against England.”

NHL fans on social media reacted to John Tortorella’s fiery response when asked if he considered pulling Carter Hart for Adin Hill in the third period of Game 5.

The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday. The Canes now lead the series 3-2.

Carter Hart had another rough outing, allowing 4 goals on just 24 shots for a brutal .833 save percentage. He’s now allowed at least 4 goals in each of the first 5 games of the final, a tough stretch for the veteran.

When asked post-game if he considered switching to Adin Hill, Tortorella responded bluntly:

“Oh Christ, that might be the stupidest question I’ve ever heard,” Tortorella said.

Here’s how fans on X (formerly called Twitter) reacted to John Tortorella’s response. One tweeted:

“So done with this guy.”

Another chimed in:

“If Torts wanted to make a goalie switch, this was probably the game to do it. I just don’t think that you can start a guy cold in a do-or-die game.”

Here are some of the other top reactions on X:

“Stupid for going to the goalie that got us our first cup? What?” a third fan wrote.”

“Torts It doesn’t matter anymore. Hart Needs a break. He has played way too many consecutive games and he is exhausted and tired. Hill has to come in. It doesn’t matter what you want. It’s what needs to happen. Hart isn’t in the zone ATM,” one X user opined.

“I do not have confidence Hill would be any better. However, to say that’s a stupid question seems like a really odd thing to say,” another chimed in.

“Well, he’s not signed past the playoffs!” added another.

Hurricanes move one step closer to Stanley Cup after Game 5 win over Golden Knights

On Thursday, the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 in Game 5 at Lenovo Center. The Hurricanes lead the series 3-2 and are only a win away from clinching their second title.

Pavel Dorofeyev opened the scoring for the Golden Knights on the power play at 8:52 of the first period. Jordan Staal tied it 1-1 for the Hurricanes before heading into the second period.

Andrei Svechnikov increased the Hurricanes’ lead to 2-1 on the power play at 11:58 of the second period. Sebastian Aho increased the lead to 3-1 before heading into the third period.

Svechnikov scored his second on the power play to make it 4-1 for the Hurricanes at 11:08 of the third frame. Dorofeyev scored his second for the final scoreline of 4-2. Game 6 returns to Vegas on Sunday.