Sports
Elevate taps a wide range of critical industry trends
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Elevate has had its busiest show to date, with almost 200 exhibitors, 115 seminars and 200 speakers over two days, with numbers understood to be up by ten per cent over the two days.
Highlights included a partnership with Intelligent Health to bring in a Beat the Streets trail, with boxes placed on the stands of legacy exhibitors who have been with the event since the beginning.
Another high point was a live workout led by 1980s tv fitness legend, Mr Motivator, who is working with Innerva, around engaging older people with exercise. This was clearly a topic which resonated with the audience, as there were no spare seats for Thursday’s panel discussion on the importance of strength training for older people on the Debate stage.
Talking points on panels included technology, AI, gamification, longevity, diversity and inclusion, as well as the underlying pillars of health – breathing, sleeping, nutrition and recovery.
Here are some of HCM’s key takeaways.
Opportunities to widen our welcome
The disability market is being underserved, with opportunities for the sector.
Including invisible disabilities, one in four people have a disability in the UK and this cohort represents an annual spending power of £446 billion. Of the 49 per cent who are active only half of those feel welcome where they train.
Disability consultant, Marina Logacheva, who is researching and campaigning on the subject told HCM that the industry is taking too long to shift the dial on this issue. As a wheelchair user she has been told by multiple fitness professionals that they won’t work with her because they don’t know how to.
She also has to pay for services at her gym that she is unable to access – for example the swimming pool is inaccessible because there is no hoist – but the gym will not give her a discount.
This is not good enough for an industry which talks about lowering barriers, being inclusive and supporting the NHS. There is the continual narrative in the industry that people who don’t go to gyms have the wrong perception of our facilities, but do they?
In a panel discussion chaired by Future Fit’s Paul Swainson, entitled Does the industry have an image problem, Logacheva and fellow panelists Sarah LeBrocq, founder of All About Obesity and managing director of Active Insight, Julie Allen, agreed that being more inclusive starts with images used in marketing. The people who aren’t coming to facilities need to see people like themselves represented in order to feel they might have a place there.
“Creating a feeling of belonging starts with the ad. If you don’t see yourself then you feel like you don’t belong there,” said Logacheva. “People with disabilities are only on 2 per cent of ads on social media.”
Allen shared a compelling story from a focus group of a man who suffered a stroke which motivated a lifestyle change. After being prescribed GLP-1 medication by his GP and losing weight, he said he felt able to lift the heaviest weight – the door handle of the leisure centre.
“Confidence is one of the top five barriers among people who don’t go to gyms. They feel a sense that the gym is not the place for them,” says Allen. “The industry is still not doing enough to look through the lens of the consumer.”
Triathlete, distance runner and obesity campaigner, LeBrocq, expressed frustration about being patronised by gym staff and having assumptions made that she has joined the gym to lose weight. “Treat the individual, ask questions and don’t make assumptions based on appearance,” she said.
Logacheva has published a report on Creating Welcoming Fitness Environments based on her research trip to Australia which can be downloaded for free at disabilityinsport.com/report
Mental health – great progress and more work to do
A panel discussion hosted by UK Active’s director of membership and sector development, Marianne Boyle, celebrated the journey that the fitness sector has been on with mental health. Ten years ago it was barely spoken about, now it’s widely observed that people use facilities to improve their state of mind as much as their physical health.
There has been a huge amount of progress and yet there’s still a way to go – only 16 per cent of people living with mental health conditions are meeting WHO activity guidelines. Women, younger adults and those in lower socio-economic groups are the most likely to be losing out. “There is still a significant gap between what we know works and what people are able to access in our facilities,” said Boyle.
Panelists included psychotherapist, Charlotte Braithwaite; Swim England’s head of public affairs, Philip Brownlie; founder of Together We Lift, Liam Baker and Sam Perks physical activity operations manager at mental health charity, Mind.
Key takeaways from the panel were the need to have some upskilling of the sector’s workforce so that fitness professionals are comfortable having big conversations while staying in lane.
Perks said that fitness instructors have told him that clients have spoken to them about having suicidal feelings, which is a lot to take on board. The panel stressed that instructors don’t need to solve the problem, they need to be empathetic, present with the individual and know where to signpost.
Braithwaite spoke about the importance of creating psychological safety in gyms and this can only be done by humans. “Gyms can be a confronting environment,” she said. “They’re full of mirrors and metal and people who look like they know what they’re doing. Simply interacting with weights isn’t wellness. You need people and you need to spell out what to expect and provide human touchpoints to make everyone feel safe.”
She also spoke about neuroaesthetics – providing environments where nervous systems feel safe – which HCM has identified as a trend.
