FIFA president Gianni Infantino, left, and Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia clap before the World Cup round of 32 match between Argentina and Cape Verde, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo)

Football’s growing divide over FIFA president Gianni Infantino showed no sign of easing on Friday, with some of his supporters publicly backing him while UEFA stood by its threat to boycott FIFA competitions.The disagreement comes a week after Infantino withdrew his proposal to raise around $4.2 billion by selling a stake in the commercial rights of the FIFA World Cup and other tournaments.Football bodies around the world continued to take sides. Mexico and Argentina’s football associations became the latest to support Infantino, following the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) unanimous backing of his leadership on Thursday.Argentina’s Football Association (AFA) also praised FIFA for admitting mistakes in the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal.Infantino has been under pressure after abandoning a plan, reportedly worth $20 billion, to sell part of the commercial rights of the World Cup through a subsidiary called FIFA Forward Enterprise.In an open letter to Infantino, AFA president Claudio Tapia wrote: “On behalf of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and its Executive Committee, we write to you, dear president, and through your esteemed good offices to the FIFA Executive Committee, to express our support for the work carried out over the last 10 years, which has centred on the development of football worldwide and institutional strength based on a clear, stable and transparent governance model.”Calls for Infantino to step down have increased since the proposal collapsed. On Wednesday, FIFA apologised for mistakes made in the handling of the plan involving private investors.Tapia welcomed FIFA’s decision to admit that errors had been made and that “the process should have been handled differently.”“With respect to the recent events that are now public knowledge, we must acknowledge the Administration’s decision to withdraw a proposal which, from the outset, generated far more uncertainty than certainty within the football family,” the letter said. “That is why it is worth highlighting the acknowledgement of the mistakes made during that process and the apology expressed in the thoughtful message sent to FIFA’s 211 member associations.“South American football body CONMEBOL, however, raised concerns over the “repeated unilateral actions taken without resorting to dialogue”.The Mexican Football Federation (FMF), one of the hosts of the recently concluded World Cup, also backed Infantino despite its regional governing body CONCACAF earlier calling for a “comprehensive reckoning” with his presidency.CONCACAF, which governs football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, has been one of FIFA’s strongest critics, along with UEFA.On Thursday, UEFA said the conditions it had set for returning to FIFA competitions had still not been met.European football’s governing body said it remained committed to boycotting FIFA events until it received assurances that “such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again”.UEFA has not yet confirmed whether its teams will skip FIFA’s next tournament, the Women’s Under-20 World Cup in Poland next month.The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said it “stood in solidarity” with UEFA and CONCACAF. At the same time, some of its 47 member associations, including Indonesia, the Philippines and 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar, have publicly backed Infantino.

There are certain years in every sport that, with the benefit of hindsight, become defining moments.

For GAA Rounders, 2016 and 2026 may prove to be two of them.

Just ten years ago, there were only 25 adult championship teams competing across the entire country.

Today, there are 98.

That remarkable increase tells the story of a sport that has transformed itself in just a decade.

Looking Back to 2016

The championship structure in 2016 was very different to the one we know today.

There were no Intermediate Championships.

There were no Junior Championships.

Every club, regardless of experience or playing numbers, entered the Senior Championship.

The adult competitions consisted of:

• Senior Men – 6 teams
• Senior Women – 10 teams
• Senior Mixed – 9 teams

Just 25 championship entries in total.

Those teams came from only fourteen clubs:

• Bagenalstown (Carlow)
• Ballinagore (Westmeath)
• Ballintubber (Roscommon)
• Borris-in-Ossory (Laois)
• Carrickmacross Emmets (Monaghan)
• Clonaslee (Laois)
• Cork
• Cuchulainn
• Erne Eagles (Cavan)
• Glynn-Barntown (Wexford)
• Greenhills (Dublin)
• Limekiln (Dublin)
• Na Fianna (Dublin)
• The Heath (Laois)

Many of those clubs remain among the strongest names in the sport today. Some competed in all three championships, while others fielded just a single team.

Back then, the idea of clubs entering four, five or even six adult teams would have seemed almost unimaginable.

