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From the show

World Cup Debrief

Reading time
1 min

  Team USA made it through to the knockout rounds thanks to their 2-0 win against Australia. Morocco quickly got a first goal past Scotland, as did Paraguay against Türkiye. Paraguay’s Matias Glaraza scored 64 seconds in, a new 2026 World Cup record. Brazil finally got their first win of the tournament and powered three past Haiti in the first half. Tunisia is set to face off against Japan, in what is the 1000s World Cup game ever.

Jessica Pegula of the US celebrates winning the women’s singles semi-final match against Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka at the WTA500 Berlin Tennis Open tournament in Berlin on June 20, 2026. Pegula wins 4-6, 7-6, 0-6. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP)

BERLIN–American Jessica Pegula rallied past world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 6-7 (4/7), 6-0 to reach the final of the Berlin Open WTA grass-court tournament for the second time.

The world number four will bid for her 12th WTA title, her second on the Berlin grass after her 2024 victory against either Czech Linda Noskova, ranked 13th, or Filipino wildcard Alexandra Eala, who plays the second semi-final.

Sabalenka had been 9-3 in previous meetings against the American third seed but it was their first clash on grass.

Pegula got off to a strong start, capitalising on Sabalenka’s poor forehand with ten unforced errors in the first three games.

She broke serve to lead 2-1, then gave Sabalenka no chance on her serve, securing the set 6-4 in three-quarters of an hour.

The Belarusian took an early lead in the second set, breaking serve immediately, but looked shaky when it came to closing out the set and was pushed to a tiebreak which was interrupted by rain at 3-1 for the American on her opponent’s serve.

Two and a half hours later, the two players returned to the Steffi Graf court, and Sabalenka snatched the set, setting up a deciding third set.

Pegula quickly pulled away in the deciding set, closing it out 6-0 after two hours and 13 minutes on court.

Eala, who upset world number two Elena Rybakina in the last 16 and Queen’s Club champion Donna Vekic in the first round, will be looking to continue her fine form against eighth seed Noskova.

The 21-year-old world number 35 is the first player from the Philippines to break into the top 50.

David Benavidez has revealed who he sees as Mexico’s greatest-ever fighter, believing the Hall of Famer was in a class of his own when it came to his technical ability.

In a conversation surrounding all-time Mexican greats, Julio Cesar Chavez is often the first name that springs to mind.

This is because he remained undefeated, and became a three-weight world champion, in his first 90 professional fights, before ultimately retiring with a record of 107-6-2 (85 KOs).

Besides a controversial draw with Pernell Whitaker in 1993, Chavez hardly put a foot wrong during his unbeaten run, which came to an end after he lost to Frankie Randall in 1994.

But while acknowledging Chavez’s remarkable achievements, Benavidez feels that Salvador Sanchez should be considered the greatest Mexican fighter of all time.

As the WBC featherweight champion, Sanchez made nine successful title defences before tragically losing his life to a car crash in 1982.

Prior to that, he had a 15th-round finish over Azumah Nelson and engineered another notable stoppage in 1981, this time against Puerto Rico’s Wilfredo Gomez.

As a current champion who appreciates technical mastery, Benavidez told Luis Parra why he thinks Sanchez was the greatest Mexican to ever step through the ropes.

“Honestly, number one is Salvador Sanchez. The technique he had – I don’t think there will ever be another fighter quite like Salvador Sanchez.

“Then Julio Cesar Chavez, Ricardo Lopez, Marco Antonio Barrera… Who else? Juan Manuel Marquez. Erik Morales. There are a lot of great fighters. Oscar Valdez is an excellent fighter too. ‘El Vaquero’ [Emanuel Navarrete] as well. [Oscar De La Hoya], he’s top three.”

While De La Hoya was widely considered the sport’s No.1 operator in the late 1990s, the Mexican-American is rarely mentioned in discussions that specifically concern Mexican greats such as Chavez and Sanchez.

The Minnesota Vikings are trying to provide a fair competition at quarterback. They signed Kyler Murray to a one-year, $1.3 million deal, banking on him to return to his Pro Bowl form from 2020 and 2021. But they are also expecting J.J. McCarthy to fix flaws and improve on a disappointing 2025 season.

However, FOX Sports’ Bucky Brooks sees Murray as the best fit for the offense in 2026, believing that a full bill of health will only be aided by a strong supporting cast.

The former Pro Bowler is the most talented quarterback KOC has coached in Minnesota. As an electric dual-threat playmaker, Murray adds an explosive dimension to the offense as a big-play weapon who can produce highlight-reel-worthy plays inside and outside the pocket. With a supporting cast that features a premier WR1 (Jefferson) and a collection of complementary playmakers (Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, Jauan Jennings and Aaron Jones) who will allow him to operate like a pass-first point guard leading a fast break, the Vikings can operate in attack mode with a dynamic athlete at the helm. Moreover, their creative play-action passing game and shotgun “RPO” (run-pass option) package should expand with a twitchy playmaker at the controls.