Trauma – more common than you think
Another panel discussed the creation of trauma-informed fitness environments, with Akusile Makawa from Loughborough University; Fiona Roberts, founder of The Movement Charity and Kim Grey, founder of Sattva Trauma Informed Education, which offers a CIMSPA-accredited training course to empower fitness professionals to work this cohort.
Trauma might sound niche, but it’s not. Shelving perceptions of what a person living with trauma looks like is important – it’s very likely to be that high-achieving CEO who appears to have life nailed.
Roberts said that 70 per cent of people have experienced trauma, 25 per cent of women have experienced domestic violence and 20 per cent have experienced some form of child abuse.
“There will be people in your clubs and classes who’ve experienced trauma,” she says. “And if not it’s because they’re not getting through the barriers to your facility.”
Human connection, providing touchpoints, relationship building and empathy are the foundations of addressing this issue.
Roberts says that setting the scene at the start of the class of what to expect creates safety and predictability. She also says it’s important to give the individual an element of choice as often they’ve had choices taken away – this could be leaving the class early with no questions asked and no offence taken. “Tell them that everything is optional, that they are in charge of their own bodies and what they do in the class,” she says.
The Movement Charity takes exercise into the community, including women’s refuges and Roberts talked through some of her experiences, including leaving mats by the door, for people to choose where they put them. She also provided a great example of how an empathetic instructor can build confidence.
“Initially people tend to stay by the door and as far away from me as possible because I present the threat,” she said. “But in time they move closer to me and put me between them and the door because I come to represent safety.”
Grey highlighted a major no-no – asking people in front of the class whether they have any injuries or issues. This might sound basic, yet it still happens.
She also highlighted that trauma gets stored in different parts of the body – for example hips, which can lead to some exercises being triggering. Subtly offering alternatives can be a way to navigate this.
Another important takeaway – check before the start of each class if people are happy with being adjusted. A better way of allowing people to respond than a show of hands is to give them a card or a coin which they can flip according to their preference, which might change from day to day.
Exercise addiction – too much of a good thing
Exercise is medicine, but even medicine can have negative side effects for some people. HCM attended a couple of panel discussions which talked about this important issue.
Exercise addiction is when the individual feels dependent on it and an uncontrollable compulsion to exercise, which gets in the way of other areas of their life, for example their work or relationships.
It affects 8 per cent of general exercisers, 9 per cent of fitness professionals and is 3.5 times more likely in those experiencing eating disorders.
People with high intelligence, a tendency towards perfectionism and possibly some form of neurodivergence are most vulnerable to over-exercise.
This is the same cohort that needs to be careful with tracking data. As wearables and data continue to be more deeply embedded in the industry, it’s very important to acknowledge that not everyone will benefit from using them. For some people, the data will start to control them.
Exercise psychologist, Dr Paula Watson, spoke about her work with clients living with exercise addiction. Often these are people who take sports seriously and their identity becomes caught up with it. Much of her work with clients is around developing self-love and self-compassion.
“There are two distorted beliefs associated with exercise addiction,” she says. “The individual feels that if they’re not strict with their training they’ll lose control, for example get fat, or not get big enough, or not be able to cope with their emotions. And if that happens, they’re not good enough.
“The language unintentionally used in fitness culture can fuel these distorted beliefs,” she says. “For example, ‘you’re a machine’”.
Dr George Mycock, founder of MyoMinds, shared his journey with over-exercise and shared some valuable advice: “More is not always better – don’t celebrate exhaustion, stress the need for rest and recovery when working with clients. Avoid talking about using exercise as a way of earning food. And avoid linking self-identity with exercise – talk to clients about the other areas of their life as well.”
The fundaments of good health and an opportunity for coaches
Thomas Hague, The Breath Coach, has worked in elite sport, including with British Sailing, GB Boxing and British Triathlon, as well as individuals struggling with anxiety. He said that breath is the missing performance skill and wants to normalise breath assessments and breathwork in the industry.
“Super simple changes to breath can make a huge difference to performance,” he said. “Breath underpins all the work an athlete or individuals do. The quickest way to downregulate the nervous system is to change the cadence of the breath, it improves the ability to handle pressure, speeds up recovery, improves sleep and emotional regulation, relaxes muscles and can bring about a 30 per cent increase in range of motion. However, most of us completely ignore the thing that keeps us alive.”
Hague says that a few minutes of deep breathing at end of workout would clear the stress of the workout and set the client up for better recovery.
Fitness professionals who are trained in breathwork could help clients to overcome the common negative breathing patterns – mouth breathing, fast respiratory rate (we should breathe 5.5 times a minute), upper chest breathing, poor lower rib mobility (they should expand by 1 – 2.5 cm on an in-breath), weak breathing muscles and poor breathing mechanics. Building carbon dioxide tolerance can help the delivery of oxygen to muscles.