The 2016 Champions

2016 Senior Men’s Championship

2016 Senior Women’s Championship

2016 Senior Mixed Championship

The All-Ireland Champions were:

• Senior Men: The Heath (Laois)
• Senior Women: Glynn-Barntown (Wexford)
• Senior Mixed: Limekiln (Dublin)

Those clubs helped carry the game through a period when participation numbers were still relatively modest.

A Decade of Growth

Fast forward ten years and the landscape has changed dramatically.

The introduction of Senior, Intermediate and Junior Championships has given clubs the opportunity to develop at the appropriate level while providing players with a genuine pathway through the game.

The 2026 Championships feature:

• 23 Men’s teams
• 39 Women’s teams
• 36 Mixed teams

A total of 98 championship entries.

That represents an increase of 292% in just ten years.

Perhaps the most impressive statistic is the growth of the Women’s game, rising from ten teams in 2016 to thirty-nine today.

Mixed participation has quadrupled, while the Men’s Championship has grown almost four-fold.

Those are extraordinary figures for any amateur sport.

More Than Numbers

The figures only tell part of the story.

The standard of coaching has improved enormously. Clubs now operate websites, online membership systems and sophisticated social media platforms. Livestreaming, coach education, referee development and improved communications have all helped modernise the sport.

Many clubs now field multiple adult teams across different grades.

What was once a handful of Senior teams has become a genuine player pathway where new clubs can begin at Junior level, progress through Intermediate and ultimately compete at Senior level.

Without that structure, it is difficult to imagine the sport experiencing the growth it has over the past decade.

The Next Chapter

After several years of exceptional growth, participation has levelled off slightly in 2026.

That should not be mistaken for decline.

New clubs continue to emerge around the country, while others established during recent years have unfortunately struggled to survive. That is a natural challenge faced by many developing sports and reflects the reality that building a sustainable club takes years of commitment.

The next phase of growth will not simply be about creating new clubs.

It will be about helping those clubs survive.

Supporting volunteers.

Developing coaches and referees.

Building sustainable club structures.

Helping counties establish new competitions.

Ensuring every new club has the best possible chance of still being here ten years from now.

The Biggest Opportunity

Perhaps the most astonishing aspect of the last decade is that almost all of this has been achieved through volunteers.

In 2026, GAA Rounders has 98 adult championship teams, championships across three grades, livestreamed finals, national coach and referee education programmes, international representation and clubs spread throughout much of Ireland.

Yet the Association still has no full-time, year-round employees whose sole responsibility is the long-term development of GAA Rounders.

That is not a criticism of the volunteers who have built the sport. Quite the opposite. It is a testament to what they have achieved with limited resources and an enormous commitment of time.

Every developing sport eventually reaches a point where volunteers alone find it increasingly difficult to sustain the same pace of growth.

The remarkable rise of Ladies Gaelic Football over recent decades demonstrated what can happen when passionate volunteers are supported by professional staff who spend every day growing the game.

Volunteers will always remain the heart of GAA Rounders. However, dedicated year-round staff would provide continuity, strategic planning and the day-to-day capacity to establish new clubs, support existing ones, develop coaches and referees, strengthen county structures and promote the game nationally.

One can only hope there are people within Croke Park with the vision to recognise that GAA Rounders is approaching that point.

The sport has demonstrated what can be achieved through volunteer commitment alone. Imagine what could be possible if those volunteers were backed by people whose full-time role was to understand the game, work alongside clubs and counties, and drive participation every day of the year.

If the ambition is to see another decade of growth—from today’s 98 championship teams to perhaps 200 or even 400—the next great investment may not simply be in facilities or competitions.

It may be in people.

Looking Ahead

The journey from 22 championship entries in 2016 to 98 in 2026 is something everyone involved in GAA Rounders can be immensely proud of.

It reflects the work of countless players, coaches, referees, administrators and volunteers who have dedicated thousands of hours to developing the game over the past decade.

The foundations have been laid by an extraordinary generation of volunteers.

The opportunity now is to give them the support they deserve so that the next chapter in the history of GAA Rounders is even more remarkable than the last.

