Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) celebrates after Minnesota sealed a road win over the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sep 8, 2025. The rookie passer helped the Vikings start NFC North play with a statement, enjoying the moment in front of a Chicago crowd that had waited all night to spoil it. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings have just over $13 million in cap space, a new general manager, and a couple of decent trade candidates, with training camp beginning at the end of the month. That makes a festive rumor mill, and we have those rumors for you every weekend.
This week’s batch focuses on J.J. McCarthy (twice) and the Vikings’ main roster need right now — an extra OLB.
McCarthy’s Trade Value Gives Minnesota a Strangest Summer Question
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy reacts while attending a Timberwolves-Nuggets game at Target Center. Jan. 25, 2025, in Minneapolis, McCarthy watched NBA action during his first year with the organization, remaining visible around the Twin Cities while recovering from his rookie-season knee injury. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Rumor: J.J. McCarthy is the Vikings’ top trade asset this summer.
On a list of prominent NFL names and notable bench players, McCarthy gained Fansided‘s Wynston Wilcox’s attention for the Vikings, and he scribed about a trade possibility: “J.J. McCarthy is going to be the most talked about backup quarterback aside from Ty Simpson at this point.”
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“McCarthy’s days are numbered in Minnesota. The Vikings even thinking about pursuing Anthony Richardson could very well be the end of McCarthy in the Twin Cities. It’s not a matter of if McCarthy will get traded, it’s when. Depending on how he plays this offseason, he’ll either get dealt before Week 1 or closer to the deadline. Should McCarthy be traded? Yes.”
Here’s the uncomfortable truth about McCarthy that no one wants to say aloud: If the Vikings secretly believe he isn’t their long-term solution, then this summer presents the optimal window to trade him.
By next offseason, his value could greatly diminish. Should McCarthy suffer another injury or perform poorly in 2026, quarterback-needy teams won’t offer much for him. He’d be viewed similarly to how Anthony Richardson or Will Levis are perceived now — an intriguing prospect, but at a discounted price.
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This would likely translate to a 5th-Round pick, or something in that range. Yikes.
Minnesota might still have faith in McCarthy; that’s the purpose of this summer’s competition. However, if they’ve already had a change of heart internally, waiting will not increase his trade value. It will only provide another year of potentially brutal evidence.
The Vikings probably won’t trade McCarthy — they need QB depth — but now is the best time to do it.
Rumor: McCarthy has narrowed the odds to win the QB1 battle at training camp.
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Training camp is about 3.5 weeks away, and FanDuel has updated probabilities for the Vikings’ quarterback competition:
Murray won the early June “microphone battle,” a moment that garnered more attention than it perhaps deserved. Murray’s poised demeanor contrasted with McCarthy’s candid, overly truthful remarks. Following that, and a few OTA clips, the consensus was that Murray had secured the starting job.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy warms up before kickoff during pregame routines at MetLife Stadium. Dec. 21, 2025, in East Rutherford, McCarthy went through timing drills and footwork as Minnesota finalized preparations ahead of a late-season road matchup. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
However, the narrative shifted later in June. McCarthy began to close the gap, while Murray threw a few puzzling interceptions during practice in Eagan. Practice interceptions are far from definitive, but they certainly reignited the conversation.
The competition, it seems, is far from officially over. Murray remains the favorite, bolstered by his experience and his veteran status. Yet McCarthy still has a legitimate chance, having held the starting position in 2025 and maintaining a continued presence in the competition.
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July and August will ultimately determine the outcome. For now, Murray holds the lead, but McCarthy remains a contender. It will be the Vikings’ first true quarterback competition since 2014.
Rumor: Minnesota, indeed, will probably sign an outside linebacker in free agency.
The Athletic studied one central question for each NFL team leading into training camp, and for the Vikings, that was OLB.
Alec Lewis wrote, “Who will they add for depth at edge rusher? Because quarterback continues to dominate the conversation in Minnesota, other parts of the roster remain overlooked. Edge rusher is one of them.”
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“The Vikings traded Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles. His departure opens the door for 2024 first-rounder Dallas Turner to take the next step. Minnesota also still has the cyborg, Andrew Van Ginkel. Depth behind them warrants a potential addition.”
It’s the first time in years that fans have had to worry about pass-rushing depth.