The Sleep Geek, James Wilson, said there is also the opportunity for fitness professionals to be the experts on sleep – both the number one recovery tool and a growing pain point, with people suffering from poor sleep, insomnia and the quest for the perfect night’s sleep.
He cautioned about reliance on sleep trackers, saying they’re not accurate and that optimisation culture makes us doubt ourselves. If people are told they are sleeping badly, they are likely to have a worse night’s sleep.
Some surprising facts raised by Wilson were that we inherit our sleep patterns. Some people are lucky, others less so. Some people can sleep soundly after drinking a cup of tea before bed, others can’t tolerate any caffeine. Emotional and physical security are crucial for sleep. You sleep better if you sleep next to someone you love and this also works the other way.
Next steps
As the industry looks to broaden its reach to cater for new audiences, work more closely with the health service and attract investment, it was great to see such a broad conference programme. While there is still some way to go to become fully inclusive, it’s heartening to see that the conversations are underway and a growing awareness of the changes the industry needs to make. Hopefully all attendees went back to work brimming with inspiration and with some ideas to implement.
Paraguay’s Matias Galarza scripted history by scoring the fastest goal of FIFA World Cup 2026 during the Group D match against Turkiye on Saturday. It took just 65 seconds for Paraguay to take the lead in the match as Galarza scored from a sensational long-range effort. Earlier in the day, Morocco’s Ismael Saibari claimed the record when he scored after just 72 seconds during the match against Scotland. However, the record did not last long as Galarza capitalised on a fiery start by Paraguay and handed his team the lead in a must-win game for them.
JAJDUDKWNWWKSI GOLAZO DE GALARZA DE RIVER AL MUNDO GRACIAS DIOS
AHORA LE VAMOS A SACAR 5 PALOS pic.twitter.com/P1zQruooVX
— Carpeta Millo (@CarpetaMillo_) June 20, 2026
Earlier, Matheus Cunha scored twice as Brazil eased past Haiti 3-0 on Friday to breathe life into their FIFA World Cup campaign and close in on a spot in the last 32.
After a much-criticised display in their opening 1-1 draw with Morocco, the five-time world champions underlined the gulf in class with outsiders Haiti, who became the first country to exit this World Cup.
Cunha’s scruffy goal in Philadelphia gave Brazil the lead midway through the first half, and he struck again as Carlo Ancelotti’s side asserted their dominance. Vinicius Junior added a third before the break.
Brazil play Scotland in their final Group C game in Miami on June 24.
Haiti’s first World Cup appearance since 1974 will end after they play Morocco in Atlanta.
The Selecao currently have the edge over Morocco for top spot on goal difference. If they finish first, they would face the Group F runners-up — likely to be the Netherlands, Japan or Sweden — in the next round.
Neymar did not travel with the squad as he continues his recovery from a calf injury, prompting Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva to joke he was “working remotely”.
As promised Ancelotti made changes after the insipid showing against Morocco, bringing United forward Cunha in for Brentford’s Igor Thiago and replacing Roger Ibanez with Danilo at right-back.
Despite a US government ban which has prevented fans travelling from Haiti, the Caribbean nation received loud support from the sizeable Haitian diaspora, which filled roughly half of the 68,324 crowd.
Aggrieved at not coming away with a point from their 1-0 loss to Scotland last week, Haiti coach Sebastien Migne urged his players to embrace the opportunity to play Brazil at a World Cup.
With 77 places separating the nations in the FIFA rankings, Brazil quickly took control and thought they had scored when Raphinha fired home, only for the Barcelona winger to be flagged offside.
It was a sign of what was to come though and Brazil broke the deadlock on 23 minutes.
Cunha sparked the move by winning possession in midfield and, after Vinicius’s shot was parried, he reacted quickest to block Hannes Delcroix‘s clearance to send the ball trickling into the net.
Vinicius and Cunha combined again to double the lead, the former slipping his team-mate in behind the Haiti defence to blast in a powerful left-footed shot as he fell to the ground.
Brazil lost Raphinha to injury but scored a third before half-time as Vinicius ran onto Lucas Paqueta‘s floated pass and steered through the legs of Johny Placide.
Haiti almost bagged their first World Cup goal in 52 years when Ricardo Ade’s glancing header at a corner forced Alisson Becker into a sharp stop, but it was a rare moment of hope.
The introduction of 19-year-old Endrick as Ancelotti turned to his bench triggered huge cheers from Brazil supporters, who nearly had another goal to celebrate when substitute Gabriel Martinelli rattled the crossbar.
Haiti refused to go down without a fight as Alisson made two late saves to preserve Brazil’s first clean sheet in seven outings, turning the page on an underwhelming start to the competition.
