Oct 21, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton (7) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The 2026 Minnesota Vikings have much more cornerback depth than the 2025 club, but according to Bleacher Report, new general manager Nolan Teasley should be in the market for one more — ideally, Kansas City Chiefs corner Kristian Fulton.
BR’s Moe Moton found one player per team to target for each NFL squad, and for Minnesota, that’s evidently the Chiefs’ veteran defender.
A Late-Round Gamble Could Strengthen Vikings’ Cornerback Depth
Nov 25, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton (7) enters the field before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Moton: Vikings Should Trade for Fulton
Minnesota probably needs an extra EDGE defender or backup guard per roster need at the moment, but Moton recommended Fulton.
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He explained this week, “Minnesota Vikings: Trade a late 2027 pick for Kansas City Chiefs CB Kristian Fulton. Aside from Byron Murphy Jr., the Vikings’ cornerback group is highly questionable with Isaiah Rodgers and James Pierre in line for big roles.”
“Rodgers had a decent 2025 campaign, allowing an 88.2 passer rating in coverage. Pierre only has 13 career starts. Minnesota should add veteran insurance to cover the boundary when Murphy lines up in the slot.”
Fulton entered the NFL as a 2nd-Rounder in 2020 — the day after Justin Jefferson — and was on the Vikings’ radar at the time, at least per the mock draft community. Minnesota instead picked 1st-Rounder Jeff Gladney.
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“Fulton could be serviceable in that role. Last year, he only appeared in eight games but allowed a solid 81.7 passer rating in coverage,” Moton continued.
“The 27-year-old may be behind L’Jarius Sneed and Nohl Williams on the Chiefs’ depth chart. With 53 career starts, Fulton could take on a prominent role on the perimeter in nickel packages or provide quality depth.”
Fulton was a teammate of the aforementioned Jefferson at LSU.
The Career So Far for Fulton
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For starters, here’s Fulton’s career resume:
Tennessee Titans (2020–2023)
Los Angeles Chargers (2024)
Kansas City Chiefs (2025–now)
Fulton’s six-year NFL career has been largely unremarkable compared to his original draft stock. In 65 games, including 53 starts, he has recorded five interceptions and 38 pass breakups. However, he has also surrendered 2,346 yards and 17 touchdowns in coverage, far from the production of a “shutdown corner.”
Oct 21, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton (7) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
His most effective season was 2021, when opposing quarterbacks achieved a 75.3 passer rating against him, and he secured two interceptions. Pro Football Focus awarded him a 66.2 coverage grade that year.
Since then, his performance has declined. In 2023, he allowed a 129.3 passer rating and three touchdowns, resulting in a coverage grade of 46.9. While a move to Los Angeles offered some improvement, he still gave up six touchdowns in 2024 and finished with a 66.6 coverage grade.
Kansas City utilized him sparingly in 2025, with only 208 defensive snaps. He allowed eight catches on 16 targets and received an overall grade of 60.4 from PFF.
Fulton’s experience suggests he can serve as a backup corner and potentially fill in as a starter if necessary. Nevertheless, his career trajectory indicates he is an average player who never developed into the reliable outside starter, as was the best-case scenario back in 2020.
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The Vikings’ CBs at the Moment
Do the Vikings need a cornerback? Not really, unless one is analyzing the depth chart from a long-term angle. Minnesota hasn’t successfully drafted a cornerback of any kind with staying power in a decade; before too long, it will need to change that habit in the draft.
As a whole, though, the Vikings’ current cornerback corps is deeper than most summers:
CB1: Byron Murphy Jr. CB2: Isaiah Rodgers CB3: James Pierre CB4: Charles Demmings CB5: Dwight McGlothern CB6: Zemaiah Vaughn CB7: Da’Veawn Armstead CB8: Marcus Allen CB9: Tyreek Chappell
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Murphy Jr., Rodgers, Pierre, and Demmings will easily make the 53-man roster at the end of August. The rest are mysteries.
Acquiring Fulton, per the Moton recommendation, would make the CB room run five men deep and probably put Demmings, a rookie, in line for a redshirt season.
For a Late-Round Pick, Why Not?
It’s debatable whether the Vikings should take the plunge for a fourth or fifth cornerback. It feels like a conversation to have if a starting cornerback gets hurt and is lost for the season at training camp or in the preseason — like Mekhi Blackmon in 2024.
