Business
(VIDEO) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Repeats as NBA MVP, Leads Thunder to Top Seed
OKLAHOMA CITY — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been named the 2025-26 NBA Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season, cementing his place as one of the league’s premier superstars and powering the Oklahoma City Thunder to the best record in the Western Conference.
The 26-year-old Canadian guard edged out strong competition from Denver’s Nikola Jokić and Dallas’ Luka Dončić in voting by a global panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Gilgeous-Alexander received 82 first-place votes, becoming the first player since Stephen Curry in 2015-16 to repeat as MVP while leading his team to the No. 1 seed.
“This is a team award,” Gilgeous-Alexander said during a press conference at Paycom Center. “I couldn’t do this without my teammates, coaches and the entire Thunder organization. We set out to be the best version of ourselves every night, and it’s paying off.”
Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 32.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game while shooting 53 percent from the field and 39 percent from three-point range. His defensive impact was equally impressive, leading the league in steals and earning his third straight All-Defensive First Team selection. The Thunder finished the regular season with 68 wins, the most in franchise history.
Historic Company for Back-to-Back MVP
Repeating as MVP is a rare feat. Only 13 players in NBA history have achieved it, including legends like Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash, LeBron James and Stephen Curry. Gilgeous-Alexander joins an elite group and becomes the first guard to repeat since Curry.
Thunder general manager Sam Presti praised Gilgeous-Alexander’s growth and leadership. “Shai has elevated his game in every area,” Presti said. “His commitment to excellence, both on and off the court, inspires everyone in our organization. This award reflects the work he puts in daily.”
Thunder Built for Championship Contention
Oklahoma City’s rise under Gilgeous-Alexander has been remarkable. After years of deliberate rebuilding through the draft and smart trades, the Thunder have assembled one of the youngest and most talented rosters in the league. Chet Holmgren’s emergence as a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, Jalen Williams’ all-around brilliance, and a deep bench have complemented Gilgeous-Alexander perfectly.
The team’s defensive rating ranked among the league’s best, while their pace and spacing created ideal conditions for Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring and playmaking. Coach Mark Daigneault’s innovative schemes have maximized the roster’s versatility, allowing multiple lineup combinations to thrive.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s ability to carry the offense while elevating teammates has been central to Oklahoma City’s success. Opponents have struggled to contain him, often forced to choose between giving up easy baskets or leaving shooters open on the perimeter.
Personal Growth and Leadership
Beyond the numbers, Gilgeous-Alexander has matured into one of the league’s most respected leaders. Teammates describe him as quiet but intensely competitive, someone who leads by example rather than loud speeches. His work ethic, attention to detail and willingness to embrace coaching have set a standard throughout the organization.
Off the court, Gilgeous-Alexander has expanded his business interests and philanthropic efforts. He launched a foundation focused on youth education and basketball development in Canada and Oklahoma, reflecting his commitment to giving back to communities that supported his rise.
His fashion sense and calm demeanor have also made him a marketable figure. Major brands continue to seek partnerships, adding to his growing influence beyond basketball.
Competition for MVP Was Fierce
While Gilgeous-Alexander ultimately prevailed, the race was competitive. Nikola Jokić put together another exceptional season for the Nuggets, nearly averaging a triple-double while carrying Denver through injuries. Luka Dončić led the Mavericks with his unique brand of scoring and playmaking, though Dallas fell short of the top seed.
Other strong candidates included Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum and Anthony Edwards. The breadth of talent made Gilgeous-Alexander’s repeat even more impressive, as voters recognized his combination of individual excellence and team success.
What’s Next for Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder
With the regular season complete, attention turns to the playoffs. The Thunder enter as clear favorites in the Western Conference, though challenges from teams like the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks await. Gilgeous-Alexander will look to translate regular-season dominance into postseason success, something that has eluded him in previous years.
A deep playoff run could solidify his place among the all-time greats and potentially lead to his first NBA championship. For the Thunder organization, this MVP award validates years of patient rebuilding and smart roster construction.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s repeat also boosts Canada’s growing presence in the NBA. As one of the league’s brightest stars from north of the border, he continues to inspire young players across his home country and expand basketball’s global footprint.
As the 2026 playoffs begin, all eyes will be on Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder. His back-to-back MVP honors mark him as the face of the league’s new generation, a player capable of carrying a franchise and captivating fans with his skill, poise and competitive fire.
The basketball world celebrates another worthy MVP while preparing for what promises to be an exciting postseason. For Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the journey continues — from Canadian prospect to NBA superstar, now chasing the ultimate prize with the league’s top team at his side.