(With AFP inputs)
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MIAMI — Canadian Owen Caissie was a triple shy of the cycle and hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly as the Miami Marlins beat the San Francisco Giants 4-3 on Friday night.
Javier Sanoja had two hits and scored twice for the Marlins, who are a major league-best 12-4 in June.
Giants reliever Sam Hentges (1-2) hit Esteury Ruiz with a pitch leading off the seventh inning. Sanoja singled and Liam Hicks followed with a tying single that advanced Sanoja to third. He scored on Caissie’s flyball to deep left field.
Cade Gibson (1-0) retired all four batters he faced for the win. Calvin Faucher relieved Gibson and got the last two outs in the eighth before Pete Fairbanks closed with a perfect ninth for his 10th save this season and the 100th of his career.
The Marlins used eight pitchers in a bullpen game.
Rafael Devers’ homer for the Giants against Michael Petersen leading off the sixth tied it 2-all. Jung Hoo Lee followed with a double and scored on Casey Schmitt’s go-ahead single.
Caissie’s run-scoring double in the fifth put Miami ahead 2-1.
San Francisco starter Landen Roupp allowed two runs and seven hits over six innings and 98 pitches. Roupp, who struck out seven, is winless in eight outings since April 26, when he completed 7 2/3 innings in a 6-3 home victory against the Marlins.
Caissie gave Miami an early lead with his solo homer in the first. He drove a cutter from Roupp over the wall in center for his eighth homer.
The Giants tied it in the second on Daniel Susac’s sacrifice fly. Marlins opener Lake Bachar allowed consecutive singles to Willy Adames, Schmitt and Drew Gilbert before Susac hit a drive to the warning track in left that Kyle Stowers tracked down.
RHP Trevor McDonald (2-4, 4.64 ERA) starts Saturday for the Giants against Marlins RHP Max Meyer (7-0, 2.75).
Taylor Bevan’s link-up with Jamie Moore and Nigel Travis has seemingly come at the perfect time, ahead of his first 10-rounder against Ryszard Lewicki.
The 25-year-old has made steady progress in the professional code but, now, it seems as though he is approaching his toughest assignment thus far.
Not only is he facing a credible opponent but Bevan, who was a standout amateur, must also perform on the grandest stage he will have ever encountered.
It is just as well, then, that the talented prospect has joined forces with esteemed coaches Moore and Travis, knowing that basing himself in Manchester is a sacrifice worth making.
“They’re just two very experienced coaches. I went up there to try them out and gelled well with them straight away.
“They’ve obviously got a top stable of boxers – a lot of lads who are further along the journey than I am.
“I can learn a lot of people like that and there’s a great atmosphere in the gym, which is something I was missing before. I’m used to training on my own, so I’ve come from the other end of the spectrum, really.
“It’s a big commitment, moving four or five hours away from home, but I’m willing to make sacrifices at this stage in my career. I believe they’ll pay off in the future.”
One of the benefits of training in Manchester is that Bevan is closer, or at least more so than he was in Southampton, to top-class super-middleweight sparring.
As a result, he has been fortunate enough to share rounds with Callum Simpson, who rematches Troy Williamson on August 8, ahead of his clash with Lewicki.
“Yeah, amazing sparring. He’s at the top level at my weight, and he’s massive for the weight as well. I had eight rounds with him [around two weeks ago] and did another eight rounds with him [last week].
“I don’t think you can get much better sparring than that. It fills me with the utmost confidence going into this next fight, that I’m in great condition and prepared for anything.”
Bevan will collide with Lewicki at St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton, this Saturday, featuring on the undercard of Ryan Garner vs Michael Magnesi.
While still signed with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, this represents Bevan’s second outing on a Queensberry Promotions show, simply because the offer to enter his first professional contest in Southampton was too good to refuse.
The aim, as always, is to produce a statement performance and emerge victorious, yet Bevan does not rule out the possibility of going the full 10-round distance.
“I think it’s come at the perfect time – Tom Dallas at Matchroom has matched me brilliantly so far.
“I’ve been ready to do the eight rounds in my last few fights and it just hasn’t happened. In a way, it’s good to blast people out of there, because you get those highlight-reel knockouts and 8-0 (8 KOs) looks great on my record.
“But, at the same time, I wouldn’t be disappointed to go 10 rounds in this next fight, because it would be a good progression in my career. I’ve got to go the distance at some point, so why not do it now?”
Indeed, Bevan has established himself as a clinical knockout artist, but sees himself as more of a spiteful technician than an all-out power puncher.
“I wouldn’t say I’m a devastating puncher like [stablemate] Pat Brown, but I’d say [I get the stoppages with] smart boxing. When I feint, I look at where [the opponent] leaves himself open.