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Leonard Floyd lines up during a game against the Detroit Lions at Levi’s Stadium. Dec. 30, 2024, in Santa Clara, Floyd continued his late-season work as a veteran pass rusher in a primetime NFC matchup. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
“If Turner or Van Ginkel miss time with an injury, the Vikings need reliable pass rushers, especially with how much they’re betting on youth on the interior. The team has about $13.1 million in cap space for 2026. Using a chunk of change on edge help is a realistic expectation,” Lewis concluded.
Thankfully, the open market has about 10 decent OLB options, including Jadeveon Clowney and Leonard Floyd.
Don’t be surprised when Minnesota signs a big fish at OLB in summer free-agent speak. It’s the last thing stopping the Vikings from having an honest-to-goodness, playoff-worthy depth chart — one extra EDGE rusher.
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Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham’s point toward Phoenix Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner amid a heated skirmish during their game has gone mega viral.
The point turned into a meme that has reached all corners of the internet, including the White House’s social media accounts. On Friday, pointing was also seen in the ring.
Tiffany Stratton enters the ring during SmackDown at Boardwalk Hall Arena in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on July 3, 2026.(Craig Melvin/WWE via Getty Images)
Chelsea Green, Tiffany Stratton and Charlotte Flair took on Jade Cargill, Michin and B-Fab in a six-woman tag team match on “Friday Night SmackDown.” Green and Stratton stood in front of Flair and began to point at their opponents in Cunningham’s style.
Chelsea Green celebrates with Women’s United States Champion Tiffany Stratton during Night of Champions at Kingdom Arena on June 27, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.(Andrew Timms/WWE via Getty Images)
“I think everyone around the world is posting it,” she said when asked about the White House’s post.
“Every company has done it. So I don’t really think twice about it. I just think they’re another group posting about it.”
Cunningham said on her podcast that her technical foul she got for the pointing gesture during the game against the Mercury was “the weakest thing I’ve ever seen in my life” and explaining that she “didn’t say a word” while “all I was doing was literally pointing.”
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Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham points at Phoenix Mercury forward-guard DeWanna Bonner after an argument during a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on June 22, 2026. The Indiana Fever defeated the Phoenix Mercury 86-77.(USA Today Network via Reuters Connect)
Two of the World Cup’s most dreaded strikers face off on Sunday as five-time champions Brazil take on tournament dark horses Norway at the New York New Jersey Stadium for a place in the quarter-finals. The injured Lucas Paqueta is replaced by Gabriel Martinelli for Brazil. Follow our liveblog for minute-by-minute match commentary.
Brad Dalke is used to playing in a different arena. This past weekend in Germany, the YouTube golf creator, who recently left Good Good Golf, stepped back into the competitive professional arena for the first time in six years. The four-day experience at the BMW International Open, which Dalke played on a sponsor invitation, left him feeling a different sort of pressure than his fellow competitors.
“It’s a weird mixture of there’s no stress because I’m not out here fighting for points and I’m not grinding every week on the [DP World Tour] season, but also I do kind of represent YouTube golf in a way,” Dalke said after Friday’s second round. “There’s a lot of people who love YouTube and love watching me, and they vouch for me, so I’m trying to prove it for them as well.”
But he left Golfclub München Eichenried on Sunday after a T30 finish, hoping that more opportunities like the one given to him by BMW come his way — an invite from sponsors who want to draw eyeballs to their event, the kind of younger eyeballs the YouTube sensation attracts.
“I would love it,” Dalke said after the final round. “I mean, it’s not my call, but if there are any sponsors out there who want to give me a chance, I would love to. It was such a fun week. “I’ve played so much competitive golf in my life, but it’s been a while since I was in this kind of arena. Once I got into it, though, I felt right back at home, and it’s fun.
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“It’s a constant grind out there, a constant battle trying to bring that swing from the range under pressure, it’s frustrating sometimes but very rewarding when you do well with it. I mean, what a week, and I’d love to play more.”
Dalke vaulted into contention on Friday via a six-under 66 that saw him sit two shots off the lead. Dalke quickly faded over the weekend as he posted five bogeys in a five-over 75 on Saturday. He followed that with a 73 on Sunday to finish in a tie for 30th.
Despite exiting the top of the leaderboard over the weekend, Dalke, who was a golfing prodigy in his youth, found something different in Germany — something that millions of viewers and 64s on YouTube don’t provide: proof of how good his good still is when firing on all cylinders.
“It’s also been cool to see how I stack up against these guys this week, I hadn’t really gotten the chance to test that out in a long time, and I always tell people, when I’m playing my best golf, I think I can compete with anybody,” Dalke said on Sunday. “I just have to get a lot better on the days I’m playing kind of average and not so great, that’s where these guys beat me. I putted well, just didn’t have my best ball striking.
