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šØ HEADLINES
šĀ Landmark decision: The NCAA Division I CabinetĀ has unanimously approvedĀ an age-based, five-year eligibility model to replace the existing structure that has no age restrictions. The historic change, set to take effect in 2027, will see athletes’ eligibility clocks start either when they enroll or after their 19th birthday (whichever comes first).
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šĀ Sorsby saga update: The NFL delivered a scathing lesson in accountability on Tuesday by denying Brendan Sorsby’s request to hold a Supplemental Draft. The 22-year-old, who admitted to betting on his own team and will no longer be playing for Texas Tech this fall, may still enter the standard 2027 NFL Draft.
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šĀ Coaching carousel complete: The Trail Blazers have hired longtime Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori as their next head coach, filling the NBA’s last remaining vacancy.
šĀ Ditto: The NHL’s last remaining vacancy was also filled on Tuesday when the Oilers hired Mike Babcock, who last coached in the NHL in 2019.
ā¾ļø What a turnaround: The first-place White Sox improved to 41-37 with Tuesday’s win over the Guardians, matching their entire win total from just two years ago when they set the modern MLB record for losses in a season (41-121).
BYU’s AJ Dybantsa was selected No. 1 overall by the Wizards on Tuesday night in Brooklyn, where nearly every team earned top marks for their selections in the first round of an absolutely loaded NBA Draft.
Top 4: Any of these freshman uber-prospects could have reasonably gone No. 1 in most years, so Washington, Utah, Memphis and Chicago should all be thrilled with the young men who are about to join their ranks.
Dybantsa (Wizards): The 6-foot-9 athletic freak and scoring machine (he led the NCAA with 25.5 points per game last season) gives Washington someone who could become one of the NBA’s most unstoppable shot-creators, and someone who should slot in nicely alongside veteran All-Stars Trae Young and Anthony Davis.
Darryn Peterson (Jazz): The 6-foot-5 guard out of Kansas is a buttery-smooth scorer and dynamic playmaker who can shine with or without the ball, and his 6-foot-11 wingspan makes him a high-impact defender, to boot. Utah got a potential superstar as long as he can avoid the cramping issue that hindered his otherwise sensational season in Lawrence.
Cameron Boozer (Grizzlies): The most polished player in the class and reigning POY out of Duke made this an incredibly easy choice for Memphis, who get a 6-foot-8 forward that can score from the post with both footwork and power. Plus, second-generation players like him historically outperform their draft slot expectations by 26%.
Caleb Wilson (Bulls): The most gifted athlete in the draft class is 6-foot-9 with springs for legs, and when the North Carolina big is flying above the rim, finishing through contact, and chasing down every shot, he looks like a future franchise cornerstone. That sort of defensive anchor with offensive upside is exactly what the Bulls need in the frontcourt.
Next up: Those four freshman at the top were followed by four freshman guards who went in succession, as the Clippers got Illinois’ Keaton Wagler, the Nets got Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr., the Kings got Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr., and the Hawks got Houston’s Kingston Flemings.
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Consider this: 11 of the 14 lottery picks were freshmen, while the other three were transfers ā all of whom won the national championship with Michigan. Morez Johnson Jr. went ninth to the Mavericks (where he’ll reunite with Dusty May), Yaxel Lendeborg went 11th to the Warriors and Aday Mara went 12th to the Thunder.
(Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports)
The Swoosh strikes again: Dybantsa’s selection made him the 12th Nike athlete in the last 20 years to go No. 1 overall, or 14th if you include the Nike-owned Jordan Brand. His addition adds young dynamism to an evolving men’s basketball roster at Nike, where the future is in uncertain hands.
The top of the roster is aging, as LeBron James and Kevin Durant ā on the 23rd and 19th iterations of their signature shoes, respectively ā near the end of their playing careers.
Nike added reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as a signature athlete last week, plucking him from Nike-owned Converse to fortify its collection of prime-aged players.