If that happens, perhaps ten years from now another article will be written—not comparing 22 teams with 98, but looking back on 2026 as the year GAA Rounders truly unlocked its potential.

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Terrafirma Dyip’s Justin Strings during a game vs NLEX Road Warriors in the 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup. –PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—NLEX’s perfect start to the 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup came to an end Friday after Terrafirma stunned the Road Warriors, 114-109, at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The Dyip put an end to the Road Warriors’ perfect 6-0 record and gave coach Jimmy Alapag his first official loss as a PBA coach, while improving to 3-4 in Group A.

“We got lucky in this game,” Terrfima coach Ronald Tubid said in Filipino.

“In the last few games, we ran out of energy and we collapsed in the endgame so in this one, we told them that we can match up against NLEX even if they’re 6-0. Matchup-wise, we can go up against them. All we need to do is compete.”

After trailing a 109-105 deficit with 3:11 left, Geo Chiu took matters into his own hands for the Dyip with two straight baskets to tie the game at 109-all with 1:38 remaining.

Terrafirma Dyip’s Geo Chiu during a game vs NLEX Road Warriors in the 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup. –PBA IMAGES

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Just when NLEX thought it could return to the driver’s seat, Brent Paraiso converted a crucial and-one play with 1:01 left in the quarter to give Terrafirma the pivotal 111-109 advantage.

Paraiso, who finished with 18 points, missed his freebie, but it didn’t seem to matter as the Road Warriors committed multiple fumbles on the ensuing possession, ultimately failing to keep their record unblemished.

Justin Strings led for Terrafirma with 28 points and 11 rebounds. Mav Ahanmisi also had 16 points and 10 rebounds while Juami Tiongson and JM Bravo posted 20 and 16 points, respectively.

Robert Bolick and JB Bahio scored 20 each in the Road Warriors’ loss that dropped them to 6-1. Import DeQuan Jones finished with 19 points while Schonny Winston and LJ Gonzales tallied 16 and 15.

Hardik Pandya (PTI Photo)

Speculation over Hardik Pandya’s future with the Mumbai Indians continues to grow, and former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has weighed in with his own assessment of how a potential blockbuster IPL trade could unfold.Pandya’s future has been the subject of intense discussion following another disappointing campaign for Mumbai Indians. Under his leadership, the franchise managed just one playoff appearance in three seasons, while the 2026 edition ended with the five-time champions finishing ninth in the 10-team table.Reports have linked both Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders with a possible move for the India all-rounder. Ashwin believes those two franchises are the frontrunners if Mumbai decide to part ways with their captain, but he also outlined the kind of deal he thinks the franchise should demand.Speaking on his Tamil YouTube channel, Ashwin said Mumbai Indians should only consider doing business with Kolkata Knight Riders if the deal significantly strengthens their own squad.“Don’t count out Hardik going to a franchise other than CSK or KKR. The talk is that CSK will give Dube and a pacer, while KKR will give away Cameron Green. What happens if Green decides to focus on the Ashes next year? If I were MI, I would accept a deal with KKR on only one condition: getting Harshit Rana and Rinku Singh in return. That is the only way MI gets stronger,” Ashwin said.He also pointed out that Mumbai would have to consider not only what they receive in return, but also how much stronger a direct rival could become by signing Pandya.“MI will also think about who between CSK and KKR gets stronger through the Hardik trade. If CSK give away Dube and one Indian pacer to get Hardik, they get strong but not invincible. However, if KKR get Hardik, they suddenly look very strong. KKR will become a lethal batting lineup with Hardik. These are teams with five, five and three titles, so MI have to think about how they can ensure one of these teams doesn’t leapfrog them,” he added.The discussion comes at a time when both franchises linked with Pandya are entering transition phases. Chennai Super Kings recently confirmed the departure of long-serving head coach Stephen Fleming after an 18-year stint, while Kolkata Knight Riders are preparing for life after Ajinkya Rahane’s retirement.Pandya’s own campaign in IPL 2026 did little to ease scrutiny over his performances. The all-rounder scored 206 runs and claimed four wickets in 10 matches as Mumbai endured one of their poorest seasons in recent years.The 32-year-old has not played competitive cricket since the conclusion of IPL 2026, further fuelling speculation over both his immediate playing future and whether he will continue with Mumbai Indians next season.