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“So, I need to get better, but I know that without having my best stuff this week I still made the cut, still had a decent finish, which is cool to see and gives me a lot of confidence moving forward.”
Once upon a time, Brad Dalke appeared to be a meteor in golf. He won the 2015 Junior PGA Championship and was runner-up at the U.S. Amateur the following summer. That earned him spots in the 2017 Masters and the U.S. Open. He helped Oklahoma win the national championship and then turned pro in 2019. Big things were supposed to be ahead, but Dalke battled driver yips and eventually flamed out on the mini tours.
His turn to YouTube golf, which included joining Good Good, helped reignite his love for the game, which had been drained as he tried to grind on the mini tours. He became a YouTube sensation and was on the team that won the Internet Invitational.
“Doing the whole YouTube scene has been unbelievable,” Dalke said during a walk-and-talk in Germany. “Before I got into YouTube, I was not having very much fun with golf, not loving golf very much. Was going through a lot of struggles. YouTube helped me learn to have fun with golf again.”
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Dalke had fun in Germany this past week. At times, he looked the part with flashes of his golf-prodigy self surfacing as he climbed the leaderboard early. What he found is that he’d love to play professionally as much as possible, but on his terms.
“YouTube has been great the last few years,” Dalke said. “And I’m at the point now where I’m doing well enough on YouTube; I don’t need to go grind through PGA Tour Americas. Korn Ferry, like, that’s not what I want to do because there is not a whole lot of money in that, and it’s very stressful and a lot of travel, and so it’s a point of I’m in a good spot with YouTube. I’m not going to grind my way up.
“But if I were to come to an event like this and play well and somehow kind of build off that or playing in the Rocket Classic in a month, if I do well there and kind of build off that, if I got a tour card, that’d be awesome. That’d be sick. I would play 100 percent. That’s been my dream since I was little is to play competitive golf. And my game’s finally in a spot now where I feel like I can do that and do it well. So it’s a yes, I would play if I got a tour card, I would 100 percent do that.”
He’ll get two opportunities on the PGA Tour coming up, as he is slated to play on sponsor invites at the Rocket Classic and the Good Good Championship. Then, Brad Dalke will hope more sponsors give him a shot in the arena he once thought his path would take him to. And he’ll approach any start he gets with a lesson he learned when YouTube reignited his love of golf.
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“That’s one thing I’ve learned a lot from YouTube is when I’m out there just having a good time, that’s usually when I play my best,” Dalke said on Friday. “So no expectations. Go have a great time. If I have a great day, awesome. If I have a terrible day, it is what it is. It’s golf. It’s a hard game. So just go out there and have a great time. No expectations and see what we can do.”
To progress smoothly in Sand Raiders of Sophie, collecting valuable loot is essential. However, obtaining the best items is not always easy, as you will have to deal with dangerous enemies and explore the vast desert. Some of the game’s most valuable loot is behind Red Doors, which you can only open after meeting specific requirements. If you are unsure how to unlock them, this guide covers everything you need to know about opening Red Doors in this action-adventure title.
As mentioned earlier, Red Doors in Sand Raiders of Sophie hide some of the game’s most valuable loot. Unlike other locked doors, you can access these using their key. Alternatively, you need to use explosives to blast them open. There are several ways to do this, with the most effective methods listed below:
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Using fuel barrels
Using the Trampler
Using time bombs or grenades
Here’s a detailed look at each method.
Using fuel barrels
Create an explosion to unlock the Red Door (Image via tinyBuild)
One of the easiest ways to open a Red Door in Sand Raiders of Sophie is by using fuel barrels. Simply find one such barrel in the surrounding area and place it directly against the door. Next, move to a safe distance and shoot the barrel. The resulting explosion will destroy the Red Door, allowing you to access the loot hidden inside.
Using the Trampler
Fire cannons using Trampler at the Red Door (Image via tinyBuild)
The Trampler is not only useful for exploration and combat but can also help you break through Red Doors. To do this, equip your Trampler with cannons and position it directly in front of the door. After that, fire the cannon straight at the center of the door to trigger an explosion and destroy it. For the best results, avoid shooting from an angle, as a direct hit is much more reliable.
Using time bombs or grenades
If there are no fuel barrels nearby or your Trampler cannot reach the Red Door, time bombs and grenades are excellent alternatives. Among the two, time bombs are the most effective. Simply place one directly against the door and wait for it to detonate. Grenades can also break the door, but you may need to throw multiple explosives before it is destroyed.