Ja Morant and Cade Cunningham headline the tier below SGA, but the former’s play has taken a step back, while the latter’s marketability remains a source of skepticism.
Further complicating matters? The presumed face of the next generation, Victor Wembanyama, is an impending sneaker free agent, per Shams Charania. Depending on the Frenchman’s decision, Dybantsa could have size 22 shoes to fill.
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ā½ļø RONALDO JOINS THE PARTY
Siuuu. (Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images)
With his fading abilities the subject of question marks and jeers, Cristiano Ronaldo had to watch as his chief rival chased and achieved tournament history through the World Cup’s early stages. On Tuesday, the Portuguese icon made history of his own.
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Two decorated decades: Ronaldo scored two first-half goals in Portugal’s 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan, adding to the parade of superstar braces that began on Monday.
His first, a characteristically clinical finish in the match’s sixth minute, made him the first player to score in six World Cups ā a feat that it’s hard to imagine anyone ever matching (Lionel Messi was shut out in the 2010 edition).
His second, carefully slotted past the keeper in the 39th minute, made him the oldest player ever with a multi-goal game in the tournament (41 years, 138 days), breaking the record set by Messi twice in the past week (38 years, 363 days).
More from Tuesday: England and Ghana played to a scoreless draw as the Black Stars joined Mexico, Spain and Argentina as the only teams who have yet to allow a goal; Croatia dismissed Panama from the tournament in a nervy 1-0 win; Colombia booked their trip to the Round of 32, beating DR Congo 1-0.
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(Bruno Rouby/Yahoo Sports)
Where it stands: With every team having now played two of their three group stage games, the knockout round picture is beginning to come into focus.
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Advanced: Mexico, United States, Germany, Argentina, France, Norway, Colombia
Eliminated: Haiti, Turkey, Tunisia, Jordan, Panama
Everything to play for: 36 teams (75% of the field) still have hope of advancing out of the group stage. And though such widespread uncertainty at this juncture is nothing new, the heavy proportion of those teams who will eventually secure passage into the knockouts is.
In 2022, 27 of 32 teams (84%) came into Matchday No. 3 facing an uncertain outcome. However, only 13 of those nations (48%) would ultimately advance.
In this year’s edition ā where the top-eight third-place teams will advance alongside the top two teams in each group ā those 36 teams are vying for 25 remaining positions, ensuring that more than two-thirds of them will fight on past the group stage.
ā³ļø THE PGA TOUR INTRODUCES PROMOTION AND RELEGATION
PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp ā set to take over as commissioner next year ā in March before the Players Championship. (Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
The PGA Tour unveiled a radical new competitive model on Tuesday, featuring a series of changes that will be more substantial than any in the Tour’s half-century-long history.
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Champions and Challengers: Beginning in 2028, the Tour will operate on two tracks ā the Championship and Challenger Series ā which will run concurrently from February through August and include a promotion/relegation system.
Championship: The top golfers’ slate includes a baseline of 15 regular-season events, each with about 120 golfers, a 36-hole cut and at least a $20 million purse. Their remaining schedule is filled out with the four majors, The Players Championship, the playoffs and an annual international team event (Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup).
Challenger: Larger fields of about 144 golfers will compete in at least 20 events, each with a minimum purse of $4 million. Of note: The exact criteria for which players will slot into each Series has yet to be determined, but to be clear, this is distinct from the Korn Ferry Tour; these will be PGA Tour golfers.
Promotion/relegation: The top 20 players in the season-long Challenger standings will be promoted to the Championship, with immediate promotion available to anyone who wins either two events or a major. The top 90 Championship players (at least) will remain on that track, while the remaining ~40 will be eligible for relegation. In the fall, several “last-chance” events will give fringe players an opportunity to play their way into the Championship.
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Plus: The postseason will be revamped to include match play, and will be contested across a rotation of courses. Further details will be revealed at the Tour Championship in August.