Business
Opinion: Mergers must deliver a better system
OPINION: Any discussions about university mergers should step back and look at the big picture.
Business
monday.com Shares Rise Sharply as Work Management Platform Benefits from Enterprise Adoption
NEW YORK — Shares of monday.com Ltd. advanced more than 7 percent Tuesday morning, trading around $77.59 as investors responded to the company’s strong positioning in the collaborative work management space and growing integration of artificial intelligence capabilities.
The Tel Aviv-based software provider, known for its flexible platform used by teams to manage projects, workflows and operations, has seen increased interest from enterprises seeking digital transformation tools. monday.com’s no-code interface allows customization without extensive programming expertise, appealing to departments across organizations.
Tuesday’s gain reflected broader positive sentiment in software stocks demonstrating resilience and growth potential. monday.com has reported consistent revenue expansion, driven by customer additions and higher spending from existing users.
The platform supports various use cases, from marketing campaigns to software development and human resources processes. Its visual boards, automation features and reporting tools streamline operations, helping companies improve efficiency and visibility.
Artificial intelligence additions have enhanced the product’s appeal. Features that suggest workflows, summarize updates and predict bottlenecks provide value for busy teams. These capabilities position monday.com within the expanding market for AI-assisted productivity software.
Enterprise adoption remains a key growth driver. Large organizations appreciate the platform’s scalability, security features and integration with other business tools. monday.com has expanded its customer base across industries including technology, finance, healthcare and manufacturing.
Financial performance has shown improvement with revenue growth and focus on operational efficiency. The company has emphasized disciplined spending while investing in product development and sales capabilities.
Analysts highlight monday.com’s net retention rates as evidence of customer satisfaction. Existing users often expand usage over time, contributing to predictable revenue streams characteristic of successful software-as-a-service models.
Tuesday’s trading occurred amid selective buying in technology. While some segments faced pressure, productivity and collaboration tools attracted capital from investors seeking defensive growth.
monday.com’s leadership has prioritized user experience and rapid iteration. Regular updates and community feedback loops help maintain relevance in a competitive landscape.
The platform’s flexibility distinguishes it from rigid enterprise software. Teams can adapt templates to specific needs without vendor lock-in, fostering loyalty and reducing churn.
International markets offer expansion potential. monday.com has localized features and compliance support for global operations, targeting opportunities in Europe, Asia and Latin America.
Competitive dynamics include established project management providers and emerging no-code platforms. monday.com’s visual approach and extensive template library provide differentiation.
Tuesday’s share price movement around $77.59 marked a notable intraday advance. Volume was healthy as market participants reacted to sector trends and company-specific developments.
Longer-term, monday.com aims to broaden its footprint through education, small business outreach and deeper enterprise penetration. Potential acquisitions or partnerships could accelerate growth.
The work management software market benefits from digitalization trends. As hybrid work persists, tools facilitating remote collaboration gain strategic importance.
Investor interest focuses on path to sustained profitability and cash flow generation. monday.com’s subscription model supports visibility, though competition requires ongoing innovation.
Broader economic factors, including corporate budgets and interest rates, influence software spending. monday.com’s value proposition around efficiency helps mitigate cyclical pressures.
The company’s culture emphasizes agility and customer centricity. This approach supports talent retention and product excellence in the technology sector.
As monday.com matures, attention turns to margin expansion and return on investment metrics. Balanced growth and profitability remain priorities for management.
Tuesday’s session contributed to positive momentum in select software names. monday.com’s performance highlighted demand for practical productivity solutions.
Market watchers will monitor upcoming results for updates on customer metrics and guidance. Execution on sales targets and product roadmap will shape investor confidence.
monday.com’s journey from startup to public company demonstrates successful scaling of a collaborative platform. Continued focus on user needs positions it for further market share gains.
The platform’s impact extends beyond individual teams to organization-wide transformation. Customers report improved transparency, accountability and speed in project delivery.
Artificial intelligence integration represents a significant opportunity. By embedding intelligent assistance, monday.com enhances usability without requiring specialized skills.
Global teams benefit from multilingual support and time zone accommodations. These features facilitate cross-border collaboration in multinational organizations.
Tuesday’s trading reflected investor optimism around execution. The percentage gain outpaced many peers, suggesting confidence in fundamentals.
Analysts maintain constructive outlooks citing market opportunity and competitive strengths. Price targets incorporate expectations for revenue scaling and margin improvement.