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Nov 19, 2023; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) makes a catch against Tennessee Titans cornerback Kristian Fulton (26) in the second quarter at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports
Still, sending a 6th- or 7th-Rounder to Kansas City for a decent performer isn’t the worst idea. Fulton will be a free agent in eight months, and the Vikings would have to cover about $10 million of his 2026 salary if traded. Teasley has approximately $13 million in cap space in mid-July. Late-round picks rarely amount to much. Fulton would at least serve as insurance for the 2026 campaign.
He’ll turn 28 in September.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Manny Pacquiao’s team have provided further insight into the boxing legend’s plans over the coming months, confirming that the Filipino icon is expected to fight again before his proposed rematch with Floyd Mayweather in 2027.
Pacquiao returned to professional boxing in 2025 after almost four years away, battling then WBC champion Mario Barrios to a majority draw in a bid to break his own record as the oldest welterweight world champion in history.
Rather than remain inactive, however, Pacquiao intends to step back into the ring before then.
Speaking at a recent press conference, Manny Pacquiao Promotions CEO Jas Mathur confirmed that the 46-year-old is still expected to fight before the end of the year.
“That’s the plan. There is a plan to have a fight for this year and then to roll into next year for the big [Mayweather] fight. Everybody wants to see Floyd and Manny one more time. That’s what’s going to break all records. That’s what’s going to be the most viewed event again, in today’s streaming era.”
Mathur then expanded on those plans, revealing that Pacquiao’s team are currently exploring several options, with an exhibition appearing the most likely outcome.
“We’re working on a few different fights right now for him. Presently there’s likely going to be an exhibition that we’re trying to put together in the fourth quarter of this year. Nobody is set, no opponent is set in stone yet. We’re still working on that.”
No opponent has been confirmed, although former WBO super-lightweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov may remain a possibility. The pair had previously been expected to meet in an exhibition earlier this year before those plans failed to materialise, leaving the door open to a potential rescheduling if terms can be agreed.
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Should Pacquiao return before the end of the year, it would serve as the final step in his preparations for the long-awaited Mayweather rematch, which both camps continue to target for 2027.
I think there’s a very interesting runner here in MACHADADORP, who represents the Andrew Balding team. True Test heads the market on betting sites and will find this a significantly easier test than some she’s faced recently.
I respect her chance, while Song N Dance, who I sided with at Ascot last time out, comes here fresh after a couple of months off and although she is more exposed than the selection, she may still have some more improvement in her.
However, the patter comment appears to be more likely with regard to the selection, who is a Mehmas filly who ran green over 1m on her debut at Ascot but has come on nicely since.
Next up she went to Chester and picked up a fillies’ maiden (7f, good) with a bit in hand and she confirmed that theory when taking another good step forward at Wetherby last time (7f, good to firm), when she had to fight to defy a penalty but did so.
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Given who she’s handled by, further improvement on her handicap debut appears more than likely. She’ll need some on what she’s achieved but I think her initial mark of 86 looks reasonably fair and she should be bang there at the business end.
Weatherbys Handicap (Class 2) (14.52, Newmarket)
Moonfall heads the market for this after his Britannia Stakes win at Royal Ascot (1m, good to firm) for which George Boughey’s gelding has gone up 7lb. That rise far from rules him out in this, as he continues to progress.
However, better handicapped on his first start in this sphere may be ALFARAZ, who just like in the previous race, is an Andrew Balding-trained runner who could make a splash on entering this phase of his career.
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The Nathaniel colt had shown some promise during his first four starts, without winning any of them but he put that right when heading here last time a winning a C&D (good to firm) novice event, beating a couple of other promising types, including the odds-on favourite.
On that evidence, this initial mark of 88 suggests he could be well treated on his return to the track and at the prices, he looks very interesting and worth an each-way play.
Eklleem, another handicap newcomer, and Wechaad are others who could make their presence felt.
Betway Bunbury Cup (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (15.25, Newmarket)
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A cracking contest in store for this year’s Bunbury Cup and there are plenty in with chances.
Royal Zabeel arrives in great nick after winning here last week but a 6lb penalty does make him look vulnerable and his price reflects that. Back In Black is one to note in the market, while don’t discount Colombier or Physique at longer prices on racing betting sites.
However, I’m zoning in on Royal Ascot form for this, as we have the Buckingham Palace Stakes second ELARAK and third Great Acclaim. Both ran cracking races when I went with the latter in that event, when all the first four came from high draws.
