A feature race during the latter part of the spring carnival is now on the radar for Pin Up Sheila, following the juvenile’s second victory from as many starts at Warwick Farm.

By the adaptable sire Pinatubo, the filly added to a determined on-speed win at Canterbury last month with another impressive performance on Wednesday, wearing down the leaders to take out the Hyland Race Colours Handicap (1100m).

Winning trainer Tom Charlton was delighted to see Pin Up Sheila ($2.50 fav) exhibit another facet of her ability, with the filly digging deep to win despite racing greenly.

Two from two and picture perfect! 🤩 Pin Up Sheila wins the opener at Warwick Farm.@djgibbons22 @tomcharlton37 @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/wY59376t2a

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 24, 2026

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“She will learn a lot. She did a bit wrong in her trial the other day, and even up the running today she is climbing a bit in her action and not quite flattening out yet,” Charlton stated.

“Hopefully, that will do her the world of good going forward.

“We will probably turn her out now. I’ll have a chat with (owners) the Esplin family, who have obviously got a nice filly on their hands.

“I’d say we’ll give her a breather and look after her, and perhaps she can look at something a little later in the spring.”

Charlton is unsure about Pin Up Sheila’s potential to stretch in distance, but indicated there is stamina in her lineage, making races like the Reginald Allen Quality (1400m) and potential Melbourne targets possibilities.

“She will definitely stay further than today. She has a very stout female line, but she’s not slow,” he commented.

“The stallion is quite a mixed bag. He can get a bit of everything, so we’ll have to work that out.”

Chris Waller presented the $850,000 yearling Omalong for a stylish debut win in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1100m), the colt by Extreme Choice overcoming a slow start to stamp his class.

Bred by Gerry Harvey, the prominent businessman retained a share of the ownership, a decision that Waller’s assistant trainer, Charlie Duckworth, believes was a wise one.

“Gerry Harvey kept a little share in him as well. He did the same with (Group 1 winner) Campione D’Italia, so hopefully he’s just as lucky,” Duckworth said.

“He’s obviously got a very good future. They don’t win like that unless they do.”

Omalong ($1.70 fav) finished ahead of Sanctum ($17) by 1-3/4 lengths to secure a stable trifecta, with Letters Patent ($12) a further long head back in third. You can find the latest betting sites for this and upcoming races at online bookmakers.

The Minnesota Vikings have +5000 odds to win the Super Bowl in 2026, which is about the same as a snowfall in Minneapolis on Memorial Day.

Every year, we uplift teams that live in the same neighborhood of Super Bowl odds as Minnesota, and this go-around, there are about four clubs. Ranked in ascending order, the following franchises have similar Super Bowl moneyline (No. 1 = closest Vikings comp in 2026).

Vikings Share Vegas Tier with Four Squads

4. Pittsburgh Steelers
Odds to Win SB: +6500

Sportsbooks are not too enamored with the Steelers, probably because Pittsburgh is running it back with Aaron Rodgers, who will turn 43 in December, and got rid of Mike Tomlin after nearly two decades — in favor of Mike McCarthy. Vikings fans will know McCarthy well from his time in Green Bay and Dallas. He’s a coach who establishes legitimacy, usually manufactures a playoff appearance, and then falls short of the Super Bowl.

Pittsburgh added wide receiver Michael Pittman, cornerback Jamel Dean, and running back Rico Dowdle. At quarterback behind Rodgers, the depth includes Will Howard, Drew Allar, and Mason Rudolph.

The time may be ripe for the Steelers to finish with a losing record for the first time since 2003.

USA Today‘s Nate Davis called Pittsburgh the 19th-best team in the business last week, explaining, “They officially have QB Aaron Rodgers and the most expensive trio of outside linebackers in the league after Nick Herbig became the latest to cash in on an expensive, aging defense that didn’t do nearly enough to support the four-time league MVP in 2025.”

“The Steelers managed to win the AFC North in a down year for the division, but 10-7 likely won’t get the job done this time around.”

3. Washington Commanders
Odds to Win SB: +4500

Washington has slightly better odds to win it all than Minnesota, probably because Vegas trusts Jayden Daniels to rebound, after a lost 2025 season, more than Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy to surge in the Twin Cities. There’s also Dan Quinn, the head coach, to consider, who usually produces a steady defense.

