As the 2026 FIFA World Cup creeps closer, fans across the world are expected to be watching one of the game’s most iconic players. 

And Lowe’s is making sure Lionel Messi remains front and center during this year’s tournament. 

Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, is expected to be in contention for Argentina’s 2026 World Cup squad as the defending champions look to repeat.

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A 10-foot Lionel Messi inflatable by Lowe’s comes ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.  (Lowe’s / Fox News)

This is confirmed to be Messi’s final World Cup, as the 38-year-old, who also stars for Inter Miami CF in MLS, confirmed that to be the case leading up to the tournament. 

But while fans anticipate watching Messi, Lowe’s collaborated with the soccer legend on a new campaign ahead of the World Cup. And it involves a 10-foot-tall lighted outdoor inflatable version of Messi.

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Lowe’s is rewarding its MyLowe’s Rewards and My Lowe’s Pro Rewards members with “Epically More Messi,” a new campaign designed to bring the brand’s most loyal fans closer to the game and to the person many consider to be one of the greatest players of all time.

To do so, Lowe’s released a limited-edition, 10-foot inflatable Messi, who is decked out in a Lowe’s soccer kit and even features details like his tattoos. Talk about a larger-than-life way to show off passion for the game and one of its greats. 

Lionel Messi kicks soccer ball in front of his 10-foot inflatable version of himself alongside Lowe’s (Lowe’s / Fox News)

“Soccer fandom is rooted in passion, pride and showing up in an EPIC way,” said Jen Wilson, Lowe’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer, in a press release. “With ‘Epically More Messi,’ we’re creating new ways to bring our most passionate and loyal Lowe’s fans more rewards – in this case, access to limited-edition merchandise, epic Messi drops over social and more.”

The inflatable, which goes for $99, can be purchased through a members-only access experience beginning on May 18 on Lowe’s site. It will also be available across the 11 U.S. host cities starting on May 20. 

The Messi inflatable has already been seen across host sites in Atlanta (Piedmont Park), Dallas (Klyde Warren Park), Miami (Nu Stadium at Miami Freedom Park) and New York (Seaport District). 

Lowe’s is also giving their members the chance to engage with exclusive content as well as Messi giveaways for the World Cup. There will also be a social-first fan experience that will appear, featuring Messi, soccer insider Fabrizio Romano and ESPN personality Katie Feeney. 

An image of a 10-foot Lionel Messi inflatable in front of a soccer goal.  (Lowe’s / Fox News)

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Finally, Lowe’s brought back the father-son broadcasting duo of Andres and Nico Cantor as official campaign partners. 

“Soccer fandom in the U.S. is at an all-time high, and a legend like Lionel Messi can bring communities together in powerful ways,” said soccer broadcasting icon Andres Cantor. “With ‘Epically More Messi,’ Lowe’s is creating experiences that meet fans where they are – at home and at their neighborhood fields where many soccer dreams begin.”

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By Jennifer Nash

Builder confidence posted a modest gain in May despite persistent affordability challenges and economic uncertainty. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Housing Market Index (HMI) rose 3 points from April to 37 this month, marking the

Brent futures for July delivery fell $3.01, or 2.7%, to $109.09 a barrel as of 0001 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude for June delivery fell $1.38, or 1.3%, to $107.28. The two benchmarks ‌had hit their ⁠highest levels ⁠since May 5 and April 30, respectively, in the previous session.

The June WTI contract expires on Tuesday, while the most active July contract fell $2.06, or 2%, to $102.32 per barrel.

Trump said on Monday there was a “very good chance” the United States could reach an agreement with Iran to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, hours after announcing the pause in military action to allow talks.

“While Trump’s signal has eased some immediate pressure, the fundamental risks persist … The market is now ⁠watching whether ‌Trump’s comments represent a genuine shift toward de-escalation or just a tactical pause,” said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade.

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“Also, how Iran responds to the ⁠latest developments, and what’s actually happening on the water with tanker movements through the Strait of Hormuz are key determinants of where oil prices head to from here.”
The Middle East conflict has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that carries about a fifth of global oil supply, raising concerns over supply disruptions. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed on Monday that Tehran’s position had been conveyed to the U.S. via Pakistan but provided no further details.

A Pakistani official, speaking on condition of anonymity, ‌said Islamabad had relayed a new proposal between the two sides but noted slow progress.

