The gameplay experience of the upcoming League of Legends Classic mode will transport players to the early seasons while including modernized systems for new players. Although it’s mostly based on Season 3 (2013), plenty of mechanics and Summoner’s Rift elements will be merged from several patches. It’s neat that players will have a choice of 60 champions, and many of them will have kits from before their recent reworks.
With that said, here are the important details about League of Legends Classic mode and when you can play it.
When will League of Legends Classic mode release?
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It is confirmed that players can start playing LoL Classic from LoL patch 26.15, which releases on July 29, 2026. That said, the game mode will only support a single PvP draft queue, Co-op vs AI, and custom games at launch.
Which champions will be available at the League of Legends Classic mode launch?
Classic Ezreal (Image via Riot Games)
Riot Games has revealed that a total of 60 champions will be playable at launch, including 40 early-released champions, as well as 20 more champions that should feel viable in Classic mode. Here are the available champions for League of Legends Classic:
Ahri
Alistar
Amumu
Anivia
Annie
Ashe
Blitzcrank
Brand
Cho’Gath
Corki
Dr. Mundo
Evelynn
Ezreal
Fiddlesticks
Gangplank
Garen
Gragas
Heimerdinger
Janna
Jarvan IV
Jax
Karthus
Kassadin
Katarina
Kayle
Kog’Maw
Lee Sin
Leona
Lulu
Malphite
Malzahar
Master Yi
Miss Fortune
Morgana
Nasus
Nidalee
Nunu & Willump
Olaf
Pantheon
Rammus
Ryze
Shaco
Singed
Sion
Sivir
Skarner
Sona
Soraka
Taric
Teemo
Tristana
Tryndamere
Twisted Fate
Twitch
Vayne
Veigar
Warwick
Wukong
Zilean
Lux
If you have the champions unlocked in the main title, you will have automatic access to them in Classic mode. Otherwise, you need to level up or buy them from the in-game shop. A free champion rotation system will also be included.
How does the League of Legends Classic progression system work?
Classic Rune page (Image via Riot Games)
As for the progression system, you can increase Classic Levels by playing matches. As a reward, you will obtain the following:
Runes
Masteries
IP (Influence Points)
BE (Blue Essence)
Cosmetics
When you get to level 10, you can start your progression from Salt tier to Legend.
Will there be champion skins in League of Legends Classic?
Lee Sin Classic splash art (Image via Riot Games)
Yes, LoL Classic will have the iconic look of the earlier champions, with skins (and chromas) released from 2009 to 2013. You can unlock them via Seasonal Pass using Classic Skin Tokens. That said, they can be purchased from the in-game shop as well. Furthermore, many skins will be free to use during launch.
On a different note, a new system called The Council will be implemented with the release of LoL Classic, where players can vote and suggest improvements for the future. For instance, you can influence the decisions regarding next skin releases, along with champion inclusions and gameplay adjustments.
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Nadia Massih is pleased to welcome Dr Leon Moosavi, Sociologist of race and religion, and Reader in the Department of Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology at the University of Liverpool. Racism directed at the French national football team is often framed as a problem of sport, yet Dr. Moosavi argues that football merely provides a highly visible stage upon which much deeper political and social conflicts play out. Rather than viewing racist abuse against players such as Kylian Mbappé as isolated incidents or the actions of a few extremists, our guest describes these attacks within wider debates over national identity, immigration, belonging, and the normalization of extremist rhetoric and exclusionary political discourse across many Western democracies.
Champion trainer Peter Snowden’s bid for a record-extending seventh Ramornie Handicap (1200m) win in 2026 has encountered a setback, with Fire Star drawing the outermost barrier for the Listed $200,000 feature event at Grafton on Wednesday. Fire Star was allocated barrier 14 in the Ramornie, which has drawn a full complement of 16 runners plus five emergencies. Snowden’s sprinter might shift inwards to barrier 11 depending on scratchings.
Snowden has an impressive record in the Ramornie Handicap, achieving six victories over the past 16 years with notable horses including Ka Bling (2024), Ranges (2022), Signore Fox (2020), Calanda (2017), Jerezana (2011), and Pinwheel (2010). TAB Fixed Odds assessors are mindful of Snowden’s Ramornie history and have Fire Star priced at $10 in the early betting, placing it behind the Tony Gollan-trained Perielle, the current $4.80 favourite.
