Spain’s Lamine Yamal (19) celebrates with Mikel Oyarzabal after scoring a goal during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Spain and Saudi Arabia in Atlanta, Sunday, June 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

Lamine Yamal’s return sparked Spain’s World Cup into life as the European champions ran riot to beat Saudi Arabia 4-0 in Atlanta.

Making his first start in two months after a hamstring injury, Yamal ended La Roja’s long wait for a World Cup goal just 10 minutes in.

Mikel Oyarzabal then struck twice to put Luis de la Fuente’s men 3-0 up inside 24 minutes.

READ: World Cup: Cape Verde surprises in debut vs Spain

De la Fuente’s careful management of Yamal’s minutes continued as the Barcelona superstar was replaced at half-time before Hassan al-Tambakti’s own goal rounded off the scoring.

“We had to recover good feelings, correct a few things from the last game, but we need to keep improving if we want to achieve our target of getting to the final on July 19,” said De la Fuente.

Victory propels Spain to the top of Group H, which also saw Cape Verde holding Uruguay to a 2-2 draw.

Billed as one of the pre-tournament favorites, Spain got off to a slow start in a 0-0 draw against debutants Cape Verde.

A pedestrian performance despite dominating possession only highlighted the importance of Yamal to their quest to be world champions for a second time.

De la Fuente also warned his players had been “stung” by the criticism they faced following their opening result and they responded emphatically.

READ: World Cup 2026: How are the favorites shaping up?

Yamal’s return was one of four changes in total with Pedro Porro, Dani Olmo and Alex Baena also coming into the starting line-up.

After over 2,500 passes and 50 attempts at goal since their last World Cup goal, Spain finally found the net and fittingly Yamal made the breakthrough.

Pressure rises on Saudis

Oyarzabal found space in behind the Saudi defence and his low cross picked out the 18-year-old to slot in at the back post.

The Saudis held Uruguay 1-1 in their opening game but there was little evidence that the billions splashed to raise the level of their domestic league has aided the national team.

Coach Georgios Donis looked particularly irked that two of Spain’s goals came from corners.

Oyarzabal pounced on Aymeric Laporte’s flick-on to give the 2010 winners the breathing space they craved.

READ: Lamine Yamal waves Palestinian flag during title parade

Just three minutes later, the Real Sociedad forward volleyed home from Olmo’s header for his 14th international goal in his last 13 caps.

Oyarzabal was inches away from a first-half hat-trick when his audacious effort with the outside of his foot from a narrow angle came back off the crossbar.

But with the job done by half-time, De la Fuente could afford the luxury of replacing Yamal and Oyarzabal at the break.

“Had we had a different result, he (Yamal) would’ve played for longer but given the result and that the match was under control, we considered his contribution was enough for us to have him in the next game,” added De la Fuente.

The changes did not disrupt the waves of Spanish attack towards the Saudi goal, but the fourth also came via a corner.

Cucurella was afforded acres of space to shoot and although his effort was repelled by Mohammed al-Owais, the rebound deflected in off the unfortunate Tambakti.

To round off an ideal afternoon for De la Fuente on his 65th birthday, Nico Williams and Mikel Merino were afforded valuable minutes off the bench in the second period as they too get up to match speed after lengthy absences due to injury.

By contrast, the pressure is now on Donis to deliver in Saudi Arabia’s final group game against Cape Verde in Houston.

Victory will likely take the Arabian Falcons into the knockout stages for the first time since the World Cup was last in the United States 32 years ago.

Spain travel to Guadalajara next for the final group game against two-time winners Uruguay on Friday.

Nneka Ogwumike #30 of the Los Angeles Sparks and teammates celebrate after Ogwumike hit the game-winning buzzer-beater basket against the New York Liberty at Crypto.com Arena on June 21, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Melina Pizano/Getty Images/AFP

LOS ANGELES — Nneka Ogwumike hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift the Los Angeles Sparks to a 98-97 victory over the New York Liberty on Sunday night on the anniversary of the league’s first game that featured the same two teams.

