Despite widespread calls for his resignation, Gianni Infantino lives to see another day. In a press release, the FIFA board have “reaffirmed their full support for Gianni Infantino”, following what they describe as a “constructive and positive meeting in Rabat”.

USC Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava was eligible to enter the NFL Draft last year, but he wisely decided to return to school. His statistical numbers were definitely there, and he might have indeed been a mid-round pick, had he entered the 2026 draft.

However, the Honolulu, Hawaii native opted-in to the Alamo Bowl last season, for a game that almost all of his key teammates opted-out of.

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Maiava committed to play, performed very well in the postseason game, and then returned for another season with the Trojans.

Right now, he’s solidly projected to a be a day two selection, and he’s on pretty much everybody’s top ten QB list for the 2027 draft. He’s got prototypical size and throws a great deep ball, but he’s still pretty turnover prone.

Not to mention he also needs to work on improving how he works through his progressions.

At Big Ten Media Days, Maiava discussed how he can level up this season (and with that augment his draft stock)

“I think just being able to be a product of any environment,” Maiava said, to a group of reporters, from his podium at Big Ten Media Days.

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“I can’t be a product of just one environment. I got to be a product of all environments. So I think being able to adapt to the environment and just get to know the receivers at a deeper level so we can play at a high level and play fast.”

USC loses two all-world wide outs from last season, Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane, so the receiver room is rebuilding this season. Maiava will have to help bring them along.

The Polynesian UNLV transfer discussed his ambition to continue: “just building that chemistry with those guys and everything we got to do to put the offense in the best position to score points.”

He then added:

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“I mean there’s a lot of room for improvement for everybody, across the board including me…constant wanting to learn, that constant wanting to get better, having that mindset of never being satisfied, fundamentally wise, my craft, decision-making, it’s kind of the whole thing.”

USC has a long illustrious history at the quarterback position, and many of these Trojan legends come by, from time to time, to visit the facilities.

Maiava name-checked three that he’s gotten to meet and know: Sam Darnold (who now has all-time legendary meme status), Caleb Williams, and Matt Leinart. He then articulated the experience of hanging out with them.

“The cool thing about USC is a lot of different quarterbacks; they come back and visit quite often,” Maiava said from his podium in the Hilton Chicago ballroom.

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“I’ve been blessed to just cross paths with them and share a conversation with them.

“That’s really cool for me. Just the whole experience of being the quarterback at USC, it’s tough to beat. They’re legends. Love sitting down and talking to those guys.”

Maiava threw for 3,711 yards and 24 touchdown passes, as well as 157 yards on the ground. If he can build on that, he could really be something.

This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: USC QB Jayden Maiava on how he can become the finished product

Also in this bulletin: high diving in a breathtaking setting, Kasia Niewiadoma’s big move on the Tour de France, Liverpool’s offer to PSG for Barcola, Marseille looking set to make more sales, PSG’s final friendly before the UEFA Super Cup, Aston Villa’s defeat to Bayern Munich, Terence Atmane’s exit at the Montreal Masters 1000, Naomi Osaka’s comfortable win in Toronto, and Gavi dying his hair pink.

Devin Haney has reportedly reached “advanced negotiations” for his maiden WBO title defence, with the welterweight champion seemingly still targeting a date of October 3.

Initially, this date was reserved for his mandatory title defence against Keyshawn Davis, only for their contest to go up in smoke after the ‘Businessman’ withdrew his interest.

The whole saga saw Davis reject a reported offer of $3m, before pulling out of the fight after a WBO purse bid hearing resulted in his promoter, Top Rank, winning with a sum of $8.55m.

As per the sanctioning bodies’ 75/25 split in favour of the champion, this would have meant Davis pocketing a total of $2.14m.

With Davis forgoing his mandatory position, however, Haney began pursuing a unification match with Liam Paro, who dethroned Lewis Crocker for the IBF 147lb title in June.