The Clarence River Jockey Club’s midweek racing schedule also includes the Listed $200,000 Grafton Cup (2350m) on Thursday, attracting a quality field of stayers. The Tom Charlton-trained King Pedro, fresh off a win in the Stayers Cup at Rosehill, is the $2.40 favourite in initial markets, followed by Pounding and So You Are at $6.
Michael Beattie, the CRJC chief executive, expressed his delight with the calibre of fields for both the Ramornie Handicap and the Grafton Cup. “The Ramornie is a bit of a stand-alone for the genuine 1200m horse, it’s like we are the only show in town at this time of year,” Beattie commented. “But that is not the case for the Grafton Cup so I am especially pleased with the field we have for Thursday’s race. The handicappers have come up with a good weight scale for the Cup and that has virtually ‘invited’ all the better horses to come for the race.”
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Beattie indicated that the Grafton track raced favourably during the recent South Grafton Cup meeting, where the Charlton stable secured a potential feature race double with Mr Chaplin’s win in a Big Dance qualifier. He confirmed, however, that the rail will be returned to the true position for the Wednesday and Thursday race meetings.
For those interested in betting on the Ramornie Handicap, exploring the racing betting markets at various sports betting platforms could offer competitive odds.
Declan Rice is fit and available to start England’s World Cup semifinal against Argentina on Wednesday (local time), Sky Sports reported. Rice had suffered a stomach issue following England’s round-of-16 clash in Mexico City 10 days ago. England manager Thomas Tuchel revealed that the midfielder was confined to bed for three days ahead of the quarterfinal against Norway due to the illness. England will face Argentina in the second semifinal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlanta on Wednesday, with the Three Lions aiming to reach only their second-ever World Cup final and their first since lifting the trophy on home soil in 1966.
As a result, the FA medical team decided that Rice could only feature for 45 minutes in Miami, where the intense heat and humidity created conditions equivalent to temperatures of 44°C.
The Arsenal midfielder appeared exhausted and visibly drained as he walked past journalists after England’s extra-time victory over Norway. However, manager Thomas Tuchel indicated in his post-match press conference that Rice was eager to continue playing beyond the interval.
“We knew that Declan was struggling. He gave a green light to continue maybe until the next water break, but then I thought if we go 120 and I don’t have Elliot [Anderson] on the field, we will get into trouble with substitutions later,” Tuchel said as per Sky Sports.
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“So we took a hard decision and took Declan off then, which paid off because Elliot could play the full 120, otherwise we would have been in trouble,” he added.
Rice has now fully recovered and completed a full training session in Kansas City on Monday. It was England’s first full session since the victory over Norway, which had been held behind closed doors, as per Sky Sports.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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Minnesota Vikings wide receivers Justin Jefferson and K.J. Osborn stand together at U.S. Bank Stadium, sharing a moment during the divisional matchup against Chicago. On Oct. 9, 2022, the teammates regroup between plays as Minnesota’s offense works through the Bears’ defense and pushes toward another home victory in Minneapolis that afternoon. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
If you care about the Madden video game franchise — some do, some don’t — that outfit showed Justin Jefferson some rare disrespect recently, announcing NFL wide receiver rankings and plopping the Minnesota Vikings’ best player lower than usual.
Accustomed to a score in the high-90s, Jefferson is evidently only good enough for a ’94.’
QB Turmoil Helped Drag Down the Final Number
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson lines up against Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field, preparing for another target as the offense works through a primetime road matchup. On Sep. 14, 2023, Jefferson faces the Eagles’ secondary while Minnesota searches for rhythm and tries to keep pace during the Thursday night contest. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports.
Madden WR Ratings Are In — and Jefferson Is a 94
As the Vikings’ best player and a frequenter of the prestigious “99 Club,” most didn’t expect a dip for Jefferson, who remains squarely in a physical prime.
If there’s any solace, Lamb from the Dallas Cowboys took a hit, too.
So … What Happened
Jefferson’s slight fall from grace can be attributed to one thing: the Vikings’ quarterback play.
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The 27-year-old never had problems with production — at all — before 2025, and during that campaign, Minnesota cycled between J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer. Together, that trio created the league’s fifth-least-efficient passing attack, and Jefferson’s numbers dipped.