“I always felt like my style would suit the pros, because I like to think about things and be more calculated, whereas the amateurs is very fast and furious.
“I’ve always been a fit lad, and it was often my heart, determination and will to win that got me through those amateur fights.”
While boasting an accomplished amateur background, Bevan remains acutely aware that, against Lewicki, he could be dragged into something of a “dogfight”. Thankfully, though, he should have plenty of supporters to spur him on through any moments of jeopardy.
Jun 19, 2026; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Toronto Tempo guard Marina Mabrey (3) passes against the Connecticut Sun during the first half at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images Marina Mabrey scored 21 of her career-best 37 points in the fourth quarter Friday night and the Toronto Tempo came back to defeat the Connecticut Sun 101-97 at Uncasville, Conn.
Mabrey, a former Sun, also made a career-best nine 3-pointers in 12 attempts, helping Toronto (8-8) snap a three-game losing streak. The Sun (2-15), who led by 16 points in the second quarter, have lost seven straight.
The Tempo also defeated the Sun on June 10 in overtime after trailing by 14.
Temi Fagbenle and Maria Conde contributed 19 points each for the injury-depleted Tempo. Isabelle Harrison added 15 points.
Kennedy Burke scored 18 points off the bench to lead the Sun.
Brittney Griner added 16 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. Leila Lacan also scored 16 points, Olivia Nelson-Ododa had 13 points and Diamond Miller scored 10.
The Sun led by 10 points entering the fourth quarter. Lacan scored the first five points of the fourth quarter to expand the lead to 15. Fagbenle scored five straight points to cut the margin to one with 4:17 to play. Mabrey’s layup put Toronto in front by one with 3:16 left and her 3-pointer with 1:03 remaining gave Toronto a four-point lead on the way to the win.
The Sun led 24-20 after the first quarter. The lead reached eight points with 5:34 to play in the second quarter on Nelson-Ododa’s layup.
The Sun, who were dominating the paint, took a 16-point lead on Griner’s putback layup to finish a 14-0 run with 2:04 remaining in the first half. The Sun led 50-37 at halftime, fueled by a 28-10 advantage in points in the paint.
Toronto shot 36.1% (13-for-36) from the field in the first half, while Connecticut shot 55.9% (19-for-34).
Toronto reduced the lead to seven with 7:24 remaining in the third quarter on Julie Allemand’s layup. Toronto then cut the margin to six before Connecticut scored four consecutive points. The Suns led by 13 with 2:34 left after Burke scored a layup and added another following her quick steal on the inbound pass. Connecticut was ahead 74-64 after three quarters. Toronto was without Brittney Sykes (left foot), Nyara Sabally (right hamstring) and Kiki Rice (left ankle).
–Field Level Media
The United States booked their place in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 with a comfortable 2-0 win over Australia at Lumen Field in Seattle.
An own goal from Australia’s Cameron Burgess gave the Americans an early lead before Alex Freeman added a second just before half-time. Mauricio Pochettino’s side remained solid at the back and secured their second straight win of the tournament.
Player Ratings
Matt Freese (Goalkeeper) – 6.5/10
Had little to do throughout the match. Made two routine saves and was rarely troubled by the Australian attack.
Sergiño Dest – 7/10
A lively performance on the right flank. Constantly pushed forward, caused problems for Australia’s defence and created several attacking opportunities.
Alex Freeman – 8.5/10
Outstanding once again. Defended well, helped build attacks and capped his performance with a goal. One of the USA’s brightest performers in the tournament so far.
Chris Richards – 8/10
A commanding display in central defence. Strong in the air and dealt comfortably with Australia’s attacking threats.
Tim Ream – 7/10
Used his experience well and organised the defence effectively. Comfortable in possession and helped the USA keep a clean sheet.
Antonee Robinson – 6.5/10
Worked hard down the left side and stretched the Australian defence, although he was not as influential going forward as in the opening match.
Tyler Adams – 7/10
Showed his usual determination and leadership. Made important tackles and defensive interventions throughout the game.
Weston McKennie – 7/10
Another energetic display. Contributed in both attack and defence and covered plenty of ground.
Malik Tillman – 7.5/10
Impressed with his work rate and pressing. Won possession high up the pitch and helped create attacking chances.
Folarin Balogun – 7/10
His pace forced the opening own goal. Missed a few opportunities to score himself but worked hard for the team and linked play well.
Ricardo Pepi – 6.5/10
Brought into the starting line-up and performed his role well. Held the ball up effectively and helped connect midfield and attack.
Substitutes
Sebastian Berhalter – 5.5/10
Had a few chances to influence the game but was untidy in possession.
Joe Scally – 6/10
Provided good defensive support and helped contain Australia’s wide players.
