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World Cup 2026 fixtures, results and group tables

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The World Cup sees 48 nations divided into 12 groups for the first time in the tournament’s long history.

Co-hosts Mexico, USA and Canada are the top seeds in Groups A, B and D respectively, while Scotland are in Group C with Brazil, Morocco and Haiti, and England are all the way down in Group L with Croatia, Ghana and Panama.

Folarin Balogun celebrates scoring his second goal of the USA’s 4-1 win over Paraguay
Folarin Balogun celebrates scoring his second goal of the USA’s 4-1 win over Paraguay (Getty)

The top two sides in each group will qualify for the World Cup’s first ever round of 32, as will the eighth best third-place teams. Just three points could be enough for some teams to reach the knockout stages.

There will be 104 matches, up 40 since Qatar World Cup 2022, while Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo likely to play on this stage for the last time in their glittering careers.

Here are all the fixtures, results and latest group standings:

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The World Cup began in Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium, the site of Diego Maradona’s most famous and infamous goals against England at the 1986 World Cup.

It was also the venue for two classic World Cup finals: Brazil’s win over Italy in 1970 which included Carlos Alberto’s iconic team goal to cap a 4-1 win; and Argentina’s 3-2 win over West Germany in 1986, where Jorge Burruchaga grabbed an 84th-minute winner.

Mexico and Canada will host 13 games in each, and the United States will host 78.

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From the quarter-finals onwards, the US will host all of the remaining matches, with the final in New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.

Who will win the World Cup?

Football’s biggest question is back – and the debate is already heating up. England’s new golden generation, Argentina’s defending champions, France’s relentless depth and Spain’s evolving young side all have strong claims to glory at the World Cup.

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Now it’s your turn: who do you think will lift the trophy?

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Man United transfer news LIVE: Ederson medical, Mateus Fernandes boost, multiple moves edge closer

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Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the latest Manchester United transfer news. The Reds are closing in on their first deal with Ederson set to be unveiled as a United player once a medical is completed.

The Brazilian will be one of at least two midfield signings, with West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes looking a real possibility. However, United also face competition from Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain for his signature.

Stick with us throughout the day for all the latest!

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Analysis: Freedom 250 proves the world truly is the UFC’s stage

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Jun 14, 2026; Washington, D.C., UNITED STATES; Alex Pereira walks out prior to his fight against Ciryl Gane (not pictured) during UFC Freedom 250 at White House South Lawn. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn ImagesJun 14, 2026; Washington, D.C., UNITED STATES; Alex Pereira walks out prior to his fight against Ciryl Gane (not pictured) during UFC Freedom 250 at White House South Lawn. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

The imagery alone — the Octagon set against the backdrop of the American presidency — is enough to command global attention.

UFC Freedom 250, a reported $60 million project, was destined to be labeled a sideshow the moment the venue was announced — the White House South Lawn in Washington. It is a surreal juxtaposition: the polished, historic lawn of the American presidency serving as the stage for the raw, chaotic violence of MMA, with the UFC as the sport’s gold standard.

But to dismiss the event as merely a political stunt or a corporate play would be to ignore the reality of what took place inside the cage on Sunday night. When the lights went down, and the doors closed as President Donald Trump took it all in, the venue became secondary. What remained was a fight card that, venue aside, anchored itself as one of the most significant in the promotion’s history. Seven fights with seven KO/TKOs were a first in promotional history.

The skepticism surrounding this event was understandable. When combat sports collide with high-profile political settings, the optics often feel more like a performance than a competition. However, this event defied that narrative. The card was anchored by two high-stakes title fights that demanded to be taken seriously.

With Ilia Topuria — undefeated with 10 first-round finishes — putting his lightweight gold on the line against the relentless Justin Gaethje, a fighter known for his historic run of 15 bonuses in 15 fights, the card was built on substance.

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Add in a heavyweight interim title collision between Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane, with undisputed heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall awaiting the winner, and the venue became an afterthought. These are the elite of the elite. When champions of this caliber step through the door, the venue does not change the stakes of the belt or the quality of the competition.