The Sparks, who lost that inaugural game to the Liberty in 1997, trailed by 17 points in the third quarter before rallying behind Ogwumike, who finished with 24 points.

On the final play, Erica Wheeler drove and passed it out to Ogwumike who calmly sank the 3-pointer just before the buzzer from the wing. Breanna Stewart had made one of two from the foul line with just under 9 seconds left to give New York a two-point lead.

READ: WNBA scores: Paige Bueckers posts 31, Wings rout Mercury

Nneka Ogwumike called game 🥵

She hit the @TISSOT buzzer-beater to secure the @LASparks 98-97 dub over The Liberty! pic.twitter.com/f8a6VUo2Ez

— WNBA (@WNBA) June 22, 2026

Ogwumike had 12 of her points in the final 3:50, including a 3-pointer to tie the game at 93 with 1:27 left. The Liberty led 95-93 when Stewart, who was shooting 87.5% from the foul line coming into the game, went to the line with 26.7 seconds left. She made one of two free throws.

Rae Burrell then hit two free throws after she was fouled with 10.3 seconds left. Stewart was fouled a second later and again missed one of the free throws.

With no timeouts left, Wheeler went up the floor and set up the fantastic finish.

Burrell had 19 points and Wheeler scored 15. Stewart and Jonquel Jones both scored 18 with Stewart snagging 10 rebounds to pace New York.

READ: WNBA scores: Jonquel Jones, Liberty surge past Tempo

New York, which has lost two straight following an eight-game winning streak, plays three more road games before hosting the Las Vegas Aces in the Commissioner’s Cup championship game on June 30.

New York beat Los Angeles 67-57 in the league’s inaugural game.

Up next
New York: At the Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday.

Los Angeles: At the Toronto Tempo on Thursday.

MI New York captain Nicholas Pooran plays a delivery down the leg side during match 7 of the Major League Cricket season 4 between Texas Super Kings and MI New York . (Photo/Sportzpics)

Defending champions MI New York opened their account in MLC 2026 with an eight-wicket win over Texas Super Kings in the last match of the tournament’s opening leg at Grand Prairie Stadium on Monday (IST).The victory was set up by a strong bowling display led by Trent Boult and Corbin Bosch before captain Nicholas Pooran guided the chase with an unbeaten 68.After suffering defeat in their opening game, MI New York needed a response and got it quickly through Boult. The left-arm pacer dismissed Smit Patel in the first over and then removed Rilee Rossouw with a ball that came back sharply, reducing Texas to 20 for 2.Texas, who were without their regular captain Faf du Plessis due to a back spasm, struggled to recover from the early setbacks. Bosch struck before the end of the Powerplay to leave them at 36 for 3.Milind Kumar and Shubham Ranjane rebuilt the innings with a 65-run partnership and briefly put Texas back on track. However, MI New York kept picking up wickets. Ranjane fell one run short of a half-century, while Bosch dismissed Donovan Ferreira and Wiaan Mulder to stop any late charge.Boult’s early breakthroughs and Bosch’s control through the middle and death overs ensured Texas never gained full momentum. The innings ended at 158, with four balls still remaining.MI New York started the chase aggressively. Quinton de Kock attacked from the outset, taking on Akeal Hosein in the first over with two fours and a six. Texas then missed a key chance when Monank Patel was dropped by Amishi de Silva in the third over.The missed opportunity proved costly. Monank and de Kock added 49 runs for the opening wicket before Monank and Pooran put together another partnership worth 64 runs. While de Kock provided the early runs, Pooran paced the chase carefully and ensured there were no setbacks.Monank was dismissed for 46 after bringing the target well within reach. Pooran then took control, increasing the scoring rate as the finish approached. His unbeaten 68 helped MI New York complete the chase with 14 balls to spare and secure their first win of the season.

