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10 Vikings Predictions for 2026 on the Last Day of June

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Dallas Turner pressures Jake Browning during a Vikings-Bengals game.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner pressures Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning during second-half action at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sep. 21, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, showing the young edge rusher’s burst as he collapsed the pocket and helped Brian Flores’ defense create stress against Cincinnati’s passing game in a home matchup. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.

The calendar flips to July in one day, the month when Minnesota Vikings training camp begins. So, we are here with some summer predictions for the 2026 club, getting theories out in the open before the summer turns white hot.

We will, of course, lock in formal predictions right before Week 1, as well, but consider these official, too.

10 Summer Calls for the Vikings in 2026

Micah Parsons rushes past Vikings guard Will Fries during a Packers game. Vikings predictions 2026
Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons rushes past Minnesota Vikings guard Will Fries during first-half action at Lambeau Field on Nov. 23, 2025, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The NFC North moment showed Parsons creating pressure against Minnesota’s interior protection, giving the Packers a disruptive look in a rivalry matchup that afternoon. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images.

1. Will Fries Rebounds

Fries signed a five-year, $87,720,000 deal in Minnesota during 2025 free agency and produced a 61.8 Pro Football Focus grade upon arriving. At that price, his PFF mark should be 81.8, not 61.8,

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The veteran guard won’t quite hit 81.8 this season, but he’ll climb into the 70s, rebuilding his reputation along the way. Fans decided he was terrible after last season, but that is not true. He just wasn’t worth the huge contract.

2. The Offensive Line Stays Healthier, Finishes as Top 12 Group

Everyone besides Fries missed games in 2025 due to injury. In 2026, the offensive line won’t be totally immune to injury, but they won’t utterly ravage the group to the point where the main starting lineup never sees the field.

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The OL finished 18th per PFF last year despite the missed games; it will bounce back in 2026 with good health and a Top 12 overall ranking.

3. Fans Realize the Cardinals Should Not Have Cut Kyler Murray

Murray will remain mostly healthy, the Vikings will reach the postseason, and he’ll deliver between 29 and 32 touchdowns. You won’t wonder, “Is Kyler Murray even good?” throughout the regular season; the eye test will deliver a verdict as early as Weeks 1 and 2.

Like the Vikings’ ordeal with Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks, the world will poke fun at the Arizona Cardinals for dropping Murray and paying him to play for the Vikings.

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4. Demond Claiborne Feels like Ty Chandler

Minnesota is wickedly overdue to empower a young running back, but that will only appear in flashes with Claiborne. He has straight-line speed, yet it’s unclear whether he can break tackles at an RB1 clip or possesses a bellcow halfback’s vision.

Claiborne will bust off a sweet game or two, leaving a cliffhanger for the 2027 offseason, where fans wonder if he’ll transform into more than an RB1 or RB2.

5. The Vikings Trade No Draft Picks during the Season

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Minnesota hired Nolan Teasley about four weeks ago, and he’s not about to offload draft picks during his first season on the job. The 2027 draft is expected to showcase more talent than most. Teasley will make his main impact in the draft — the Vikings need that — so trading picks for veterans before the November 3rd deadline will not appeal to him.

He could, however, trade a player like safety Theo Jackson for a 6th- or 7th-round pick, thereby stockpiling his war chest.

6. Starting CBs Miss at Least 6 Games Combined

A fun fact: Minnesota’s main starting cornerbacks, Byron Murphy Jr and Isaiah Rodgers, missed zero games last year. That’s pretty rare.

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Unfortunately, that will change in 2026, with James Pierre and rookie Charles Demmings seeing relief action. Neither will disappoint.

7. Domonique Orange’s Consistency Leads All Rookie Headlines

Caleb Banks, the Vikings’ 1st-Rounder, will take a while to acclimate to the league, and new linebacker Jake Golday is considered “raw.”

Domonique Orange tackles Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara during a rivalry game. Vikings predictions 2026
Iowa State defensive lineman Domonique Orange brings down Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara during fourth-quarter action at Kinnick Stadium on Sep. 7, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. Orange kept showing his interior power in the rivalry game, helping the Cyclones squeeze the pocket and disrupt Iowa’s late offensive rhythm in a physical fourth quarter. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.

Those things won’t beset Orange, who will win the starting nose tackle job immediately and stuff opposing running backs as early as September. By December, Orange will feel like a draft steal because of his rookie game-readiness.

8. J.J. McCarthy Starts 2 or 3 Games

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Murray usually misses at least three games per year, and that won’t change in 2026. McCarthy will trot in for relief, show marked improvement from last year, and — you guessed it — the Vikings will have yet another quarterback debate on their hands. Fans will divide into camps over who to play in December — Murray or McCarthy?

9. Dallas Turner Logs Double-Digit Sacks

Turner played 300 snaps as a rookie and tallied 3 sacks. Then, he saw action on 702 plays in his second year, with 8 sacks to his name.

