After nine months away from competitive action, India’s star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra made a reassuring return at the Doha Diamond League 2026, finishing fourth in a high-quality field while comfortably securing qualification for the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

The Olympic and World Championship medallist may not have returned to the top step of the podium, but his performance in Doha offered plenty of positives as he continues his comeback from a back injury that delayed the start of his season.

A return after nine challenging months

All eyes were on Chopra as he stepped into the throwing circle for the first time since his lengthy injury layoff.

The 28-year-old entered the competition looking to test both his fitness and rhythm against some of the world’s leading javelin throwers. While expectations were naturally tempered after such a long absence, Chopra showed enough to suggest that he remains on track for another strong season.

His evening began with a false throw, an understandable sign of rust after months away from competition. However, he quickly settled into his rhythm and responded with an 82.77m effort on his second attempt.

That throw immediately achieved one important objective.

Commonwealth Games qualification secured

Chopra’s second-round effort of 82.77m comfortably surpassed the Athletics Federation of India’s Commonwealth Games qualifying standard of 82.61m.

With that throw alone, he effectively secured his place for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 2.

Best effort comes in third round

The Indian superstar saved his best throw for the third round.

Chopra launched the javelin to 85.69m, a mark that would ultimately stand as his best effort of the competition. While it was not enough to secure a podium finish, it demonstrated that he remains capable of competing at an elite level despite limited competitive preparation.

Perhaps the most encouraging aspect was how close he came to the medal positions.

His best throw was only 0.30m behind third-placed American Curtis Thompson, underlining just how competitive Chopra was on his return.

Sri Lanka’s Pathirage steals the spotlight

The standout performer of the evening was Sri Lanka’s rising star Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, who continued his impressive season by claiming victory with a world-leading throw of 88.68m.

Former world champion Anderson Peters finished second with 86.38m, while Curtis Thompson took third place with 85.99m.

Bigger goals lie ahead for Neeraj

While a fourth-place finish may not normally satisfy an athlete of Chopra’s stature, context is important.

This was his first competitive appearance in nine months, following a back injury that disrupted his preparations and delayed his season. Under those circumstances, an 85.69m throw and immediate qualification for the Commonwealth Games represent a highly encouraging return.

Most importantly, Chopra came through the competition without any apparent setbacks and showed signs that his form is steadily returning.

With the Commonwealth Games approaching and major international competitions later in the season, Doha may ultimately be remembered not for the finishing position, but for the successful beginning of another comeback chapter in Neeraj Chopra’s remarkable career.

PHILADELPHIA — In front of a sold-out crowd of 68,324, Brazil started the process of getting things back on the right track with a 3-0 victory over Haiti in the 2026 World Cup group stage, but it’s a game that brings more worries than answers for Carlo Ancelotti as he looks to live up to the immense pressure that comes with managing the Selecao. The joy of Matheus Cunha’s brace was cancelled out by an injury to Raphinha as a game that started brightly for Brazil led to an uncomfortable finish. It’s also a match that saw Haiti become the first team eliminated from knockout contention due to already losing to Scotland.

It’s a hamstring injury for Raphinha and one that Ancelotti says will be assessed on Sunday, but after the match, Vinicius Junior expressed sadness for his teammate, who fought through injuries to be here after a challenging season with Barcelona. He also hopes that it’s nothing serious and that Raphinha will be able to continue the tournament with Brazil, and the squad very much needs him to find their balance.

Haitian fans started off the match cheering clearances like they were Jose Mourinho, but against a team with as much attacking talent as Brazil, that can only last so long. A first-half brace for Matheus Cunha vindicated Ancelotti’s changes, bringing the Manchester United man in for Igor Thiago and Danilo in for Roger Ibanez. 

It took 23 minutes for Cunha to break through Haiti’s defense, but the second that happened, the floodgates opened in the match, with Brazil pouring it on and surfing their way through the game, but despite the crooked score, it could spell doom for their chances when it gets to the knockout stages of the tournament. 

In the 40th minute, Raphinha was subbed out of the match with a non-contact injury, being replaced by Rayan. While it wasn’t a vintage performance with Raphinha getting a goal ruled out for being offside and failing to officially create a chance, the best attacking line for Brazil right now is Raphinha, Vinicius Junior, and Matheus Cunha, but losing part of that trio puts too much pressure on the others, and it showed in the second half.