The genius — and the calculated risk — of UFC Freedom 250 lies in its promoter. CEO Dana White has never been one to shy away from breaking tradition, and this event serves as the ultimate “Next Frontier” for the brand.

White understands that in the modern attention economy, curiosity is a currency as valuable as gate receipts. By choosing the White House, he ensured that millions of casual viewers who have never watched a UFC event would stop, stare and tune in via Paramount+.

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White is not just a matchmaker; he is a brand architect who thrives on friction. He knew the venue would be polarized, and he knew the coverage would be intense.

By weaponizing that polarization, he expanded the UFC’s footprint into the cultural mainstream in a way that a standard pay-per-view never could. This card wasn’t just about capturing the die-hard MMA fan; it was about capturing the viewer who was watching only because of the absurdity of the location.

The card, however, was not just a branding exercise — it delivered inside the cage. The action began with three straight knockouts. Middleweight Bo Nickal secured a TKO against Kyle Daukaus after Diego Lopes made quick work of Steve Garcia with ground-and-pound in Round 2 of their featherweight fight.

At lightweight, Mauricio Ruffy finished Michael Chandler with strikes just before Round 1 ended in a one-sided fight to the jubilation of the crowd surrounding The Ellipse, a park across from the White House.

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The performance earned compliments from President Trump, who sat front row with White. At heavyweight, Josh Hokit delivered a dominant performance over former UFC interim heavyweight title challenger Derrick Lewis, securing a second-round TKO to keep his undefeated record intact. Meanwhile, former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley secured a TKO over Aiemann Zahabi to remain in the bantamweight title hunt, earning his second straight win.

In the main and co-main events, chaos reigned. Topuria’s undefeated run ended in a doctor’s stoppage between the fourth and fifth rounds, crowning Gaethje the new lightweight champion. In the co-main, Pereira suffered a vicious TKO loss in the second round, Gane halting Pereira’s bid to become a three-division titleholder.

So, was UFC Freedom 250 a spectacle or a legitimate sporting event?

The answer is that it was both, and that is precisely the point. The UFC has reached a level of maturity where it no longer needs the shelter of traditional arenas to be seen as a professional organization. It has become a global cultural juggernaut that can force the world to adapt to its environment, rather than the other way around.

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If this event is viewed as a success, it raises a question: What is the next frontier? If the White House is not off-limits, then perhaps nowhere is. UFC Freedom 250 will be remembered not for where it happened, but for the fact that the nearly 33-year-old organization had grown so large that the venue became an afterthought.

–Zain Bando, Field Level Media

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U.S. Open favorites, storylines, Scottie vs. Rory and more

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Ciryl Gane scores brutal TKO of Alex Pereira to claim interim heavyweight crown at UFC White House

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Ciryl Gane kept the UFC Freedom 250 knockout parade going on Sunday, stopping former two-division champion Alex Pereira in the second round in what was a brilliant performance to win the interim heavyweight championship for the second time in his career.

Pereira immediately opened with a big head kick, sending an early message to Gane. Pereira also worked some low calf kicks as Gane tried to close the distance with jabs that weren’t connecting. Gane instead switched to leg kicks and front kicks to try and change the pace of the fight. Gane then shot for the first takedown attempt of the fight, which Pereira easily shrugged off.

Gane continued to pick up his offense, mixing in various shots, including his jab finally working to set up the straight left hand. Both men continued to land some good leg kicks before another head kick attempt from Pereira missed by inches, but a big Pereira right hand landed moments later to close the round.

Be sure to keep up with all the action on Sunday with our live coverage of UFC Freedom 250, including round-by-round scoring and updated fight results throughout the night!

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Gane continued to fire kicks and then landed a big counter jab that dropped Pereira. Gane followed up with heavy shots and elbows as Pereira looked for a desperation takedown, but somehow Pereira survived.

Gane continued to bring the assault to Pereira, putting him on wobbly legs over and over as referee Herb Dean seemed close to stopping the fight.

As Pereira stumbled back into the Octagon fence, Gane fired more big shots. This time, as Pereira slumped against the Octagon wall, Dean jumped in to halt the fight at the 1:27 mark of Round 2.