As monday.com advances its platform, focus remains on delivering measurable business outcomes for customers. Success in this area drives retention and expansion.
The software industry continues evolving with emphasis on integration, automation and intelligence. monday.com’s adaptability supports its role in this landscape.
Tuesday’s advance underscores market recognition of monday.com’s progress. The company’s trajectory reflects broader shifts toward digital collaboration and productivity enhancement.
Business
Ampco-Pittsburgh: A Tale Of Potential Value Unlock If Debts Are Managed
Ampco-Pittsburgh: A Tale Of Potential Value Unlock If Debts Are Managed
Business
Pump-and-dump operation: Sebi bans 221 entities for up to 7 years; Hanif Shekh fined Rs 10 cr
Mauria Udyog Ltd, 7NR Retail, Darjeeling Ropeway Company, GBL Industries, and Vishal Fabrics Ltd were the scrips manipulated by Shekh — the alleged mastermind in the case — and his conduit entities, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) said in the order passed on Tuesday.
In its 394-page final order, Sebi found that Shekh hatched a fraudulent scheme which entailed participation by over 200 seemingly disparate but intricately connected entities as ‘PV Influencers,’ ‘Collaborators’ or ‘Offloaders’ for transferring the unlawful gains to the promoters of the companies or entities controlled by him.
According to Sebi, the entities artificially inflated prices and trading volumes through synchronised trades, circulated bulk SMS recommendations to lure unaware investors and later offloaded at elevated prices.
These proceeds were routed through multiple conduit entities to conceal the ultimate beneficiaries, the regulator said.
“The fraudulent scheme unravelled in this matter, though not novel or unprecedented in its conception, was executed meticulously and on an almost industrial scale, involving 226 entities coming together to play their designated roles across five different scripts,” Sebi’s Whole Time Member Amarjeet Singh said in the order.
Singh added that the labyrinthine structure of fund transfers unearthed in the investigation, evidently designed to obscure the identity of the ultimate beneficiaries.”These characteristics lend the scheme a distinctly aggravated dimension, taking it beyond the realm of routine market misconduct and into the territory that shakes investor confidence in the integrity of the securities market,” he said.
Sebi noted that the entities made unlawful gains totalled around Rs 143.79 crore through the scheme.
Accordingly, the markets watchdog restrained Hanif Shekh from accessing the securities market for seven years and imposed a penalty of Rs 10 crore. Five entities associated with Shekh have been debarred for six years and fined Rs 2 crore each.
The regulator also prohibited other noticees for a period of up to five years and levied a fine ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 1 crore.
Besides, Sebi ordered disgorgement of unlawful gains worth Rs 143.79 crore along with 12 per cent interest per annum calculated from October 21, 2020 till the date of payment of such disgorgement was made by the noticees (entities).
Sebi, through an interim order-cum show cause notice passed in June 2023, had prohibited Hanif Shekh and 225 other entities.
They were also directed by the markets watchdog to impound alleged unlawful gains worth Rs 143.79 crore for involvement in a scheme of price and volume manipulation of scrips of five companies.
Business
US blocks long-term renewal of North American trade deal
The US has declined to renew the landmark US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in its current form, according to a senior US official.
This decision means the trilateral trade pact will miss out on an automatic 16-year extension.
The official said the administration “chose not to rubber stamp a USMCA renewal without addressing existing issues,” and “the United States did not agree to renew the USMCA in its current form”.
If the countries fail to unanimously agree to renew the agreement, “it essentially sets a ten year shot lock to termination,” per the official.
Under the pact guidelines, each country must decide whether to renew the agreement for another 16-year term.
While the free trade deal remains in place for now, the lack of a long-term commitment creates fresh economic uncertainty across North America.
The agreement, which underpins around $2tn (£1.5tn ) in trade each year, is facing pressure over unresolved disputes. US trade officials are pushing for major changes before committing to a long-term extension.
Washington has consistently raised concerns over automotive rules of origin, dairy market access, and stopping third-party countries like China from exploiting the regional agreement.
Under the USMCA’s original terms, unanimous agreement on an extension would have seen the trade deal kept in place until 2042.
The US opting out will force the nations to meet every year to negotiate changes. Business groups across the continent had called for the pact to be extended. The decision also kicks off a ten-year countdown towards the deal expiring as early as 2036.
The US Chamber of Commerce had warned that sectors such as manufacturing and agriculture rely heavily on cross-border certainty.
However, US domestic trade groups such as the American Iron and Steel Institute and the Steel Manufacturers Association have welcomed the shift, arguing annual reviews give American negotiators leverage to fix parts of the deal.