šŗ WATCHLIST: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24
(Yahoo Sports)
ā½ļø World Cup, Day 14
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You thought four games a day was fun? Let’s try six. First up is Canada vs. Switzerland in Vancouver (3pm ET, Fox) and Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar in Seattle(3pm, FS1). Then it’s Scotland vs. Brazil in Miami (6pm, Fox) and Morocco vs. Haiti in Atlanta (6pm, FS1) followed by Mexico vs. Czechia in Mexico City (9pm, Fox) and South Korea vs. South Africa in Guadalupe (9pm, FS1).
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Host nation bump: Mexico has already clinched Group A, while Canada has all but assured its first-ever trip to the World Cup knockout round. They’ll clinch Group B with either a win or draw against the Swiss.
šĀ NBA Draft, Day 2
30 more prospects will be selected tonight in Brooklyn (8pm, ESPN) on the second and final day of the NBA Draft.
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Still on the board: Meleek Thomas (Arkansas), Henri Veesaar (UNC), Richie Saunders (BYU) and Isaiah Evans (Duke) headline our best players still available.
More to watch:
ā¾ļø MLB: Yankees at Tigers (6:40pm Prime) ā¦ Tarik Skubal makes his third start since returning (incredibly quickly) from a groundbreaking new procedure to remove bone chips from his elbow.
šĀ WNBA: Mercury at Fever (7:30pm, USA); Dream at Valkyries (10pm, USA) ā¦ Five of the top 11 scorers take the floor in Indiana’s Caitlin Clark (21.3) and Kelsey Mitchell (20.9), Atlanta’s Allisha Gray (19.5) and Rhyne Howard (19.1) and Phoenix’s Kahleah Copper (19.2).
Got plans tonight?Ā GametimeĀ is the best place to score last-minute tickets to the events in your city.Ā Get tickets now!
š NFL TRIVIA
A portrait of the Oorang Indians, one of 18 teams to play in the 1922 NFL season. (Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images)
104 years ago today, the NFL got its modern name, rebranding to the National Football League before its third season kicked off in the fall of 1922.
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Question: What was the league’s original name from its founding in 1920?
A) American League of Professional Football
B) American Professional Football Association
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C) All-America Football Conference
D) Association of Professional Football
Answer at the bottom.
š£ LAUNCH DAY IS HERE!
Yahoo Sports Biz, our new sports business newsletter authored by Dylan Dittrich, launches today!
What to expect: Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Dylan and the rest of our growing newsletter team will break down the deals, dollars and decisions shaping your favorite sports.
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Trivia answer: B) American Professional Football Association
We hope you enjoyed this edition of Yahoo Sports AM, our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.
For most of modern World Cup history, conversations about potential champions have started with the same familiar names: Brazil, Germany, Argentina, Italy, France and Spain. The United States rarely entered that discussion.
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Yet as the 2026 FIFA World Cup reaches its second week, the mood around the US men’s national team is changing rapidly. After back-to-back group-stage victories and qualification for the Round of 32, what initially felt like optimism has begun evolving into belief.
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The question is no longer whether the United States can have a successful tournament. The question many fans are beginning to ask is far bigger: Can the hosts actually win the World Cup?
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A Nation Starting To Believe
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The scenes following the USA’s 2-0 victory over Australia in Seattle captured the growing excitement around the team.
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Thousands of supporters remained inside the stadium singing “Take Me Home, Country Roads” long after the final whistle. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino walked toward the tunnel before turning back to engage with the crowd, leading chants of “U-S-A” as the stadium erupted.
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For the first time since 1930, the United States won its opening two World Cup group matches.
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That achievement alone has transformed the mood surrounding a team that spent much of the last four years battling criticism and inconsistency.
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“We need to keep believing,” Pochettino said after the win. Midfielder Weston McKennie echoed the sentiment. “America is built on belief. We will always believe in ourselves and believe in each other.” he said.