The Minnesota Vikings may or may not have a hole at the OLB3 position in 2026, depending on the maturation of young in-house candidates like Bo Richter, Tyler Batty, and Chaz Chambliss. The club could also utilize second-year defensive tackle Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins in an EDGE capacity or bring rookie off-ball linebacker Jake Golday along sooner than expected in a hybrid OLB function.

Or — the club could sign Za’Darius Smith for cheap, who stopped by Minnesota in 2022 and reached the Pro Bowl that year.

Vikings Could Use Another Proven Rotational Rusher

Smith Out in PHI

The Philadelphia Eagles parted ways with Smith earlier this month, as PennLive‘s Johnny McGonical wrote, “The Philadelphia Eagles made a flurry of moves on Wednesday, signing edge rusher A.J. Epenesa and guard Michael Jordan while cutting ties with a pair of reserves. But one more move might have been lost in the shuffle. The Eagles released edge rusher Za’Darius Smith from the reserve/retired list.”

“That makes Smith a free agent, months after abruptly retiring from football. There’s no word on if Smith will keep playing. But now the three-time Pro Bowl edge rusher is free to sign with another team and continue his career, if he so chooses.”

Smith is 33 and could have a season or two left in the tank, especially as a situational pass rusher. Some Vikings fans have thought since his release: Why not Minnesota?

Career Stats and Recent Downturn

Smith remains a viable option for an OLB3, so long as expectations are tempered and folks are not anticipating his 2022 performance.

His career statistics are impressive: 145 games, 98 starts, 70.5 sacks, 87 tackles for loss, 176 quarterback hits, 16 passes defensed, 10 forced fumbles, and 3 Pro Bowl selections. He was particularly effective with Green Bay and Minnesota, accumulating 36 sacks in three full seasons between 2019 and 2022.

His tenure with the Vikings was notably strong, featuring 44 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 24 quarterback hits, and 10 sacks, earning him consideration for Comeback Player of the Year.

Concerns now primarily revolve around his age. His 2023 stint with the Eagles yielded only 1.5 sacks in five games. Nevertheless, Pro Football Focus still assigned him a favorable pass rush grade — 77.7 — which is obviously crucial for the would-be Vikings role.

As an OLB3 supporting Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner, Smith is a sensible choice, especially as an economical rotational rusher.

A Wise Fit in Minnesota?

Smith knows the Vikings — and even most of the current coaching staff, stopping by Minnesota after his Packers chapter in 2022. He curiously asked for a ticket out of town after just one productive season, but in all likelihood, he has a positive opinion of Kevin O’Connell.

And let’s face it — what else is he going to do? He’s winding down his career, and NFL teams won’t bang on his door in full force. He’d also have the perk of joining a Top 3 defense, led by Brian Flores, over the last few years.

For Minnesota, it might just need a seasoned pass rusher who can get after quarterbacks on 3rd Down and be in line for spot starting duty if Van Ginkel and Turner miss time. Smith isn’t unfathomably old; he can likely still start in a pinch.

Overall, a reunion angle makes sense, and Smith can likely be signed for a few million bucks.

SI.com‘s Will Ragatz wrote this week, “On paper, Smith has the kind of skill set that should work in a Flores defense. He can line up on the edge or present a blitz look in the A gap. He’s always been a solid run defender, even if that’s not the most notable part of his game. The three-time Pro Bowler has all kinds of experience in various schemes from his 11 seasons with six different teams.”

The Other Options in Free Agency

Suppose Smith does not move the needle for the Vikings in summer free agency, but they still want a veteran OLB. The options are plentiful:

• Derek Barnett
• Haason Reddick
• Jadeveon Clowney
• Joey Bosa
• Kyle Van Noy
• Leonard Floyd
• Marcus Davenport
• Preston Smith
• Von Miller

Bosa and Clowney, for example, will be more expensive than Smith, but the moral of the story is that a litany of EDGE options remains.