According to boxing journalist Julius Julianis, though, the Aussie priced himself out of negotiations and left Haney scratching around for yet another new opponent.

As per a Julianis social media post, which has been reshared by Haney, this led the three-weight world champion to invite Jack Catterall to the negotiating table.

“Devin Haney and Jack Catterall are in advanced negotiations to face off on October 3rd for the WBO welterweight world title currently held by Haney. Negotiations with Liam Paro broke down due to the Australian’s excessive financial demands.”

🚨🚨
Devin Haney y Jack Catterall, en negociaciones muy avanzadas para enfrentarse el 3 de octubre por el Mundial wélter WBO que ostenta Haney

La negociación con Liam Paro se rompió por las excesivas pretensiones económicas del australiano#HaneyCatterall

— JuliusJulianis (@julianisjulius) August 7, 2026

Catterall comes off arguably a career-best performance against Shakhram Giyasov, who he unanimously outpointed for the WBA ‘regular’ title in May.

Haney, meanwhile, has not fought since dethroning Brian Norman Jr in November; back when he, like Catterall, scored an early knockdown before winning convincingly on points.

The Indian Army Ice Hockey Team held its nerve in a thrilling final against Leh Kings to claim the inaugural Royal Enfield Challengers’ Cup, edging their opponents 6-5 at the Nawang Dorjay Stobdan (NDS) Stadium in Leh.

In a final that showcased the growing depth of Indian ice hockey, Leh Kings pushed the country’s leading institutional side all the way before a late winner from Padma Namgail sealed the title for the Army team.

The tournament, held under the Royal Enfield Social Mission, was conceived as a bridge between grassroots development and elite competition, giving emerging players from the Himalayas an opportunity to test themselves against some of the country’s strongest institutional teams.

Leh Kings Strike First, Army Respond

Leh Kings made the more promising start, with Tsering Angchuk opening the scoring after converting an assist from Mushtaque Ahmad Giri.

The lead, however, lasted only briefly. The Indian Army Ice Hockey Team hit back through Dorjay Angchuk, who levelled the contest from a Phuntsog Namgail assist. Jigmath Kunzang then put the Army side ahead for the first time, converting Padma Namgail’s pass to give them a 2-1 advantage at the end of the opening period.

The Army team extended its lead early in the second period when Rigzin Norboo finished off a move created by Stanzin Namgail.

But Leh Kings refused to allow the game to slip away.

Leh Kings Fight Back

Stanzin Angchok became the catalyst for Leh Kings’ comeback, scoring twice in quick succession with assists from Stanzin Lotus and Mushtaque Ahmad Giri. The two goals brought Leh Kings level at 3-3 and transformed the contest into an end-to-end battle.

Rigzin Norboo restored the Army team’s advantage with his second goal of the night, but Leh Kings responded again. Chamba Tsetan converted Tsering Angchuk’s assist to make it 4-4 heading into the final period.

Hat-Trick Puts Leh Kings Ahead

Just 60 seconds into the third period, Stanzin Angchok completed his hat-trick to put Leh Kings 5-4 ahead.

With their unbeaten record and the inaugural title suddenly under threat, the Indian Army Ice Hockey Team responded with the composure expected from one of India’s most accomplished sides.

Jigmath Kunzang scored his second goal of the evening to restore parity at 5-5. Then came the decisive moment. Padma Namgail found the winner in the closing stages after receiving a pass from Phuntsog Namgail, completing a dramatic 6-5 victory for the Indian Army Ice Hockey Team and securing the first-ever Challengers’ Cup title.

Tsering Angchuk Named Best Player

The individual awards reflected the quality of competition throughout the tournament.

Indian Army goalkeeper Sonam Tsetan was named Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament after a series of commanding performances, while Leh Kings forward Tsering Angchuk was named Best Player of the Tournament following an outstanding campaign.

Angchuk’s performance in the final further underlined his influence, with his assist and three goals helping Leh Kings repeatedly claw their way back into the contest.

