Team USA’s final group stage match in the 2026 FIFA World Cup may not have had any implications for either team, but patriotism was in full force for the home country as second lady Usha Vance was among the many prominent figures at Los Angeles Stadium on Thursday night.
As the U.S. national anthem rang across the stadium, with players and fans singing in unison, the FOX Sports broadcast showed Vance in a suite with a huge smile on her face as “The Star-Spangled Banner” ended.
Vance was present at the match just two days after FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that President Donald Trump would present the World Cup trophy to the winning team at the final in New Jersey on July 19.
U.S. second lady Usha Vance attends the 2026 World Cup Group D match between Turkey and the United States at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 25, 2026.(Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)
Vance was just the beginning of the stars that showed out in Inglewood, as Paris Hilton was seen presenting the match ball before kick-off. Then, cameras started to pick up the many high-profile faces throughout the crowd.
Among them were Edward Norton and Brad Pitt, a pair that many movie lovers know from their hit classic “Fight Club.” Some social media users even hoped that the discussion they were seen having was about a sequel.
Also, movie star Ashton Kutcher was seen speaking with Los Angeles Rams standout wide receiver Puka Nacua, who knows the confines of SoFi Stadium (what it is called outside of FIFA play) very well.
Then, Colin Farrell, though Irish-born, was rocking a replica Team USA jersey alongside his son in the stands to support the Stars and Stripes. Leonardo DiCaprio, Scottie Pippen and more were also seen in the seats.
U.S. second lady Usha Vance sings the anthem during the 2026 World Cup Group D match between Turkey and the U.S. at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 25, 2026.(Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)
There has been a tremendous outpouring of support for the USMNT from everywhere, celebrity or not, throughout this tournament. The 4-2 win over Paraguay at the same Los Angeles stadium caused a frenzy in the stands, as the U.S. made a statement to begin the tournament on home soil for the first time since 1999.
Then, it was on to Seattle, where a 2-0 victory over Australia not only led to a spot in the knockout round, but led to a bellowing of the John Denver classic, “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” from everyone in the stands. The USMNT saluted their fans after yet another successful match.
It was a much different look for the USMNT entering Thursday night’s matchup against Türkiye, with nine changes to the starting XI after the team had already secured its place in the knockout stage. The Americans will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 on July 1.
Paris Hilton is seen with children before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Türkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on June 25, 2026.(Sarah Stier/FIFA)
No matter who’s on the pitch, some of the biggest names in the country are showing support for the team that has inspired tremendous national pride to kick off this tournament.
Manchester City have reached an agreement with Nottingham Forest for the transfer of Elliot Anderson to the Elithad Stadium.
England international Jarell Quansah believes Elliot Anderson will “go right to the top” after news of his impending move to Manchester City broke on Thursday night.
City have agreed a £116m fee with Nottingham Forest for Anderson, though reports of him undergoing a medical in New York on Friday are premature. A date for the midfielder’s medical has not yet been set though it is expected to take place following the completion of the World Cup group stage.
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The move will see City smash the record fee paid for a British player, and their own club record – eclipsing the £100m they paid for Jack Grealish back in 2021.
Quansah was asked about Anderson’s move ahead of England’s final group stage game against Panama on Saturday, and the Bayer Leverkusen defender claimed the news had done little to disrupt Anderson’s focus as England strive to secure World Cup glory.
“I see a player that’s fully focused on what he wants, and I think at the moment what he wants is to win a World Cup,” the England defender told talkSPORT. “That ultimately is the goal.
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“Obviously I’m not in his head or whatnot, but I’m sure he is fully focused on winning the World Cup for England, and you can’t drift too far away from that and he knows that. But he’s a proper focused young lad and he’ll go right to the top, I think.”
Quansah went on to discuss the qualities Anderson will offer at the Etihad, claiming he has been aware of his talent for quite some time following his move to Anderson’s former loan club Bristol Rovers.
“I think he’s a very versatile player as well,” he added. “This season he’s played a deeper role, played in a sort of a six and sometimes an eight, but he’s got probably everything you want as a midfielder, to be honest.
“I remember hearing about him at Bristol Rovers when I went on loan there afterwards and I think he was playing on the wing.