In fact, one of the main storylines down the stretch of 2025 was whether Jefferson would hit 1,000 receiving yards, keeping his career streak alive. He ultimately did, but Jefferson should never be in that situation. It may sound like an “excuse,” but Jefferson’s quarterbacks did him no favors.
Jefferson, like most wide receivers, needs quarterback stability. It’s why the Vikings signed Kyler Murray in March.
ESPN’s Mina Kimes recently noted on Jefferson’s predicament, “You know, for me, it’s not just about the quarterback. It’s about the entire team. Justin Jefferson should never have a season like the one we saw last year.
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“He is one of the, if not the best receiver in football, and he was really limited by quarterback play. To put it in perspective, throwing to Justin Jefferson, J.J. McCarthy had an off-target rate of 28%. That is about twice what Sam Darnold’s off-target rate was throwing to Jefferson.”
Finding a sturdy quarterback could also persuade Jefferson to stick around the Vikings for the long haul. For example, if they don’t win a playoff game soon, the man could request a trade before his prime expires.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson carries the ball against Philadelphia at U.S. Bank Stadium, cutting upfield during second-half action as defenders close from behind. On Oct. 19, 2025, Jefferson turns the catch into extra yardage while Minnesota battles the Eagles and looks for a spark from its top offensive weapon. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
“And the same with Kirk Cousins. It was mostly not his fault. And frankly, you could see him get frustrated as the season went on. So if Kyler Murray brings even average quarterback play, which I think he is capable of, whether or not that ceiling looks more like it did in 2020 has to do with a variety of factors, including his deep ball coming back.”
“To me, that’s a massive upgrade. And it’s so important for this group of talented wide receivers to play with a competent quarterback.”
It’s Just Fuel
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Let’s face it: this is just a video game. Jefferson’s rating will not determine his future performance; instead, it reflects the current opinion of his talent. If he cares, Jefferson can browse articles like this or turn on his PlayStation and instantly learn that Chase, Nacua, St. Brown, and Smith-Njigba are evidently better football players than him.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson watches pregame activity at U.S. Bank Stadium, taking in the scene before Minnesota hosts New England on Thanksgiving night. On Nov. 24, 2022, Jefferson prepares for the holiday matchup as the Vikings complete warm-ups and get ready to face the Patriots before a national audience. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
For guys like that, it’s often fuel. Athletes are different creatures, finding fuel to motivate themselves. If you need evidence, turn on the 2020 docuseries about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.
Other Notable Vikings Rankings
Interested in Madden’s perspective on other Vikings? We’ve got them. Here’s the Madden leaderboard from a Minnesota perspective:
President Donald Trump has tried his hand at helping college sports, and if it were up to him, he’d probably do the same for Major League Baseball.
The league’s current collective bargaining agreement expires in December, and with the sides perhaps as far apart as they’ve been since 1994, the 2027 season is in limbo.
Many may remember the 2022 season was delayed because of an owners’ lockout after the expiration of the previous CBA that December. However, the sentiment at the time among baseball experts was, if you thought that was bad, wait until 2026.
Rob Manfred is not yet ready to have President Donald Trump get involved in Major League Baseball’s CBA negotiations.(Kevin Dietsch, Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Well, 2026 is here, and they weren’t kidding. The owners, for the first time since 1994, have formally proposed a salary cap, which players have said is nonnegotiable.
Ahead of Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred spoke to reporters, and one asked whether he thought Trump would intervene in the negotiations.
Manfred did not want to “speculate” about Trump’s potential involvement.
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“Look, I think it would be wildly, wildly inappropriate for me to speculate what the president of the United States might do or not do in a hypothetical situation,” Manfred said. “We know this. He’s a great sports fan, and he is really knowledgeable about the business of sports, so it doesn’t surprise me.”
Manfred did say, however, that Trump is “interested,” but it doesn’t yet seem he wants his help.
“Behind that, I’m going to pass,” he said.
Last month, Trump said it is “shocking” the league does not yet have a salary cap.