Although media members in attendance for OTAs have noted McCarthy’s improvement, the collective belief appears to be that Murray will be the Vikings’ starter when the season begins. Not only does Bucky Brooks see Murray winning the job, but he sees him performing well in O’Connell’s quarterback-friendly system.

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This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Fox Sports thinks Kyler Murray is the ‘best fit’ for the Vikings

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has ushered in the biggest structural change in the tournament’s history. For the first time, 48 nations are competing for football’s biggest prize, expanding the field from the 32-team format that had been in place since 1998.

The expanded competition has also brought significant changes to the group stage and qualification process, making the race for the knockout rounds more complex than ever before.

With several teams already securing qualification after two matches, here’s a detailed look at how the new format works and the rules that determine who advances.

A Bigger World Cup Than Ever Before

The 2026 edition features 48 teams divided into 12 groups of four teams each.

Every team plays three group-stage matches, facing each of the other teams in their group once.

Unlike previous tournaments, where only 16 teams progressed from the group stage, the expanded format allows 32 nations to reach the knockout rounds.

How Many Teams Qualify?

From each group:

The top two teams automatically qualify for the Round of 32.

The eight best third-placed teams across all 12 groups also advance.

This means:

• 
  24 teams qualify automatically (12 group winners + 12 runners-up).
• 
  8 additional spots go to the highest-ranked third-place finishers.
• 
  A total of 32 teams reach the knockout stage.

As a result, more teams remain in contention deeper into the group stage compared to previous World Cups.

The New Knockout Bracket

Once the group stage concludes, the tournament moves into:

• 
  Round of 32
• 
  Round of 16
• 
  Quarter-finals
• 
  Semi-finals
• 
  Third-place playoff
• 
  Final

The Biggest Rule Change: Head-to-Head Before Goal Difference

One of the most important changes introduced for 2026 concerns the tiebreaking system. For decades, fans have been accustomed to checking goal difference first when teams finish level on points.

That is no longer the case.  Head-to-Head comes first. If two or more teams finish level on points, FIFA first examines the results between those teams rather than their overall goal difference.

The order of tiebreakers is:

Step One: Head-to-Head Criteria 

Points earned in matches between the tied teams.

Goal difference in matches between the tied teams.

Goals scored in matches between the tied teams.

Only if teams remain level after these criteria does FIFA move to the next stage.

Step Two: Overall Group Performance 

Overall goal difference in all group matches.

Total goals scored in all group matches.

Fair-play ranking based on yellow and red cards. 

Step Three: FIFA Ranking 

Most recent FIFA World Ranking. 

Why This Rule Matters?

The change dramatically alters qualification calculations. Under the old system, teams often focused heavily on boosting goal difference against weaker opponents.

Now, direct encounters carry far greater importance. For example: A team that defeats a direct rival gains a major advantage even if its overall goal difference is lower. 

Large victories against weaker teams may not be enough to overcome a head-to-head defeat against a competitor for qualification.

This places greater emphasis on every group-stage match and particularly on clashes between teams expected to battle for the same qualification spots.

How Third-Placed Teams Are Ranked

Because eight third-placed teams advance, FIFA also ranks third-place finishers across all groups.

The ranking is determined by:

• 
  Points.
• 
  Goal difference.
• 
  Goals scored.
• 
  Fair-play record.
• 
  FIFA World Ranking.

Unlike within groups, head-to-head records are not used when comparing teams from different groups.

Which Teams Have Already Qualified?

Following the opening two rounds of group-stage matches, two nations have already secured their places in the Round of 32:

Qualified Teams 

Both teams have won their opening two matches and can no longer finish outside the qualification positions in their respective groups.

More Drama Until The Final Matchday

The expanded 48-team structure means fewer teams are eliminated early, creating more meaningful matches across the tournament.

At the same time, the introduction of head-to-head tiebreakers adds another layer of complexity. Fans tracking qualification scenarios now need to pay as much attention to direct results as they do to goal difference.

With a place in the Round of 32 available even for several third-placed teams, most groups are likely to remain alive until the final round of fixtures, ensuring a dramatic finish to the World Cup group stage.

Casemiro has now agreed a deal with a new club after his Manchester United career came to an end following the 2025/26 season

Casemiro has finally agreed a deal with Inter Miami, just hours after the former Manchester United man was torn apart by the Brazilian media for his latest World Cup performance. The 34-year-old will link up with David Beckham’s MLS franchise next season, playing alongside Lionel Messi.