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“Knowing he can do that and what he does in training sessions as well, he’s got a lot of attributes that are really good for an England squad and exactly what the manager wants, which is good.”
Kuro Games has revealed the banners for the Wuthering Waves 3.5 update during the official special preview program broadcast. The upcoming patch will bring two new characters, Yangyang: Xuanling and Suisui, and will also have reruns for several older characters and their weapons.
Let’s take a look at the Wuthering Waves 3.5 banners.
All Wuthering Waves 3.5 banners
Version 3.5 of the game will introduce two new characters as part of the Mengzhou cast. Here are the banners for phases 1 and 2 for the upcoming update:
Phase 1
Phase 1 banners (Image via Kuro Games)
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Yangyang: Xuanling (5-star Havoc)
Lynae (5-star Spectro)
Luuk Herssen (5-star Spectro)
Chixia (4-star Fusion)
Aalto (4-star Aero)
Danjin (4-star Havoc)
Yangyang: Xuanling has been confirmed as one of the characters who will receive a banner during phase 1 of the 3.5 update. She is a Havoc DPS who can use the Havoc Bane status effect to dish out damage. She is also a sword user and will be the first Mengzhou character to become playable.
Lynae and Luuk Herssenwill also be available during phase 1 of the 3.5 update, and you will be able to obtain them. Both are spectro characters, with the former using Pistol, while the doctor from Startorch Academy uses gauntlets.
The 4-stars for this phase will be Chixia, Danjin, and Aalto. Additionally, separate weapon convenes will be available for Yangyang’s signature sword, Azure Oath, Lynae’s pistols called Spectrum Blasters, and Luuk Herssen’s signature weapon called Daybreaker’s Spine.
Phase 2
Phase 2 banner (Image via Kuro Games)
Suisui (5-star Glacio)
Aemeath (5-star Fusion)
Baizhi (4-star Glacio)
Mortefi (4-star Fusion)
Lumi (4-star Electro)
Suisui is the second Mengzhou character to join the game during phase 2 of the 3.5 update. She is a Glacio support for the Negative Status effect archetype, and she uses a Rectifier. She is also a 5-star Resonator and will be available till the end of the Wuthering Waves 3.5 patch.
Alongside her, Aemeath in Wuthering Waves, will also receive her rerun banner. She is a Fusion DPS who is also one of the strongest characters in the game’s meta. The 4-stars for this phase will be Lumi, Baizhi, and Mortefi.
Suisui’s signature rectifier, Firstlight’s Herald, and Aemeath’s signature sword, Everbright Polestar, will also be available for a limited-time.
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Special Banner: Starpath Reverbs
Special Banner (Image via Kuro Games)
A special banner will be released for the following characters in the game:
Jiyan (5-star Aero)
Yinlin (5-star Electro)
Jinhsi (5-star Spectro)
Changli (5-star Fusion)
Xiangli Yao (5-star Electro)
Zhezhi (5-star Glacio)
Their signature weapons will also be available as a special Convene banner:
Verdant Summit (5-star Broadblade)
Stringmaster (5-star Rectifier)
Age of Harvest (5-star Broadblade)
Blazing Brilliance (5-star Sword)
Verity’s Handle (5-star Gauntlet)
Rime-Draped Sprouts (5-star Rectifier)
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Manchester City have agreed terms with Nottingham Forest over the transfer of Elliot Anderson to the Etihad Stadium.
Football is a fickle business, and it doesn’t take long for the euphoria of a shiny new signing to die down before fans start asking whether they’ve got value for money.
Manchester City’s desire to bring Elliot Anderson to the Etihad has been clear for quite some time, and while a number of other clubs have also been monitoring the England international – including city rivals Manchester United – it has always been apparent that City was his preferred destination.
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Striking a deal with Nottingham Forest remained the only potential stumbling block, but City did so on Thursday night as a fee of £116million was agreed. While the figure seems steep for a 23-year-old who was sold for £35m just two years ago, it reflects the rapid rise of the former Newcastle man and his undoubted talent. But do City fans think the club have got value for money?
The Manchester Evening News asked supporters to tell us how much they thought the England international was worth, with options of between £80m and £100m, £100m and £120m, or over £120m.