Dallas Turner reacts during a Vikings international game against the Steelers. Vikings predictions 2026
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner gestures during fourth-quarter action against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Croke Park on Sep. 28, 2025, in Dublin, Ireland. Turner faced veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers during the NFL International Series matchup, giving Minnesota’s young defensive core another showcase in one of the franchise’s marquee overseas games that season. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.

In 2026, he’ll play about 800 snaps and record 11 sacks. The guy will basically improve annually because that’s how it works. Turner-themed debates will largely vanish; it will just become established that he’s pretty damn good.

10. The Vikings Finish 11-6

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Minnesota has the roster to win the NFC North and finally win a playoff game for the first time since 2019. The hurdle? The NFC North teams — they’re formidable from cover to cover. There is no longer a team or two to beat up on.

That prevents the Vikings from winning the division — Detroit will prevail — but Kevin O’Connell and friends will finish 11-6 and play football on Wildcard Weekend.


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Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

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MLB roundup: Dodgers’ Dave Roberts becomes fastest to 1,000 wins

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Jun 30, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) gestures towards the crowd after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeat the Athletics as he earns his 1000th career win as a manager at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Scott Marshall-Imagn ImagesJun 30, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) gestures towards the crowd after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeat the Athletics as he earns his 1000th career win as a manager at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Scott Marshall-Imagn Images

Tommy Edman had four hits, including a homer, and drove in four while manager Dave Roberts recorded his 1,000th career regular-season victory as the Los Angeles Dodgers routed the Athletics 9-3 on Tuesday in West Sacramento, Calif.

Roberts, who is in his 11th season, became the fourth manager in Dodgers history to reach the 1,000-victory mark. Roberts’ 1,606 career games (1,000-606) are the fewest needed to reach 1,000 wins, 35 fewer games than the previous fastest mark, held by Cap Anson (1875-98).

Miguel Rojas also went deep and drove in two runs and Mookie Betts had three hits as the Dodgers won for the seventh time in their past eight games. Los Angeles had 14 hits for a total of 31 over two nights while dominating the A’s both times.

Justin Wrobleski (10-2) struck out a career-high 11 while throwing seven innings of three-run ball for Los Angeles. Colby Thomas went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer for the A’s. Jeffrey Springs (3-8) gave up six runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Mariners 8, Angels 3

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Bryan Woo set the single-season record for most consecutive scoreless innings at T-Mobile Park as Seattle defeated visiting Los Angeles.

Woo opened with six scoreless frames to reach 32 overall before reliever Eduard Bazardo allowed a pair of inherited runners to score in the seventh. Woo (7-6), who won his fifth straight home start, was charged with two runs on four hits in 6 1/3 innings. The right-hander walked one and struck out five.

The Mariners managed just three hits off Angels starter Jose Soriano (8-5) through the first five innings before opening the sixth with three straight singles against him to break a scoreless tie and spark a five-run inning.

Phillies 8, Pirates 0

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Cristopher Sanchez worked seven strong innings while guiding Philadelphia to a win over visiting Pittsburgh.

Sanchez (10-3) allowed just three hits and two walks, striking out nine as he became the first starting pitcher to reach 10 wins this season. Justin Crawford had three hits and three RBIs for the Phillies, while Trea Turner added a homer, a double and three RBIs on his 33rd birthday.

Esmerlyn Valdez’s four-game homer streak came to an end, although the Pirates rookie still went 2-for-3 with a walk. Bubba Chandler (3-8) yielded five runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Tigers 9, Yankees 3

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Riley Greene belted a pair of homers in consecutive at-bats off Cam Schlittler, Tarik Skubal pitched six innings and visiting Detroit cruised past New York.

The Tigers slugged five home runs against the Yankees for the first time since Aug. 30, 2018, as Kerry Carpenter, Spencer Torkelson and James Outman also went deep. Skubal (4-4) allowed two runs (one earned) and one hit while fanning nine.

Ben Rice homered, but the Yankees lost their season-high sixth straight game. Schlittler (8-5) was tagged for a career-worst six runs on seven hits in four-plus innings. He served up four homers, also a career high.

Cubs 9, Padres 7

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Dansby Swanson led a long-ball barrage with two home runs, and host Chicago held on for a win over San Diego.

Alex Bregman hit a three-run shot and Michael Busch and Pete Crow-Armstrong had solo homers for the Cubs, who won their fourth straight. Matthew Boyd (3-1) allowed three runs over five-plus innings. Ryan Rolison recorded the last out to earn his first career save.

Fernando Tatis Jr. hit two home runs and Manny Machado and Gavin Sheets also homered for the Padres, who have lost four in a row. JP Sears (1-1) gave up seven runs (six earned) in 4 2/3 innings.

White Sox 9, Orioles 3

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Colson Montgomery and Junior Perez homered during a seven-run third inning as visiting Chicago beat Baltimore, taking the first two games of the three-game series.

Jacob Gonzalez had three hits and drove in three runs and Andrew Benintendi provided three hits as the White Sox won for the sixth time in eight games. They will win a series against Baltimore for the first time since July 2021 regardless of the result in the Wednesday afternoon series finale.