K’Lavon Chaisson (DE), Leo Chenal (LB), Jerome Ford (RB), Nick Cross (S), Chig Okonkwo (TE), Odafe Oweh (EDGE), Amik Robertson (CB), Laremy Tunsil (OT), Rachaad White (RB), and Ahkello Witherspoon (CB) joined the roster in free agency. The Commanders also used the seventh overall pick in the draft on Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, in addition to onboarding wide receiver Antonio Williams in Round 3.

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Odds to Win SB: +5000

Now — the teams with the same Super Bowl odds as Minnesota. Led by Baker Mayfield, who is tentatively slated for free agency in 2027, Tampa Bay will hope to return to the playoffs after a down season at 8-9 last year. Quietly, the Buccaneers reached the postseason every season from 2020 to 2024, so it was a little weird for Bucs fans to live without meaningful January football.

Tampa Bay embarked on a more modest free agency than the aforementioned Commanders, signing Alex Anzalone (LB), Kenneth Gainwell (RB), Al-Quadin Muhammad (LB), and A’Shawn Robinson (DE). In the draft, EDGE rusher Rueben Bain fell into their lap with the 15th pick, while the Buccaneers also picked linebacker Joshiah Trotter, wide receiver Ted Hurst, and cornerback Keionte Scott.

Future Hall of Famer Mike Evans finally left Tampa Bay, signing with the San Francisco 49ers.

The Buccaneers did not fetch No. 1 on this list because they’re expected to narrowly win the NFC South. Oddsmakers think the Vikings will finish in last place in the NFC North.

1. Indianapolis Colts
Odds to Win SB: +5000

The Colts are the club most like the Vikings in 2026, per sportsbooks’ expectations. They’re slated to finish in third place in the AFC South and employ a quarterback, Daniel Jones — a former Viking — desperate to prove his legitimacy.

With the same odds to hoist the Lombardi Trophy as the Vikings, Indianapolis onboarded Micheal Clemons (DE), Arden Key (DE), Derrick Nnadi (DT), Cam Taylor-Britt (CB), while re-upping with the aforementioned Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce.

Sans a 1st-Round pick this year and next due to the Sauce Gardner trade, the Colts walked away from the draft with CJ Allen, a linebacker from Georgia, and safety A.J. Haulcy of LSU.

Sharp Football‘s Raymond Sumerlin noted on the Colts this month after ranking them No. 21 in power rankings, “The Colts got good value on CJ Allen, who some thought was a first-round talent, but they simply did not have the draft capital to add much to the roster. The pass rush still looks like a major area of concern.”

If you’re looking for the best comp for the 2026 Vikings, based on how the world feels, it’s the Colts.

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

Vinicius Junior made it four goals in three games at the World Cup as Brazil cruised to a 3-0 victory over Scotland on Wednesday, sealing progress to the last 32 as Group C winners and leaving their opponents in danger of another first-round exit.

Real Madrid superstar Vinicius took advantage of a defensive howler to give Brazil an early lead in Miami and headed in another in first-half stoppage time.

Scotland were never really in it and Matheus Cunha got a third on the hour mark for the record five-time World Cup winners, who brought on Neymar towards the end for his first international appearance in over two-and-a-half years.

There are doubts as to whether Carlo Ancelotti’s side are genuine contenders to win this tournament but boosted by finishing top of the group they head to Texas for a last-32 tie in Houston on June 29.

That will be against the runners-up in Group F, which will be either the Netherlands, Japan or Sweden.

After scoring in both the opening 1-1 draw with Morocco and the 3-0 win over Haiti, Vinicius is the first Brazilian to find the net in every group game at a World Cup since Ronaldo and Rivaldo both did it in 2002.

With four goals, he is one behind Lionel Messi and level with Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe in the golden boot race.

Scotland, meanwhile, are at real risk of yet another group-stage elimination, as has been their fate at every previous major tournament in which they have participated — that includes eight World Cups before this year.

Morocco took second in Group C, with seven points but behind Brazil on goal difference, after coming from behind twice to beat Haiti 4-2 in Atlanta.

Read moreWorld Cup 2026: Morocco complete comeback against Haiti in Group C clash

Scotland come third with three points and a goal difference of minus three. They must wait to see if that is enough to finish as one of the eight best third-placed sides who advance to the last 32.

Steve Clarke’s team could not recover from conceding inside two minutes in their last outing against Morocco in Boston, and they only had themselves to blame as they once again fell behind early.

It was a very soft goal to concede and a nightmare for Scott McKenna, who had been brought into the defence in place of Grant Hanley.

McKenna was too casual in possession in his own box in the seventh minute and was closed down by Rayan.