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Commissioner of Major League Baseball Robert D. Manfred speaks during the 2026 All-Star Legacy Veterans Multi-Service Center renovation at Veterans Multi-Service Center on Monday, July 13, 2026, in Philadelphia, Pennsvlvania.(Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
“If you don’t have a salary cap, you don’t have a sport. They can’t help themselves. In sports, they can’t help themselves. Football has a salary cap. They should have done it a long time ago. I know so much about sports, they should have done it a long time ago…
“Major League Baseball — it’s shocking, frankly, that they didn’t put a cap on many years ago. They had a chance to do a cap, and they blew it.”
The White House did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment.
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Major League Baseball is in serious danger of losing games, excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season, for the first time since the 1995 season was reduced to 144 games as the players’ strike stretched into the following year. The 1994 postseason was even canceled, and the sport was hanging by a thread.
Now, baseball is seeing another boom, as rule changes implemented by Manfred have helped games move more quickly, bringing more fans into ballparks. Attendance could increase for a fourth consecutive year for the first time since 2004-07. It is not currently on pace to do so, but the summer is still young.
“The best way to lose momentum is to stand still,” Manfred said.
It was a tough start to the MLB Draft for Commissioner Rob Manfred when he butchered first-overall pick Roch Cholowsky’s name.(Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Earlier this year, Trump held a college sports roundtable and signed an executive order focused on “saving college sports.” Unlike the NHL, NBA and NFL, MLB has never had a salary cap.
PHILADELPHIA — Major League Baseball’s interest in sending players to the 2028 Olympics is disrupting the queue for future All-Star Games, commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday, pushing back the Toronto Blue Jays’ efforts to host the event for a second time.
Speaking at his annual session with members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, he described participating in the Los Angeles Games as “as a unique opportunity to market the sport with our very, very best players,” but also “a disruptive undertaking.”
If baseball does get there, and it’s part of the current collective-bargaining-agreement discussions between the league and the union, the All-Star Game would need to be on the West Coast for logistical reasons, with Players Association head Bruce Meyer saying as far as he knew, San Francisco would be the site.
After the Chicago Cubs were awarded the 2027 game, the Blue Jays were believed to be next in line, but club president and CEO Mark Shapiro suggested back in April that the Olympics were complicating things.
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The Cubs last hosted in 1990, the Blue Jays in 1991, the Baltimore Orioles in 1993 and “I think I have been more chronologically disciplined than my predecessor was in terms of awarding games and I was on a pretty good track until LA28 popped up,” said Manfred. “We’ve got a lot of uncertainty as to what we’re going to do with ‘28 and it does affect (the next All-Star Games).”
Last year, Manfred said the Blue Jays were “perking up to the top of the list,” seemingly positioning them next in line. The commissioner is planning to retire in January 2029, so if they don’t get the contest that summer, it will be up to his successor to bring the event back to Canada.
Participation in the Olympics is no sure thing, with Meyer stressing that talks between the sides were in “very early stages” and that “there are a lot of issues.”
“The sides have made maybe one proposal each on the subject,” he said. “One of the issues the league has raised is they want to make it mandatory for players who are selected to appear at the All-Star Game and Olympics. The proposals they made in terms of what the discipline would be, the ramifications of a player who doesn’t want to do that, in our view, were extreme. That’s currently being discussed. We’re at an early stage. All that remains to be determined.”
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Manfred said MLB is seeking mandatory participation for selected players because “if we’re going to undertake that effort, we want our very best out there so that people see how great our game really is.”
The Major League Cricket (MLC) owners are reportedly planning a shadow ban on signing Pakistan players for the league due to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s latest demands. According to a report on pakpassion.com, the Naqvi-led PCB had demanded a last-minute, huge sum to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to its players to participate in the league. A player cannot feature in franchise leagues unless their cricket board agrees to issue an NOC, which is an ICC-mandatory document. As per the report, the PCB has been accused of extortion for demanding a last-minute, unbudgeted $25,000 (approx. Rs. 24 lakh, approx. PKR 69 lakh) per player from the franchises for the NOC.
“It’s more the extortion the PCB does. Basically, through the year, they won’t say anything. And then right towards the start of the tournament, when they have to give their NOCs, they send an email saying that for the NOC, it will be $25,000 for each player,” the report said.
The report added that such conditions only apply when the franchises face a crisis of players.
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“Around a week before the tournament starts when they know we can’t find other players, we’ve announced the players and cannot replace them, that’s when they’ll come back and say you have to pay $25,000 per player for an NOC. We’ll ask them why they did not tell us this before and they won’t respond,” it added.