An overwhelming majority of 67% of fans voted for the former, believing Anderson is worth between £80m and £100m. 23% of voters believe he is worth between £100m and £120m, with the £116m fee City have agreed with Forest falling into this bracket. Meanwhile, only 10% of voters believe Anderson is worth more than £120m.
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The figures suggest there are plenty of fans Anderson will need to win over to prove he is worthy of the record transfer fee for a British player that City have agreed, though he’ll go some way to justifying his price tag if he can help lead England to glory at this summer’s World Cup.
As we wait for the finer details to be thrashed out ahead of Anderson’s move, attention will now switch to what else City need to do to strengthen their midfield options in their bid to reclaim their Premier League crown. Is just signing Anderson enough, or do you think City need to sign Sandro Tonali as well? Or do you think another midfield addition is required but Tonali isn’t the right man? Let us know your thoughts in the poll below:
While India’s teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi had to wait for his international debut, Ireland handed a first T20I cap to India-born left-arm pacer Jai Moondra in the opening match of the series at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast on Friday.India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to field first. India went with three specialist fast bowlers, one all-rounder and two spinners, while Sooryavanshi was left out of the playing XI.For Ireland, captain Lorcan Tucker confirmed Moondra’s debut at the toss, saying, “Would’ve bowled. Looks like a really good pitch. It was a matter of transition. Stirlo led the last couple of years beautifully. Jai is making his debut today.”Moondra’s debut may not have drawn the same attention as Sooryavanshi’s expected appearance, but the 29-year-old has built a reputation in Irish cricket as one of the quickest bowlers from Leinster, Ireland’s most populated province.
Who is Jai Moondra?
Born in Tonk, Rajasthan, Moondra moved to Ireland in 2021 to pursue a Master’s degree in Electronics and Communication. After arriving, he joined Leinster Cricket Club in Dublin and worked his way into Ireland’s domestic setup.Speaking after receiving his maiden Ireland call-up, Moondra told Cricket Ireland, “To play international cricket was always a dream. I’m really grateful to Cricket Ireland for giving me this opportunity. While I set goals for myself, I also focus on each game. I have targets, but I don’t get stressed about the future. I try to enjoy the moment – and that’s what I intend to do with the India series.”Interestingly, Moondra did not begin his cricket journey as a fast bowler. He started out as a batter who could bowl left-arm spin before switching to pace later in his career.His domestic record includes one first-class match for Leinster, along with six List A games and five T20 matches.With his debut, Moondra joined a list of players of Indian origin to represent Ireland. That list includes Raman Lamba and Simi Singh, as per a report by Cricbuzz. Another name is Robin Waters, who was born in Calcutta (now Kolkata) and was part of the Ireland side that bowled out the West Indies for 25 in 1969.Indian cricket fans may also recognise Waters as the driver involved in the 1961 road accident in England that left Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, who was travelling as a passenger, with the loss of vision in one eye.
France’s preparations for its final World Cup group game have been disrupted by the departure of manager Didier Deschamps from the team’s camp following the death of his mother. Mbappé’s Les Bleus are set to face Halland’s Norway in a highly anticipated duel between the two star goalscorers. FRANCE 24’s Selina Sykes followed Les Bleus as they prepare for their final game.
It’s a duel that’s set to be gruelling at the World Cup. France on one side, Norway on the other, with two star goalscorers facing each other: Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. The game could decide who finishes first of the group. The man leading Les Bleus is not Didier Deschamps, whose mother passed away earlier this week. Instead, his assistant Guy Stéphan is in charge.
Alyssa receives Suspension after Fist to Caitlin Clark’s Throat
The WNBA has suspended Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas for one game after reviewing an incident involving Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark during Wednesday night’s game.
No foul was called when the play occurred with 6:52 remaining in the second quarter of Phoenix’s 111-109 victory. However, after reviewing the footage, the league upgraded the play to a Flagrant Foul 2 and announced that Thomas would also be fined $1,000.
In its statement, the WNBA said:
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“Per WNBA rule, the League Office has the option, following its review of any game, to reclassify a Flagrant foul or to classify as Flagrant any foul not called as such during a game and may impose a fine and/or suspension.”