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The United States has not simply collected six points. It has controlled games, defended confidently and shown a level of maturity that many felt had been missing from this so-called “golden generation.”Ā ALSO READ:Ā FIFA WC 2026: England, Ghana lead RO32 qualification race in Group LĀ
South Korea finished in Fourth place and Japan in the Round of 16
2006
Germany
Third place
2010
South Africa
Group stage
2014
Brazil
Fourth place
2018
Russia
Quarter-finals
2022
Qartar
Group stage
2026
Mexico, United States and Canada
To be determined
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The Home Advantage Factor
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History suggests that hosting a World Cup can provide a significant boost.
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The energy generated by home crowds, familiar environments and national momentum has repeatedly helped host nations outperform expectations.
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Only six hosts have won the World Cup, but many others have produced memorable runs deep into the tournament.
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Only South Africa and Qatar failed to advance beyond the group stage.
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The overwhelming trend is clear: host nations almost always become more competitive.
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Why This USA Team Feels Different?
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Unlike previous American teams, this squad enters the tournament with players performing regularly at elite European clubs.
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The core includes Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Gio Reyna, Folarin Balogun, Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson. More importantly, they are finally producing performances that match their potential.
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Against Australia, the Americans controlled possession, created chances and rarely looked threatened. Former Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic even offered a bold assessment when asked if the United States could win the tournament.
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“Yes.” Coming from one of football’s biggest personalities, it was a statement that immediately grabbed headlines.
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The Reality Check
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For all the excitement, winning the World Cup remains an enormous challenge. Only eight countries have ever lifted the trophy.
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The United States has never reached a World Cup semi-final in the modern era. Since 1930, it has won just one knockout match. The road ahead could include encounters with global powers such as Spain, France, Belgium or Argentina.
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Those nations possess deeper squads, greater tournament pedigree and more proven match-winners. That reality cannot be ignored.
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Why The Dream Feels Possible
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What makes this tournament different is that the United States no longer looks overwhelmed by the occasion. The team is organized. The squad has depth. The atmosphere surrounding the tournament is energizing both players and supporters.
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Most importantly, the Americans have placed themselves in a favourable position to potentially remain on home soil for the early knockout rounds, where crowd support could become a genuine advantage.
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Captain Tim Ream perhaps summed up the emotional significance of the moment after qualification was secured. “Maybe it’s knowing how much all of us have put into this and getting the rewards for that.”
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The Verdict
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Are the United States favourites to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup? No.
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Spain, France and Argentina remain the most complete teams in the tournament. But are they realistic contenders?
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For perhaps the first time in modern World Cup history, the answer is becoming increasingly difficult to dismiss. Host nations have a long history of exceeding expectations. The United States has already achieved something it had not done in 96 years.
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The World Cup is still young, and much tougher tests await. Yet across stadiums from Seattle to Dallas and beyond, a nation that once hoped merely to compete is beginning to dream much bigger.
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And history suggests that when a host nation starts believing, remarkable things can happen.
Johnny Gaudreau‘s sister, Katie Gaudreau-Joyce, has welcomed her first child and paid tribute to her late brother through her son’s name.
Katie announced on Instagram that she and her husband Devin Joyce welcomed a baby boy named Matthew Guy Joyce on Saturday, June 20. The newborn’s middle name, Guy, is the same middle name Johnny Gaudreau used throughout his hockey career.
“The moment our hearts grew bigger than we ever imagined. Welcome to the world, sweet boy,” Katie wrote alongside photos of her son.
Screenshots taken from Katie’s Instagram post
The birth comes less than two years after the deaths of Johnny and his younger brother Matthew Gaudreau.
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The brothers were killed on Aug. 29, 2024 after they were struck by an alleged drunk driver while riding bicycles in New Jersey. They had been in town for Katie’s wedding and were returning from her rehearsal dinner when the crash happened.