Smith will turn 34 in September. New Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley has about $13 million to spend on free agents, more than enough to sign Smith if he’s in the mood.

For cheap, the guy seems like a wise choice for OLB insurance. Why not?

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

Group G remains the most finely balanced group at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after Belgium and Iran played out a goalless draw in Los Angeles. With both teams now on two points and New Zealand and Egypt still set to play their second group-stage fixture, the race for the Round of 32 remains completely open.

Belgium were forced to settle for a point despite entering the match as favourites, while Iran produced a disciplined display to remain firmly in contention for qualification.

Belgium: Qualification Still In Their Hands

Despite failing to score against Iran and finishing the match with 10 men, Belgium remain well-positioned.

The Red Devils know that victory over New Zealand in their final group game would take them to five points, a tally that would put them in a strong position to qualify either as a top-two side or potentially as one of the best third-placed teams.

However, another draw would leave Belgium vulnerable depending on the result between Egypt and Iran.

Iran: One Win Could Be Enough

Iran have quietly put together two solid performances and remain unbeaten after consecutive draws.

A victory against Egypt in their final group match would move them to five points and likely secure qualification to the Round of 32.

Even a draw could leave them in contention if Belgium fail to beat New Zealand.

Having already avoided defeat against both New Zealand and Belgium, Iran have given themselves an excellent chance of progressing.

New Zealand: Opportunity Knocks

The All Whites have played only once so far, drawing 2-2 with Iran.

A win over Egypt would send New Zealand to four points and put them in pole position ahead of their final clash against Belgium.

With two matches remaining, New Zealand arguably hold the strongest position in the group despite currently sitting outside the top two.

Egypt: Must Capitalise

Egypt also remain very much alive after their opening draw with Belgium.

A victory over New Zealand would move the Pharaohs to four points and significantly boost their chances ahead of the final-day meeting with Iran.

However, another draw would leave them needing a result in their final match and potentially relying on goal difference.

Can Any Team Qualify After Matchday Two?

No team can mathematically secure qualification after Belgium’s draw with Iran.

However:

• 
  A New Zealand win over Egypt would take them to four points and leave them needing only a draw against Belgium on the final day.
• 
  An Egypt win would put the North Africans in a similar position.
• 
  A draw between New Zealand and Egypt would leave all four teams separated by just one point heading into the final round of fixtures.

Unlike several other groups where favourites have already begun separating themselves from the pack, Group G remains impossible to predict. With Belgium yet to win, Iran unbeaten, and both New Zealand and Egypt still capable of moving to four points, qualification may not be decided until the final whistle of the last group-stage matches on June 26.

The battle for the Round of 32 is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic races of the tournament.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — By the time Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand faced a who’s who of Belgium attackers midway through the second half on Sunday, he and his teammates had already gone through an unusual set of circumstances to start their World Cup. The USA’s war with Iran wreaked havoc over their travel schedules, first shifting them from a previously planned base camp in Tucson, Ariz. to one in Tijuana, Mexico. Then came the domino effect — quick trips in and out of Los Angeles for their opening games, visa issues and modified training sessions to account for their travel woes. Compared to their opponents, Belgium, a squad used to preparing for games in peak physical condition, Iran were as classic an underdog as one might expect. Once Leandro Trossard combined with Kevin de Bruyne before Maxim De Cuyper had the ball at his feet, the fact that the game was goalless seemed certain to end.

Beiranvand, though, made the save.

It was one of several notable moments from the shot-stopper, ensuring Iran would hold Belgium to a scoreless draw at SoFi Stadium that would keep them firmly in the mix for a knockout berth with one game left in Group G. They were no ordinary underdogs considering the geopolitics surrounding their World Cup journey but that is not the only reason why – and why the day was not full of silver linings.