The incident happened as Clark drove into the lane and ended up on the floor following contact. During the scramble for the ball, Thomas made contact with Clark’s throat with her fist before getting up and stepping over the Fever guard.
Indiana head coach Stephanie White was critical of the officials after the game, arguing the play should have been penalized immediately.
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“No. 1, you’ve got to call it. It’s absolutely egregious and utterly disrespectful.”
The league’s post-game review ultimately agreed that the contact warranted a Flagrant Foul 2, making Thomas ineligible for Phoenix’s next game against the Toronto Tempo.
It is a tap-in tally to bet the Toronto Maple Leafs will select Gavin McKenna with the first pick at the NHL draft when it begins on Friday in Buffalo.
Uncertain is who is chosen next, and even who makes the second selection.
The free-for-all will not end there during a couple of intriguing days in the two-day event.
As of now, the San Jose Sharks own the second overall selection, and would surprise nobody by selecting winger Ivar Stenberg.
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From there, the draft includes a two-way center in Caleb Malhotra, and a slew of defensemen (Chase Reid, Alberts Smits, Carson Carels, Keaton Verhoeff and Daxon Rudolph) to round out most of the top-10.
In the mix among all of those names is a wild card in center Viggo Bjorck, who may be on the smaller side but has eye-catching skill that many of the teams outside the top two covet.
But how the draft shakes out in terms of which young men receive new sweaters upon graduating to the next step of their career is only part of the intrigue.
It will be fascinating how much wheeling and dealing comes to fruition among the clubs with excessive draft capital. Already, 12 of the 32 first-round selections have been traded, some of them more than once.
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Case in point, the St. Louis Blues missed the playoffs by four points, so a case could be made they should be adding to make a push.
On Wednesday, the Blues dealt Jordan Kyrou to the Washington Capitals and added a fourth — yes FOURTH — first-round pick to their stable. In owning picks No. 11, 15, 16 and 29, the Blues could use those to add players who would have an immediate impact while they re-tool.
St. Louis is not alone in holding plenty of valuable cards. The Sharks also own the ninth and 27th picks. San Jose plans to take a substantial leap forward next season with a team built around plenty of young talent, notably Macklin Celebrini. It will take a mint to pry away that second overall pick, but the Sharks would be wise to parlay those other first-rounders for a legitimate player to fill a gaping hole or two in their roster.
Then you have the host Buffalo Sabres. This past season’s Atlantic Division regular-season champs took a hit by losing forward Alex Tuch in a sign-and-trade swap with the Washington Capitals (which gave them a 2027 third rounder) and also dealt away skilled defenseman Bowen Byram to the Chicago Blackhawks. Thanks to the latter deal, which is something of a head-scratcher from Chicago’s perspective with that team’s need for a scoring forward to play alongside Connor Bedard, the Sabres added the fourth overall pick, while also holding the 20th.
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It will be a huge surprise if the Sabres do not use that currency to add a player who will help them now fuel their Stanley Cup hopes.
There certainly are plenty of players on the trade market, such as Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, Winnipeg Jets star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, Anaheim Ducks stagnated power forward Mason McTavish and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies.
So, feel free to await the words “I’ve got a trade to announce” from Gary Bettman throughout the draft, and not just to be a drinking game.
Bailey signed for United from Burnley in 2021. He made a positive early impression for the academy and made his under-18s debut under Travis Binnion in 2023, when he was just 15. The teenager went on to make his under-21s debut in 2025.
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But United announced earlier this month that Bailey would be leaving alongside Malachi Sharpe and Sonny Aljofree. It has now been confirmed that he will be playing in English football’s third tier with Stockport.
The midfielder has already played for Stockport’s academy side in the season just gone, and academy director Mike Jeffries has now explained why Bailey, who has signed a two-year contract, deserves his first professional deal.
He said: “James has worked incredibly hard throughout his time in the Academy since joining from Manchester United and fully deserves this opportunity. He has shown a fantastic attitude, a strong commitment to his development, and a willingness to learn every day.
“Signing a first professional contract is an important milestone, but it’s also the beginning of the next stage of his journey. We’re pleased with the progress he has made and believe he has the qualities, both on and off the pitch, to continue developing within the football club.