A New Pathway for Himalayan Ice Hockey

The final was also a validation of the idea behind the Challengers’ Cup.

The tournament brought together emerging players from the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League and Spiti Cup with established institutional teams, providing the regional players with valuable exposure to a higher level of competition.

Leh Kings, Kargil Warriors and Spiti Titans represented the emerging talent from the regional leagues, while the Indian Army Ice Hockey Team and the Central Ice Hockey Team of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) provided the elite competition.

The five teams competed in a round-robin format, with the top two progressing to the final.

Vigyat Singh, Director at Eicher Group Foundation, highlighted the importance of creating opportunities for players to train and compete throughout the year.

“When we started this journey, Ice Hockey in the Himalayas was largely a winter pursuit. Today, the Challengers’ Cup taking place in August at Leh’s all-season artificial ice rink is a testament to how far the ecosystem has come. It is the coaches who train through the year, the referees who uphold the standards of the game, and the young athletes who show up every day to get better. Seeing these players go toe to toe with some of the best teams in the country reinforces why continued training and increased competitive exposure are so vital. This tournament is a celebration of that collective effort, and a reminder that building a sustainable sporting ecosystem is a long-term commitment we remain deeply invested in.”

Summer Ice Hockey Draws 15,000 Spectators

The tournament was hosted at Leh’s newly upgraded all-season artificial ice rink, allowing competitive ice hockey to be played during the summer rather than being restricted to the traditional winter season.

Held between August 1 and August 7 during the peak tourism period, the six-day event attracted more than 15,000 spectators, exposing domestic and international visitors to competitive ice hockey in the Himalayas.

The three regional teams also took part in dedicated on-ice training sessions between August 1 and August 4, with sessions running from noon to 3pm each day. The sessions focused on technical development and tactical understanding under the guidance of experienced coaches.

‘That Kind of Visibility Matters’

For the participating young players, the tournament offered more than just competitive experience.

Tsewang Namgyal, captain of the Indian Army Ice Hockey Team, said the event could have a lasting impact on players from Ladakh and Spiti by putting them in front of larger audiences.

“For us, playing in front of large crowds is something we are used to. But for the young players from Ladakh and Spiti, this kind of exposure can be life-changing. Holding the Challengers’ Cup during the peak tourism season meant these emerging athletes could showcase their talent to thousands of spectators, many of whom were watching Ice Hockey for the first time. That kind of visibility matters. It gives these players recognition, it brings attention to their journey, and it shows the world what Indian Ice Hockey is building in the Himalayas. Every team in this tournament, including ours, benefited from the energy that this timing and this stage created.”

Building Beyond the Winter Season

The inaugural Royal Enfield Challengers’ Cup represents another step in the development of ice hockey across the Himalayan region. By bringing together players from community-led development programmes with India’s leading institutional teams, the tournament aims to create a more defined pathway from grassroots participation to elite competition.

Its timing was equally significant. The use of Leh’s all-season artificial ice rink demonstrated that the sport can be played and developed beyond its traditional winter calendar, while the tournament’s visibility during the peak tourism season helped introduce the sport to a wider audience.

For Leh Kings, their 5-6 defeat ultimately ended without a trophy. But their performance against the Indian Army Ice Hockey Team offered perhaps the clearest indication yet that the next generation of Himalayan ice hockey players is ready to challenge the established order.

The tournament was organised as part of the Royal Enfield Social Mission in collaboration with the Ice Hockey Association of Ladakh and the Ice Hockey Association of Lahaul & Spiti, with the broader objective of building a sustainable, community-led sporting ecosystem in the region

Manchester City are continuing to shape their squad for their first campaign under Enzo Maresca with a new goalkeeper set to sign

Manchester City have agreed a deal with Marseille to sign goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli as a replacement for James Trafford. The Blues will pay the French club an initial £1.4m (€1.6m) in a deal that could be worth £1.7m (€2m) in total with the transfer expected to be completed next week ahead of the Community Shield.