The friction comes six years after the USMCA entered into force, replacing the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
It updated rules around digital trade, workers’ rights, and regional manufacturing, specifically requiring more vehicle parts to be made within North America.
Business
Sergey Brin exits the New York City real estate market before rent freeze
Steamfitters Local 638 president Brian Hunt discusses growing frustration among blue-collar union members with Democratic politicians and socialist policies on ‘The Bottom Line.’
Months before New York City approved a historic two-year rent freeze, Google co-founder Sergey Brin quietly exited a struggling real estate fund at a steep loss.
In December, Brin sold his stake back to A&E Real Estate, the fund’s manager, for six cents on the dollar, according to documents obtained by Bloomberg.
The fund holds 5,900 rent-stabilized apartments, with Brin’s stake being valued at roughly $79 million, a drop in the bucket when viewed next to his $280 billion net worth.
“A&E bought out one of our long-term investors, who was willing to accept six cents on the dollar on their original equity investment to divest itself from the New York City multifamily sector,” a company representative told Bloomberg in a statement.
SERGEY BRIN SPENDS $500K TO FIGHT TAX-TARGETING COMPANIES WITH HIGH-PAID EXECUTIVES

Sergey Brin at The 11th Breakthrough Prize Ceremony held at Barker Hanger on April 5, 2025, in Santa Monica, California. (Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images / Getty Images)
“The simple and deeply troubling fact for renters is that institutional capital – both equity investors and lenders – are fleeing New York City’s rent-stabilized apartment sector,” the A&E representative continued, according to Bloomberg. “They understand New York is in a doom loop.”
It is not clear how much Brin, 52, initially invested, what percentage of the fund he owned or how much A&E paid to recapture the billionaire’s stake.
Brin’s exodus from the New York City rental market came a month after Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor on a platform of freezing the rent for 1 million rent-stabilized units for the duration of his term.
SERGEY BRIN CONFRONTED GAVIN NEWSOM AT PARTY BEFORE DITCHING CALIFORNIA OVER BILLIONAIRE TAX

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks at a rally at a Manhattan union headquarters on June 25, 2026. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images / Getty Images)
Mamdani followed through on that promise last week, when the Rent Guidelines Board voted to cap rent increases at 0% for stabilized leases signed or renewed between Oct. 1, 2026, and Sept. 30, 2027. Mamdani appointed six of the nine current members to the board.
A&E Real Estate, one of the largest multifamily landlords in New York City, was struggling financially long before the latest rent freeze.
State legislation passed in 2019 imposed new restrictions that made it harder to raise rents. The pandemic hit in 2020, bringing with it a strict eviction ban that prevented landlords from removing tenants for non-payment.
SPENCER PRATT RIDES BIG TECH’S RIGHTWARD WAVE AS SERGEY BRIN OPENS WALLET

New York City skyline as viewed from Midtown Manhattan. (Bloomberg / Getty Images)
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A&E told Bloomberg that these factors contributed to operating costs jumping 78% in the last decade, which surpasses rent growth over the same period. A&E said it is owed $84 million in unpaid rent.
City leadership has also had their eye on A&E. In January, the firm settled with the city for $2.1 million to address tenant harassment and hazardous conditions in 14 buildings across Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens.
A&E said that it has invested more than $800 million to make capital improvements in its buildings, according to Bloomberg.
FOX Business reached out to A&E for further comment.
Business
Automakers report mixed U.S. sales results as hybrids drive growth
A view of a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid on display before the game between the Washington Nationals and the Tampa Bay Rays against the at Nationals Park on April 03, 2023 in Washington, DC. (
G Fiume | Getty Images
DETROIT — Second-quarter U.S. vehicle sales are turning into a tale of haves and have nots, as automakers that have hybrid models are outperforming those that don’t amid high gas prices and a decline in demand for all-electric vehicles.
Global hybrid leader Toyota Motor on Wednesday reported a 1.1% increase in its second-quarter sales, led by a roughly 20% increase in sales of electrified vehicles.
Hyundai Motor, up 4% during the last quarter, reported a 67% increase in hybrids during the first half of the year, while Honda Motor reported that record electrified sales helped it notch an 8.4% increase in overall sales during the second quarter. Kia, up about 3%, also reported a 152% increase in hybrid sales during the second quarter.