Elarak led inside the final furlong but Mezcala came to nab him, while Great Acclaim stuck on well. In context, Elarak probably ran a slightly better race at the weights. He’s also still improving and if he can repeat that effort here, he could take some stopping. He’s up just 3lb and I like his chance.
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John Smith’s Cup (Class 2) (15.45, York)
Another really good renewal of this annual conundrum on the Knavesmire and I couldn’t resist having another go at solving it.
As ever, there are numerous chances and several that look plotted up. One that I think will run a huge race at double-figure odds is HAND OF GOD, who is a lightly-campaigned five-year-old trained by Harry Charlton.
He had a crack at this last year when he went off at just 7/1 on betting apps from stall nine but after being handy he backed out quickly and recorded his worst effort for some time.
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I’m hoping that was just a one-off as it’s quite difficult not to handle this lovely flat, galloping track and it’s noted that he was put away after last year’s race and didn’t return to the racecourse until April.
He made a step back in the right direction at Newbury that day (1m, good), when beaten just over 3l and then bounced right back with a career-best effort to win a Class 3 event going away by 2l (1m2f, good).
A fair bit might depend on how he starts here because he’s drawn in stall one but if Lewis Edmunds can get him out, he’s got the shortest route to travel and that latest Newbury win suggests he may still be well treated after a 5lb rise has taken him to a mark of 101.
He’s only had 10 starts and I think there could be more to come from him, so I’m going to play to relatively small stakes in this big field and hope he can erase the memory of last year’s effort.
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Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup Stakes (Group 1) (16.35, Newmarket)
One of the feature sprints of the season has not disappointed in terms of its line-up, with a stellar field turning up, including last year’s close second Big Mojo, plus three winners and a second from some of the big sprints at Royal Ascot.
You’ll recall I sided with both Venetian Sun and Satano Reve in their respective races there but this time I am going to take both on with an each-way play on MISSION CENTRAL, who may have what it takes to follow-up his King Charles III Stakes (5f, good to firm) success.
We already know that Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-old gets this trip as he’s a three-time winner over it. He proved he can handle quick ground at Royal Ascot, when I felt the way he ran would suit this contest.
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He was prominent early but lost that position before doing his best work late on, which was perhaps to be expected. The return to further should, therefore, be a boon and I think he’s at the least good enough to make the frame, perhaps win it.
Venetian Sun won the Commonwealth Cup in fine style and she’s a major threat again, those a closer inspection of the figures suggest that the selection’s win at the same meeting was a few pounds better and yet she’s a shorter price. For that reason, I am taking her on but have huge respect for her in doing so.
Almeraq just had the measure of Satano Reve in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, much to my frustration that day and it would be no surprise if either of that pair proved good enough here, given the run of the race. It’s a fascinating contest and one to look forward to.
It is important to practice safer gambling online, and regulated bookmakers can help bettors stay in control of their betting through their detailed safer gambling hubs.
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If you need to seek help for a gambling problem, there are various charities that can help if you ever feel your gambling has got out of hand:
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Lisandro Martínez was seen holding a banner reading “The Falkland Islands are Argentinian” after Argentina’s controversial 2-1 World Cup semi-final win over England, drawing widespread angry reactions from fans
Rachel Vickers-Price UK and World News Reporter
23:53, 15 Jul 2026Updated 23:57, 15 Jul 2026
Argentina marked their victory over England at the World Cup in contentious fashion, with players retrieving a banner from fans in the stands that declared: “The Falkland Islands are Argentinian.”
Manchester United’s Lisandro Martínez was pictured holding the banner, alongside former Spurs midfielder Giovanni Lo Celso. The banner appeared to mirror the sentiments of Argentinian President Javier Milei, who stated in a post earlier this year that the islands “were, are and will always be Argentine.”
Argentina contests British sovereignty over the islands, referring to them as Las Malvinas. The political dispute over the territory erupted into armed conflict in 1982.
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The war lasted 74 days before concluding with an Argentine surrender.
A referendum held in 2013 saw islanders vote decisively to remain a UK overseas territory, yet tensions surrounding the islands had been steadily mounting in recent years, reports the Daily Star.
Argentina vice-president Victoria Villarruel stoked the flames ahead of the fixture with a post on X, writing: “This is not just another match. I’m not going to be politically correct – against the English, it’s always something more.Long live Argentina! Because until our very last breath, we will reclaim what is ours.”