The performance was arguably the best of Gane’s career, as he took on a legend and looked to be the better man from the early moments of the fight with a more dynamic attack.

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“We worked on it, we did a really great job with my team,” Gane said after the win. “I’m really proud of myself and my team. … We knew that was possible to do. We knew that.”

Gane is now positioned for a rematch with heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. In Gane’s first fight with Aspinall, he was performing tremendously before the fight was halted after Gane poked Aspinall in both eyes, leaving Aspinall sidelined ever since.

“We will see,” Gane said of a rematch. “Next, let’s do it in Paris in September.”

For Pereira, his attempt to win UFC gold in a third division came up short in brutal fashion.

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“This was the risk, you know? If I hadn’t taken a risk every time I fought, I wouldn’t be here today,” Pereira said before addressing whether his future was at heavyweight or a return to light heavyweight. “… I don’t know, we’re going to sit down and look at it. The same way we lost at middleweight, we’re going to sit down with my team and talk about it.”

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Sweden stamp mark as World Cup dark horses with Tunisia pummelling

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Brighton’s Yasin Ayari struck twice and Alexander Isak was on target as Sweden proved too strong for Tunisia and sealed a 5-1 win in their World Cup opener.

Isak put his injury-wrecked first season with Liverpool behind him, grabbing Sweden’s second goal before seizing on a defensive mishap to provide Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres with the third.

Tunisia cruised through qualifying without conceding a goal, but were behind inside seven minutes in Monterrey as they failed to deal with a ball over the top.

Goalkeeper Mouhib Chamakh beat Isak to the ball and Gyokeres’ follow-up was blocked, but Ayari – who has a Tunisian mother but opted for the country of his birth – rifled in from outside the box.

Brighton’s Yasin Ayari scored a brace against Tunisia
Brighton’s Yasin Ayari scored a brace against Tunisia (Getty)

Elias Saad forced a save from Kristoffer Nordfeldt at the other end, but Sweden doubled their advantage just before the half hour, a counterattack releasing Isak on the left before he cut inside and found the far corner past the flailing Chamakh who misjudged his dive.

The Swedes looked comfortable but their advantage was halved just before the break, Omar Rekik heading in a cross from Hannibal Mejbri.

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Sweden stretched their advantage just before the hour as they seized on another Tunisian error, Isak catching the dawdling captain Ellyes Skhiri in possession outside the box and fed Gyokeres who had plenty of time and space to fire home.

Mattias Svanberg added a fourth goal seconds after arriving as a substitute with VAR overturning an original offside decision after ruling a slight flick by Isak played him onside, Ayari then fired in his second as the ball again broke loose outside the box in the closing seconds.

PA

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Nobler primed for spring riches after Rosehill win

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Two jockeys ride two galloping horses in a tight finish on a grassy racecourse, with a blue advertising board in the background.

A tight finish and a stewards’ inquiry did little to derail Nobler’s charge, as the emerging import recorded his third consecutive victory at Rosehill, signalling a bright future.

The former Irish gelding, who commenced his Australian career in March, has now strung together three wins on the trot, adding Saturday’s Ranvet Handicap (2000m) to his previous mile successes at Randwick and Gosford.

Hitting his stride halfway up the straight, the $2.90 favourite found enough to fend off the fast-closing King Pedro ($4.40) by a mere nose, with Perfect Play ($7.50) trailing by 1-1/2 lengths in third.

The protest was lodged by apprentice jockey Anna Roper, riding King Pedro, against Siena Grima aboard the winner, alleging interference near the 200-metre mark after King Pedro had to divert its path when the inside run beside Nobler closed.

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However, stewards swiftly dismissed the objection. Presiding stipe Tom Moxon informed Roper that while a narrow opening did appear, it closed before she could fully establish her running and the shift came from the horse to her inside, Skycatcher.

Darren Beadman, representing trainer Chris Waller, indicated that Nobler has impressed the team since arriving in Sydney and is poised for better races next preparation.

“He’s acclimatised well since he has come over here,” Beadman said.

“I think he could make his presence felt at the back end of our spring carnival, so now is probably a good time to tip him out and get him ready for something a little bit better.