“Hybrids are definitely our growth engine right now,” Hyundai and Genesis North America CEO Randy Parker said Wednesday during a call. “Hybrids are really, really taking off right now as consumers, I think, are prioritizing fuel efficiency and lower operating costs due to high gas prices.”
Gas prices are up more than 20% from the same period last year, according to AAA.
Meanwhile, General Motors, which offers a broad EV lineup but only one hybrid, a low-volume Corvette, reported a 4.2% decline in second quarter sales.
The juxtaposition of hybrids between GM, the top-selling automaker in the U.S., and No. 2 Toyota caused Cox Automotive last week to note that the Japanese automaker is closing its gap in sales with the Detroit carmaker.
“At these rates, and what we’re seeing right now in the selling rates, GM may be looking over their shoulder here when we get to the year’s end, that Toyota could potentially overtake them as the top selling manufacturer here in the U.S. market,” Charlie Chesbrough, senior economist and senior director of industry insights at Cox Automotive, said during a media event.
Cox Automotive and J.D. Power expect second-quarter sales to be roughly level compared with a year earlier. Cox forecast industry sales to be off 0.5%, while JDP expected a 0.7% increase in vehicles sold.

Non-hybrids
Outliers in the second quarter include Chrysler parent Stellantis, which was up 5.9%, and Nissan Motor, up 9.6%. Both offer limited electrified models, including hybrids and/or EVs, but are in the midst of sales-focused turnaround plans.
“At a time when customers are focused on maximizing the value of every dollar they spend, our lineup is delivering with strong quality, capability and the right mix of products,” Tiago Castro, Nissan Americas senior vice president of sales and marketing, said Wednesday in a release.
Having the right mix of products is key for automakers. Right now, aside from hybrids the right mix increasingly means having affordable vehicles, as many Americans grapple with inflation, high gas prices and other issues have been pushed out of the new vehicle market.
Expectations for U.S. new vehicle sales this year are relatively flat to down, according to several forecasts from analysts and companies.
Ford Motor, which reports sales results Thursday, also is expected to be an outlier. Cox Automotive expects the company, which has been grappling with lost pickup truck production, to be down 11.5% during the second quarter.
Cox also expects Tesla, which does not report regional sales, to be off more than 20% during the second quarter, as EV demand last year began to spike ahead of expectations of the Trump administration ending up to $7,500 in incentives for consumers to purchase an EV.
GM
GM said its EV sales during the second quarter were off 33% compared to last year.
Each of GM’s brands saw year-over-year sales declines during the second quarter, led by a 19.2% decline in Cadillac. Buick was down 7.5%, Chevrolet fell 3.9% and GMC reported a 0.3% decline.
Despite the declines, including its crucial Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, a GM executive described the company’s business as “performing well,” included remaining disciplined regarding sales incentives and highly profitable full-size pickup trucks.
“Our business is performing well, and customer demand is resilient, especially for our trucks and SUVs. The depth, breadth and appeal of our vehicle portfolio allows us to lead the market in sales, while maintaining discipline on inventory, pricing and incentives to deliver strong margins,” GM North America President Duncan Aldred said in a release.
GM said that despite a 7.7% decline in its Silverado pickups for the quarter, including a 25.9% drop for its electric truck, the company still expects to have gained market share in the full-size truck segment during the period.
Its GMC Sierra pickup trucks did better, with a 5% increase in sales, including double-digit increases for its electric and light-duty 1500 models amid tough comparisons. GM recorded its best combined sales of Silverado and Sierra full-size pickup trucks in 20 years in 2025, leading to a sixth straight year of leading that highly profitable U.S. segment.
Business
Pulisic and Balogun Reunite in Do-or-Die Knockout Match
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The United States men’s national team enters its most important match in more than two decades Wednesday night when it hosts Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32 at Levi’s Stadium, a win-or-go-home moment that represents the clearest opportunity this generation of American players has had to erase a 24-year drought without a World Cup knockout victory.

Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. Should they beat Bosnia, it would be only the second U.S. World Cup knockout win ever, after a 2-0 victory over Mexico in 2002.
The United States finished atop Group D with six points, comfortably booking their knockout spot with a 4-1 win over Paraguay and a 2-0 victory over Australia before rotating heavily for an inconsequential 3-2 loss to Turkey in the group finale. Mauricio Pochettino’s side has been one of the more dynamic attacking teams of the tournament’s opening phase, with their first two group matches alone producing six goals, and with the knockout stage now beginning, the full arsenal is available again.
Yellow cards have been wiped clean, meaning Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Chris Richards and Folarin Balogun are all available. Christian Pulisic also returns, while both Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson are rested and refreshed.