Chicago’s Erick Fedde (3-6) went five innings and yielded three runs on five hits. Gunnar Henderson had two hits and scored two runs for the Orioles, whose losing streak grew to four games. They have lost six of their past seven games.

Rangers 4, Guardians 2

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Cleveland left fielder Cooper Ingle threw the ball into the stands, incorrectly thinking it was the third out of the seventh inning, to bring home Ezequiel Duran as the go-ahead run, leading Texas past the host Guardians.

Duran led off the seventh with a single against Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee and moved to second on a groundout by Evan Carter. Alejandro Osuna followed with a routine fly to Ingle, who caught it and promptly threw it over the screen into the crowd down the left field line.

Jacob deGrom (7-5) earned his fourth victory in his past five decisions for the Rangers, striking out nine over seven innings, allowing two runs on four hits. Bibee (2-9) also worked seven strong innings but received the loss when Ingle committed what was scored as a two-base error and an unearned run.

Nationals 8, Red Sox 1

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Cade Cavalli allowed one hit and struck out a career-high 13 batters in seven innings as visiting Washington defeated Boston.

The only run Boston scored against Cavalli (5-4) was unearned. He didn’t issue a walk in his 100-pitch outing. The Red Sox managed just four hits as their five-game winning streak ended.

CJ Abrams homered as the Nationals won for the third time in four games and leveled the three-game series at one victory apiece. James Wood finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs.

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Diamondbacks 8, Giants 2

Arizona ran its season-long winning streak against San Francisco to eight games, riding home runs from Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Ketel Marte to a victory in Phoenix.

Recalled earlier in the day from Triple-A and making his first big-league start since April 11, Brandon Pfaadt (1-1) gave up one run on three hits in 5 1/3 innings. Gurriel, Marte, Gabriel Moreno and Max Kepler had two hits apiece for the Diamondbacks.

Luis Arraez singled, tripled and homered for the Giants, and Rafael Devers also went deep. Landen Roupp (5-8) permitted six runs and walked six in 2 2/3 innings.

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Mets 3, Blue Jays 0

Nolan McLean struck out seven in six scoreless innings and visiting New York defeated Toronto to split the first two of a three-game series.

McLean (5-5) allowed five hits and two walks, while Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens provided support with solo home runs. Former Blue Jay Bo Bichette went 1-for-4 for the Mets and made some excellent defensive plays at third base.

Toronto starter Kevin Gausman (4-7) completed six innings, allowing one run on five hits. Luis Urias had two singles and a walk.

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Cardinals 5, Braves 3

Matthew Liberatore threw five strong innings and Nathan Church ended a long homerless streak to lead St. Louis over host Atlanta.

Liberatore (4-5) allowed one run on one hit and four walks, striking out nine, to earn his first victory since May 31. Church blasted a three-run homer to cap a four-run rally in the fourth inning when the Cardinals took the lead. It was Church’s sixth home run but first since April 26.

Ozzie Albies drove in two runs for the Braves. Martin Perez (5-6) yielded four runs on five hits in five innings.

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Brewers 7, Reds 2

Jake Bauers and Jackson Chourio homered and Brandon Sproat pitched effectively into the sixth inning as Milwaukee defeated visiting Cincinnati.

The Brewers have won six straight against the Reds, including all five games this season. Bauers and Sal Frelick each had three hits to pace Milwaukee’s 14-hit attack.

The Brewers gained control with four runs in the fourth off Rhett Lowder (3-6), opening the inning with five consecutive singles en route to a 5-1 lead. Sproat (3-4) allowed two runs on four hits in 5 1/3 innings.

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Rays 10, Royals 4

Junior Caminero homered in his fifth consecutive game, a three-run shot to highlight Tampa Bay’s six-run third inning, and the Rays won their sixth straight game, beating host Kansas City.

Ryan Vilade also homered and Griffin Jax (4-5) allowed three runs and struck out five over six innings to win his third straight start for the Rays. Caminero has clubbed eight of his 23 home runs in the past seven games.

Bobby Witt Jr. socked a two-run homer in the third and an eighth-inning solo shot as part of a three-hit night for the Royals, who have lost five of six.

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Astros 6, Twins 4

Yordan Alvarez capped a six-run fourth inning with his third grand slam of the season as Houston rallied past visiting Minnesota.

Alvarez tied the franchise record with his seventh career grand slam, joining Alex Bregman, Carlos Lee and Jose Altuve. It was his 26th home run of the season. The Astros evened the three-game series at one win apiece behind Alvarez and a resilient effort from Mike Burrows (4-8), who overcame a ragged first inning to go five frames of four-run ball.

Twins starter Joe Ryan (5-5) permitted six runs on six hits in four innings. Ryan Kreidler hit a two-run single, and Kody Clemens produced two hits and two runs.

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Marlins 14, Rockies 3

Javier Sanoja, Joe Mack and Owen Caissie each hit a home run in Miami’s blowout win over Colorado in Denver.

