New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge may not be able to play for his squad right now, but that doesn’t mean he’s looking away from the poor performances they’ve had of late.

Judge was straight-forward with his response to the Yankees dropping six games before their series finale against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday afternoon in the Bronx.

“Well, it’s not great,” he said after his team’s woes. “Just a little lack of focus. We just gotta dial it in. Our ultimate goal is to win a World Series. I think guys have to remember that every single day they show up here, we’re here to win a World Series.”

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Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees sits in the dugout before a game against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, Calif., on May 29, 2026. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Judge didn’t specifically go into what the lack of focus is, but he followed up by saying, “I think you guys see it.”

Judge, who has been on the injured list with a rib injury, believes getting that elusive 28th world championship for the franchise should be enough motivation to right the ship.

ANTHONY RIZZO CALLS OUT JAZZ CHISHOLM’S ‘IMMATURITY’ AFTER EJECTION DURING YANKEES’ FENWAY PARK SWEEP

“That should motivate you every single day you step on that field, no matter what happens, no matter what happens the day before,” he added. “I got a job to do. We’ve got an important sign when you walk out on the field. It’s the last sign you see before you’re out there: it says ‘do your job.’ Guys are here to do their job.”

Unfortunately for the Yankees, Judge’s pre-game speech didn’t result in snapping that losing streak on Wednesday. They fell to Detroit 6-2 in 11 innings, where four runs were scored in the top of the 11th by the Tigers.

The Yankees have dropped seven straight and eight of their last 10 games to fall three games back of the Tampa Bay Rays for the lead in the AL East.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the New York Yankees reacts after being ejected in the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass., on June 28, 2026. (Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images)

Yes, the Yankees remain in clear playoff position, sitting atop the American League Wild Card standings despite the skid. But, while the AL has been mediocre this season, it’s still a tight race as other teams are starting to get right.

New York could certainly use their captain back on the field, but there’s no timetable for his return and he didn’t have anything positive to say about his rehab in terms of putting the pinstripes back on soon.

“You know how it goes around here — guys can feel good, feel bad, but you’ve got to wait on images,” Judge said about his rib. The Yankees said when he was diagnosed with the injury that they would get additional imaging done roughly four-to-six weeks later.

New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge, who is injured, runs drills in the outfield before a baseball game between the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays, Thursday, July 31, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

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“There’s no need to talk about this now,” Judge said. “I know it’s an important topic and a big issue, but I want to give you guys the full story.”

The story right now for the Yankees is a bleak one, but there’s a lot of season left to play. Perhaps the All-Star break, which begins July 13, could be a good reset as they look to get back to their winning ways.

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Belgium produced one of the most dramatic comebacks of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as they came from two goals down to defeat Senegal 3-2 after extra time in their last-32 clash.

Youri Tielemans scored a late penalty in extra time to seal a remarkable victory for Belgium and send them into the last 16, where they will face either the United States or Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Senegal looked to be cruising into the next round after taking a deserved 2-0 lead and holding that advantage until the closing stages of normal time.

The African side had threatened early in the game when Ismaila Sarr struck the post in the 13th minute. Sarr hit the woodwork again from a Sadio Mane cross 12 minutes later, but Habib Diarra reacted quickest to score from close range and give Senegal the lead.

Senegal doubled their advantage six minutes into the second half with a brilliant goal. Moussa Niakhate’s long pass caught the Belgian defence off guard, allowing Sarr to control the ball with his chest before firing a powerful shot past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

With only four minutes remaining, Belgium finally found a way back into the game. Veteran striker Romelu Lukaku, who came on as a substitute at half-time, cleverly flicked Thomas Meunier’s cross into the net to reduce the deficit.

The equaliser came in dramatic fashion in the 89th minute. Leandro Trossard delivered a dangerous cross into the box, which goalkeeper Mory Diaw failed to deal with, allowing Belgium captain Tielemans to head home and force extra time.

The comeback was even more remarkable considering that Tielemans and Trossard had been involved in a heated argument earlier in the second half before Lukaku stepped in to calm the situation.

After surviving Senegal’s early dominance, Belgium completed the turnaround in the final moments of extra time. Following a lengthy seven-minute VAR review, the referee awarded Belgium a penalty after Lamine Camara’s challenge on Tielemans.

Tielemans kept his composure and calmly fired the penalty into the top corner in the 125th minute to seal a sensational victory.

Lukaku’s impact proved decisive as the 33-year-old inspired Belgium’s dramatic fightback and kept alive the hopes of the country’s remaining members of their famous golden generation.