Starting in place of the injured Raphinha, the young Bournemouth forward gave it to Vinicius and he rounded Angus Gunn to score.

Neymar makes comeback

Scotland were very lucky not to concede again in similar circumstances midway through the first half as Jack Hendry was closed down by Vinicius who went on to slot in.

This time, however, the goal was overturned following a VAR check by the Mexican referee, who could see that Vinicius had clipped the leg of Hendry on his way through.

But it was only a matter of time before Brazil scored again, and Vinicius headed in with the game in stoppage time at the end of the first half.

Read moreWorld Cup 2026: Bosnia boost knockout hopes after dominant win over Qatar

Once more Scotland were punished for slack play at the back with an Andy Robertson pass being intercepted inside his own area before Bruno Guimaraes crossed for the goal.

Scotland looked at risk of completely collapsing as Gunn had to save from Rayan just before the half-time whistle, and the goalkeeper then denied Vinicius his hat-trick soon after the restart.

Instead it was Manchester United‘s Cunha who got the third — his third of the tournament — from a Guimaraes lay-off, and Brazil could have won by more.

A consolation goal for Scotland might have been significant in their quest to reach the next round, but Alisson twice denied Scott McTominay.

Neymar, Brazil’s all-time top goal-scorer, came on for Cunha in the 76th minute to huge cheers, making his comeback after being absent from the Selecao since October 2023.

This was Brazil’s fourth win in five World Cup meetings with Scotland, the exception being a goalless draw in 1974.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Morocco became the most successful African nation in FIFA World Cup history after defeating Haiti 4-2 in their final Group C match on Wednesday.

The victory was Morocco’s seventh win at the World Cup, moving the Atlas Lions ahead of Nigeria, who previously held the African record with six victories.

Late goals from Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassine sealed the historic win in Atlanta as Morocco came from behind twice to deny Haiti a first-ever World Cup point.

Haiti stunned the 2022 World Cup semi-finalists by taking the lead in the 10th minute when a flick from Lenny Joseph went in off Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou for an own goal.

Morocco responded through Achraf Hakimi, who levelled in the 39th minute after Haiti goalkeeper Johny Placide failed to keep out Brahim Diaz’s effort.

However, Haiti regained the lead just before half-time when Wilson Isidor scored a stunning long-range strike into the top corner.

Morocco hit back again in first-half stoppage time as Ismael Saibari scored his third goal of the tournament after a well-worked move involving Hakimi.

The Atlas Lions finally took control in the closing stages when substitute Rahimi’s effort took a deflection and found the net with 12 minutes remaining.

Yassine then wrapped up the victory in the 89th minute after a VAR check confirmed Rahimi had kept the ball in play before providing the assist.

The win ensured Morocco finished second in Group C behind Brazil, who beat Scotland 3-0 to claim top spot.

Although Morocco could not finish first in the group, the result secured another piece of history for African football. Their seventh World Cup victory is now the highest number achieved by any African nation in the competition, surpassing Nigeria’s long-standing mark of six wins.

For Haiti, the defeat brought an end to a spirited campaign. The Caribbean side, ranked 83rd in the world, exited the tournament without a point but earned praise for scoring twice against one of the strongest teams in the competition.

Morocco will now face either the Netherlands, Japan or Sweden in the Round of 32, while Haiti return home after finishing bottom of Group C.

Matheus Cunha and Tyler Fletcher were on opposing sides for Brazil’s World Cup meeting with Scotland on Wednesday night, and the two Manchester United players had contrasting evenings

Matheus Cunha was reunited with Manchester United youngster Tyler Fletcher in a wholesome moment during Brazil’s World Cup clash with Scotland in Miami. Cunha’s side came out on top, with Brazil winning 3-0 to secure top spot in Group C.

For Scotland, it was a damaging night, leaving them dependent on results elsewhere to squeeze into the round of 32 after finishing third in their group. Steve Clarke’s side won’t know their fate until around Sunday, with teams in other groups still having one match left to play.

The expanded 48‑team format means only the top eight third‑placed sides progress and the Tartan Army have only themselves to blame after costly defensive errors. Scott McKenna’s early mistake gifted Brazil a seventh‑minute opener, finished by Vinicius Junior, and set the tone for a punishing evening.

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The Real Madrid star then struck again on the brink of half‑time, and Cunha added another to seal the win. It was the United attacker’s third goal in as many games.

Prior to the match, the players exchanged the usual handshakes but Cunha made a point of giving Fletcher a special greeting, offering a warm hug.

The heartwarming moment sparked plenty of reaction from fans on X.