Check out more articles on Sand Raiders of Sophie below:
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Phoebe Litchfield of Australia bats as Amy Jones of England keeps during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Final between England and Australia at Lord’s Cricket Ground on July 05, 2026 in London, England. (Photo/Getty Images)
Australia continued their dominance in women’s T20 cricket, defeating England by seven wickets at Lord’s in London on Sunday to win a record seventh ICC Women’s T20 World Cup title.Chasing 151, the highest target ever set in a Women’s T20 World Cup final, Australia reached 153/3 in 17.1 overs, finishing the job with 17 balls to spare.The chase was built around Beth Mooney, who made 64 off 49 balls with 10 fours, and Phoebe Litchfield, who scored 48 off 35 deliveries, hitting six fours and two sixes.Mooney and Litchfield supercharged the chase from the second over to the 13th in a 100-run partnership off 67 balls.Litchfield fell 34 runs from victory and Mooney was out 11 runs from the inevitable end after her third match-winning fifty in Australia’s last three finals.England dismissed a well-set Mooney in 16th over, trapped lbw by Sophie Ecclestone, but Australia’s batting depth meant there was no change in the result. The winning runs came in unusual fashion when Ecclestone bowled five wides in the 18th over. Overseeing the winning runs in the middle with 17 balls to spare was another stalwart, Ellyse Perry, winning her seventh world T20 trophy.Earlier, England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt scored an unbeaten 58 off 53 balls, while Freya Kemp added an unbeaten 44 off 28 balls to help England post 150/4 after being asked to bat first.The pair rescued England with an 80-run partnership for the fifth wicket after the Australian bowlers kept the scoring under control for most of the innings.Sciver-Brunt hit five fours, while Kemp struck four boundaries and one six.Australia captain Sophie Molineux chose to bowl first, and her decision paid off as the bowling attack restricted England despite the absence of Perry, who did not bowl because of an injury.England managed only two sixes in their 20 overs, with one each coming from Alice Capsey and Kemp.Australia’s spin attack, led by Molineux (1/32) and Georgia Wareham (0/9 in two overs), controlled the middle overs, while Kim Garth and Annabel Sutherland also kept the pressure on with disciplined bowling and changes of pace.Brief scores:England Women: 150/4 (20 overs)Australia Women: 153/3 (17.1 overs)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 05: Karolina Muchova of Czechia celebrates victory against Barbora Krejcikova of Czechia during their Ladies’ Singles fourth round match on day seven of The Championships Wimbledon 2026 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 05, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Karolina Muchova is back in the Wimbledon quarter-finals after ending a four-year wait with a hard-fought victory over defending champion Barbora Krejcikova.
The Czech star defeated her compatriot 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 to extend her winning streak to eight matches and record her 33rd victory of the 2026 season.
After the match, Muchova was full of praise for the reigning Wimbledon champion.
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“You have to give it to her. She’s not a Wimbledon champion by luck. She knows how to play on this surface. She can get you into all the uncomfortable positions.”
She admitted losing her concentration briefly allowed Krejcikova back into the match.
“I think I lost focus for one or two balls and she started hitting freely. She deserved the second set. It was an incredibly tough match.”
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The victory also marked Muchova’s first Wimbledon quarter-final since 2021 after suffering first-round exits in each of the previous four tournaments.
Asked what had changed, the 28-year-old couldn’t help but laugh.
“I’d like to know what happened too.”
She then reflected on the difficult years that followed.
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“Those years I had some tough times during the period of Wimbledon. Just incredibly happy for this whole season. How I’m playing. I’m enjoying tennis a lot. This is just incredible to be here and make the quarter-finals.”
Spence was beaten thoroughly by Crawford and, as his inactivity went on, was thought to have quietly retired from the sport. When announcing his deal to face Tszyu, he promised fans that he is only returning because he feels he has more left in the tank.
The Australian will boast home advantage and look to get a win on the world stage following two defeats to Sebastian Fundora and a KO loss to Bakhram Murtazliev. With that in mind, the big question fans have pre-fight is which man has more left to give in the sport.
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Speaking to FightHype, ‘BoMac’ summed the fight up similarly, saying that a prime Spence wins, but a prime Tszyu can cause problems.
“That’s gonna be a great fight. If Errol’s gonna be himself, he should win, but we don’t know what he got left. If Tim comes in and is himself, he’ll push Errol to the edge.”