Katie and Devin postponed their wedding for nearly a year following the tragedy and were married in July 2025.
Johnny, known across the hockey world as “Johnny Hockey,” played 10 full seasons in the NHL. He spent his first eight years with the Calgary Flames before joining the Columbus Blue Jackets on a seven-year, $68 million contract in 2022.
Both Johnny and Matthew left behind young families. Johnny is survived by his wife, Meredith and their children, Noa and Johnny Jr., while Matthew’s wife Madeline gave birth to their son, Tripp after his death.
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The Gaudreau brothers’ bond left a lasting impact on their family
The Gaudreau family has often spoken about the close relationship Johnny and Matthew shared. During the brothers’ funeral in September 2024 their wives Meredith and Madeline Gaudreau, described them as inseparable both on and off the ice.
“Everything was always John and Matty,” Meredith said while speaking at the service. “I know John would not have been able to live a day without his brother.”
Meredith also shared that she was pregnant with the couple’s third child, calling the news a total surprise.
“John was beaming and so excited,” she said. “His reaction was just immediately kissing me and hugging me.”
Madeline similarly remembered the brothers.
“John took care of Matty, and Matty would take care of John,” she said. “You do not hear one name without the other. They were so extremely proud of each other.”
After the funeral Meredith’s father Ed Morris, said the family hoped people would remember the way the brothers lived their lives.
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“John and Matty will be so happy if the world learned about how they lived their life and we all improved our lives as a result,” Morris said.
Nearly two years later Katie’s decision to name her son Matthew Guy is another reminder of how deeply Johnny and Matthew continue to be missed by those closest to them.
NEW DELHI: India all-rounder Deepti Sharma is on the brink of rewriting cricket history as she prepares to take the field against Bangladesh in Indiaās fourth Group A match of the ICC Womenās T20 World Cup 2026 on Thursday.The 28-year-old off-spinner is currently tied with former India pace legend Jhulan Goswami as the leading wicket-taker in womenās international cricket, with both having claimed 355 wickets. A single wicket against Bangladesh will see Deepti move past Goswami and stand alone at the top of the all-time list.
One wicket away from history: Deeptiās record chase
Deepti has already delivered a standout campaign in the tournament. She opened with a brilliant five-wicket haul against Pakistan, setting the tone for Indiaās early dominance. She followed it up with figures of 1/26 against the Netherlands, a spell that helped her equal Jhulanās long-standing record.However, she went wicketless in Indiaās previous match against South Africa, where the Proteas handed Harmanpreet Kaurās side a six-wicket defeat. Despite that setback, Deepti remains Indiaās most reliable bowling option heading into a crucial encounter.Across formats, her numbers underline her dominance. Deepti is already Indiaās leading wicket-taker in T20 Internationals and the highest wicket-taker globally in the format, with 167 wickets from 147 matches. In ODIs, she has 166 wickets from 124 matches, second only to Jhulan Goswamiās 255 for India. In Tests, she has taken 22 wickets in just six appearances.Behind Deepti and Jhulan on the all-time list are Englandās Katherine Sciver-Brunt (335), Australiaās Ellyse Perry (332), Sophie Ecclestone (327) and South Africaās Shabnim Ismail (318), highlighting the elite company she is set to surpass.
Indiaās middle-order concerns ahead of Bangladesh clash
While Deeptiās milestone dominates attention, India enter the match with tactical concerns. Strong starts from Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma have consistently given India early momentum, but the middle order has struggled to convert platforms into match-winning totals.The failure to capitalise in the middle overs has repeatedly left finishers Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma with too much to do in limited time. Indiaās defeat to South Africa also exposed fielding lapses after they had reduced the opposition to 25 for 2.Bangladesh, meanwhile, arrive with confidence after wins over Pakistan and Netherlands, built on disciplined team performances rather than individual brilliance.For India, a win would secure their semi-final push and set up a high-profile clash against Australia. For Bangladesh, another upset would shake up Group A.