The MLC raised the issue with Naqvi, but the PCB considers it ‘their right to ask for this money.’
“We’ve talked to Mohsin Naqvi as well and said to him that this is extortion. This is not the right way to do it. But we were told by the Board that this is their revenue and their right to ask for this money,” the report said.
The report also pointed out that the franchises receive no guarantee despite paying the fee, as the PCB can revoke the NOC at any time and demand another last-minute payment if additional clearance becomes necessary.
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“One of the reasons teams at the MLC don’t sign Pakistani players is because we don’t like the uncertainty around all of this. Every season there is this uncertainty looming regarding paying this money. No other Board asks the MLC teams for these additional payments. The franchises run on budgets and suddenly they are expected to free up a chunk of their budget from somewhere to pay for this. That’s never good. The franchises need to plan for the season properly and not have this situation hanging over them.”
Pacer Haris Rauf is the only Pakistani player at the MLC this year, having been signed by the San Francisco Unicorns, who agreed to the PCB’s demands.
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FIFA World Cup 2026 | Argentina Fans Sing & Dance After Dramatic Comeback Against Egypt
The FIFA Men’s World Cup is down to four semifinalists, each nation grasping to reach the final that crowns soccer’s world champion on Sunday, July 19.
France and Spain battle it out on Tuesday, July 14, starting at 3 p.m. England and Argentina go at it beginning at 3 p.m., Wednesday, July 15.
Both matches will air in the United States with options that include Fox and Telemundo, along with streaming on Fox One and Fox Sports apps.
France vs. Spain will be at Dallas Stadium (the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium). England vs. Argentina will be at Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes Benz Stadium). The tournament, which began June 11 with 48 nations competing, encompassed stadiums in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
Where is the final match?
The final will be played at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on Sunday, July 19. (The third-place match will be Saturday, July 18, in Miami).
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What to know about the semifinals
Here’s what to know about the semifinalists and their top players.
It marks the first time in World Cup history that teams ranked in the top four by FIFA, world soccer’s governing body, made it to the semifinals.
Spain versus France
Ahead of the tournament, sportswriters tapped either France or Spain as favorites to win it all.
France’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring their first goal vs. Morocco at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on July 9, 2026.
France, which won the 1998 and 2018 cups, has powered through the 2026 edition. Star Kylian Mbappe is the tournament’s current joint lead scorer with Argentina’s Lionel Messi. France’s Ousmane Dembele has racked up goals, too, and playmaker Michael Olise has dazzled for Les Bleus, as the team is known.
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Spain’s possession power and eye-catching combination play have largely smothered teams. Only one goal has been scored against La Furia Roja. Mikel Oyarzabal has scored four Spain goals. Mikel Merino has provided recent scoring heroics when Spain needed it. Lamine Yamal, the 19-year-old phenom capable of wondrous dribbling, will also be one to keep an eye on.
Spain won its first World Cup in 2010.
Spain’s Lamine Yamal celebrates after the match as Spain qualify for the semifinal stage of the World Cup.
Argentina versus England
Argentina vs. England is awash in history and context.
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At 1986’s World Cup, Argentina’s Diego Maradona scored two famous goals against England. The first, known as the hand of God goal, was highly controversial, while the next was deemed goal of the 20th century. In the latter, Maradona dribbled all the way through player after player to score. Argentina won the ’86 cup. It came a few years after the two nations fought a war over islands that England calls the Falklands and Argentina calls the Malvinas.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – JULY 11: Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between Argentina and Switzerland at Kansas City Stadium on July 11, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
In 2026, Messi, who at 39 is co-topping the cup’s goal scoring while most other teams’ top scorers are in their 20s, leads Argentina. Julian Alvarez scored a stunner against Switzerland to get Argentina into the semifinal. But the Albiceleste (white and sky blue), as the team is known, has had to battle back after giving up goals in a number of matches to make it to the next stage. Lautaro Martinez is among other potential goal scorers to watch.
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Argentina is attempting to win back-to-back World Cups. At 2022’s tournament held in Qatar, Argentina won one of the most enthralling finals ever over France. However, the last nation to win back-to-back men’s cups was Brazil — back in 1958 and 1962.