As the goals dried up, the Brazilian fans also got quieter; Vini Jr. pressed too much, leading to missed chances, and the carefully curated balance that Ancelotti needs for this squad to play to their potential went down the drain. The crowd erupted as Endrick put the ball in the back of the net, only to cut their celebrations short when the offside flag went up on the chance. Just like Brazil’s day, it was the right process that ended up yielding the wrong result. 

One of the leaders in the side, Vini Jr., is aware of these missed chances, but trust in how Ancelotti wants the squad to set up could help change that moving forward. All it takes is back-to-back matches of multiple goals, and they could start putting things together.

“Depending on the game and very much on the opponent, today I played in a different position, where the coach asked me to play inside between the two center backs,” Vini Jr. said. “The truth is that I don’t play there very often, but whenever the coach asks me to, and says that I have to play there, I score goals, so I have to listen to him a lot more often. Surely, when I get to the locker room, he’ll say that he understands football very well.”

It’s clear that this is a flawed squad as they play with 25 men while hoping that Neymar can play a part in this tournament, but even with those flaws, chances went begging for Brazil that a cohesive unit would’ve taken care of. Now, on four points, Brazil are almost assured a place in the knockouts of the tournament, but unless they can iron out these issues, it will be a swift end to the World Cup once they get there.

Neymar could be returning soon as Ancelotti shed light on his status in his post-match press conference. With winning the group on the line, Brazil will need all the help they can get, and there’s a chance that Neymar could provide a lift as one creative player could now be missing out.

“Neymar will be training tomorrow individually, and then on Monday he will be training with the rest of the team. He will be available for the match against Scotland,” Ancelotti said.

There will be one more chance for tweaks in the final match of the group stage, as Brazil will face Scotland on June 24 with a chance to win the group.

The expansion of the FIFA World Cup to 48 teams was met with skepticism in some quarters. Critics feared that increasing the number of participants would dilute the quality of the competition and create more one-sided contests. Yet after the opening round of group-stage matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Africa’s representatives have emerged as some of the tournament’s most compelling stories.

While the numbers show African teams recording three wins, five draws and four defeats from their opening fixtures, the results only tell part of the story. Across the United States, Canada and Mexico, African nations have demonstrated that they are no longer content with simply participating. Instead, they are competing toe-to-toe with some of football’s most established powers.

Morocco continue where Qatar 2022 left off

No African side has made a stronger statement than Morocco.

The Atlas Lions arrived at the tournament carrying the legacy of their historic run to the semifinals in Qatar four years ago. Against five-time world champions Brazil, they showed that achievement was no fluke.

Morocco secured a 1-1 draw and arguably looked the better side for large stretches of the contest. Their pressing unsettled Brazil, their midfield controlled key phases of the game and Ismael Saibari’s goal highlighted the attacking quality within the squad.

They went on to take all 3 points against Scotland to almost ensure qualification to the next round

Ivory Coast deliver Africa’s biggest victory

If Morocco produced the performance, Ivory Coast delivered the result.

Making their first World Cup appearance in 12 years, Les Elephants defeated Ecuador 1-0 thanks to Amad Diallo’s dramatic 90th-minute winner.

The victory was significant not only because it ended Ecuador’s impressive unbeaten streak but also because it represented a shift in mentality. African teams have often produced impressive performances against higher-ranked opponents only to fall short due to missed chances or late setbacks.

Cape Verde’s dream debut continues

One of the tournament’s biggest surprises came from Cape Verde.

Facing former world champions Spain in their first World Cup campaign, few gave the island nation much chance of taking anything from the match. Yet Cape Verde frustrated Spain throughout a disciplined defensive display and earned a remarkable 0-0 draw.

The result highlighted the growing depth within African football. Even teams without the pedigree of Morocco, Senegal or Ivory Coast are now capable of competing with elite opposition on the world’s biggest stage.

Senegal show they can still challenge the elite

Senegal may have lost 3-1 to France, but the scoreline does not fully reflect their performance.