FILE–Alas Pilipinas in action during the SEA V Cup Leg 1. –SAVA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Alas Pilipinas Women got swept by first leg champion Thailand, 25-19, 25-17, 25-19, to open their SEA V Cup Leg 2 campaign on Friday night at Chiang Mai Stadium.

Alas couldn’t repeat its gallant stand from last week, when it pushed the Thais to their limits in a five-set match in Hanoi.

Thailand, the most successful volleyball country in the region, made quick work of the Philippines in a lopsided one-hour, 16-minute match.

Leg 1 MVP and Best Outside Spiker Sasipapron Janthawisut led the onslaught with 10 points from eight kills, one block and an ace.

The Philippines took a 12-10 lead in the third set on Alyssa Solomon’s back-to-back kills, but the hosts caught fire and put the match away.

Pimpichaya Kokram also scored 10 points. Chatchu-On Moksri had nine, while Thatdao Nuekjang and Ajcharaporn Kongyot added seven each.

Thailand swept all three games in Leg 1 and is looking to reclaim the Leg 2 crown after losing to Vietnam last year.

Alas has now dropped four straight games since losing its place on the podium after winning four consecutive bronze medals dating back to the 2024 edition.

Niña Ytang led Alas with eight points from six kills and two blocks. Solomon had six, while Erika Santos and Eya Laure added five each.

Bella Belen, the Philippines’ top scorer in the first leg, was held to two points.

Alas faces Vietnam on Saturday at 2 p.m. (Philippine time).

Vietnam, which brought a new lineup, was upset by Indonesia earlier, 25-20, 25-18, 22-25, 25-20, 15-9.

After an absence from her autumn three-year-old season, Magenta Skies is set to make up for lost time as she prepares for her first race day appearance in ten months.

The Frankel filly showed enough promise in her initial two starts to earn a start in last year’s Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m), finishing seventh to her Michael Freedman-trained stablemate Apocalyptic.

Shortly after, she underwent surgery for bone chips in a knee, and the recovery period sidelined her for the autumn.

Magenta Skies has been accepted for Saturday’s Precise Air Handicap (1400m) at Randwick, along with a benchmark race at Kembla Grange, and Freedman has been pleased with her preparations at home.

“Unfortunately, after she ran in the Flight Stakes last year she pulled up with a knee that required surgery,” Freedman said.

“She had that and had a nice break. She’s had a steady, long build up that has been going well thus far.”

“I’m looking forward to getting her back to the races on Saturday. Whether that’s at Randwick or Kembla, we’ll have a look at both options.”

“Hopefully we can have an uninterrupted ‘prep’ with her, and get her to her full potential.”

Godolphin mare Mareth resumes in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1200m) at Randwick and will carry 56.5kg after the three kilo claim of apprentice William Stanley.

She closed out her autumn with a narrow second to Beskar in the Listed South Pacific Classic (1400m) and Freedman has pinpointed next month’s Group 3 Mona Lisa Stakes (1350m) at Wyong as her short-term aim.

“We thought we’d kick her off on Saturday and look at a race like the Mona Lisa at Wyong in a couple of weeks’ time,” he said.

“The 1350 around there, I thought would really suit.”

“The three kilos (off on Saturday) will certainly be advantageous to her to drop in the weights a bit. She’s a very genuine sort of mare so it looks like a nice option for her.”

Mareth has only trialled once ahead of her return, but Freedman says that will pose no issue.

“She’s not an overly big, robust sort of mare so looking at her, I didn’t feel a second trial was going to be of any real benefit,” he said.

“I’m happy for her to go to the races off the back of one.”

The Precise Air Handicap at Randwick is shaping up to be a key race, making it an interesting prospect for online bookmakers.

One of my favorite parts of training camp in my NFL front office years (and now in my media work) has been to closely watch the team’s draft picks and project their potential impact as rookies. These young players are the shiny new toys for coaches as they determine if they can trust the rookies to see the field when the regular season comes.