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“He’s certainly taken it all before him since he has come up to Sydney. He’s an athletic horse, a very clean-winded horse. Impressive.”

While Nobler battled to maintain his lead in his first attempt over a middle distance on Saturday, Beadman was adamant the gelding had the constitution to extend further in time.

He was also impressed by the ride from stable apprentice Grima, stating that her tactical decision to wait for clear running before the turn, rather than taking a chance, was instrumental.

“She had a choice at the 600, that was the difference between winning and losing,” Beadman said.

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“She got the horse out into clear spaces and let him go through his gears.”

Grima went on to complete a running double for the stable aboard Surf’s Up in the Petaluma Handicap (1400m).

With the spring carnival approaching, the racing odds for Nobler’s future starts will be closely watched by punters across Australian betting sites.

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‘Not hoisting that without him’: Hurricanes’ Staal did it all in Cup run

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LAS VEGAS — Jordan Staal sat at the podium Sunday night, squeezed between his three young kids and the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Dad’s smile and the silvery hardware made for a delightful scene.

But it was the oldest of the two little blonde girls in the championship hats who stole the show.

As Staal rose from the podium in full gear, ready to rejoin the Stanley Cup celebration unfolding in the dressing room, 11-year-old Abigail raised her hand and grabbed the microphone.

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“I have a question — can we go back to the first game?” she asked.

Her father smiled, curious.

“Why did you punch that guy?”

The room erupted in laughter — dad included — as the adorable question perfectly captured the journey.

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Two months earlier, before anyone knew the Carolina Hurricanes were about to author one of the most dominant playoff runs in modern history, Staal dropped the gloves with Brady Tkachuk off the opening draw of Game 1.

It sent a message we only now understand: this is finally Carolina’s year.

The Hurricanes won that night, then seven more in a row, eventually finishing a remarkable 16-3 on their way to the Stanley Cup Sunday night at T-Mobile Arena.

During the run, Staal did everything except offer to courier John Tortorella’s t-shirts and toiletries back to Vegas.

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He scored in each of the first five games of the Final, becoming only the fourth player in NHL history to pull off that feat.

He scored six goals in the championship series, joining Wayne Gretzky as the only captains in the last 105 years to score at least six goals in a Stanley Cup Final.

His primary assignments throughout the four playoff rounds were Tkachuk, Travis Konecny, Nick Suzuki and Jack Eichel.

Not one scored a goal against Carolina while being matched against Staal.

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After all, what he’s always done best is dominate defensively and in the faceoff circle.

He finished with eight goals and four assists in 19 games, tied for fifth on the Hurricanes in scoring.

Normally, those numbers don’t sniff a Conn Smythe.

But there was no other choice.

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Sunday was his captain’s reward.

“It’s an unbelievable ending. Great story, right?” said coach Rod Brind’Amour, who spent 14 years watching Staal drag this franchise toward legitimacy, relevance and eventually greatness.

“I’m so proud of him. Just proud that he was able to do that in front of the whole hockey world. Everyone got to see what I’ve known forever, what kind of player he is.

“A leader. We’re not hoisting that without him. It’s just not even close.

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“I’m glad for him, because I’ve seen this guy grind it out for 14 years and never wavered. It doesn’t always work out, as we know, but it’s nice to see the good guys get one.”

Nobody understands that grind better than Eric Staal.

Twenty years after helping deliver Carolina’s first Stanley Cup, he watched his younger brother do the same.

“There’s a lot of people that have grown up in the Carolinas and don’t know a team without a Staal on it,” said Eric, shortly after he and his two other brothers mobbed baby bro on the ice in a touching scene.

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“So it’s kind of funny that this has kind of happened again 20 years later. And with Jordo at the front of it is super unbelievable. Storybook kind of thing.

“He was a horse the whole year and all the years he’s been there. He deserves it.”

At 37, the oldest Conn Smythe winner, his first major individual trophy of a 20-year NHL career.

The family celebration mirrored the culture he helped build inside Carolina’s dressing room.

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“You can’t care for each other unless you get to know each other and become a family,” said Staal, known league-wide as a leader amongst leaders.

“I think our group cares so much because we became a family.