“Everyone in the Academy is proud of James and the dedication he has shown to reach this point. We look forward to supporting him as he takes the next steps in his career and continues to push for further opportunities.”
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Head of emerging talent Vinil Joseph added: “James is a player we have tracked for a considerable period of time. He is a tenacious midfielder who combines a strong competitive edge with excellent technical quality, highlighted by a fantastic left foot.
“We believe he possesses attributes required to thrive in a senior environment and continue his development at the club. We are delighted to welcome him and look forward to working with him over the coming years.”
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Bailey has also shared his happiness at joining Stockport. writing on Instagram, he said: “Happy to have signed my first professional contract at @stockportcounty, New beginnings, Happy to get started.”
Former Reds academy colleagues Chido Obi, Samuel Lusale, Jacob Devaney, Dante Plunkett and Bassirou Nkoto were among those who wished him good luck in response.
Man City have agreed a deal to sign midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest in the summer transfer window.
A recent photo taken of Elliot Anderson shows him holding a cricket bat at England’s training camp in Kansas City. Anderson has looked relaxed in the United States, but it would have been impossible for him not to be slightly distracted by his future, which has finally been decided.
Manchester City have claimed the wicket by agreeing a fee of £116million, although that figure has been disputed by sources connected to Nottingham Forest, who have suggested the deal is worth £130m.
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Manchester United effectively pulled out of the race to sign Anderson when City’s opening, lofty bid was rejected due to the cost involved. They have since moved on to alternative targets.
United CEO Omar Berrada warned United would move away from targets if the financials didn’t make sense. “We have to be really disciplined, it’s simple. We have a plan, we know what we can invest, and we have to stick to that,” he said on the club’s in-house podcast.
“In some cases, we may decide to make an investment knowing it’s the right thing for not just the next two or three years, but the next 10 years. But clearly, we need to stay very focused on what we’re trying to achieve. It’s very important that you don’t let the market or the agents dictate.”
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Anderson is a brilliant player, so he would have been an excellent signing to replace Casemiro, but United cannot be blamed for stepping back from a deal that will see him become the most expensive British player of all time.
The other reason to step away from Anderson, besides the cost involved, was that Mateus Fernandes was viewed as an attainable, quality alternative, with his data from last season comparing well.
Fernandes won more tackles and made more accurate switches of play. He wasn’t far behind Anderson on ground duels won, possessions won, and possessions won in the defensive third.
United sensed an opportunity to sign Fernandes for a fair transfer fee following West Ham’s relegation, but Tottenham have come to the table, a move that has been met with glee from those in the London Stadium boardroom.
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Tottenham will put United in a difficult position if they are willing to meet West Ham’s asking price of £85m, which is more than United were hoping to spend on the 21-year-old.
Although United want to remain disciplined in the market, they have to pay up at some stage to avoid missing out on their top targets. The question is: is Fernandes worth a bid of around £85m?
The new financial year for clubs is a week away, meaning cards are about to be played, so it would be a surprise if there wasn’t a meaningful update on Fernandes’ future by this time next week.
It will be fascinating to see how much United are prepared to offer considering Berrada’s warning. United pulled out of the race for Anderson at an early stage, but they may have no choice but to hang in there with Fernandes.
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United have a list of midfield alternatives, players who the data department admire, but the further the club works down that list, the lower quality the player is, theoretically. United know they need to cough up at some stage.
The Reds are prepared to spend on a marquee midfield signing, so supporters should not be concerned, but the message from behind the scenes has been consistent: the deal has to be fair value.
The cost involved with Anderson reached a level that United were not comfortable with. If Tottenham are serious about meeting West Ham’s valuation of Fernandes, how United react will be a true test of their disciplined approach.
An £85m fee would historically get you more than a player who has back-to-back relegations on his CV. Fernandes is a talent, and his ceiling is yet to be reached, but that sort of fee highlights the inflation in today’s market.
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United could be tempted to look further afield for better value. Germany international Felix Nmecha is on the club’s radar, and Borussia Dortmund have shown a willingness to sell key players in the past.
In an ideal world, United would have had a clear run at Anderson, and would have signed him for a reasonable fee, but the transfer market is never straightforward. The only thing guaranteed is twists and turns.
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