For long periods, the Lions of Teranga matched one of the tournament favourites. They competed physically, created opportunities and demonstrated why they remain one of Africa’s most respected footballing nations.

Ultimately, the individual brilliance of France’s attackers proved decisive. However, Senegal’s display suggested they remain capable of advancing from their group and potentially causing problems in the knockout rounds.

Not every story has been positive

The opening round also provided some difficult lessons.

South Africa struggled in a 2-0 defeat to Mexico, appearing overwhelmed by both the occasion and the atmosphere. Tunisia endured the heaviest defeat among African teams, losing 5-1 to Sweden in a result that immediately increased pressure on the squad.

Iraq’s heavy loss to Norway also served as a reminder that tournament football often punishes defensive lapses.

Yet even these setbacks must be viewed in context. Several African teams faced elite opponents, host nations or traditional World Cup contenders in their opening matches.  However. South Africa’s late draw against Czechia showed promise yet again that there is still hope for the ‘Bafana Bafana’ to stay at this year’s World Cup.

Africa’s strongest World Cup generation?

The most encouraging sign for African football is not the results themselves but the manner in which they have been achieved.

Morocco controlled Brazil. Ivory Coast defeated Ecuador. Cape Verde frustrated Spain. Senegal competed evenly with France.

These are no longer isolated surprises. They are becoming recurring themes.

As the World Cup progresses, African nations appear well-positioned to place multiple teams in the knockout rounds. If the opening week is any indication, the continent’s representatives are not merely filling places in the expanded tournament—they are helping define it.

The expanded World Cup was designed to give more regions a greater voice on football’s biggest stage. Africa has wasted little time showing why it deserves one.

There is no shortage of respect between Brad Pauls and Denzel Bentley, yet they both know a middleweight rematch is becoming increasingly more likely.

The pair squared off for Pauls’ British title, and the vacant European strap, in December 2024, when the challenger triumphed by unanimous decision in a competitive contest.

Since then, both have claimed significant stoppages, with Bentley coming off a seventh-round finish over Endry Saavedra for the WBO ‘interim’ title in April and Pauls halting Shakiel Thompson with a stunning ninth-round onslaught in March.

Prior to his victory, Pauls had been sparring his former foe and, even ahead of his next outing, the two of them have shared plenty of rounds.

With both signed to Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, though, it could be a matter of time before they once again meet under the bright lights.

Speaking with Boxing News, Pauls reveals that he and Bentley have already discussed this possibility.

“I really like Denzel, he’s a cool guy, but we’ve both been saying that, if we keep winning, [Queensberry are] going to make us fight again. It makes complete sense, especially if I get a world title. We’d have to stop sparring but, more than likely, we’ll end up fighting again.”

With Bentley in line for an eventual world title shot, Pauls would need to leverage his No.12 ranking with the IBF in order to secure their unification match.

The more likely route, however, would be a direct WBO title challenge, given Pauls’ No.4 ranking with the sanctioning body and the possibility of Bentley being elevated to full champion; otherwise the Londoner will need to defeat Janibek Alimkhanuly once the Uzbek returns from his year-long doping suspension.

Either way, it seems that Pauls is edging closer to a major opportunity following his tremendous underdog victory over Thompson.

After trailing on the judges’ scorecards, ‘The Newquay Bomb’ took a gamble in round nine and managed to suddenly swing the result in his favour.

Reflecting on his performance, Pauls believes it was his overall experience that made a considerable difference.

“It’s got to add 10 or 15%. I always go back to the [Tyler] Denny fight – my first fight on TV – and it really threw me off.

“But since then, it all just feels familiar – the big occasions, the cameras, the massive venues. Going into the late rounds against Shakiel, that’s when you pull on the experience to get you through.

“A member of my corner team, Ellis [Steward], said: ‘I’d rather you get knocked out trying to knock him out than just play it safe and cruise it to a points loss’. And I was like, ‘I’ve got two rounds left –  I need to start taking big chances’.”

Sure enough, the risk paid off as Pauls pulled off a sizable upset to secure his place on the undercard of Ryan Garner vs Michael Magnesi at St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton, this Saturday.

The 33-year-old will face tricky southpaw Bradley Goldsmith, having just defeated another lefty in Thompson.