The most anticipated aspect of Wednesday’s lineup is the reunion of Pulisic and Balogun in the starting eleven together for the first time in any meaningful capacity at this tournament. Pulisic suffered a calf injury in the group stage, limiting him to 45 minutes against Paraguay and a half-hour substitute appearance against Turkey, while Balogun was deliberately rested for the Turkey match to avoid accumulating a yellow card that would have triggered a suspension in the knockout rounds. The two attackers appeared together for only 45 minutes across the group stage.
Pulisic told reporters on Tuesday that he is “feeling good.” The expectation is that he will start against Bosnia and Herzegovina and be the star this team needs to keep pushing through the World Cup.
Balogun called for the team’s big players to step forward, saying: “The knockout stage is the time when big players step forward, and the big players carry the pressure and make things happen.”
Balogun enters Wednesday having scored twice at the tournament so far and leads the American scoring charts heading into the knockout rounds. The Monaco striker’s movement off the ball and ability to time runs in behind central defenders has been a consistent threat across the group stage, and with Pulisic now fully available to operate in the left half-space and drive at opponents, the combination gives Pochettino’s attack a dimension that was absent during the injury-affected group stage.
The predicted U.S. lineup in a 4-2-3-1 formation places Balogun leading the line, Pulisic and Dest wide, McKennie advanced and Adams screening alongside Tillman. The defensive unit features Freeman, Richards, Ream and Robinson across the back line.
The tactical identity Pochettino has established centers on the right side of the field, where Alex Freeman, Sergino Dest and McKennie have created consistent overloads that have proved difficult for opponents to handle. Freeman, one of the tournament’s breakout performers, has already established himself as one of the more surprising individual stories of the competition, showcasing a combination of defensive discipline and attacking instinct along the right flank that few observers had fully anticipated heading into the tournament.
Bosnia-Herzegovina arrive in Santa Clara having qualified for the knockout rounds for the first time in the nation’s history as an independent football-playing nation, an achievement that head coach Sergej Barbarez and his squad have every reason to celebrate even before kickoff. Their group stage record was uneven, with a 1-1 draw against Canada followed by a 4-1 hammering at the hands of Switzerland and then a 3-1 victory over Qatar securing their third-place passage as one of the eight best third-placed finishers across the 12 groups.
Bosnia and Herzegovina have never kept a clean sheet in their six World Cup matches — no side has ever played more at the finals without one. But Bosnia’s strength lies in its physicality, with the squad the tallest at the tournament with an average height of 1.85 meters. They have made good use of that towering presence, scoring three goals from corners.
Captaining Bosnia is 40-year-old striker Edin Dzeko, widely regarded as the greatest player in the country’s football history with 73 international goals. USA captain Tim Ream said his team are wary of the Balkan nation’s talent, especially after they knocked out four-time world champions Italy in the World Cup qualifiers.
One player to watch particularly closely on the Bosnian side is 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic, the RB Salzburg winger who started two of Bosnia’s three group stage matches and whose pace and creativity represent Bosnia’s primary threat in transition. Ermedin Demirovic, who scored 12 Bundesliga goals for Stuttgart this past season, will start up front alongside Dzeko, giving Bosnia a physical and productive partnership capable of testing the American central defenders in both open play and on set pieces.
Opta’s supercomputer calculated a 67.5% chance of USA winning and a 76.6% chance of the Americans progressing via any method, including penalties. The second-most likely result was a draw at 18.3%, followed by a Bosnia win in 14.3% of simulations.
Betting markets reflect that advantage. The USMNT are installed as -650 favorites to advance, meaning a $650 bet returns $100, while Bosnia are listed at +430. The over/under for total goals in regulation is set at 2.5, with the over priced at -138, consistent with a tournament in which the U.S. and Bosnia’s combined group stage matches produced 23 total goals.
The winner advances to the Round of 16 on Monday, July 6 in Seattle, where they will face either Belgium or Senegal following Wednesday’s later match at Lumen Field in that city.
Business
Container expansion worth more than 10c
Opinion: The opening of the Containers for Change scheme to wine and spirits is a significant moment for employment opportunities in Western Australia.
Business
Harbor Multi-Asset Explorer ETF Q1 2026 Commentary
rawintanpin/iStock via Getty Images

Manager Commentary
As of 03/31/2026
“Relative to the end of last year, our assessment of the macro backdrop has become more cautious, as higher energy prices, tighter liquidity conditions, and rising inflation pressures have created a more challenging environment
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