For Senegal, it was another heartbreaking end to a major tournament. After leading by two goals with only minutes left, they were left stunned as their dream of reaching the World Cup last 16 slipped away in dramatic fashion.

Belgium will now remain in Seattle as they prepare for their last-16 encounter, while Senegal’s 2026 FIFA World Cup journey comes to a painful end.

FILE – Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) dunks during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Oct. 27, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Anna Fuder, File)

Walker Kessler is being traded by the Utah Jazz to the Los Angeles Lakers, who will have the center under contract for the next four NBA seasons and for a total of about $130 million, a person with knowledge of the agreement said Wednesday.

The Jazz are getting two first-round draft picks and two first-round pick swaps out of the deal, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the move is a sign-and-trade and has yet to receive the needed league approvals.

The Athletic and ESPN were among those to first report the agreement.

Acquiring Kessler is the first big move for the Lakers in their post-LeBron James era, after the NBA’s all-time leading scorer said Tuesday that he was leaving the team and would spend this coming season elsewhere. And it solves a need at center for the Lakers, plus gives the team a young big to pair with star guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

Kessler — who turns 25 later this month — was limited to five games this past season after having surgery to repair a labrum tear in his left shoulder in November. He and the Jazz discussed an extension last summer but never came to terms.

Kessler was averaging 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks on 70% shooting this past season before getting hurt. In his first three seasons, he averaged 9.4 points on 68% shooting.

He played for the U.S. at the 2023 FIBA World Cup in the Philippines.

DR Congo’s dream of reaching the last 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended in heartbreaking fashion after they suffered a 2-1 defeat to England in Atlanta.

The African side were on course for one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history after Brian Cipenga gave them an early lead. They defended bravely for much of the match and looked set to knock England out of the tournament.

DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi produced an outstanding performance, making several excellent saves to deny England’s attackers. The Central Africans also had a great chance to double their advantage just before half-time, but Yoane Wissa struck the post when he had a clear sight of goal.

That miss proved costly.

With just 15 minutes remaining, England captain Harry Kane rescued his side by heading home the equaliser after a fine cross from substitute Anthony Gordon.

As DR Congo tried to hold on for extra time, Kane struck again in the 86th minute. The striker collected the ball outside the box, turned brilliantly and fired a powerful shot into the top corner to complete England’s comeback.

Despite their exit, DR Congo earned plenty of praise for their courageous performance against one of the tournament favourites. Their defence frustrated England for long periods, while Mpasi was arguably the best player on the pitch.

However, their inability to take their chances, especially Wissa’s missed opportunity before the break, ultimately cost them a place in the last 16.

England will now face co-hosts Mexico in the next round, while DR Congo leave the World Cup with their heads held high after producing one of the competition’s most spirited performances

A Mexico soccer fan reacts during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Mexico secured a landmark 2-0 victory over Ecuador to reach the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16, but the celebrations at the Estadio Azteca may be overshadowed by the possibility of disciplinary action after the controversial “puto” chant was once again heard from sections of the home support. The chant, which has repeatedly led to sanctions against the Mexican Football Federation over the past decade, resurfaced during the knockout victory, despite years of awareness campaigns and previous FIFA punishments aimed at eradicating it.

Mexico’s historic victory overshadowed by familiar controversy

Mexico booked their place in the Round of 16 with a composed 2-0 victory over Ecuador at the iconic Estadio Azteca, ending a 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout-stage victory on home soil. Goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez ensured Javier Aguirre’s side continued their outstanding tournament, extending their record to four consecutive victories without conceding a goal. In doing so, Mexico also became the first nation since Italy at the 1990 World Cup to win their opening four matches of a tournament without allowing a single goal.

Mexico’s Julian Quinones (16) celebrates with teammates after the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

The result also confirmed a blockbuster Round of 16 meeting with England, after Thomas Tuchel’s side came from behind to defeat DR Congo 2-1 later on Wednesday through Harry Kane’s late brace. The two nations will now meet at the Estadio Azteca on July 6 for a place in the quarter-finals. However, amid the celebrations inside the stadium, a recurring issue once again emerged from the stands.

Homophobic chant returns despite years of campaigns

During Ecuador goalkeeper goal kicks, sections of the Mexican crowd were heard chanting the one-word slur “puto”, a chant that literally translates to “male prostitute” in Spanish and has long been regarded by FIFA as discriminatory and homophobic. The chant has repeatedly landed Mexican football in disciplinary trouble. It first drew worldwide attention during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil before resurfacing again during the tournaments in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022. The latest incident means it has now been heard at a fourth consecutive men’s World Cup.