If he emerges victorious then Pauls could end up in another domestic dustup later this year, potentially against Sam Gilley, who comes off a clinical fifth-round stoppage over Aston Brown.

“There were about eight names in the hat. [Gilley] was one of the first names but I think my management team would rather do it at the end of the year, when it could become a bigger fight.

“But Queensberry were like, ‘You’re not getting no easy fight’, so that’s how I ended up with Bradley Goldsmith.”

Whether he ends up facing Gilley, Bentley or a totally different fighter, Pauls’ ultimate goal is to headline a televised show in the South West of England.

From a logistical perspective, the nearest venue to Newquay, his home town, is Plymouth Argyle’s Home Park Stadium, where he hopes to eventually fight for world honours.

“We could do it at Plymouth Argyle [Home Park Stadium]. There’s a few more fighters coming out of the South West, like [British welterweight champion] Constantine Ursu.

“That’d be a dream, to bring big time boxing to the South West.”

In order for Pauls to keep this dream alive, he must first take care of the Dominic Ingle-trained Goldsmith.

For decades, the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot has often been shaped by one dominant striker separating himself from the field. In 2002 it was Ronaldo. In 2014 it was James Rodriguez. In 2018, Harry Kane pulled away early. In 2022, Kylian Mbappe produced one of the greatest scoring campaigns in World Cup history.

The 2026 edition feels different.

Just one round of group-stage matches into the tournament, the race is already crowded with some of the biggest names in football. More importantly, the expanded 48-team format may create the perfect conditions for an unprecedented scoring battle.

Messi, Mbappe, Kane and Haaland all firing

The biggest reason the race looks so open is that almost every major contender has already made an impact.

Lionel Messi leads the standings with three goals after his hat-trick against Algeria. At 38, the Argentine superstar is chasing the only major individual World Cup honour missing from his collection.

Close behind are Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland, all sitting on two goals.

Mbappe remains the benchmark after winning the Golden Boot in Qatar four years ago and has already reminded the world of his quality with a brilliant brace against Senegal.

Kane, the 2018 Golden Boot winner, also started strongly with two goals against Croatia and has favourable group-stage matches still to come.

The expanded World Cup changes everything

The move from 32 to 48 teams could have a major influence on the Golden Boot race.

More teams means more matches and a wider gap in quality between some nations. Historically, tournament expansions often create opportunities for elite forwards to boost their numbers during the group stage.

Players representing traditional powerhouses such as France, England, Argentina, Germany and Brazil may find themselves facing less experienced opponents than previous generations did.

A striker who scores heavily in the group stage can quickly build a lead that becomes difficult to erase.

At the same time, teams that progress deep into the knockout rounds will provide their star forwards with even more opportunities to add to their totals. 

Dark horses are already emerging

The race is not just about the usual superstars.

USA forward Folarin Balogun has already scored twice and has become one of the surprise early contenders. Germany’s Kai Havertz has matched that tally, while Sweden’s Yasin Ayari and New Zealand’s Elijah Just have also entered the conversation.

The presence of these unexpected names highlights another consequence of expansion: more nations now have a realistic chance of producing breakout stars on the biggest stage.

Team success may decide the winner

History shows that Golden Boot winners usually come from teams that reach the latter stages.

That is why Mbappe, Messi and Kane remain among the favourites despite the crowded leaderboard. France, Argentina and England are all expected to challenge for the title, potentially giving their stars seven or eight matches to accumulate goals.

Haaland faces a tougher path with Norway drawn alongside France and Senegal, while players from smaller nations may struggle to maintain their scoring pace once the knockout rounds begin.

A race that could go down to the final

The most fascinating aspect of the 2026 Golden Boot battle is that no single player has established clear control.

Messi leads. Mbappe is defending his crown. Kane is chasing a second Golden Boot. Haaland is experiencing his first World Cup. Emerging stars such as Balogun and Havertz are keeping pace.

Add the expanded tournament format and the increased number of matches, and the conditions are in place for what could become the most competitive Golden Boot race the World Cup has ever seen.

For now, Messi holds the advantage. But with so many elite finishers already finding the net, the race appears far from settled.

A dream start for the United States Men’s National Team continued on Friday, and the dream will continue into the next round.