Nelly Kordaās historic run continues on Thursday at Hazeltine National in Chaska, Minn., and there are more ways than ever to watch it all unfold.
The 27-year-old World No. 1 has already won the first two majors of the season, and if she can win the KPMG Womenās PGA Championship this week, sheāll become the third player in LPGA history to win the first three majors of the year. A win this week would also give her enough points to enter the LPGA Hall of Fame.
You can watch all of the action on NBC, Peacock and Golf Channel, but you can also stream even more live golfĀ via featured groups, which are being powered by T-Mobile.
Itās the second consecutive year that featured groups coverage will be offered at the KPMG Womenās PGA Championship, although this year there are twice as many groups as last year. Seven cameras will roam Hazeltine National to provide the featured-group coverage, which will showcase stars like Korda, Brooke Henderson, Lydia Ko, Lottie Woad, Charley Hull, Jeeno Thitikul and more.
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Korda, Hannah Green and Sei Young Kim get their first round started at 9:17 a.m. ET off the 1st tee on Thursday.
Scroll below to see the TV schedule for the week, as well as the streaming information and featured groups. You can see complete tee times for the first two rounds here.
You can stream the action on the NBC Sports App, golfchannel.com and Peacock.
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Thursday/Friday early featured group: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. (Peacock) Thursday/Friday late featured group: 2-7 p.m. (Peacock) Saturday featured groups: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (Peacock) Sunday featured groups: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (Peacock)
Leading tennis players will expand their prize money protest at Wimbledon – despite a 20% increase in this year’s pot.
Some players limited pre-tournament media to 15 minutes at the recent French Open, but will go a step further at Wimbledon.
They will not only limit the time they offer at the forthcoming media weekend, but are also planning to restrict post-match appearances to 15 minutes throughout the first week of the championships, which start on Monday.
The 15-minute limit is meant to symbolise the 15% of revenue which – broadly speaking – the Grand Slams allocate to prize money.
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It is claimed the decision has the support of most of the world’s top 20 players.
In Paris, women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka cut short her pre-tournament press conference, while players like Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek also followed the ‘work to rule’ directive.
But Novak Djokovic, who has regularly spoken out on behalf of players’ rights, did not take part in the action.
Earlier this month the players welcomed Wimbledon’s 20% increase as a “genuine and significant step forward”.
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The total prize fund at this year’s championships will be Ā£64.2m, following the largest annual increase in the event’s history.
The singles’ champions will each take home Ā£3.6m with first-round losers paid Ā£80,000.
The players issued a statement describing the announcement as a “meaningful statement of intent” – while also pointing out it still does not equate to the 16% of tournament revenue they are requesting.
As well as campaigning for the Grand Slams to link prize money to tournament revenue, players are also asking for contributions to their benefit pool and a greater say in how the events are run.
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The total prize money sum is about Ā£7m short of what the players had been hoping for.
“We don’t look at percentages, we don’t actually believe that is the right metric,” Deborah Jevans, the chair of the All England Club, told BBC Sport earlier this month.
“It is one metric that is based purely on revenue and doesn’t take into account any costs and we cannot run a business in that way.
“We have expenses – we have spoken about infrastructure and investment in grass court tennis.
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“You cannot run a sustainable business, and we have nearly been around for 150 years, just by looking at revenue. That is just plainly wrong.”
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) will introduce a record prize money package from the 2026/27 season, with the league champions set to receive N1 billion.
The new reward system was approved by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) during a high-level meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Under the new arrangement, the team that finishes second will receive N500 million, while the third-placed team will earn N300 million.
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The N1 billion prize for the champions is the biggest cash reward ever offered in the history of the NPFL.
Football stakeholders believe the new prize structure will help improve the league and make it more attractive to clubs, players, sponsors and supporters.
The initiative is seen as a major step forward for Nigerian domestic football and highlights the commitment of the NFF and NSC to strengthen the countryās top-flight league.