Sanoja hit a three-run shot in the third, extending the Marlins’ lead to 5-1. Mack’s two-run blast in the seventh and Caissie’s three-run homer in the eighth were late highlights from a huge offensive game for the Marlins, who have won six of their past seven.

Eury Perez (4-6) earned the win in his second start since returning from the injured list. Perez struck out eight in 5 1/3 innings, allowing just one run on two hits and four walks. Mickey Moniak homered for the Rockies. Tanner Gordon was tagged for five runs in five innings.

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–Field Level Media

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‘We are starting from zero again’: Shreyas Iyer reveals Gautam Gambhir’s message | Cricket News

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'We are starting from zero again': Shreyas Iyer reveals Gautam Gambhir's message
Shreyas Iyer and Gautam Gambhir (X-BCCI)

India captain Shreyas Iyer has insisted he is ready to embrace the challenges of leading the national T20I side, saying he always believed the opportunity would come after consistent performances for both his IPL franchise and the country. Iyer, who was appointed India’s new T20I captain in place of Suryakumar Yadav, endured a difficult start to his tenure as India suffered a 2-0 series defeat to Ireland in Belfast. However, ahead of the five-match T20I series against England, the skipper remains focused on learning from the experience while building a fresh identity for the team. “Honestly speaking, it’s not outlandish. I was expecting it at some point of time. I have done brilliant in the previous IPL tournaments, whenever I have represented the country. So, it did not come to me as a surprise. But, at the same time, I feel it’s a great opportunity for me to learn from everyone around who has been part of the T20 World Cup-winning squad, the team management, support staff and also a few individuals who have played,” Iyer told BCCI.TV. The 31-year-old admitted that captaining India is the fulfilment of a childhood dream and described the responsibility as one of the proudest moments of his career. “As a kid, you always dreamt of playing for the Indian team. Now, you get the opportunity to lead the Indian team. I think it’s an icing on the cake. It means a world,” he said. Reflecting on the journey that earned him the leadership role, Iyer credited the support system around him while acknowledging the hard work behind his rise. “It’s definitely the result of hard work that you have put in and the support you have received from fans, family and friends. It’s hard to explain the feelings in words.” Iyer also outlined the aggressive brand of cricket he wants his team to play, saying he hopes to instil a fearless mindset that puts opponents under pressure from the moment India steps onto the field. “I just like to be menacing to the opponents. I want to have that aggressive, fearless approach when I step on the field. I want my troops to rally around that mindset where the opponents are a bit intimidated by our personality and appearance on the field. It’s like a war for me when I step on the field. I want to win every match and that’s the mindset I want to imbibe in each and every individual. “Relentless, ruthless and determined. No pressure, but at the same time, it’s going to be challenging. All I want to do is embrace the challenge. I want it to be challenging, because I thrive under pressure,” he said. Speaking about head coach Gautam Gambhir‘s message to the squad, Iyer revealed that the team is treating this phase as the beginning of a new chapter despite India’s recent T20 World Cup triumph. “Gauti bhai mentioned in one of his interviews that we were world champions. This is a new paragraph which starts altogether where I am the leader of the team and we are starting from zero again.” The captain also reflected on India’s disappointing tour of Ireland, admitting the results fell short of expectations but insisting the series offered valuable lessons, especially for players experiencing English and Irish conditions for the first time. “Definitely not the start we wanted, but a lot to learn coming into new conditions. Majority of players playing first time in England and Ireland as well, so it’s a learning curve for them as well. Also we have to build that camaraderie where each and everyone starts supporting and trusting each other again.” India’s batting struggled throughout the Ireland series, with the top order failing to provide solid starts in either match. However, the bowling attack showed encouraging signs, particularly through debutant Prince Yadav, Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh. With England presenting a significantly tougher challenge, Iyer will now look to register his first series win as India’s T20I captain while implementing the fearless and relentless brand of cricket he believes can take the team forward.

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Mexico ends 40-year knockout drought, beats Ecuador to reach Round of 16

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MEXICO CITY — The 40-year wait is over. Mexicans had learned to live with defeats in the knockout stages of the World Cup. On seven occasions, El Tri fans were left heartbroken at this stage.

Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez scored within a nine-minute span in the first half and Mexico defeated Ecuador 2-0 on Tuesday night to break a four-decade drought in the knockout stage and progress to the round of 16.

Quiñones opened the scoring in the 22nd minute and Jiménez added a goal in the 31st for the Mexicans, who had not won a knockout-stage match since defeating Bulgaria in the round of 16 when they hosted the tournament in 1986. Mexico coach Javier Aguirre was one of the starting midfielders in that team in ’86.

“It means a lot to me because I am one of those who could not progress in the knockout stage,” Aguirre said. “We are in the round of 16 and it is happening a great connection with the fans. We are like a family. It is spectacular.” 

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Mexico lost seven consecutive times at that same stage from 1994 to 2018 and didn’t advance past the group stage in 2022.