Prior to kick-off, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni insisted he was “not going to mix” politics and football, yet his players clearly had other ideas. A section of Argentina supporters were labelled “disgusting” after booing England’s national anthem ahead of their semi-final clash.
England’s anthem was played first but was met with jeers from the Argentine contingent in Atlanta, triggering a wave of furious reactions across social media.
Argentina’s victory came after Lautaro Martinez struck in the 92nd minute in a devastating blow for England supporters, securing a 2-1 win. The result means Argentina will now take on European champions Spain in Monday’s final.
England had been on course to reach their first World Cup final since 1966. But once again, it appears football will not be coming home.
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The fierce and long-standing hostility between England and Argentina runs far deeper than the sport itself, with its most intense modern origins rooted in the Falklands War of 1982. This brief yet bloody military conflict over a disputed territory in the South Atlantic Ocean fundamentally altered the diplomatic ties between the two nations, permanently embedding heavy political and nationalistic undertones into their future sporting encounters, reports the Express.
Over the course of 74 days, the armed forces of both countries engaged in fierce, close-quarters battles on land, in the air and at sea, enduring punishing weather conditions throughout. The bitter fighting finally drew to a close on June 14 1982, when the remaining Argentine forces formally surrendered at Port Stanley.
On the football pitch, this geopolitical tension manifested itself during the 1986 World Cup quarter-final, where Diego Maradona’s notorious “Hand of God” goal and his breathtaking individual strike knocked out an incensed England team. They have met numerous times on the world stage since, including a dramatic penalty shootout triumph for Argentina in 1998 and a tight 1-0 group stage success for England in 2002, firmly establishing the fixture as one of international football’s most intensely disputed rivalries.
Jude Bellingham appeared to slap Argentina defender Valentin Barco after England’s World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, sparking a flashpoint in the ugly post-match scenes in Atlanta
England star Jude Bellingham appeared to strike Argentina defender Valentin Barco following England’s World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina. Tempers boiled over after the full-time whistle as the Real Madrid midfielder had to be pulled away from the confrontation.
The Three Lions surrendered a one-goal advantage to the reigning champions after Anthony Gordon opened the scoring in the second-half. The new Barcelona signing broke the deadlock but England slowly slipped back and Argentina’s pressure eventually told thanks to goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez.
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As Argentina rejoiced in the centre of the pitch, the Real Madrid midfielder seemed to hit the Strasbourg defender, sparking another flashpoint in a bad-tempered encounter. There were unsavoury scenes in Atlanta as playmaker Morgan Rogers had to be pulled away from the scuffle.
Barco, an unused substitute in the semi-final, was spotted celebrating with his delighted team-mates when Bellingham seemed to make contact with the full-back’s head. Though, there is no suggestion of what provoked the midfielder’s reaction.
Thomas Tuchel’s team had gone ahead after Anthony Gordon opened the scoring, however, England retreated, allowing pressure from Argentina. Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez found the net to seal the turnaround and secure their spot in Sunday’s final against Spain.
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BBC Sport co-commentator and former England captain Alan Shearer said: “I think the best team won. You can’t complain about that, you’ve got to be open and honest about it, their reaction was magnificent.”, reports the Mirror.
“They hit the post a couple of times, England got lucky. But how they didn’t panic, stuck to their gameplan, believed in what they were doing, and they did it. The substitutions worked, you have to admire, respect the way they came back into the game.
“They deserve to be in the final on Sunday, as much as it hurts me to say.”
There were tears from the Argentinians after staging yet another dramatic escape, having navigated tricky encounters with Cape Verde, Egypt and Switzerland on their way to the final. Lionel Scaloni’s side required extra-time to overcome both African nations and capitalised on a numerical advantage to dispatch the Swiss.
England attempted to protect their narrow lead with Tuchel making substitutions and choosing to stifle the defending champions. Argentina responded with a succession of attacking replacements, and a rapid-fire double completely transformed the semi-final.
The former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss could face scrutiny for his decision to adopt a defensive approach with just 15 minutes remaining. Wayne Rooney felt England invited the pressure upon themselves and were left to regret the final 25 minutes.
He said: “When you’re in a fight, you have to stay on top. We go one-nil up, sit back, make changes and go six at the back, if you allow Messi to come on to you and Argentina, you’re asking for trouble.”
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It means the Three Lions will contest third place, as they did at the 2018 World Cup following their semi-final defeat to Croatia, where they will face France.
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Pros, says Justin Rose, love to be prepared. And they can certainly feel that way in an Open Championship.