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The new payment structure is expected to increase competition among clubs and raise the overall standard of the NPFL from the 2026/27 season.
The iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground hosts its first Women’s T20 World Cup match of the tournament today, adding another layer of intrigue to an already high-profile contest. The venue will also stage the final, making every opportunity to understand conditions particularly valuable.
Recent numbers suggest Lord’s is not necessarily a batter’s paradise. Since 2025, the average first-innings score in women’s T20s at the ground has been just 129. The famous slope and helpful seam movement have often kept bowlers in the game, while spinners can also play an important role as the surface wears.
England will take confidence from their successful defence of 155 at the venue in 2024, while pacer Lauren Bell’s impressive record at Lord’s makes her a player to watch. She has claimed 13 wickets in nine T20 appearances at the ground while maintaining an excellent economy rate.
With warm weather forecast and no rain expected, conditions are set for a full game. Whether it turns into a low-scoring battle or a tactical masterclass, Lord’s appears ready to provide a fitting stage for a crucial World Cup showdown.
Los Angeles has been a swirling sea of green Mexico jerseys this World Cup: from the watch parties dotting the sprawling city, to bars, cafes and barber shops blaring matches, and thousands ofĀ fans streaming into Los Angeles Stadium.
The fact that Mexico has not actually played a match in Los Angeles this tournament has done little to deter fans from proudly displaying their colors, regardless of whoās on the pitch.
“After Mexico City, Los Angeles is the second largest Mexican city in the world,”Ā Gary, who was born in Mexico and moved to Southern California as a child, told DW. “Soccer is definitely inculcated in the culture here, and you can feel it.”Ā
“I love the energy of the Mexican team,”Ā Lucy, another Mexico fan, told DW. “And this is my fatherās jersey,”Ā she continued, gesturing to her lightly-faded green jersey. “It’s like 30 years old, just as old as I am.”
Why Mexican-Americans prefer to support Mexico at World Cup
Family ties often ensure that supporting El Tri isn’t much of a choice.
“The passion for Mexico has always been around from my parents, my grandparents, my aunts and cousins,”Ā Luis, a Mexico fan born and raised in Los Angeles, told DW.
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“Everybody around us always supported Mexico. And Mexico gave us a lot more footballing memories than the United States,”Ā Luis went on.Ā He notes that masses of Mexico fans are easy to spot throughout the city whenever they play.
“I was headed over to watch Mexico play after work, and there was a long stretch in the middle of the city where all you saw along the street were people in green jerseys. I think Mexico is really a favorite here inĀ Los Angeles.”Ā
The most popular team in LA?
Despite LosĀ AngelesĀ hosting the United States‘Ā first two matches ā both of which they won āĀ Mexico might actually be the most popular team in the city this World Cup.
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“For a while, the US men’s national team did not want to play against Mexico in LA because it was a home game for Mexico,”Ā said Gary.
Los Angeles-born USA striker Haji Wright grew up among the split allegiances.
“It all depends on who you talk to,”Ā he said. “I have friends who support Mexico and friends who support the US. This country is a cultural melting pot and LA is no different.”
The large Mexican-American population on both sides of the border means the United States and Mexico are often in a tug of war over dual national players. World Cup stars Obed Vargas and Brian Gutierrez were both born in the US and elected to represent Mexico, while Los Angeles native Julian Araujo would likely have joined them on Mexico’s roster if he wasn’t injured prior to the tournament.
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A complex rivalry
This bitter footballing rivalry also divides fans.
“If Mexico get knocked out of the tournament, I’d root for the US,”Ā said Hector, igniting an instant debate with his friend Luis.