Aguirre, who returned as Mexico’s head coach in August of 2024, was an assistant in 1994 and was the coach in 2002 and 2010.

“We will be on high alert from here until Sunday. We will try to have the players recover from this and we will see if we are able to win again,” Aguirre said.

For Quiñones, it was a third goal in the tournament and he is now El Tri’s second-highest scorer in World Cup history behind Luis “Matador” Hernández and Javier “Chicharito” Hernández, who scored four each.

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Quiñones, who was the scoring leader in the Saudi Pro League last season, has become the spark in the attack that Mexico lacked in previous World Cups.

“I am just happy with the result, that is all that matters now,” said Quiñones, who is playing in his first World Cup with Mexico. 

The 29-year-old forward arrived in the country from Colombia at age 17 and became a naturalized citizen in 2023.

“Life is about struggle and fight until you get what you want,” he said, “and I am taking full advantage of the opportunity that I got.”

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Jiménez scored his second goal of the tournament and has 47 with the national team to break a tie with Jared Borgetti. He is five away from tying “Chicharito” Hernández as the all-time leading scorer for Mexico.

Mexico will play another home match Sunday against the winner of Wednesday’s match between England and Congo.

Playing at the iconic Azteca Stadium, the Mexican squad boasts an undefeated record across 10 World Cup matches. Mexico has just two official losses at the venue — the last being a World Cup qualifying defeat to Honduras on Sept. 6, 2013.

With the win, Mexico extended its unbeaten run to 12 games, dating back to a friendly loss against Paraguay in November. 

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Mexico also became the first CONCACAF side to eliminate a team from CONMEBOL in a World Cup knockout match. Teams from South America won the previous five meetings.

The match started one hour after the original scheduled time due to a thunderstorm.

It was the second match of the tournament delayed by weather. A storm during the France-Iraq match at Philadelphia on June 22 caused a 2-hour, 11-minute suspension at the end of the first half.

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England vs DR Congo LIVE: Latest World Cup team news as Thomas Tuchel faces faces injury crisis ahead of last-32 clash

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The extra motivation of facing England for Aaron Wan-Bissaka

In alternate universe, Aaron Wan-Bissaka would be a World Cup player for England. Today, he lines up against the country he was born in.

The West Ham defender was called up to the England squad by Gareth Southgate in 2019, but had to withdraw through injury and never featured again, choosing to switch his allegiance to DR Congo in 2025.

DR Congo manager Sebastien Desabre says this connection acts as extra motivation for Wan-Bissaka.

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Desabre said: “We have some Premier League players who are familiar, some of them were even born in England and that is always a source of motivation.

“But the number one source of motivation is to play against a serious opponent like England or any other top five in the world. It is hard to find anything more motivating than that.”

(AP)

Will Castle1 July 2026 12:06

Why DR Congo will be no pushovers as World Cup finally gets serious for England

As Thomas Tuchel got to Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, he couldn’t stop smiling.

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“I just love it,” the England manager said, talking about knockout football. “It just gives an extra edge. I love these situations, and I feel it is a privilege.”

It is precisely that attitude, and how it has translated into multiple cup runs and three trophies, that was intended to finally give England an edge in tournaments. Tuchel was appointed because of his success in knockout competition, and now here he and his team are primed.

Miguel Delaney1 July 2026 11:54

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England’s DR Congo test – and why the World Cup’s new order have stunned European giants

On the latest episode of Copa Independent, Kieran Jackson in Santa Clara and Miguel Delaney in Atlanta preview England’s last-32 clash against DR Congo – a team that should not be underestimated.

Which way will Thomas Tuchel go with his wingers and full-backs? What and who do the Three Lions need to be wary of? And what lessons can England take from other giant-killings so far in the knockout stage?

Will Castle1 July 2026 11:52

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A rare injury boost?

Alas, some good news on the England injury front!

After being rested as a precaution against Panama, key midfielder Declan Rice is back in contention.

“I’m good, genuinely, I’m good,” he said. “I know there’s been one (concern) over my hamstring, which has been an issue, but that’s not a problem because I’m still here training, I’m playing. I’m fine.

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“I got a dead calf in the last minute of the Ghana game. The guy whacked me and it literally blew up for like three days, so that was just unlucky. It wasn’t actually a calf problem.

“I’m managing myself really well. I feel good, fit and strong. It’s the World Cup and missing out the other day (isn’t a problem).

“We have a squad of 26 who are unbelievable and can play. Kobbie (Mainoo) can play, Jordan (Henderson) can play. Morgan (Rogers) came in and Jude (Bellingham) played as the number eight.

“If it means that sometimes I have to miss out because we have other players who can play against a certain opposition, I’m fine with that, as long as we keep going and winning matches.”

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Declan Rice says he is fit to face DR Congo (Martin Rickett/PA)
Declan Rice says he is fit to face DR Congo (Martin Rickett/PA) (PA Wire)

Will Castle1 July 2026 11:42

What Thomas Tuchel said on England’s injury crisis

Thomas Tuchel has assured Reece James and Jarell Quansah shouldn’t be sidelined for much longer should England progress tonight – but trusts the alternatives he has at his disposal.