Asked if he believes it’s a 50/50 contest, McIntyre said no.
“No, I don’t think so. I think Errol probably will win.
After years of struggling to generate a competent pass rush, the Atlanta Falcons finally found the right formula under defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich in 2025. The Falcons finished second in the NFL with a franchise-record 57 sacks last season.
This was a massive step up for a defense that finished 31st in the league with just 31 sacks in 2024. So, what changed? There were several factors, including the improvement of second-year defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus, but the team’s rookie duo of Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. was arguably the biggest difference.
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Pearce led all rookies with 10.5 sacks, while Walker’s 5.5 sacks were the second-most of anyone in the 2025 NFL Draft class. While Pearce generated most of the headlines, Walker is the more complete player. The former Georgia Bulldog has the versatility to play multiple spots along the front seven.
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Bleacher Report listed each team’s “most promising building block” ahead of the 2026 NFL season. Walker was B/R’s choice for the Falcons.
“The Atlanta Falcons have a trio of exciting skill players in Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson,” wrote B/R’s Kristopher Knox. “However, two of them have made the Pro Bowl, while London—who made last year’s list—recently received a contract extension. So, we’ll pivot to the defensive side of the ball and second-year linebacker Jalon Walker. The Georgia product impressed as a rookie, tallying 36 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and nine QB hits.”
The Falcons attempted to play the former off-ball linebacker in more of a true edge role last season, but with Kaden Elliss departing in free agency, Walker is expected to pick up the slack on Ulbrich’s defense.
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“While he was largely used as an edge-rusher last season, the Falcons envision him being more of an all-around defender in the mold of former standout Kaden Elliss in Year 2,” added Knox. “Expect Walker to continue growing into a prominent role as one of Atlanta’s top defenders.”
With Pearce expected to be suspended for the start of the season, it will be interesting to see where Walker lines up in Week 1. Ultimately, the former Georgia standout’s versatility will only help Atlanta’s defense in 2026.
USA World Cup star Folarin Balogun will be able to play in Monday’s game against Belgium in the Round of 16 match after all following an uproar over a red card he received against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Balogun received the red card after he stepped on the foot of Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic. The red card was given after Brazilian referee Raphael Claus stopped the match for a VAR review to determine whether Balogun had committed a severe foul.
Folarin Balogun of United States of America walks off the field after receiving a red card during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between United States of America and Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1, 2026 at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, California(Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
It was ruled that Balogun did and he was sent off.
The Athletic, which first reported Balogun’s playing status on Sunday, noted that part of FIFA’s disciplinary code stated, “the judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.”
“If the person benefiting from a suspended sanction commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked by the judicial body and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement,” the rule added.
FOX Sports confirmed that Balogun would be able to play. The report noted that the play should not have been flagged to Claus.
United States’ Folarin Balogun (20) and United States’ Christian Pulisic (10) stand by after Balogun received a red card during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026.(AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
“We accept the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow,” U.S. Soccer said. “Our full attention is focused on the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle, and we look forward to the continued support of our amazing fans.”
Balogun scored against Bosnia and Herzegovina. He spoke to reporters Friday about the red card.
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“First and foremost, it was totally unintentional, which I’m sure a lot of people know. But, you know, I think the choice of the referee was, of course, his choice, but I don’t think it was the correct call,” he said. “I think a yellow card would have been fair due to it not being intentional. There’s not many places I can place my foot in such a scenario. But it’s happened, and it’s something that I have to accept and move forward from.
“There’s been lots of different emotions. I’ve been upset, I’ve been happy, it’s been surreal to be honest,” he added. “But for me it was just important to stay calm. I never want to react out of anger and emotion. There’s still lots of people we’re inspiring. Little kids, boys and girls are watching. We have to show them the correct way to handle things even when you think it’s unjust, so I felt I did that. I’m happy with the support, not just I’m receiving but the team. I think we’re all looking forward to seeing what we can do against Belgium.”
U.S. Soccer had no way to appeal the ruing. Article 9.6 of the 2026 World Cup regulations reads, “No protests may be made about the referee’s decisions regarding facts connected with play. Such decisions are final and not subject to appeal, unless otherwise stipulated in the FIFA Disciplinary Code.”
United States’ Folarin Balogun celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026.(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
“If a player or team official is sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card (second caution), they will automatically be suspended from their team’s subsequent match,” Article 10.5 adds.
Fox News’ Jonathan Hunt contributed to this report.
Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
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