“I wanted to win that thing so bad, but I wanted to win it so much more for everyone else in that room, and how much they deserved it, and how hard they’ve all worked, and it just gives me chills that we were able to pull it off for each other.”

Earlier, Staal admitted he and Eric had once dreamed of winning another Cup together.

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“The plan was to do it together,” he said.

“Obviously, it didn’t work out, but I’m happy I stuck around. I believed in the culture, I believed in what we were trying to build in Carolina, and it’s just an amazing feeling to be able to build something like that, and then top it all off with this.”

Which brings us back to Abigail.

Why did you punch that guy?

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Because sometimes championships begin with a fight.

And sometimes, if you’re Jordan Staal, they end with a Stanley Cup in your hands, a Conn Smythe at your side, and three kids reminding the hockey world what matters most.

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Maria Sakkari vs Zheng Qinwen preview, head-to-head, odds, prediction & betting tips

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Match Details

Fixture: (6) Maria Sakkari vs Zheng Qinwen

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Date: June 15, 2026

Tournament: Lexus Nottingham Open

Round: First Round (Round of 32)

Venue: Nottingham Tennis Centre, Nottingham, UK

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Category: WTA 250

Surface: Grass

Prize Money: $283,347

Live Telecast: USA – Tennis Channel | UK – Sky Sports

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Maria Sakkari vs Zheng Qinwen preview

Maria Sakkari at the Queen's Club Championships 2026. (Source: Getty)Maria Sakkari at the Queen's Club Championships 2026. (Source: Getty)
Maria Sakkari at the Queen’s Club Championships 2026. (Source: Getty)

Former top 10 players Maria Sakkari and Zheng Qinwen will clash in the first round of the Nottingham Open 2026.

A semifinal appearance at the Qatar Open was Sakkari’s most notable result during the hardcourt swing. She salvaged her clay swing with a third-round finish at the French Open. She had won only one match across four tournaments prior to the clay court Major.

Sakkari kicked off her time on grass at last week’s Queen’s Club Championships. She faced defending champion Tatjana Maria in the first round. Despite her best efforts, Sakkari couldn’t outfox her rival and lost the match 6-3, 6-3.

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Zheng returned to the tour in February following an injury hiatus. She made the third round of the Qatar Open upon her comeback, and then reached the fourth round of the Miami Open.

Zheng made the third round of the Madrid Open and the Italian Open ahead of the French Open. She was stunned by Maja Chwalinska in the first round in Paris. It marked her earliest exit from the clay court Major. Her woes continued at the Queen’s Club Championships as well. She was knocked out by Jaqueline Cristian in the first round.


Maria Sakkari vs Zheng Qinwen head-to-head

Their rivalry is tied at 2-2. Zheng won their previous meeting at the Charleston Open 2025 in straight sets.


Maria Sakkari vs Zheng Qinwen odds

Player Moneyline Handicap Bets Total Games
Maria Sakkari +135 -1.5 (+270) Over 22.5 (-105)
Zheng Qinwen -175 +1.5 (-450) Under 22.5 (-140)

(Odds via BetMGM)

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Maria Sakkari vs Zheng Qinwen prediction

Zheng Qinwen at the French Open 2026. (Source: Getty)Zheng Qinwen at the French Open 2026. (Source: Getty)
Zheng Qinwen at the French Open 2026. (Source: Getty)

Both players began the grass season on a losing note at last week’s Queen’s Club Championships. Sakkari has put together an 11-12 record this season, while Zheng has compiled a 7-7 record.

Zheng lost her first couple of meetings against Sakkari and has since won their next two matches. This will be the pair’s first showdown on grass, a surface neither player counts as their best.

Zheng has a 5-11 career record on grass, and has lost her last three matches on the surface. Sakkari has a 27-25 career record on grass. However, she has won only five matches on grass for the past two years. Despite a competitive rivalry between them, Zheng’s dismal record on grass makes her the underdog in this contest.

Pick: Maria Sakkari to win in straight sets.


Maria Sakkari vs Zheng Qinwen betting tips

Tip 1: The match will have at least 20 games.

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Tip 2: Sakkari to win at least one set with a score of 6-3.