But here, being prepared means being ready for the unexpected.
“I think ultimately at an Open Championship, your preparation needs to be — you can’t perfect something,” Rose said. “Play with creativity and play in the moment. Just play with a lot of flair in the moment. See a shot, bump-and-run.
“You might not have practiced it, you might not have hit that shot for a long, long time, but if you see it, go with it.”
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The thought came Tuesday, about seven minutes into Rose’s pre-Open press conference. It was perceptive to what’s needed this week at Royal Birkdale.
But what happens when you listen to everyone’s pre-Open press conference, 195 minutes and over 37,000 words in all?
You may just become, well, prepared for what starts Thursday in England.
And maybe, just maybe, ready to pick a winner.
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Below, then, is what this writer heard. Employ it wisely. Or not at all.
‘Distance control is going to be key’
Who said that: The phrase often used this week to describe Birkdale has been ‘firm and fast,’ and Jon Rahm was asked how a player combats that. “I would say see how firm they let the greens get, right?” he said. “St. Andrews was firm and their fairways were running very fast, but the greens, they managed to keep them decently soft. That’s why you saw the scoring be low, and it was a bit more about being aggressive.
“This time around, if these greens that are way smaller than the ones at St Andrews get firmer, distance control is going to be key. Knowing how the ball is going to react and where you need to land it to give yourself a putt is going to be very, very important.
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“This golf course is known as not being the easiest already. Weather conditions usually are pretty harsh, windy. It’s always windy, right? So a lot of those holes are going to present a very strong challenge.
“It also depends on the setup. With yesterday’s wind, 13 and 18 was 500-plus yards straight into the wind. They might have moved it a tee up, maybe not. If they didn’t, they would be very long holes. If they moved it a little bit up, still long holes but slightly easier. Same with 15.
“So it will be up to the tournament committee on the setup as well, but I think understanding how the ball’s going to react and the fairways and on the greens is always going to be the challenge.”
What it means for a pick: Who’s good on approach? Who has a plan off the tee? The PGA Tour’s top five in strokes gained: approach this season are Matt Fitzpatrick, Collin Morikawa, Si Woo Kim, J.J. Spaun and Tom Kim, while Jon Rahm and Laurie Canter are in the top five in greens in regulation on the LIV Golf circuit. As for the wind, here is the forecast from weather.com: 12 mph on Thursday, and 13 mph on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and each day, it will be blowing from the north.
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‘In Birkdale, you can still be aggressive, but you really don’t always have that chance’
Who said that: Rahm, who used the 1st hole as an example. “You could hit driver, but who knows where that ball is going to end up if you’re not accurate.” He also said this: “From what I’ve learned in the past, if you start pulling out drivers in an Open Championship, you can do a good job short term. You can maybe get away with it one round. Over four rounds, you’re going to start finding spots you don’t want to be in, and you’re going to pay the price.”
What it means for a pick: Accuracy off the tee won’t hurt. But approach again will be paramount — if players are hitting something less off the tee, strong iron play will become advantageous. However …
‘OK, it might be in the rough, but it’s not that penal’
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Who said that:Rory McIlroy, in talking about one of the effects of the dry conditions at Birkdale. “The big thing, especially off the tee here, is the fairway bunkers and avoiding those,” he said. “You might see some guys being more aggressive off the tee, taking driver, trying to take the fairway bunkers out of play. OK, it might be in the rough, but it’s not that penal, so you get a wedge in your hand and you can figure it out from there.”
What it means for a pick: Bryson DeChambeau has heard some chirps this week. But if Mcllroy’s assessment is right, DeChambeau is in play this week — he won very similarly at the 2020 and 2024 U.S. Opens.
‘The runoff areas were still quite long’
Who said that: Joe Dean, on Monday after his win at the new Last Chance Qualifier. “I was surprised to see the runoff areas were still quite long, the grass,” he said. “Usually you can putt them fine. It’s obviously just nearly putting off the green, but not today. I’m guessing it’s to stop it from drying out too much. Just a 5-iron chip-and-runs and seems to do the trick.”
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What it means for a pick: With putting potentially not an option, chipping will be a factor, and possibly even creative chipping, as Dean noted with his mention of a 5-iron chip. The PGA Tour’s top five in strokes gained: around the green this season are Fitzpatrick, Justin Thomas, Tommy Fleetwood, Jason Day and Ben Griffin. On LIV, Bryson DeChambeau, Thomas Detry and Scott Vincent are ranked in the top five in scrambling.