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England’s Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring their second goal.
England, led by top scorers Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, narrowly defeated Norway and its star Erling Haaland, to reach the semifinal. Along the way, the Three Lions, as England is known, managed to overcome a terrific Mexican national team in one of the tournament’s best matches at Mexico City’s famed Estadio Azteca.
The 2026 tournament has uniformly put star power on display (which isn’t how it always works out). Most top goal scorers have hit their stride: Messi, Mbappe, Kane, Bellingham, and Dembele are all duking it out to be the top. Mbappe has 8 goals and 3 assists; Messi has 8 goals and 2 assists. Even teams that exited had stars on fire, Norway’s Haaland and Brazil’s Vinicius Jr. among them.
Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup 2026 – Scotland’s Tartan Army march to LoanDepot Park – LoanDepot Park, Miami, Florida, U.S. – June 22, 2026 Scotland fans play bagpipes as Scotland’s Tartan Army march to LoanDepot Park for the game between the Miami Marlins and the Texas Rangers REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Tartan Army bagpipers, the Vikings’ ‘ro!’ and more stories
It’s also been a World Cup rich with story.
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There have been news reports and mentions about controversy over use of VAR — the video assistant referee system — that affected some goals and fouls being counted and for whom.
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But there was also social media featuring fans from other nations getting tastes of Americana: stops at enormous Buc-ee’s, giant soda and ice refills, lobster rolls in New England, cheese steaks in Philly, mammoth steaks and barbecue in Texas, Kansas City-style barbecue, too, and a plethora of fast-food spots.
Scotland‘s fans, the Tartan Army, with its kilted fans and bagpipes, took over the Boston and Providence, Rhode Island, area and later, Miami, to support their underdog team. They have an earworm of a song and video to go with their chant, “No Scotland, No Party!”
A duck named Merlin, wearing a Mexico team shirt, went viral on social media as fans of El Tri, Mexico’s national team, turned out in support.
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DR Congo’s fans included superfan Lumumba Vea, who is Michel Nkuka Mboladinga and is known for standing statue-like for a full match, wearing a suit and his arm raised, USA TODAY reported.
Vozinha, goalkeeper for first-time World Cup qualifier Cabo Verde, drew plaudits — and amassed an enormous Instagram following — for his gutsy performance against teams such as Spain and Argentina.
Norway striker Erling Braut Haaland gets off the plane after Norway’s national football team landed at Oslo’s Gardermoen Airport on July 13, 2026. Norway were knocked out in the quarter-final match against England.
Norway’s fans rowed their team into the quarterfinals. They took seating positions in stadiums, in Times Square, and apparently even on a moving escalator: A drummer hit a beat, rows of fans made a rowing motion and belted out a low and loud “Ro!”
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Haaland, the team’s star, on social media donned a cowboy hat and boots in Texas. When Norway’s players exited their plane after arriving home, photos showed Haaland carrying a taxidermy raccoon.
Jude-fever. Bellingham-mania. No one has come up with a catchy name for it yet, but it’s happening. A London train stop called Bellingham station has been renamed “Jude Bellingham”. West Midlands Railway is offering free train rides for anyone named Jude. “Hey Jude” is on the playlist after every England win with “Three Lions” and “Wonderwall”, the only player with his own ballad.
Only a couple of weeks ago, this World Cup felt like it would be Harry Kane’s tournament. It could yet be Kane’s pinnacle at the end of an extraordinary season of 72 goals and counting, a tally bettered only once, by Lionel Messi. If Messi is one of football’s deities, then Kane is the greatest mortal ever to do it. Win the World Cup on Sunday, and he will surely end the year on stage in Paris, wearing a shiny suit and holding a golden orb.
But increasingly, this tournament looks like the World Cup of Jude Bellingham. It was his goal against Croatia that sparked England’s best 45 minutes so far, his goal against Panama that broke the deadlock, his rapid double that briefly silenced the Azteca, a feat in itself. Bellingham’s first goal in the quarter-final against Norway was a moment of elite technical skill amid a shower of incompetence, his second a display of heightened instincts that earned England a victory they scarcely deserved.