“They are getting close,” the England boss said. “They are getting closer and closer. I saw them on the pitch.

“In the nature of their injury, Jarell is a little bit ahead of Reecey. But the race was close even to make it into the match squad this time, so we need to make sure that we have more matches.

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“That is the main focus, and then they will be available very soon.”

On his defensive options, he said: “First of all, I trust my players. I’ve seen them since weeks, I picked them and that’s what football is all about. You have injuries.

“It’s not worth to be too long upset about it and focus on the problem. Find the solution, this is team sport.

“We would love to have Reece with us, we would love to have Jarell with us, but they’re injured at the moment so other players will step up and we will push this over the line tomorrow as a team no matter what happens.”

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Will Castle1 July 2026 11:30

England’s route to the final

This is currently what England’s most likely route to the final looks like, based off form and Fifa ranking:

1 July: England v DR Congo | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

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5 July: England vs Mexico | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City

11 July: England vs Brazil | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami

15 July: England vs Argentina | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

19 July: England vs Spain | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey

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Will Castle1 July 2026 11:18

World Cup managers dropping like flies

As the dust settles on the first casualties of the World Cup knockout stage, news is filtering through of manager after manager stepping down.

Ronald Koeman left the Netherlands after their shootout defeat to Morocco, and Ecuador’s Sebastian Beccacece has just confirmed he is leaving his post after defeat to Mexico – just a few days after it seemed he saved his job by stunning Germany.

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Marcelo Bielsa, meanwhile, has also departed Uruguay as he bid a “very painful” goodbye in a press conference that last an hour and 40 minutes.

They join the likes of Scotland’s Steve Clarke and South Korea’s Hong Myung-bo in resigning, with the latter leaving his job shrouded in national disgrace. Departures don’t get much more brutal than that.

(Reuters)

Will Castle1 July 2026 11:06

Who will play right-back for England?

The 27th man in the squad now has a path to playing in the World Cup, though the Chelsea defender even admitted after joining the group in Kansas City that his role is a right-sided centre-back under Tuchel.

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That’s not to say he cannot fill in at right-back, but should Tuchel shift Konsa, then Chalobah could slot in if problems emerge at centre-back.

Chalobah has mostly played at centre-back, or right side of a three with his club, though he did feature at right-back in a 3-1 loss to Leeds.

(Getty)

Will Castle1 July 2026 10:54

Who will play right-back for England?

Predominantly a centre-back, the Aston Villa defender is favoured by Tuchel for his ability to perform in multiple positions.

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He’s filled in at right-back for England before and has the pace to cover against any potential counter-attacking threats.

Points against him moving across are that Tuchel may be reluctant to disrupt the centre of his defence. Konsa has been a permanent centre-back through group stage.

The decision may come down to whether Tuchel trusts his other options to perform as strongly.

(Getty)

Will Castle1 July 2026 10:42

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Who will play right-back for England?

With Jarell Quansah and Reece James both out, let’s take a look at three potential solutions to Thomas Tuchel’s right-back injury crisis:

Tottenham defender Spence was selected for the England squad due to his versatility across the backline and that has already been proven across England’s group fixtures.

Against Croatia, he came on midway through the second half as a replacement for Jude Bellingham but slotted in at right-back with James pushed up to defensive midfield. Spence performed solidly and combined beautifully with Bukayo Saka on the right wing as the Three Lions pushed for a fourth goal.

In the match against Ghana, Spence was handed a starting berth but at left-back replacing Nico O’Reilly. Though he held his own for the majority of the game, England looked more threatening once O’Reilly replaced him which is perhaps a sign that Spence is more effective in his natural position on the right.

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And that’s where he returned when brought on for the injured Quansah against Panama, indicating that Tuchel likely sees him as next in line to start in the position.

Djed Spence could get the nod to play at right-back
Djed Spence could get the nod to play at right-back (Getty)

Will Castle1 July 2026 10:30

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World Cup 2026: Scouting DR Congo – where could England win and lose?

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In the knockout stages of a major tournament, there is a genuine risk of elimination irrespective of the opposition.

Germany’s elimination at the hands of Paraguay – a team that started the World Cup losing 4-1 to Mauricio Pochettino’s USA – proves that point well.

England’s next opponents, DR Congo, finished their group in third place, beating Uzbekistan, drawing to Portugal and losing to Colombia, but how do they play and what challenges might they pose against head coach Thomas Tuchel’s men?

DR Congo face England on Wednesday (17:00 BST), live on BBC One and iPlayer.

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Throughout the tournament so far, they have set up in a 5-3-2 formation, a shape that has been consistent both on and off the ball.

Their average possession so far sits at 38.8% which pales in comparison to England’s 65.7% – second only to Spain (70.3%). This suggests that DR Congo are a stubborn defence-first team looking to spring counter-attacks on their opposition.