‘You’ve always got to make a choice’
Who said that: In some manner, several players said that, but let’s listen to Tommy Fleetwood’s thoughts.
“It’s an amazingly well-designed golf course because going back to the main goal a lot of the time in links golf is to avoid bunkers, avoid fairway bunkers, avoid pot bunkers, but I feel like there’s always something in play unless you want to be unbelievably sensible and then like you’re always on the back foot of the golf course. You’re always leaving yourself a long way.
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“I think it’s an amazingly well-designed golf course for that. I think you’ve always got to make a choice of you’re either taking something on, bringing something into play, or you’re almost playing too safe if anything.
“Yeah, it’s a course that makes you think. I think it’s a course that gives you options. You can hit driver everywhere if you want. There’s never anything stopping you doing that. It’s not how I would see the golf course, but some people will.
“Yeah, I think that’s always a great sign of a great golf course is that there’s — you could sit six people here, and they might think of six different things to do off the tee, and I think that’s always a really good sign.”
What it means for a pick: Open Championships force you to think — the horror! — and Birkdale is for the scholars. What’s the wind doing? What’s the turf look like? How much can you flirt with the bunkers? Where can you be aggressive? Is there any bail-out? Then there’s answering these questions all over again the next day. Then there’s answering these questions on Sunday, when there are just a few holes left. In a practice round at Birkdale, Rahm said he was hitting 6-irons off par-4s — 6-irons! We’ll say that if you’ve reached the Open, you can solve the riddles asked of you, along with being malleable because of ever-changing conditions and just the vagaries of golf — and especially Open Championship golf. But maybe your pick is a former Open winner, or at least a major winner. Or someone invested in analytics; someone who’s done the work ahead of time so any surprises feel a bit less shocking. Or they have a strong caddie. …
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‘I think the communication is obviously really important’
Who said that: Fitzpatrick, when asked about the value of caddies this week. “I think the communication is obviously really important,” he said. “Just you’ve got to be on the same page of the shots you’re seeing, particularly in links golf. There’s obviously such a variety that you can play. Birkdale allows you to play a lot of different shots because you might be able to fly on the green, you might be able to bounce it short, you might be able to use a contour to the right or left. That’s links golf.”
What it means for a pick: This week, a caddie must be decisive, reassuring and unstifling. Being a veteran looper will help.
‘It’s a tough environment’
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Who said that: McIlroy, when asked about playing an Open at home, which he did last year and in 2019 at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. “It’s a tough environment,” he said. “It’s a great environment, but tough in a way that you just feel the extra expectation on your shoulders, and you feel like you’re trying to play well for everyone else and not for yourself. I think there’s already enough pressure on anyone in this field to play well for themselves, so to add that extra layer on top of that is always pretty difficult. Yeah, like Tommy coming back here, for example, he grew up five minutes away, but I feel like Tommy’s more level-headed than I am and maybe won’t — he won’t fall into that trap like I did in 2019. It always seems like it takes me one go round to get it right.”
What it means for a pick: One of the stories of the year would be Fleetwood winning on a course close to where he grew up. But how sturdy are his blinders?
‘The more difficult the venue, it requires me to really dial in mentally’
Who said that:Jordan Spieth, when asked about his game. “The more difficult the venue, it requires me to really dial in mentally a little bit more, which I think is going to be a good thing,” he said. “Then being able to handle whatever comes your way on a difficult major venue and kind of react a bit less.”
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What it means for a pick: An interesting thought. Might a struggling player succeed? Or one undergoing some swing changes? Previous major championship winners would likely also say they dialed in mentally a little bit more when they won.
‘It’s important to get over here’
Who said that: Spieth, who didn’t play last week’s Scottish Open, but did play practice rounds at Birkdale last weekend. “It’s almost impossible to overestimate the wind,” he said. “I feel like I underestimate it every single time the first three or four days that I’m playing golf here. Whether it’s a cross-wind or it’s into or down, the effect on the golf ball is magnified almost double what it is in the States. … It’s important to get over here and really get your distance control, the total distance control dialed in. It’s firmer around the greens, making it more difficult. We can’t — some of us who like to use, like myself, a 60 degree and fly balls and spin it a lot, those shots are a lot harder when it’s firmer around the greens. It can bounce into it a lot easier. You have to be super precise. So figuring out different ways to play shots around the greens, too. I’ve been doing a lot of around-the-greens work trying to figure out what the best options are. A lot more putting, stuff like that, and speed control around the greens. Your typical stuff at Opens.”