A Thameslink station called Bellingham has been given a new forename (Reuters)
Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane salute the fans after reaching the semi-finals (Martin Rickett/PA)
And perhaps this tournament means even more to Bellingham, a player who has been publicly questioned and privately doubted by his own manager, who has been subjected to outside scrutiny unlike his teammates. “Don’t bring Jude,” ran a headline in the Daily Mail earlier this season, suggesting England would be better off without the “divisive soloist” at the World Cup.
“It’s good to put some of the noise aside, and just show my country and my teammates how committed I am to helping us win football matches,” Bellingham said after scoring in the 4-2 win over Croatia in Dallas.
It seems bizarre now, but one of the decisions Thomas Tuchel stewed over before that opening match – and throughout his 18-month reign – was whether Bellingham or Morgan Rogers should be his No 10 at the World Cup. Bellingham missed last September’s qualifiers after undergoing shoulder surgery, and it was unfortunately timed. England played their best game under Tuchel, winning 5-0 in Serbia, and Rogers was excellent.
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Tuchel omitted Bellingham from the following camp despite his return to fitness at Real Madrid. There was also the infamous line about Bellingham’s “repulsive” on-field behaviour, which Tuchel attributed to his mother and a slip of the tongue in his second language, and for which he later apologised.
Tuchel felt England created a “brotherhood” during those September and October camps. Could a powerful personality like Bellingham slip seamlessly into the fold?
Even when Bellingham made the World Cup squad, there was no guarantee he would start against Croatia. Tuchel was asked before kick-off: why Bellingham over Rogers? “It was really close,” the manager said. Was he picked because of his big-game appetite, that knack for scoring when it matters? “No,” said Tuchel. “A 50-50 call,” he called it, as if Bellingham had just beaten Rogers in a game of rock-paper-scissors in the dressing room.
Bellingham is greeted by Tuchel after being substituted against Norway (Martin Rickett/PA)
There were a raft of other No 10s Tuchel could have chosen. Eberechi Eze has played only cameos. Phil Foden and Cole Palmer are watching on TV. But then, really, what is the point of Bellingham’s unique set of powers if you don’t use them? England have a player who Real Madrid bought for €103m aged 19, who won the Champions League at 20, who is at his fourth major tournament aged 22. Steven Gerrard played his fourth at 30. Frank Lampard was 36.
And over the past few weeks, Bellingham has shown why he is not just another piece of England’s puzzle: he’s the piece, the keystone in the entire edifice of this World Cup campaign.
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There are the goals, obviously, the assists, the way he bends rigid games to his will. But with Bellingham, it’s also the other bits, the intangibles, like his sheer presence in an England team and what that brings. Already at his age, Bellingham carries an aura that transmits confidence to his teammates, one that makes opponents feel a little smaller as they line up in the tunnel.
Perhaps part of that is the compelling aesthetics, the upright posture, the square shoulders, standing 6ft plenty. The cheekbones, the smile, the twinkle in his eyes. We are not supposed to objectify athletes in this job, but come on now. The Norwegian defence just went weak at the knees and now England are 2-1 up in a quarter-final.
‘Waiting for someone to perform with’: this Jude was made to go out and get it, and is making the whole country feel better, better, better, better… (Getty)
Then there are the tackles, three in the second half against Croatia alone. They are not just toes on the ball but full slides through his opponent, comprehensive clean-outs, taking the man with him as he goes. It is the type of tackle that lifts England fans off their feet, that elicits those low-octave hums of “Juuuuuude”, a tackle that gets his teammates facing forwards, that changes the direction of the wind.
If you delve into Fifa’s enormous suite of World Cup stats, you’ll find Bellingham on top in two categories. The first is sprints – no one left in the competition has made more than his 328, or 55 per game. That’s a sprint every 110 seconds, across six games, one of which was played not far off the altitude of Mount Olympus, another played in heat and humidity that even Amazon tribesmen would describe as stifling.
The second is what Fifa catchily calls “offers to receive in between”, which are those moments when Bellingham stands in a difficult place, where opponents lurk, where defenders are near, and demands to have the ball. If his sprints show endeavour under strain and stress, the latter shows courage and sheer belief in his own ability to take possession under pressure, time and again.
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But perhaps just as telling is that on a whole raft of other measures, Bellingham ranks near the top. Distance covered, pressures, turnovers, goals, off-the-ball runs, chances created, headed efforts attempted. His work is best displayed in the box, but Bellingham is a complete midfielder impacting every aspect of each game, England’s omnipresent force. It is not that he’s a “soloist”. It’s just that sometimes it takes a virtuoso to elevate the piece.