And while this is mostly true, they are surprisingly front-footed in how they defend.

This could change against England, but against both Portugal and Columbia, opponents that dominated the ball, DR Congo pressed high against them from goal-kick situations.

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From their defensive block, they look to hold their line higher than you would expect from a team with 38% possession, not dropping into their own box as often.

There is also a tendency for their players to apply pressure, particularly to the player on the ball, and nearby team-mates around the ball.

All of these decisions, although more proactive than simply camping in their own box, are quirks England could look to exploit.

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NBA free agency winners, losers: Raptors leap into title contention, Heat lack urgency

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Usually, the NBA’s free agent frenzy comes and goes in a blink. The opening bell rings on June 30th and the best players are all settled in the next few hours and days.

But things are off to a slower start in 2026, no doubt in part because of the surprising availability of LeBron James and several notable restricted free agents dictating how teams want to allocate their money. A number of free agents re-signed with their teams between the end of the Finals and the beginning of free agency, but the first night was relatively slow when it came to big moves.

But even if free agency is taking its time, a number of meaningful moves came on Tuesday — the blockbuster trade of Kawhi Leonard in particular — along with news of James’ free agency. So let’s pick some winners and losers from all of Tuesday’s movement.

Loser: Los Angeles Lakers

Hours before free agency was set to officially begin, James let the Lakers know that he would not re-sign with the franchise, ending his eight-year tenure in Los Angeles. 

“Truly an honor to wear the [purple and gold] while trying to continue the greatness & legacies that came before me! Hope I made a few proud during my stint,” James wrote on social media after the team announced his departure.

While you could make the case that the Lakers will be better off in the long run by turning the team over to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, they still have to be considered losers from the first day of free agency. I mean, come on, LeBron James is walking out the door.

Even at 41 and entering a historic 24th season, James remains a top 20-25 player in the league. Last season, he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists, and was one of 10 players to average 20/5/5. He’s also still one of the most popular athletes alive and provides a major economic boost to whichever team he’s on. Even the Lakers will suffer on that front without him. — Jack Maloney

Winner: Whoever signs LeBron James

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It’s unclear when or where James will sign. For now, all signs point to him taking his time. Which, in turn, could put free agency on hold for a number of teams and players. Shortly after the Lakers announced that James would not be back, his agent, Rich Paul, released a statement to The Athletic. It reads, in part:

“LeBron knows the Lakers are building for the future, and he also wants to compete for championships… We do want to evaluate what’s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count,” Paul said.

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There has been a significant amount of smoke about James joining the Golden State Warriors to team up with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. His two other former teams, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, have also been mentioned as possibilities. In Cleveland, he could join forces with Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, while returning to Miami would allow him to play with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. Additionally, the Minnesota Timberwolves were mentioned as a wild card by The Athletic’s Sam Amick. There, he could unite with two elite guards in Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball

Of course, while James wants to “compete for championships” and “make every season he has left count,” he also wants to make some money in the process, and is not going to sign for the veteran minimum. That’s bad news for the Cavaliers, in particular, who would have to clear some space to facilitate a return for King James. 

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Wherever James winds up, that team will be a clear winner, for all of the reasons noted above. James is still a high-level player and a major draw, who will give his new team a boost both on and off the court. — Maloney

Winner: Toronto Raptors

Kawhi Leonard spent one season with the Toronto Raptors and won a championship. That is a 100% championship hit rate. It is almost impossibly rare for teams to make any substantial move with a 100% success rate. The Raptors pulled that off with their reacquisition of Leonard on Tuesday.

Now, obviously, the Raptors are not guaranteed another championship. They’re frankly underdogs to even win the Eastern Conference with the defending champion New York Knicks still around. But remember, the Raptors did not have the absolute best team when they won it all in 2019. They got to the NBA Finals, Klay Thompson got hurt, Kevin Durant played 11 minutes, and they hoisted the trophy. Sometimes, you have to put yourself in a position to take advantage of someone else’s misfortune.

That’s where the Raptors are now. They have a puncher’s chance. They have two All-NBA-caliber players in Leonard and Scottie Barnes, both big wings who can guard anyone. Leonard fills in the half-court shotmaking gap that Barnes needed in a co-star, and that Brandon Ingram couldn’t provide before getting hurt against Cleveland. Between Collin Murray-Boyles, Ja’Kobe Walter and Jamal Shead, this team is loaded with defensive role players, and playoff hero RJ Barrett remains on the team on a big expiring contract.

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The price here was steep. The Raptors are winners today. They could be losers tomorrow now that they have lost control of their 2031 and 2033 first-round picks to the Los Angeles Clippers. But Toronto has a genuine chance to compete for a championship. How can they not be winners? — Sam Quinn

Loser: Miami Heat

The Heat, like the Raptors, gave up several first-round picks deep into the 2030s to secure a superstar in Giannis Antetokounmpo. Toronto was able to retain far more depth in its trade than Miami did. The only players the Raptors sent out were Ingram, who Leonard is replacing, and Gradey Dick, who had already fallen out of their plans.