City needed to sign a new goalkeeper after accepting a £45m approach from Leeds United for goalkeeper James Trafford. The City academy graduate returned to the club last summer from Burnley for an initial £27m and while he helped the Blues to win the FA Cup and Carabao Cup last year he was frustrated at not being No.1.

With Gianluigi Donnarumma still backed as the club’s first choice goalkeeper under new manager Enzo Maresca, Trafford sought to be a starting keeper and Leeds announced his signing earlier this week. As well as getting at least £40m and potentially £5m more in add-ons, City have inserted a 20 per cent sell on clause into the deal and will be able to match any bids that other clubs make for him in the future.

That left City needing competition for Donnarumma, though, and they have struck a cheap deal with Marseille to bring Rulli to the Etihad Stadium. The Argentine goalkeeper actually signed for the club in 2016 but was loaned immediately to Real Sociedad and left for there on a permanent deal a year later.

He has since played for Montpellier, Villarreal, Ajax and Marseille and was in goal for Villarreal when they beat Manchester United in the 2021 Europa League final. The 34-year-old could be on the bench next weekend for the Community Shield and is expected to be No.2 for the season after signing a two-year deal.

Campbell Thompson celebrates after taking the wicket of Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto. (Pic credit: Jack Riddiford/X)

Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons was left deeply disappointed after his batting unit suffered a stunning collapse against the Cricket Australia XI, with the visitors bowled out for just 54 in their second innings in Darwin on Saturday.A remarkable spell from 22-year-old left-arm seamer Campbell Thompson, who returned figures of 8 for 25, ripped through Bangladesh’s batting line-up as the visitors lost the three-day practice match by an innings and 38 runs.Bangladesh had made 263 in their first innings, before the CA XI responded with 355. But any confidence gained from their first-innings performance quickly disappeared as Bangladesh’s second innings lasted only 22 overs, with opener Tanzid Hasan’s 22 the only score above 10.Simmons did not hide his frustration after the collapse.“I think we let ourselves down with the bat in this practice match, and you look at how we got out and it wasn’t nice,” Simmons said.The Bangladesh coach, however, insisted there was still enough time to address the problems before the first Test against Australia begins on August 13.“I think that we have three [four] days to work on what we have to do properly in the Test match,” Simmons said. “And I trust that the guys are going to put in the work over these next three days to get us where we want to be for that Test match.”

Thompson’s eight-wicket burst exposes Bangladesh’s flaws

Bangladesh resumed their second innings with two wickets already down and quickly found themselves in deeper trouble as Thompson continued the damage he had started late on the previous evening.The South Australian took the first five wickets of the morning before eventually finishing with extraordinary figures of 8-25. He dismissed Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto for a duck and wrapped up the innings by taking the final two wickets with successive deliveries.Thompson had just one first-class appearance before the practice game but seized his opportunity against a Test side.“Sometimes you get lucky. It fell my way today, which was nice. It’s always a good experience and opportunity to come and play up against a Test side a few days out from a series. Then to play alongside experienced Aussie guys as well, like Kurtis Patterson and Corey Rocchiccioli and stuff like that. So, just involving myself around these guys has been awesome,” Thompson said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.For Bangladesh, the collapse comes just days before they face Australia’s formidable pace attack.

Simmons wants Bangladesh to move on

Despite the heavy defeat, Simmons urged his players to quickly put the result behind them and focus on the Test series.“Disappointing match, but we move on and we look forward to the Test match,” he said.There was also positive news regarding left-arm spinner Taijul Islam, who suffered a finger injury after being struck while batting on the opening day.Bangladesh team physio Bayjedul Islam Khan said the injury was improving.“The injury that Taijul sustained while batting day before yesterday is much better now, both swelling and pain have decreased,” he said. “The first Test is still five days away so we have four days in our hand. I am totally expecting he will be available by that time.”Bangladesh will now have little time to regroup before the first Test, which begins on August 13 in Darwin. The series marks their first Test visit to Australia in 23 years.