Auston Trusty – 6/10
Added strength and energy as Australia pushed for a goal in the closing stages.
Gio Reyna – Not Rated
Came on in stoppage time.
Haji Wright – Not Rated
Late substitute and had little time to make an impact.
Man of the Match
Alex Freeman (8.5/10)
The young defender produced another excellent all-round display and crowned it with his first World Cup goal as the USA secured a place in the knockout rounds.
Jun 19, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda (8) receives a pitch during the first inning against Washington Nationals at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Pablo Robles-Imagn Images Jonathan Aranda sliced a go-ahead, three-run homer off the left field foul pole, and the Tampa Bay Rays won the opener of their three-game series against Washington by topping the Nationals 5-2 on Friday night.
Opening a season-high 10-game homestand and owning the best home record in the majors, the Rays fought back from a 2-0 deficit and used Aranda’s deep shot to end a three-game losing streak.
Jonny Deluca returned to the lineup after a nearly month-long absence and hit a solo homer. Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero had two singles apiece.
Pitching with an extra day’s rest, Griffin Jax (2-5) threw five innings and allowed two runs on four hits including two solo homers. He fanned five without a walk.
Closer Bryan Baker notched his 19th save with a perfect ninth.
Washington’s Luis Garcia Jr. went 2-for-3 with a homer, and CJ Abrams also went deep.
Cade Cavalli (illness) was scheduled as the starter, but he was scratched earlier in the day for PJ Poulin, who was the opener in a bullpen game.
Poulin tossed two scoreless innings before turning the mound duties over to two-time All-Star Miles Mikolas, who had posted 11 2/3 shutout innings in his past two outings. Mikolas (2-6) took the loss after pitching six innings and surrendering five runs on nine hits. He struck out two with a walk.
The visitors struck first in the second inning when Abrams led off the frame by crushing a Jax cutter an estimated 412 feet to center for his 15th home run. Nasim Nunez singled and stole his National League-leading 27th base, but left fielder Chandler Simpson’s sliding grab on Jorbit Vivas slowed the fleet Nats.
After DeLuca made a leaping snag of James Wood’s long drive to right-center, Garcia lifted his 10th homer to left, just making it into the first row for a 2-0 lead in the third.
Mikolas relieved in the third and put runners on with a walk and a hit with one out. Aranda followed by knocking a shot off the foul pole down the left field line and making it 3-2. Tampa Bay added another run in the fourth when Taylor Walls singled in Richie Palacios after the second baseman’s one-out double.
DeLuca smacked his third homer, a majestic 398-foot shot high to left, leading off the eighth for the final tally.
–Field Level Media
Sky is knocking 20% off its entire range of Glass TVs to mark the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Until June 17, shoppers can upgrade to the Sky smart TV that’s ‘designed for football’ from £4.50 per month when taken alongside a Sky TV and Netflix package.
Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi praised his players after their impressive victory over Scotland in their second group-stage match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting that the Atlas Lions must remain focused on the task ahead.
Speaking after the match, Ouahbi said he was delighted with the team’s display against a strong Scottish side and stressed that Morocco would continue to work hard as the tournament progresses.
“We continue,” Ouahbi told beIN Sports.
“It was a great game against Scotland and their talented players. We want to keep this momentum and continue working hard.”
The coach also reserved special praise for forward Ismael Saibari, who scored twice in the victory and was named Man of the Match.
“Saibari scored two goals and I hope we continue with this same spirit,” Ouahbi said.
When asked about the strong unity within the squad, Ouahbi played down his role, saying the foundations were already in place before his arrival.
“The group was already there. We only added some younger players to the team. I am proud to be part of this group,” he said.
Ouahbi added that the players were pleased to see Saibari receive the individual award following his outstanding performance.
“The players are very happy and they are happy for Saibari to be named Man of the Match.”
Saibari opened the scoring just 72 seconds after kick-off, setting the record for the fastest goal of the 2026 World Cup so far.
The midfielder said Morocco’s strong team spirit has been a major factor behind their success.
“I feel very good. We have four points and we are top of the group, so it was a very good game,” Saibari said.
“We all have the same goal and the same dream. We work together, we are like a family and we always want to win every match.”
Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou also praised his teammates after another solid defensive display.
Bounou admitted Scotland made life difficult at times but said Morocco responded well under pressure.
“It was not an easy game. We produced a high-level performance and I congratulate all my teammates,” Bounou said.
“Scotland tried to put us under pressure, but we defended well and created chances. They pushed hard in the final 10 minutes, but we did our best.”
The experienced goalkeeper added that Morocco are improving with every match and stressed the importance of keeping the squad healthy.
“World Cup matches are never easy. Morocco is improving game after game. We just need to protect the players from injuries so we can remain balanced in defence and attack.”