Meanwhile, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Washington had agreed to waive sanctions on Tehran’s oil exports during ⁠negotiations, but a U.S. official denied the claim.

Separately, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent extended a sanctions waiver by 30 days to allow “energy-vulnerable” countries to continue purchasing Russian seaborne oil.

In the U.S., a record 9.9 million barrels were drawn from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve last week, Energy Department data showed, bringing stockpiles down to about 374 million barrels, the lowest since July 2024.

International Energy Agency head Fatih Birol said commercial oil inventories were falling rapidly, with only a few weeks of supply left due to the conflict and disruption to shipping.

A Texas Chick-fil-A franchise operator is facing a federal lawsuit over allegations that it refused to accommodate an employee’s religious beliefs before ultimately firing her.

According to a complaint filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and obtained by FOX Business, Hatch Trick, Inc. — which operates several Chick-fil-A restaurants in the Austin area — allegedly discriminated against employee Laurel Torode, whose faith prohibits her from working on Saturdays.

Torode, a member of the United Church of God, reportedly disclosed during her interview that she observes the Sabbath from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday. 

The EEOC said the company initially accommodated her request while she worked as a manager overseeing delivery drivers at one Austin-area location.

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A Texas Chick-fil-A franchise operator is being sued by the EEOC for allegedly refusing to accommodate an employee’s Sabbath observance before firing her. The employee, Laurel Torode, said her faith bars her from working from sunset Friday to sunset (Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images / Getty Images)

That arrangement allegedly changed several months later.

“In early February 2024, Defendant told Torode that going forward it would require her to work on Saturdays, to include the period in which she observes the Sabbath,” as noted in the complaint.

According to the lawsuit, Torode sought accommodations and met with company officials to discuss alternatives that would allow her to remain in her management role while continuing to observe her Sabbath.

Instead, the company allegedly told her she would need to accept a lower-level delivery driver position with reduced pay, fewer hours and diminished benefits if she wanted to avoid Saturday shifts.

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Laurel Torode, a United Church of God member, said she disclosed during her interview that she could not work from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

When Torode declined the position, Hatch Trick terminated her employment, according to the EEOC.

The EEOC alleges the company violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which requires employers to reasonably accommodate employees’ religious beliefs unless doing so would create an undue hardship.

“The duty under federal law to provide reasonable accommodation of religion reflects an acknowledgment by our society of the importance of faith in workers’ everyday lives and an abiding respect for those who observe religious practices as an expression of that faith,” acting EEOC Dallas Regional Attorney Ronald L. Phillips said in a statement.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Austin after the EEOC said efforts to resolve the dispute failed.

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The employee says she was told to accept a lower-paying delivery driver role to avoid Saturday shifts, then was terminated when she declined. (Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images / Getty Images)

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The case has sparked attention because Chick-fil-A is famously closed on Sundays, a policy the company says was established by founder S. Truett Cathy in 1946, so employees could “rest, enjoy time with their families and loved ones or worship if they choose.”

Chick-fil-A declined to comment on the lawsuit, but told FOX Business that “as a franchise business, all employment decisions are solely the responsibility of each individual restaurant owner.”

Hatch Trick Inc. and the EEOC could not immediately be reached by FOX Business for comment.

CLEVELAND — Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points as the Cavaliers routed the Pistons 125-94 in Game 7 on Sunday night in Detroit, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2018.

The Cavaliers controlled the game from the opening minutes and never allowed Detroit to establish rhythm or confidence. Cleveland’s pace, shot-making and defensive pressure set the tone early, and once the visitors built separation, the outcome quickly shifted from a tense Game 7 to a one-sided finish. The margin reflected not only Cleveland’s offensive execution, but also the discipline and physicality that defined its best stretches throughout the series.

Mitchell provided the headline performance, but the win was a true team effort. Cleveland moved the ball with purpose, created clean looks and repeatedly punished Detroit’s defensive breakdowns. The Cavaliers also won the hustle battle, used their size effectively around the rim and forced the Pistons into rushed possessions. By the second half, Cleveland was in full control, and the game became a showcase for the depth and maturity that have carried the club through this postseason run.