The United States World Cup team clinched a spot in the knockout stage with its 2-0 victory over Australia in Seattle on Friday afternoon, its second win in as many games in this World Cup.

It’s the first time since the inaugural World Cup in 1930 that the United States has won back-to-back World Cup games.

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Team USA celebrates a goal vs. Paraguay in a 2026 FIFA World Cup Group D match at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. (Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images)

The United States’ second World Cup match got off to an awfully familiar start. Flo Balogun’s pass hit Australia’s Cameron Burgess and was directed into the net, resulting in an own goal in the 10th minute and giving the Americans an early lead in the group stage matchup.

It was the first time in World Cup history in which a team benefited from own goals in back-to-back games.

The field stayed tilted after the first goal, with the Stars and Stripes getting plenty of chances. Amazingly enough, though, they did not have a shot on goal for roughly 43 minutes.

But the U.S. found the back of the net at the tail end of that 43rd minute after a free kick was stopped, and then Alex Freeman, the son of former NFL player Antonio Freeman, headed a ball in. Officials initially ruled it offside, but a VAR check reversed the call, sending Seattle’s Lumen Field into a frenzy and giving Freeman, the youngest player on the roster at just 21-years-old, his first World Cup goal.

Through 71 minutes, the United States had possession of the ball for over 60% of the time as opposed to nearly 30% for Australia.

The United States is now 11-2-1 when scoring first in the World Cup.

It was announced before the game that Christian Pulisic would not play after suffering a calf injury last week. However, the Americans hardly missed a beat without him.

United States’ Alex Freeman heads the ball for a goal past Australia goalkeeper Patrick Beach during the World Cup Group D soccer match in Seattle on June 19, 2026. (Maddy Grassy/AP Photo)

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The team already has six goals in group play, tying its group stage record.

With its 2-0 record, the United States is in first place with six points, while Australia remains with three and in second place. Both Paraguay and Turkey, who face off on Friday to potentially determine the USA’s group fate, are winless with zero points.

The United States would clinch a Group D victory, and a favorable draw in the Round of 32, if Paraguay either beats or ties with Turkey — that game kicks off at 11 p.m. ET.

However, a Turkey loss may actually not affect the United States too negatively. Sure, they would be in last place in the group by three points; but the U.S. would be able to rest a lot of its players — namely Pulisic — to give Turkey a favorable matchup to potentially snatch a Round of 32 spot.

Folarin Balogun and Antonee Robinson celebrate after scoring during the World Cup Group D match between the United States and Australia in Seattle on June 19, 2026. (Ted S. Warren/AP Photo)

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The top two finishers from each of the 12 groups advance, as well as the eight-best third-place finishers. So while the U.S. may be able to sit comfortably for its own sake, it could certainly be involved in some mayhem.

No matter the case, the United States will take the pitch back in Los Angeles against Turkey next Thursday.

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Haiti have become the first team to be eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a 3-0 defeat to Brazil in their second Group C match.

The Caribbean side needed a positive result to keep their hopes alive, but they were outclassed by a strong Brazilian team that secured victory with three first-half goals.

Brazil took the lead through Matheus Cunha, who was handed a starting place ahead of Igor Thiago. The striker reacted quickest inside the box to score from close range and put his side in front.

Cunha doubled Brazil’s advantage a few minutes later with an excellent finish, giving the South Americans complete control of the contest.

Vinicius Junior added a third before half-time, showing great composure to beat the Haiti goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation and put the result beyond doubt.

Brazil could have increased their lead after the break, but the tempo of the game dropped in the second half. Haiti changed their formation from a defensive 5-4-1 to a more attacking 4-4-2, while Brazil appeared content to manage the game and conserve energy.

Despite showing more attacking intent after the interval, Haiti were unable to find a way through the Brazilian defence and finished the match without a goal.

The defeat means Haiti can no longer qualify for the knockout stages, making them the first nation to be eliminated from the tournament.

For Brazil, the victory keeps their World Cup campaign firmly on track. Following Morocco’s 1-0 win over Scotland, both teams are level on points, but Brazil move to the top of Group C on goal difference.

With qualification now within reach, Brazil will head into their final group match full of confidence, while Haiti must play only for pride after seeing their World Cup journey come to an early end.