Morocco’s strong start to the tournament has continued to attract praise from football observers around the world. The Atlas Lions opened their campaign with an impressive 1-1 draw against Brazil before following it up with victory over Scotland.
The result has also strengthened Morocco’s position in the FIFA rankings, with the North Africans moving up to fifth place in the live standings. While other World Cup results could still affect the rankings, Morocco’s rise underlines their growing status as one of the leading teams in world football.
Sports
FIFA WC 2026 Week 1 round-up: Messi and Mbappe shine as Ronaldo’s star dims | FIFA World Cup 2026
The FIFA World Cup 2026 has completed its first week of action and, in just seven days, fans have witnessed masterclasses in individual performances, memorable upsets, and impressive displays from some of the tournament favourites, not to mention some spirited resistance from lesser-known teams. By the end of the opening week, co-hosts Mexico had also become the first side to secure their place in the round of 32.
Week 1 has been a reminder that football’s old order refuses to go quietly into the night even as a new generation threatens to crash the party. Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland lit up the tournament with statement performances, while Cristiano Ronaldo’s much-anticipated return failed to produce the fairytale beginning many had hoped for.
Here is a recap of all the memorable happenings over the first week of the FIFA World Cup 2026 being held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Messi’s magic remains intact
For years, the World Cup had been the stage where Messi’s brilliance was measured against expectations. In 2026, the Argentine captain finally appears to be playing with freedom, likely because, for the first time in his six appearances at the tournament, he is defending the trophy rather than chasing it.
Argentina’s title defence began with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Algeria in Group J and, fittingly, all three goals came from Messi.
Mbappe’s historic night
If Messi reminded the world of his magic, Mbappe once again showcased why he is regarded as the heir to football’s throne.
France’s 3-1 victory over Senegal saw the French captain score twice and overtake Olivier Giroud to become his country’s all-time leading scorer with 58 goals.
The brace also took Mbappe’s World Cup tally to 14 goals, levelling with Germany’s Gerd Muller in fourth place on the all-time list. Only Messi and Klose, with 16 goals each, and Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazario, with 15, are now ahead of the 27-year-old.
Most goals in FIFA World Cup history
|
Rank |
Player |
Country |
Goals |
|
1 |
Lionel Messi |
Argentina |
16 |
|
1 |
Miroslav Klose |
Germany |
16 |
|
3 |
Ronaldo |
Brazil |
15 |
|
4 |
Kylian Mbappe |
France |
14 |
|
4 |
Gerd Muller |
Germany |
14 |
|
6 |
Just Fontaine |
France |
13 |
Norway announce their return
Few teams entered the tournament with as much momentum as Norway, who qualified for the World Cup with a perfect record in the European qualifiers.
But expectations were tempered by the country’s long absence from football’s biggest stage.
Their emphatic 4-1 victory over Iraq confirmed that they are more than just participants in the 48-team event. Star striker Erling Haaland scored twice, while Martin Odegaard dictated the tempo as Norway celebrated their first World Cup appearance since 1998 in style.
Having won all eight qualifying matches and starting the tournament with a convincing victory, Norway are rapidly emerging as one of the teams nobody will want to face.
Ronaldo’s wait grows longer
While Messi, Mbappe, and Haaland dominated the headlines, the storyline for Cristiano Ronaldo during the opening week was considerably less memorable.
Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their opening game, with the 41-year-old failing to score despite several opportunities.
It was also the first World Cup since 2014 in which Ronaldo failed to find the net in his opening match. He scored a hat-trick against Spain in Portugal’s first game at the 2018 World Cup and netted against Ghana in the opening match of the 2022 edition.
With what is likely to be his final World Cup underway, the pressure is mounting on the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football.
Controversies arrive early
No World Cup is complete without debate, and the first week provided plenty.
Mandatory hydration breaks, introduced to help players cope with the North American summer, became one of the biggest talking points. Critics argued they disrupted the rhythm of matches and increased commercial interruptions.
Several VAR decisions also came under scrutiny, while players and coaches voiced concerns about scheduling and extreme weather conditions.
The tournament also encountered political complications. Iran captain Mehdi Taremi and head coach Amir Ghalenoei revealed that FIFA had ordered the team to leave the United States immediately after their 2-2 draw against New Zealand in Los Angeles and return to their base in Tijuana, Mexico, denying the squad an overnight stay for recovery.
Mexico strike first
Amid all the drama, co-hosts Mexico became the first team to secure a place in the round of 32.
Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 in their opening game before edging past South Korea 1-0 to collect six points from two matches.
With South Korea on three points and both Czechia and South Africa on one point each, Mexico became the first side to officially progress to the knockout stage.