“To be honest, the feeling in the dressing room is that we could have [gotten] even more than what we [got] today,” forward Alireza Jahanbakhsh said after the game.

Belgium may have been the favorites but early on in the game, it was clear they were not overwhelmingly in charge of the game. They ultimately outshot Iran 23-7 but seven shots on target and 1.79 expected goals, while an effective tally, is not exactly a sign of efficiency. Beiranvand’s heroics played a big role – midfielder Saman Ghoddos, who was wearing Beiranvand’s jersey post-match because “I didn’t have a shirt,” called him ” the best goalkeeper in the history of our country.” The two teams did not feel all that far apart, though. Iran had their chances and thought they had a goal in the first half before it was called off for offside, while Iran played a man up after Nathan Ngoy‘s 66th-minute red card. A draw, then, felt fair for all.

That was especially true given the circumstances. Before their first game, a 2-2 draw against New Zealand on Monday, Iran spent hours stuck in immigration despite the trip from Tijuana to Los Angeles taking just 45 minutes via plane, leading Mehdi Taremi to declare that “everything is a disaster.” Before Sunday’s game, they had a different type of travel issue – head coach Amir Ghalenoei said FIFA offered to fly them out at 6 p.m. local time on Friday but the plane never turned up, only to then be told midway through their training session on Saturday that they had to leave. Entry to the U.S. was smooth from there but it meant preparation was far from ideal.

“We came into the World Cup under the worst possible conditions,” he noted, “and still we got a result against a great team and a great manager. We played a beautiful game.”

The journey is not necessarily slated to get easier. Ghalenoei said they have received permission to travel earlier for Friday’s game against Egypt at Seattle’s Lumen Field considering the distance from Tijuana, though he continued to complain about their exit from the Los Angeles area on Sunday. The Iran team left the stadium shortly after 4 p.m. local time to return to Tijuana and though same-day travel for games that kick off as early as noon is not uncommon – the U.S. men’s national team left Seattle for their base camp in Irvine, Calif., after the 2-0 win over Australia on Friday – Ghalenoei did not find it to be ideal.

“We need to recover and then … we have to fly back,” he said. “We don’t even have enough time to recover. Tomorrow we will look at [today’s] game and look at the game with Egypt. Right now, we need recovery. Sixteen hours, two flights and a heavy game. I don’t think anyone could have endured this. And our players have given everything. What we need the most now is to recover.”

Sunday’s game, though, offers a certain amount of optimism that they just might be able to keep their World Cup going despite the circumstances around it. They and Belgium both tied their opening games, meaning top spot in Group G will still be up for grabs when all four teams – including Egypt and New Zealand – hit the pitch in simultaneous kickoffs in Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia on Friday. A second or third place finish could also get them into the round of 32, optimism the prevailing sentiment as Jahanbakhsh and Ghoddos made their post-match remarks.

Iran’s team have also found solace in Tijuana, Mexican fans supporting the players in both games in the Los Angeles area so far at the World Cup. The players have been quick to heap praise on the community around them at their base camp, as well as those who made their way to SoFi Stadium from the border city.

“Since we are there, we keep hearing: Iran, hermano, ya eres mexicano,” Jahanbakhsh said while comfortably slipping into Spanish briefly, quoting a phrase that translates to “Iran, brother, you are Mexican now.”

“Wherever we go, we hear this,” he added. “It shows how much love they give us and that makes it a lot easier and I think for everyone of us, it feels kind of [like] home when we are there in Tijuana and them coming all the way over here to support us, it means a lot to us. At least we are [there for] another four, five days.”

Jahanbakhsh was also thankful for the fans of Iran’s team, who once again filled out a stadium in the focal point of the nation’s diaspora. Sentiment remains mixed as an oppressive regime in Iran continues to reign, fans once again bringing to SoFi Stadium the Lion and Sun flag that has become a visible signal of opposition to the country’s rulers. Jeers could also be heard during the national anthem, Jahanbakhsh the latest in a string of players to take a neutral tone on the clashing opinions that surround the team.