As I’ve watched practices this week—especially the fully padded sessions on Monday and Wednesday–I’ve been impressed with the potential of this Vikings draft class. Time will tell as we won’t really know how impactful these players will be in Year 1 until the regular season and perhaps several weeks into the schedule. It certainly appears that many of the nine 2026 draftees will contribute as backups and good special teamers and several could start.

We’ll have plenty of time to break down the quarterback situation where Kyler Murray will likely be named the starter before the joint practices with the Ravens on August 19-20. For this week, I’ll depart from the QB discussion and give my early impressions of the 2026 draft class.

The GM & The Vikings Draft Class

Caleb Banks: The first-rounder is listed at 6-6, 327 pounds and he looks really big when you see him on the field. The best news is he’s practiced every day after recovering from his foot surgery that sidelined him in the offseason program.

Like many rookies, Banks is up and down. I saw him dominate in one-on-ones on Monday and then look average or worse when taking on two blockers in a drill on Wednesday. He’s going to be a work in progress and perhaps needs to get in better shape to play consistently in the summer heat but the tools are there and the coaches have to be a bit patient but still push him hard. A healthy Banks should start at defensive tackle as he perfects the scheme and utilizes his size and strength to be a force inside.  

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Jake Golday: He’s a future starter on the Vikings defense, whether as an edge player or an inside linebacker. Golday is athletic, versatile and looks smooth wherever he lines up. The second-round pick should be the third edge rusher as a rookie, providing relief for Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner and perhaps lining up with them as pass rushers at times. He appears destined to be a Van Ginkel clone who can rush the passer, stop the run and drop effectively into coverage.

With Blake Cashman, Eric Wilson and Ivan Pace at inside backer, it’s apparent Golday’s greatest impact this season will be if he’s that third edge rusher/OLB and doing it well. He’s been lining up both inside and outside in camp so he has a lot on his plate in learning multiple positions.

Golday definitely should be a top special teamer immediately and I expect him to make some big plays in that area. The Vikings personnel people and coaches obviously thought highly of him as they passed up quality centers and safeties to take Golday as a higher rated player on their draft board. It won’t surprise me if he winds up as the best player in this Vikings draft class.

Domonique Orange: “Big Citrus” is the prototypical run-stuffing nose tackle/defensive tackle who certainly looks the part as a third round pick who should contribute this season and perhaps be a future Vikings starter. He didn’t practice on Monday with a minor injury but to his credit, he was back at practice Tuesday and Wednesday and had the defensive coaches highly excited by one of his reps in one-on-ones. Orange’s size and strength should be a big help to the run D this season.

Caleb Tiernan: What struck me in first seeing him is his size and especially his height at 6-7. He looks like he has good feet and the word is he can play guard even if he looks best suited at tackle.

The third-rounder probably won’t play this season unless injuries hit the O-line as vet Ryan Van Demark seems headed for the swing tackle backup role. It’s hard to know at this juncture about a young O-lineman but I think Tiernan has a good Vikings future ahead and it won’t be a surprise if he’s a starter somewhere on the offensive line by his third season.

He’s a player to watch in Vikings preseason games when Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw get very few snaps in order to keep them healthy.

Jakobe Thomas: He’s a confident looking safety with good size and instincts to possibly start if Harrison Smith does not return. The coaches will watch the third rounder closely this month and he’ll get a lot of play time in preseason games with the opportunity to push his way into a big role as a rookie.

Even if Smith comes back, I think Thomas has a solid chance to be the third safety ahead of Theo Jackson and Jay Ward. Thomas needs to be the safety who can run with receivers going deep and play the underneath routes against tight ends while also being a run stopper.

The Vikings need more interceptions from their safeties after having only four from the two safety spots last season (two each by Smith and Josh Metellus). Thomas had five picks last season for Miami along with 3.5 sacks so he can cover and blitz. He also played the run well with 76 tackles. He should be a future starter and could be a rookie starter at a position of need.

Max Bredeson: He’s built solid at 6-2, 252 pounds and he’s a physical blocker at fullback who has good hands. I saw him make a nice catch in the flat in a team drill this week. He steps into the C.J. Ham role as a strong lead blocker, reliable pass catcher in the flat and excellent special teamer. I expect the Vikings fifth rounder to see the field a fair amount this season.