What it means for a pick: Simple here. Go with players who either played the Scottish Open, or, like Spieth, spent time at Birkdale.
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‘Obviously we’re going to be watching’
Who said that: Rose, when asked if he planned to watch England’s World Cup semifinal match on Wednesday that started at 8 p.m. “Obviously we’re going to be watching,” Rose said. “But at the same time, I’m going to watch it with an eye on what’s important for me as well and not get too high and low and keep my own emotions in check. We’ve got big things as well to do this week, but at the same time, it’s a match where if you think that you’re not going to watch it, you’re probably kidding yourself.”
What it means for a pick: You might want to check which English players tee off early on Thursday.
And the pick?
Considering approach play, short game, major championship pedigree and preparedness, it really does seem like Matt Fitzpatrick’s week, doesn’t it? There’s this, too: Did Fitzpatrick feel he was playing better golf than he did in 2022, when he won the U.S. Open?
Desert Financial Arena is 52 years old and showing its age. Spectators have been lobbying for improvements for several years, and work finally got underway after graduations in May.
The venue is home to five sports: men’s and women’s basketball, gymnastics, wrestling and women’s volleyball.
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Here are the things to know for now.
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First phase of improvements
The multiyear renovations will cost an estimated $100 million. First phase improvements are all about fan comfort. Wider premium seats, boxes and padded lower-bowl chairs with cupholders will be added. That stage should be done by Labor Day, according to athletic director Graham Rossini.
Rossini said previously that all seats were the same size; there was no option.
The second phase of construction will begin in October, meaning renovations will continue during the season. Rossini expects to announce the “full scope of the project” and share renderings around that time.
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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos
Emmanuel Innocenti during ASU’s practice at the Weatherup Center in Tempe, Arizona, on June 30, 2026.
(Mark Henle/The Republic)
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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos
Emmanuel Innocenti during ASU’s practice at the Weatherup Center in Tempe, Arizona, on June 30, 2026.
(Mark Henle/The Republic)
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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos
Paulius Murauskas dunks during ASU’s practice at the Weatherup Center in Tempe, Arizona, on June 30, 2026.
(Mark Henle/The Republic)
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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos
Paulius Murauskas (center) during ASU’s practice at the Weatherup Center in Tempe, Arizona, on June 30, 2026.
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(Mark Henle/The Republic)
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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos
Joel Foxwell runs a drill during ASU’s practice at the Weatherup Center in Tempe, Arizona, on June 30, 2026.
(Mark Henle/The Republic)
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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos
ASU men’s basketball coach Randy Bennett (center) talks with his team during practice at the Weatherup Center in Tempe, Arizona, on June 30, 2026.
(Mark Henle/The Republic)
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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos
ASU men’s basketball coach Randy Bennett (center) talks with his team during practice at the Weatherup Center in Tempe, Arizona, on June 30, 2026.
(Mark Henle/The Republic)
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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos
ASU men’s basketball coach Randy Bennett (right) with Dillan Shaw (left) during practice at the Weatherup Center in Tempe, Arizona, on June 30, 2026.
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(Mark Henle/The Republic)
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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos
ASU men’s basketball coach Randy Bennett (center) at the end of practice at the Weatherup Center in Tempe, Arizona, on June 30, 2026.
(Mark Henle/The Republic)
Will seating capacity be affected?
The listed capacity of the venue is 14,198. With wider seats, there would be a lower capacity, but Rossini said the reduction would not be significant. There are seven Big 12 venues with seating capacities smaller than Desert Financial, and six are significantly smaller. Houston’s Fertitta Center is the smallest, seating 7,100.
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None of the sports that play in the arena sell out games, so it shouldn’t reduce attendance.
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What comes next?
Also in the works are a new court, new restrooms and the renovation of existing restrooms, new concession stand offerings, a new video board, locker room improvements, upgrades to the air conditioning system and ensuring ADA compliance with new elevators and accessible stairs with handrails to the event floor.
Renovations will also include a basketball court-level club for premium ticket holders. The club will have direct access to courtside seating.
“We’re excited about the vision that’s coming to life,” Rossini said. “Again, we want energy in the arena. We want it to be a home-court advantage for the five sports that play there.”
Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel believes Argentina are favourites to beat England in tonight’s 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final.