Fans celebrate with Mexico players after their team’s victory over Ecuador in the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

According to the Daily Mail, the Mexican Football Federation has spent years attempting to eliminate the chant through supporter education initiatives and repeated appeals to fans, but those efforts have largely failed to eradicate it. Ahead of the 2026 tournament, the federation launched its latest awareness campaign, “La Ola Sí, El Grito No” (“The Wave Yes, The Chant No”), featuring members of Mexico’s 1986 World Cup squad encouraging supporters to perform the Mexican wave instead of shouting the offensive chant. Despite those efforts, the chant has reportedly been heard since Mexico’s opening match of the tournament and resurfaced again during the victory over Ecuador.

Previous sanctions could influence FIFA’s response

Mexico’s governing body has already faced significant disciplinary action over similar incidents. Before the start of the 2026 World Cup, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled on FIFA disciplinary proceedings relating to chants heard during international matches against Bolivia, Uruguay, Brazil and the United States in 2024. According to CAS, anti-discrimination monitors documented the incidents before FIFA imposed fines totalling 140,000 Swiss francs (approximately $178,000 or £130,457). While CAS upheld the financial penalties, it overturned an additional sanction that would have required part of a stadium to be closed during a FIFA-organised competition. In its written decision, CAS acknowledged that the Mexican Football Federation had argued it had implemented educational programmes since 2015 aimed at preventing and eliminating the chant. However, the court concluded that those mitigation efforts were insufficient. “They observed that the conduct of the fans was collective and widespread, and not merely a one-off occurrence,” CAS said in its ruling. The incidents were also detected by the same anti-discrimination monitoring system operating throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup across Mexico, the United States and Canada, meaning FIFA could once again review the latest reports before deciding whether disciplinary measures are warranted. Sports journalist Matt Slater of The Athletic has argued that financial sanctions alone have not solved the problem. “On the one hand, FIFA fines aren’t working. “But, on the other, we can’t just let some Mexican fans keep screaming an anti-gay slur each time the oppo goalie boots it. “Self-policing by fans is the best way to fix this… now would be a good time to start.” Mexico now turns its attention back to the pitch, where a high-profile Round of 16 clash against England awaits, but whether FIFA opens another disciplinary case following the events at the Estadio Azteca could become an unwelcome distraction as the co-hosts continue their World Cup campaign.

The Akwa Ibom State preliminary stage of the Sam Okwaraji U-16 School Football Championship kicked off on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, with four exciting matches played at the Community Secondary Commercial School, Ikot Okubo Offot.

The competition, organised by the Samuel Okwaraji Foundation in collaboration with the Nigerian School Sports Federation (NSSF), the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the National Sports Commission (NSC), is aimed at honouring the late Nigerian football hero, Sam Okwaraji.

In the opening matches, Secondary School Etoi played out a goalless draw against Offot Ukwa Secondary School before emerging 4-3 winners in the penalty shootout.

Uyo High School recorded an impressive 3-1 victory over Itam Secondary School to book their place in the next round.

Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Four Towns, secured a comfortable 2-0 win over ACSS, Ikot Oku Nsit, while Community Secondary School, Aka Offot, defeated Community Secondary Commercial School, Ikot Okubo, 4-3 on penalties after both sides played out a 1-1 draw in regulation time.

The competition will continue on Thursday, July 2, at the Community Secondary Commercial School, Ikot Okubo.

In the first-round fixtures, Ibiono Ibom South Community Secondary School, Ikpedip, will face Etinan Institute at 10am, while Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Ikot Ekpene Udo, will take on Methodist Boys High School, Oron, at 12 noon.

The second-round matches scheduled for the same day will see Secondary School Etoi face Uyo High School at 2pm, while Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Four Towns, will battle Community Secondary School, Aka Offot by 4pm, for a place in the next stage.

The championship is designed to celebrate the enduring legacy of the late Sam Okwaraji, who died while representing Nigeria on August 12, 1989. The organisers said the competition aims to preserve his values of patriotism, discipline, courage, academic excellence and selfless service, while helping to develop young football talents from the grassroots.

Okwaraji, remembered as a lawyer, scholar and footballer, remains a symbol of dedication and sacrifice in Nigerian football history.

While the preliminary matches for the southern states began on July 1, the northern states commenced their qualifying rounds on June 26.