However, Inter Miami have had to overcome a hurdle in regards to the player’s discovery rights. MLS rivals LA Galaxy held those rights, but Beckham’s side have agreed a deal to sign the former United man. It’s understood a verbal agreement has been struck between all parties and that Casemiro will play in MLS when club football returns after the World Cup.

Casemiro will head to Florida as the de facto replacement for legendary former Spain midfielder Sergio Busquets, who retired at the end of 2025 following Inter Miami’s MLS Cup success. Casemiro will take his place in midfield alongside Messi, his Argentina team-mate Rodrigo De Paul. ex-Barcelona and Liverpool star Luis Suarez and former Spurs defender Sergio Reguilon.

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It’s a huge boost for Casemiro to get his future resolved meaning he can focus on Brazil’s World Cup campaign after being recalled to the squad by boss Carlo Ancelotti. However, it’s not been the best of starts for the former United man, despite being unbeaten in their first two group games.

Brazil drew 1-1 with Morocco in a lacklustre display, with Casemiro withdrawn at half-time, but they comfortably saw off Haiti in their second group game.

The veteran midfielder played the entirety of Brazil’s 3-0 win over Haiti but was hammered by several Brazilian football pundits.

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O Globo invited its panel of columnists and correspondents to assess who impressed and who disappointed for Brazil in their clash against Haiti. Of the eight asked to identify the poorest performers, five chose to highlight Casemiro, who departed Old Trafford upon the expiry of his contract this month.

The first wrote: “He struggled even against a much weaker opponent and stood out in midfield, which featured Guimaraes and [Lucas] Paqueta who played well.”

A second commented: “He hasn’t found his form in the competition yet. He seems lost, below his usual level.”

While another admitted: “It’s impressive how nervousness is coming from someone where experience was expected. Both performances so far are worrying. He could lose his place, which he only holds because of Ancelotti’s confidence in him.

“Luckily, it was Haiti. When pressured, he couldn’t hold up,” claimed a fourth, while a fifth added: “He couldn’t even defend well or organise the build-up play.”

Not all outlets shared this assessment, however, with Casemiro finishing the match having won the most duels, made the most tackles and earned the most fouls for his side.

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AJ Francis (fka Top Dolla) had a very underwhelming run in the Stamford-based company and was released back in 2021 along with Swerve Strickland (then known as Isiah “Swerve” Scott) and other members of his Hit Row faction. The TNA Wrestling star was recently slammed by AEW’s Deonna Purrazo after Francis made a comment on her husband Steve Maclin’s recent TNA Departure. Maclin and many others recently announced their departure from the Nashville-based promotion.

TNA Wrestling has been surrounded with a lot of chaos over the last few weeks as a lot of major names have left the company. Former TNA International Champion Steve Maclin announced his departure along with Myla Grace ending his nearly 5-year long tenure with the promotion. Tommy Dreamer who had been leading the company’s creative since 2019 has also parted ways with the company. The company’s Digital Producer Luke Paron also took to X to reveal that he’s no longer working with TNA Wrestling.

All of these departures have led to a lot of concern and criticism from the fans for TNA. A fan took to X to call out AJ Francis for not calling out the company after so many stars have asked for their release. Francis responded to the fan by saying all those stars had their own personal reasons and tried to defend his company. He mentioned how Maclin was a champion for 216 days yet felt fed up with the creative.

“Cuz they tell their own stories… Why do idiots like you pretend Steph wanting to cuz she wants to wrestle & Myla wanting to cuz she’s not on TV & Maclin wanting to because he doesn’t like creative after being champ for 216 days of the year are all the same reason? Cuz ur dumb,” he wrote.

AEW star Deonna Purrazo took offense to AJ Francis’ statement claiming that he was being passive aggressive while mentioning Steve Maclin’s International title reign. She called him out for spreading misinformation like this online:

““after being champ for 216 days of the year” is incredibly passive aggressive. If you don’t report bc “they tell their own stories” then let them and don’t do this shit.”

AEW star Deonna Purrazo has been married to Steve Maclin for nearly 4 years now.

AJ Francis responded to AEW star Deonna Purrazo’s comment

Following Purrazo’s response to his tweet, AJ Francis fired back at her by saying that he’s not being passive aggressive. He stated that his claims were factual while showering praise at Purrazo and her husband Steve Maclin.

“I was the one he beat. I’m not passive aggressive at all. I talked to him today like a man. These are facts. And you are incredible. And so is he. Also facts,” he wrote.

Fans around the world are concerned about the situation revolving around TNA Wrestling. It will be interesting to see what’s next for the promotion.