“There are a couple of things that we have in common with all the Iranians everywhere in the world. One is Team Melli,” Jahanbakhsh said, citing the team’s nickname, before name-dropping two regional culinary delights, “one is ghormeh sabzi and one is tahdig”

If, in the end, things go sideways at quarterback, then the Vikings will need to hit reset going into 2027. Quite possibly, that will involve moving on from Kevin O’Connell, but that’s a bit of speculation for a different day.

Who would the passer be to compete for the job if things fizzle?

Right now, Kyler Murray is looking to overcome J.J. McCarthy for the QB1 job. Next up is Carson Wentz, an elder statesman who is in town as an ideal QB3. Wentz can get inserted with essentially zero preparation before doing a nice job; Minnesota values that reality. Otherwise, Max Brosmer is the young fella being developed slowly, but his likeliest spot is on the practice squad.

A future where none of these passers are around beyond the current year is unlikely but not impossible.

Seattle’s Jalen Milroe as The Passer to Watch in 2027

In March of 2025, Minnesota said goodbye to Sam Darnold; Seattle then said hello to Sam Darnold. The rest is history (as they say).

The old GM got canned. The new GM came to town after doing tremendously well with the Seahawks. Already, the effort to improve the roster has involved bringing over talent from the Seahawks. Most of that has occurred around the edges of the roster, but do note that three of the four new players have a connection to The Emerald City.

Does that path back to the Pacific Northwest involve snagging Jalen Milroe?

The backup passer for Seattle isn’t going to usurp Darnold. The 29-year-old quarterback led his team to a Super Bowl victory while pushing Jaxon Smith-Njigba into the conversation for best WR in the NFL. He’s close to untouchable. Milroe can continue hanging around as an upside backup but that may not be the best use of the young arm for more than just another year or two.

Quite possibly, a trade will occur.

Chosen at No. 92 in the 2025 NFL Draft, Milroe is far from a lock to develop into a strong QB1 in the NFL. Part of what he has going for him is the history of soaking up wisdom from a strong starter while getting coached up by Mike Macdonald’s impressive staff.

Consider what was said about Milroe going into his draft by Lance Zierlein of the NFL’s website: “Milroe is an explosive athlete who is very capable outside the pocket, but he lacks accuracy, touch and decision-making when he’s inside the pocket. A lack of anticipation and timing leads to interceptions and contested throws to intermediate areas of the field. He has an NFL arm, but he might need to fine-tune his footwork and delivery to improve accuracy on all three levels. He can get through his reads when he’s confident and feels protected but becomes predictable and easier for defenses to manipulate when he’s rattled.”

More: “He’s built like a Will linebacker, runs like a receiver and is a threat to hit the home run on called runs and scrambles. Milroe was a much better deep-ball passer in 2023, but his 2024 regression makes it harder to project success from the pocket at a high enough rate to become a capable NFL starter. A strong arm and elite speed will have teams intrigued, but if he doesn’t make it as a starter, it’s incumbent upon his team to find a way to get the ball in his hands with packaged plays.”

Talented but raw, Jalen Milroe will have benefited from watching and learning without the starter’s spotlight. Maybe that will serve him well.

Nolan Teasley will know the passer well. So, too, will he be getting a good understanding of the in-house talent in Minnesota. There’s essentially zero chance of a swap during 2026. What could occur, though, is a future trade.

Seattle doesn’t appear likely to keep Milroe over the long-term since Darnold has worked out so well. Trading Milroe is a way to recoup value from the QB-starved NFL.

Minnesota doesn’t have much certainty beyond the reality of promise. The current quarterbacks are talented and are in the midst of a battle. If anyone emerges from the passers to put the starting position into a stable spot remains to be seen.

Jalen Milroe, 23, is going into his sophomore season. Teams will be calling to see if he’s available before too long.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.