Detroit entered the night with momentum and belief after extending the series to a decisive seventh game, but the Pistons could not match Cleveland’s intensity once the Cavaliers found their footing. The Pistons were competitive early, yet the game gradually slipped away as Cleveland tightened defensively and kept finding answers on offense. Every time Detroit appeared ready to make a push, the Cavaliers responded with a basket, a stop or an extra possession that slowed the comeback attempt.

The victory sends Cleveland into the East finals with real confidence and a growing sense that this group can withstand the pressure of playoff basketball. Mitchell again served as the primary engine, but the Cavaliers’ success came from a broader formula: a steady backcourt, strong interior play, defensive versatility and a bench that supplied useful minutes. Those ingredients have made Cleveland difficult to solve when the stakes are highest, and they were all on display in the decisive closeout win.

For the Pistons, the defeat was painful but not empty. This series gave a young roster a valuable taste of high-level playoff basketball, and the experience should matter moving forward. Detroit showed toughness and resilience in extending the matchup to seven games, but Game 7 exposed the gap between a developing team and one that is ready to take the next step. The Pistons will leave the postseason with lessons about consistency, execution and the demands of closing out a series.

Cleveland’s performance was especially notable because Game 7s often produce tight, possession-by-possession battles. Instead, the Cavaliers made the contest look nearly routine after the first quarter. Their offense flowed with confidence, their defense limited easy looks and their rebounding prevented Detroit from generating second-chance opportunities. That combination turned a pressure-filled elimination game into one of the most lopsided finishes of the NBA postseason.

Mitchell’s 26 points underscored why Cleveland has leaned on him in big moments. He gave the Cavaliers a reliable scoring presence, attacked with control and helped keep the offense organized whenever Detroit tried to make adjustments. His production reflected both individual talent and the benefit of playing within a system that gave him space to operate. When Mitchell was aggressive, Cleveland’s attack opened up; when he drew attention, his teammates benefited from the attention he commanded.

Just as important, Cleveland did not depend on one player alone. The Cavaliers found scoring from multiple spots, which made it difficult for Detroit to focus on any single threat. That balance is one of the reasons Cleveland looked so composed throughout the night. In a postseason setting, where defenses are designed to take away first options and force difficult decisions, having multiple dependable contributors can decide a series. The Cavaliers showed that kind of flexibility in Game 7.

Defensively, Cleveland’s effort was the defining factor. The Cavaliers contested shots, disrupted passing lanes and made Detroit work for nearly every clean look. The Pistons struggled to find the same offensive comfort they had earlier in the series, and the Cavaliers’ pressure created a sense of inevitability as the game moved along. Once Cleveland established control, Detroit’s attempts to speed up the pace or force mistakes no longer changed the shape of the night.

The setting only amplified the significance of the result. A Game 7 carries its own tension, and both teams entered knowing the season would end for one side in the harshest possible way. Cleveland handled that environment far better. Rather than playing tight, the Cavaliers looked organized and composed, which is often the difference in elimination games. Their ability to stay steady after the opening moments suggested a team that has learned from earlier playoff disappointments.

This win also represents a meaningful milestone for the franchise. Returning to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2018 marks a clear step forward for a team that has spent recent seasons trying to reestablish itself among the conference’s best. The Cavaliers have built around star power, depth and defensive accountability, and this series showed how those pieces can translate into postseason success. The next round will present a tougher challenge, but Cleveland has earned the right to believe it belongs on that stage.

Detroit, meanwhile, should take encouragement from how far it pushed the series. The Pistons were not overwhelmed by the moment until late in Game 7, and that resilience says something about the team’s trajectory. Even in defeat, there were signs of progress: competitive stretches, young players gaining experience and a fan base getting a glimpse of what the future could become. The loss hurts, but it does not erase the steps forward that Detroit made this spring.

By the final minutes, the game had become a celebration for Cleveland and a lesson for Detroit. The Cavaliers had turned a difficult road environment into a statement win, while the Pistons were left to absorb the sting of a season-ending defeat. In playoff basketball, Game 7s can define a team’s identity, and Cleveland’s identity in this one was clear: prepared, balanced and relentless.

For the Cavaliers, the journey continues, and the expectations will rise with every round. For one night, though, they delivered a complete performance in the most important game of the series, and the final score told the story. Cleveland was sharper, stronger and more composed from start to finish, and that was more than enough to send the Cavaliers on to the East finals.

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