Charles Demmings: This fifth-round pick is making an impact with his physical coverage skills at training camp, He comes out of small school Stephen F. Austin but I’m impressed that he’s not intimidated in his first NFL camp which we saw when he put a big hit on vet WR Jauan Jennings in practice this week.

Demmings could push vet free agent signee James Pierre for the third corner or at least become the fourth corner who gets play time in certain defensive schemes and in the event of injury to the other corners.

He’s a 4.4 guy with good size at 6-1, 193 pounds who can run with wide receivers and should be able to play the run. Demmings will get good battle testing trying to cover the Vikings talented WR corps in camp and he’ll be worth watching when he plays a lot in preseason games. He should be another special teams standout. There have been a lot of late-round corners who wound up being great players. Perhaps Demmings can be such a player.

Demond Claiborne: He’s an attention grabber in camp with his blazing speed (4.37 in the 40) which makes him the Vikings’ fastest running back and a potential sixth-round steal. He was a dual threat player at Wake Forest but he’s had a few drops early in camp so he needs to fine tune his concentration in the passing game. He also was a good kick returner in college and will be in the mix for a return role.

Claiborne will play a lot in the preseason games as the team limits the play time of Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason. It will be fun to see how Claiborne performs and if he can be a viable option as a change of pace back this season with a possible bigger role in the future.

Gavin Gerhardt: He’s most likely a developmental player this season who will have to work hard to make the team and may wind up on the practice squad if he can’t beat out Michael Jurgens as the Vikings’ No. 2 center. It’s too soon to tell if he has an NFL future but Gerhardt will get snaps in the preseason games.

Center was a need position going into the draft but the Vikings took higher-rated players at other positions and waited until the seventh round to select Gerhardt who had plenty of starting experience in college at Cincinnati. Starting center Blake Brandel was a sixth rounder in 2020 so it’s certainly possible for a late round pick to emerge on the O-line.

Jeff Diamond is a former Vikings GM, former Tennessee Titans President and was selected NFL Executive of the Year … More about Jeff Diamond

Former Gujarat captain Priyank Panchal has become the latest voice to question the decision to appoint 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as East Zone vice-captain for the upcoming Duleep Trophy, saying the teenager should first be allowed to settle into the demands of red-ball cricket.Sooryavanshi, who will serve as deputy to Ishan Kishan, was handed the leadership role despite having played only eight first-class matches for Bihar. His appointment came ahead of far more experienced players, including Abhimanyu Easwaran, who has featured in 113 first-class games.The decision followed Sooryavanshi’s impressive outing in Zimbabwe, where he was named Player of the Series after scoring 151 runs in three T20Is, including a match-winning 81 in the third and final game.However, Panchal believes the selectors could have waited before entrusting the youngster with additional responsibility.“I think the zonal selectors could have avoided making Vaibhav Sooryavanshi the East Zone vice captain. It could put unnecessary pressure on the young kid. Let him understand the dynamics of red ball cricket first, properly, before entrusting such duties upon him. Thoughts? #DuleepTrophy,” Panchal wrote on X (formerly Twitter).The appointment has sparked debate among fans and former cricketers, with many arguing that the teenager should be given time to develop before taking on a leadership role in one of India’s premier domestic red-ball tournaments.Despite the criticism, East Zone selectors have defended the decision, insisting it is part of a long-term plan for Sooryavanshi’s development.“We are not thinking about the present alone,” Manish Vardhan, former cricketer and Jharkhand’s representative on the East Zone selection committee, told Cricinfo.“A vice-captain gets to observe the captain closely and understand how a team is run. We wanted Vaibhav to be more involved with the group because we think it will help him as he develops. He’s an extremely talented cricketer and is maturing steadily. Giving him this responsibility is another part of that process,” he added.The 63rd edition of the Duleep Trophy begins on August 23 at the BCCI‘s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. East Zone will face North-East Zone in the opening round, while West Zone take on North Zone. The winners will meet South Zone and Central Zone respectively in the semi-finals on August 30, with the final scheduled for September 5.