Canada secure historic breakthrough
Co-hosts Canada are also enjoying a memorable campaign.
Before the start of the tournament, Canada had never won or drawn a match at the FIFA World Cup. However, just two games into the 2026 edition, they have already earned their first point with a draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina and followed it up with a commanding 6-0 victory over Qatar.
With four points from two games, Canada are now well placed to join Mexico in the round of 32.
Germany turn back the clock
Germany arrived at the tournament with lingering doubts after suffering group-stage exits in both 2018 and 2022.
Those concerns briefly resurfaced when debutants Curacao cancelled out Felix Nmecha’s early opener to level the scores at 1-1.
However, Julian Nagelsmann’s side responded emphatically. Kai Havertz scored twice as Germany ran out 7-1 winners, recreating the scoreline of their famous victory over Brazil in the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup.
Vozinha steals the show for Cape Verde
In one of the biggest David-versus-Goliath stories of the opening week, debutants Cape Verde held tournament favourites Spain to a goalless draw.
The star of the night was 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, who produced a string of saves to frustrate the European champions.
Spain registered 23 shots and eight efforts on target, but the veteran goalkeeper stood firm to earn Cape Verde their first-ever World Cup point. His heroic display also earned him the Player of the Match award.
Kane continues his purple patch
After finishing as the leading goalscorer at club level during the 2025-26 season, England captain Harry Kane carried his rich vein of form into the FIFA World Cup 2026, scoring twice in England’s commanding 4-2 victory over Croatia in their Group L opener.
Kane put England ahead from the penalty spot in the 12th minute, but Croatia responded through Martin Baturina, who levelled the scores in the 36th minute. The England skipper restored his side’s advantage six minutes later with his second goal of the night, only for Petar Musa to strike in first-half stoppage time and send the teams into the break locked at 2-2.
England regained control soon after the restart as Jude Bellingham found the net in the 47th minute before Marcus Rashford sealed the victory with a late goal in the 85th minute, helping the Three Lions begin their campaign with an impressive win.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Week 1 results
|
Date |
Group |
Match |
Result |
|
12 June |
A |
Mexico vs South Africa |
Mexico 2-0 South Africa |
|
12 June |
A |
South Korea vs Czechia |
South Korea 2-1 Czechia |
|
13 June |
B |
Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina |
|
13 June |
D |
USA vs Paraguay |
USA 4-1 Paraguay |
|
14 June |
B |
Qatar vs Switzerland |
Qatar 1-1 Switzerland |
|
14 June |
C |
Brazil vs Morocco |
Brazil 1-1 Morocco |
|
14 June |
C |
Haiti vs Scotland |
Scotland 1-0 Haiti |
|
14 June |
D |
Australia vs Türkiye |
Australia 2-0 Türkiye |
|
14 June |
E |
Germany vs Curaçao |
Germany 7-1 Curaçao |
|
15 June |
F |
Netherlands vs Japan |
Netherlands 2-2 Japan |
|
15 June |
E |
Ivory Coast vs Ecuador |
Ivory Coast 1-0 Ecuador |
|
15 June |
F |
Sweden vs Tunisia |
Sweden 5-1 Tunisia |
|
15 June |
H |
Spain vs Cabo Verde |
Spain 0-0 Cabo Verde |
|
16 June |
G |
Belgium vs Egypt |
Belgium 1-1 Egypt |
|
16 June |
H |
Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay |
Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay |
|
16 June |
G |
Iran vs New Zealand |
Iran 2-2 New Zealand |
|
17 June |
I |
France vs Senegal |
France 3-1 Senegal |
|
17 June |
I |
Iraq vs Norway |
Norway 4-1 Iraq |
|
17 June |
J |
Argentina vs Algeria |
Argentina 3-0 Algeria |
|
17 June |
J |
Austria vs Jordan |
Austria 3-1 Jordan |
|
17 June |
K |
Portugal vs DR Congo |
Portugal 1-1 DR Congo |
|
18 June |
L |
England vs Croatia |
England 4-2 Croatia |
|
18 June |
L |
Ghana vs Panama |
Ghana 1-0 Panama |
|
18 June |
K |
Uzbekistan vs Colombia |
Colombia 3-1 Uzbekistan |
|
18 June |
A |
Czechia vs South Africa |
Czechia 1-1 South Africa |
|
19 June |
B |
Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Switzerland 4-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina |
|
19 June |
B |
Canada vs Qatar |
Canada 6-0 Qatar |
|
19 June |
A |
Mexico vs South Korea |
Mexico 1-0 South Korea |
One week into the expanded tournament, familiar stars have once again dominated the headlines, but the opening round of matches has also shown that surprises are never far away. With qualification places at stake and the race for the round of 32 gathering pace, the second week promises even more drama.
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