Bellingham slides through Croatia’s Petar Musa (Getty)
It is why the comparisons with Steven Gerrard are justified, another player who could thrive in any position on the pitch. Yet Gerrard never produced this level for England, at least not consistently throughout a World Cup. Neither did Lampard, nor Wayne Rooney, nor David Beckham, nor Michael Owen. Bellingham’s individual performance has surpassed Paul Gascoigne at Italia ’90 and Gary Lineker at Mexico ’86. It is perhaps the best by an England player at a World Cup since 1966.
There are glimpses of his potentially combustible personality in those moments when he admonishes the referee or bellows at teammates for not reading his mind. His mum repeatedly reminded him not to get a yellow card in the days before Norway in order to avoid a suspension.
The snipes at Tuchel in post-match interviews perhaps revealed Bellingham’s frustrations at his battle for his place, using his position of undoubted power to get certain things off his chest. But that edge has been channelled into performances full of commitment and purpose, delivered with an energy that has set England’s tone. Tuchel might even take some credit for that, provoking a little motivation and inspiration.
Bellingham celebrates in front of England’s fans after the quarter-final win in Miami (Getty)
Perhaps a career path outside the Premier League’s gaze has stymied Bellingham’s appreciation in England. Perhaps it doesn’t help that he is so hard to define, a No 10 who isn’t really a typical No 10 at all. His youth coach at Birmingham City famously marvelled at how he could play three midfield roles at once – numbers 4, 8, and 10 – so added them together and assigned him No 22.
But his talent cannot be ignored this summer. Belli-monium is in full swing. Some time after the end of the Norway game, thousands of English fans belted out “Hey Jude” with feeling as he stood on the grass below, alone, drenched in sweat, allowing the adulation to wash over him. What an extraordinary experience that must be. And for the first time at this World Cup, Bellingham looked like he didn’t know what to do with himself.
Indian cricket team skipper Shubman Gill was forced to leave the field retired hurt during the first ODI encounter against England on Tuesday. Gill looked in good touch as he scored 80 off 75 deliveries with the help of 11 fours and one six. However, during the 26th over of the Indian innings, he could not stand properly and had to lie down on the pitch while clutching the back of his right leg. The commentators were left wondering whether it was just a cramp or the star batter was suffering from something more serious. Ultimately, he was unable to continue and decided to leave the field.
Coming to the match, a bowling masterclass from Axar Patel, along with disciplined pace and bounce by Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar, helped India restrict England to 258.
Patel was India’s standout bowler, taking four wickets, breaking England’s resistance with his accurate left-arm spin. Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar also chipped in with two scalps each. Jasprit Bumrah took a wicket to claim his 150th ODI wicket as India kept England under control throughout the innings.
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England were bowled out for 258 runs in 47.5 overs after opting to bat first in the opening ODI against India. The hosts made a strong start but lost momentum in the middle overs, losing five wickets for just 19 runs before Root and Dawson combined to revive the innings.
Joe Root top-scored for England with an unbeaten 76 runs, anchoring the innings and guiding the lower order. Liam Dawson provided valuable support with 68 runs, helping England recover from a difficult position.
Ben Duckett contributed 43 runs, while Will Jacks scored 20 and Jofra Archer added 12 towards the end. Apart from them, all the English batters struggled to put the bat on the ball.
For India, Patel became only the second Indian spinner to take four wickets between the 41st and 50th overs of an ODI innings, matching Ravindra Jadeja‘s feat against Sri Lanka in 2013.
England started positively with Duckett and his opening partner Jacob Bethell building a steady platform, but India’s bowlers struck back at regular intervals.
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Root displayed composure under pressure, rotating the strike and building partnerships to prevent a complete collapse. Dawson matched his approach with an aggressive counter-attacking knock, helping England cross the 250-run mark after being in trouble.
India will now require 259 runs to win the opening ODI and take an early lead in the three-match series.
The last time a sub-300 target was successfully defended in a full 50-over ODI at Edgbaston was in the Champions Trophy 2013 when South Africa defended 236 against Pakistan.
(With ANI inputs)
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