Mexico were the first team to qualify for the knockouts at World Cup 2026Image: Ulises Ruiz/AFP
“I donāt support the US,”Ā Luis said. “I hate (former USA international) Landon Donovan. Even though he was the US’Ā best player, I donāt like that guy.ā
Gary, who unlike Luis and Hector was not born in the US but hasĀ has lived here for nearly four decades, was more measured. “If the US plays, I’ll root for the US. But if they play Mexico, I have to go for Mexico. Itās just more within the culture,”Ā he said.
A glance at the thousands of green Mexico jerseys on parade around LA during the World Cup, whether Mexico is playing or not, seems to confirm Gary’s sentiment.
England Test skipper Ben Stokes said that he has apologised to his English teammates for missing the second Test against New Zealand due to breaching team protocols, while also expressing that he is “desperate for a result” during the series decider starting from Thursday. After missing The Oval Test along with pacer Gus Atkinson due to an alleged breach of team curfew and an incident in a Chelsea nightclub after securing a win in the first Lord’s Test, skipper Stokes is back in the playing XI as a captain. The investigations from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Cricket Regulator did not produce anything other than a formal written warning from ECB.
England lost the second Test by 253 runs, with Joe Root stepping in as captain. The absence of Stokes and Atkinson came after Ollie Robinson and Jamie Smith also missed the second Test due to an injury and paternity leave, respectively. Hence, a total of three players got their maiden Test caps, namely James Rew, Sonny Baker and Jordan Cox, all of whom have been dropped for the series decider.
Speaking in the pre-match presser on Wednesday, Stokes said, as quoted by Cricinfo, “Of course I apologised. That was one of the first things I had to do as a captain. You look at the situation, and it affects more than just myself. It affects a lot of people, it affected Joe, the squad, the people outside the playing environment. It no doubt had an effect on lads who were making their debut. That should have been all about them, but unfortunately, a situation outside of their control took precedence over their big days, making their debut for England in Test cricket.”
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Stokes said that it would have been “stupid and naive” of him not to acknowledge and address the situation, noting the responsibility he has as a leader of the group.
“It is all fine and well, everything being fine and dandy when it is all going well, but you need to take responsibility for things as well. You need to be big enough and man enough to take that upon your shoulders, and look everyone who it has affected in the eye and apologise the way you need to apologise. That is something that I did,” he added.
The show of remorse from Stokes is expected to cool the debate around the future of Stokes, Brendon McCullum and Rob Key, who escaped unscathed from an ECB review after a 1-4 loss in the away Ashes series this year. This incident made England feel the pressure during their first international series of the summer.
“Yesterday (Tuesday), the important thing for me as captain of the team was making sure that I was letting the lads know that I am back properly as the captain of this team. I did need to obviously say a few things and acknowledge a few things to the team, and the team only, and I feel like I voiced those quite well to everyone,” he said.
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He also said he has let his mates know “where his concentration is”.
“Everyone in the dressing-room is fully aware of the responsibilities as players who got the call-up this week, and I am fully aware of the responsibilities of me as captain to lead this team in a pretty important game,” he added.
Stokes admitted that while the last match’s result cannot be changed, they can change what happens in the series decider.
“We are desperate to get the results. I am desperate to be the result. I think I have made a pretty good effort at making sure that the most important people know that, which is the team,” he signed off.
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England XI for third Test:Ā Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wk), Ben Stokes (capt), Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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Croatia kept their hopes of reaching the World Cup last 32 alive after a 1-0 victory over Panama in Toronto on Tuesday.
Substitute Ante Budimir scored the only goal of the match nine minutes into the second half, calmly finishing from Josip Stanisicās low cross.
The win gave Croatia their first points in Group L and means they can secure a place in the knockout stage with victory over Ghana on Saturday.
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The match was also a special occasion for Croatia captain Luka ModriÄ, who made his 200th international appearance. The 40-year-old midfielder helped control the game before being substituted late on.
Panama pushed for an equaliser, but Croatia goalkeeper Dominik LivakoviÄ made several important saves to protect his sideās lead.
Croatia will now face Ghana in a decisive final group match, while Panama take on England.
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