One United supporter wrote: “United brotherhood,” while another added: “Lovely indeed. Teammates now facing each other in a fierce battle.”

A third simply commented: “Lovely moment that.”

However, Fletcher didn’t feature after being called-up to replace Napoli star Billy Gilmour who was ruled out of the World Cup with a knee injury suffered in Scotland’s final home friendly before the tournament.

As Scotland’s campaign edges towards an early finish, Fletcher, who only made his debut in a friendly against Curacao in May, may not get the chance to appear on the biggest stage.

The 19‑year‑old has been named on the bench for the Tartan Army’s last three matches against Haiti, Morocco and Brazil.

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Cunha, meanwhile, made way for Neymar in the 76th minute after earning a second consecutive start under Carlo Ancelotti. Neymar made his first appearance of the tournament, having recently recovered from a calf injury.

Brazil have qualified for the knockouts and, as it stands, will face Japan in the round of 32.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – U.S. men’s national team head coach will name a rotated starting lineup for Thursday’s World Cup game against Turkiye, their Group D finale a dead-rubber match after they already topped the group and their opponents were already mathematically eliminated.

Pochettino’s decision was chiefly influenced by the fact that four players carry yellow cards into Thursday’s game at SoFi Stadium – defenders Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson, midfielder Tyler Adams and forward Folarin Balogun. Another booking against Turkiye would mean they would be suspended for the USMNT‘s round of 32 match on July 1 against an opponent that is yet to be determined.

“I think it’s an easy answer for the guys that have yellow cards,” Pochettino said in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday “I think it’s unnecessary to take a risk and then [they] take another yellow card and be not available for the next stage and I think that is a little bit [of a] normal and easy answer not to play with them from the beginning.”

There are also still fitness questions around two other players, forward Christian Pulisic and midfielder Cristian Roldan. Pulisic declared himself fit on Wednesday and has completed three days of training this week, doing so after picking up a calf issue that resulted in his halftime substitution in a 4-1 win over Paraguay on June 12 and ensured he would miss out on Friday’s 2-0 win over Australia. Roldan, meanwhile, is dealing with a muscle strain that has been described as day-to-day. He has not trained all week but Pochettino said further consultation with the medical staff is required before deciding on a role for both players against Turkiye.

“Cristian Roldan, we need to assess tomorrow if he can be available,” Pochettino said. “Small issue in his quad but I think it’s evolving really well. If he’s not [fit] for tomorrow, hope [he can be] for the next week and Christian Pulisic is now talking with the medical area. He’s available and then we need to decide if it’s possible to play the full game [or] be on the bench and have the [possibility] maybe to play in the second half.”

Pochettino’s decisions mean several spots will be open for grabs on Thursday, the game providing an important opportunity to prove they should be starters once the knockout stages begin. It also offers the coach a chance to roll out one final experiment after nearly two years of tinkering with his personnel and his tactics. That is especially true in midfield – Adams is an anchor of the U.S. midfield and the team has routinely struggled without him in the build-up to the World Cup. There is no true backup for him, either, and the calculation changes if Roldan is unable to play. Pochettino insists he has options, though, and a wide variety of them.

“When we talk about midfielders, it was like it was compulsory to play with a holding midfielder, a defensive, holding midfielder but when you see Spain or different teams, they don’t play with a defensive midfielder,” Pochettino said. “They play with players that play really well, midfielders that understand the game and for us, it’s about balance but of course, we have players that we can [be] involved – play like a midfielder, deep, and then progress. I think the most important is in the philosophy and your ideas. If you want to pass the ball and dominate the opponent, you need players that can play and understand the game in space, not the positional game.

“I think we have plenty of players like Gio Reyna or Weston McKennie or Sebastian Berhalter or Malik Tillman – even players like [defenders] Sergino Dest or Joe Scally or even Auston Trusty. In some moments in our system, in our build-up, they can go to the middle and they are very good players that understand positional game and what they need to do. I think we are good and it’s not going to be a problem.”

Berhalter seems most likely to get the nod in midfield, while forward Ricardo Pepi seems poised for a second straight start after a successful outing in Pulisic’s place against Australia. Defender Max Arfsten seems most likely to fill Robinson’s place while Pochettino is inclined to go a few different ways on Richards’ spot – Mark McKenzie started alongside Tim Ream and Alex Freeman in their penultimate friendly before the World Cup, a 3-2 win over Senegal, while Miles Robinson filled in during the subsequent game, a 2-1 loss to Germany.