The former Chelsea midfielder said Lionel Messi remains the biggest threat on the pitch and believes England will struggle to stop the Argentina captain.
Mikel, who faced Messi at the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups, admitted that every team he played in tried to stop the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner but failed.
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“I’m a Messi fan and I want Argentina to win,” Mikel said on the Rest is Football podcast.
“How do you stop Messi? We’ve all tried and we’ve all failed. He’s simply a genius and an incredible player.”
The 39-year-old recalled how former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho always came up with different plans to stop Messi before their matches against Barcelona.
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“Mourinho always had ideas, but you can’t defend Messi one-on-one. It’s almost impossible,” Mikel said.
“He dribbles like the ball is attached to his feet. People talk about his goals, but his passing and vision are also among the best in the world.”
Mikel also warned England against asking midfielder Declan Rice to man-mark Messi.
He believes such a plan would leave space in midfield and play into Argentina’s hands.
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“Argentina will win. England have not been at their best in this tournament. If Messi gets space in midfield, he will punish you,” Mikel added.
He also praised the experienced Argentina squad, saying they know how to protect Messi and perform in big matches.
England and Argentina will meet in the second World Cup semi-final at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, with kick-off scheduled for 8:00 pm WAT.
Meanwhile, England manager Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that Declan Rice has recovered from illness and is available for the match.
2026 Candidates women champion Vaishali with her mother (FIDE Photo)
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has approved a new qualification system for the 2028 FIDE Candidates Tournament and the 2028 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament. These events decide who will challenge for the World Championship titles. The updated rules are designed to make qualification fairer by rewarding players for strong performances across major tournaments instead of relying on world rankings alone. The changes were proposed by FIDE’s Global Strategy Commission and aim to give players more ways to earn a place in the Candidates.One of the biggest updates is the addition of the Total Chess World Championship Tour 2026–2027 as a direct qualification route. The top two players in the Tour standings will earn spots in the 2028 Candidates Tournament.FIDE has also reduced the number of Candidates spots available through the World Cup. From the 2027 edition onwards, only the two finalists in both the Open and Women’s World Cups will qualify, instead of three players as in previous cycles. Clear replacement rules have also been introduced if a qualified player cannot take part.Another major change is the removal of the rating-based qualification spot. Instead, every place will now be earned through performances in events such as the Grand Swiss, World Cup, Total Chess World Championship Tour, Women’s Grand Prix and the FIDE Circuit. In addition, the FIDE Circuit will now award two qualification places based on combined results over the 2026–2027 season rather than one place each year.
Qualification paths and FIDE’s view
Both the Open and Women’s Candidates Tournaments will feature eight players. Each event will have two qualifiers from the Grand Swiss, two from the World Cup, two from the Tour or Women’s Grand Prix, and two from the FIDE Circuit.“The qualification system for the Candidates Tournaments is one of the cornerstones of the World Championship cycle, and it is essential that it continues to evolve alongside the game itself,” said FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich. “These changes have been carefully developed to make the qualification process more balanced, transparent, and performance-based. “By introducing the Total Chess World Championship Tour as a new pathway, refining the allocation of World Cup places, and placing greater emphasis on results achieved during the cycle, we are ensuring that every route to the Candidates rewards sustained excellence at the highest level of competition.”
Argentina vs England Highlights | ARG vs ENG FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-Final: Lionel Messi Magic Inspires Argentina To 2-1 Comeback Win, Heartbreak For England
Giuliano Simeone will play on the right wing instead of Rodrigo De Paul, reports TYC Sports. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni hinted at changes to the starting XI on the eve of the clash.
“We might make some changes with the opponent in mind. The idea is to field our best lineup; the lads are in good shape,” said Scaloni.
Argentina XI, as reported by TYC Sports: Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero , Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico; Giuliano Simeone, Enzo Fernandez, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allsiter; Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez
Lionel Messi will have the chance to build on his legendary legacy even further.
After beating England 2-1 on Wednesday in Atlanta, Argentina is on its way to the World Cup final, where a matchup with Spain awaits on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J.
In a nervy semifinal showdown between the two sides, Lautaro Martinez broke a 1-1 deadlock in the 92nd minute after Enzo Fernandez pulled it even in the 85th, cancelling out an Anthony Gordon goal from earlier in the second half.
With the win, Argentina is heading to its second straight World Cup final, where it took down France four years ago. The side will take on Spain on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET / noon PT.
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