For the first time in World Cup history, hydration breaks have become a mandatory feature of every match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Regardless of whether games are played in extreme heat, inside climate-controlled stadiums, or in cooler evening conditions, referees are required to stop play twice per match for three-minute breaks.

Officially, the policy exists to protect player welfare and ensure equal conditions across all matches. Unofficially, however, the breaks have triggered one of the tournament’s biggest off-field debates.

Are hydration breaks genuinely about player safety, or have they quietly become valuable commercial inventory in football’s biggest event?

FIFA’s Position: “This Is Not A Financial Issue”

Facing growing criticism from fans and players, FIFA president Gianni Infantino directly addressed the controversy.

“There is no additional revenue for FIFA, as all commercial agreements were signed well in advance,” Infantino said.

“This is not a financial issue for us. For us, it is purely a sporting matter.”

According to FIFA, the breaks were introduced primarily because of the climate challenges posed by a summer tournament spread across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Infantino argued that the policy is about consistency rather than temperature alone.

“What matters even more to us is ensuring that all teams, in every match, are playing under the same conditions.”

He added: “We want to ensure equal conditions for everyone and that’s why these breaks are implemented in every match.”

Why Fans Remain Skeptical?

The skepticism stems from one unavoidable reality.

Television broadcasters have quickly turned hydration breaks into advertising windows.

In countries such as the United States, commercial breaks regularly appear during the stoppages. Industry estimates suggest a 30-second World Cup advertising slot on Fox Sports costs between $200,000 and $300,000 during regular matches, rising significantly for USA games and knockout fixtures.

With four advertising opportunities potentially available during every match, the breaks have created hundreds of additional commercial slots throughout the tournament.

That has led many supporters to wonder whether FIFA is indirectly benefiting even if it is not directly receiving extra payments.

Critics argue that while FIFA may not earn additional revenue from pre-existing contracts, broadcasters and commercial partners are undoubtedly extracting more value from the tournament.

The optics have led some fans to compare football’s hydration breaks to timeouts commonly seen in American sports.

Players with divided opinions

Not everyone inside the game is convinced the breaks are necessary in every match.

Several leading players have openly questioned the universal approach.

French superstar Kylian Mbappe has reportedly expressed concerns that the stoppages interrupt momentum, particularly when one team is dominating possession and building pressure.

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has similarly suggested that conditions should be assessed on a case-by-case basis rather than applying the rule universally.

Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans also questioned whether breaks are needed during matches played in cooler conditions. For many players, the issue is not hydration itself but the loss of rhythm in a sport built around continuous flow.

Coaches Have Discovered An Unexpected Advantage

While some players dislike the interruptions, many managers have quickly recognised their strategic value.

Hydration breaks effectively provide coaches with two additional opportunities per half to communicate directly with players during live matches.

England manager Thomas Tuchel admitted the pauses have had a bigger influence than he expected. “They change the characteristic of the match more than I thought.” Mexico coach Javier Aguirre has embraced them as football’s version of an official timeout.

France manager Didier Deschamps has gone even further, describing the breaks as turning matches into something resembling four quarters rather than two halves. The result is a subtle but significant shift in football tactics.

Managers can now reorganise shape, deliver instructions and adjust game plans without waiting for half-time.

The Commercial Reality

The truth likely lies somewhere between FIFA’s explanation and the concerns of critics.

There is currently no evidence that FIFA negotiated hydration breaks specifically to generate new revenue streams. Infantino’s claim that commercial agreements were signed before the tournament appears credible.

However, that does not mean the breaks lack commercial value.

Broadcasters are undeniably benefiting from the extra advertising inventory. Sponsors gain additional visibility. Networks gain more flexibility in scheduling commercials.

Even if FIFA is not directly earning extra money from the stoppages, the wider World Cup ecosystem is monetising them. That distinction may be technically correct from FIFA’s standpoint, but it has done little to silence criticism.

A Rule that may outlast 2026

The larger question is whether hydration breaks remain a temporary solution or become a permanent feature of major tournaments.

Climate concerns are unlikely to disappear. Summer temperatures continue to rise, and future World Cups may face similar challenges.

At the same time, coaches are discovering tactical advantages, broadcasters are finding commercial benefits, and governing bodies are seeing operational value in standardised match management.

For now, FIFA insists the breaks exist solely to protect players and create equal conditions.

But as television networks continue to sell advertising around those stoppages and coaches increasingly use them as strategic timeouts, the debate over whether hydration breaks are about welfare, tactics or commerce is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.