The Heat need to construct basically an entire bench and even fill a starting shooting guard slot after landing Antetokounmpo. That was always going to be difficult because, in addition to Giannis, the Bucks forced the Heat to take on the extra $15 million or so owed to Bobby Portis, leaving Miami precious little room underneath its first-apron hard cap. Tim Hardaway Jr., signed by Miami on Tuesday, is a good player. He is not an adequate replacement for Norman Powell, who made the All-Star Team last year.

The Heat don’t seem to be acting with the urgency of an all-in, win-now team. They seem like they’re prioritizing longer-term cap flexibility. Hardaway only got a one-year deal. When they agreed to a three-year, $64 million deal to bring back Andrew Wiggins, they structured it so he would pick up his $30 million player option rather than take a pay cut this season to maximize flexibility. That might make sense in the long run, but it’s going to make the already thin Heat weaker in a prime Antetokounmpo season. He is 31 and has serious health concerns, given all of the calf strains he’s endured. They may not be able to afford slow-playing this roster build. — Quinn

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Winner: Los Angeles Clippers

Getting Leonard may have given the Raptors a chance to win the title. Losing him didn’t deprive the Clippers of that chance. This era ended years ago for them. The Paul George trade was a swing and a miss. James Harden couldn’t save them. Ultimately, the Leonard signing back in 2019 did not yield the championship that the Clippers hoped for.

But think about where this team was in January, essentially waiting out the end of Leonard’s and Harden’s primes while sitting on a great Ivica Zubac contract that they weren’t good enough to benefit from and owing control over four more first-round picks thanks to those prior swings. Their future was about as bleak as anyone’s in the NBA.

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They turned those three players into Darius Garland, an All-Star point guard who is a decade younger than Harden, Keaton Wagler, the No. 5 overall pick in this year’s loaded draft, three more future first-round picks (2029 from Indiana, 2031 and 2033 from Toronto) and a 2027 first-round swap (also from Toronto). That is about as dramatic a six-month turnaround as it is possible to have in the NBA. This was a franchise-altering series of moves. The Clippers weren’t going to compete for a championship with Leonard. But they set themselves up to build a real contender a few years down the line with this trade. — Quinn

Loser: Utah Jazz

The Jazz reportedly offered young defensive anchor Walker Kessler a five-year, $140 million contract before free agency. He declined. That deal would have paid him $28 million per year. Now, according to The Athletic, he has multiple offers in the mid-to-high $30 millions annually. The Lakers seem like an obvious fit in that respect, but other teams appear to be trying to woo Kessler.

Utah could likely have avoided this with a more generous offer last offseason, or perhaps a better one earlier in this one. Now they’re sitting in the unenviable position of waiting for someone to throw a massive offer sheet at Kessler and daring them to match it. The Jazz have the capacity to do so. They have full Bird Rights and can legally prevent Kessler from leaving if they want to. But think about how expensive this team is getting now. Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. are on max deals. Keyonte George is eligible for a rookie extension. You can’t pay everyone.

The Jazz are at the very least about to pay their center more than they hoped, and if they don’t, it’s because they’re losing him for nothing. Either way, this will be a very expensive process for Utah. — Quinn

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Winners: Injury-prone big men

Two injury-prone big men cashed in on the first day of free agency. 

Kristaps Porzingis officially agreed to return to the Golden State Warriors on what ESPN reported is a two-year, $40 million deal. The former No. 4 overall pick played 32 games last season with the Atlanta Hawks and Warriors as he continued to struggle with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), which has ruined his last two seasons. Porzingis has reached the 60-game mark just twice in his career, most recently in 2023 with the Washington Wizards

Also out West, Robert Williams III agreed to a three-year, $44 million contract to stay with the Portland Trail Blazers, according to ESPN. Williams has played only 85 games with the Trail Blazers since he was traded to the team in 2023, largely due to ongoing knee problems. His 59 games last season were the second-most in his career. 

Teams are desperate for quality bigs right now, and that turned out to be great news for Porzingis and Williams. 

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While both will pose health risks for the rest of their careers, they are unique players who can make a real impact on both sides of the ball. Porzingis is a center who can space the floor and protect the rim. Williams is a major lob threat who can also patrol the paint. 

If they can stay healthy, these will be win-win contracts for both the players and the teams. — Maloney

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Loser: Jalen Duren

Duren was one of last season’s breakout players. He averaged a career-high 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds on 65% shooting, made his first All-Star appearance and earned All-NBA Third Team honors. The leap he took helped the Detroit Pistons win 60 games and finish first in the Eastern Conference. 

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But that strong play did not carry over to the postseason — for the team as a whole and Duren individually. The Pistons needed to pull off a 3-1 comeback in the first round against the Orlando Magic and blew a 2-0 lead to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round as Duren pulled a disappearing act. He averaged 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds on 51.4% shooting, and was getting benched at times down the stretch. 

In the span of a few weeks this spring, Duren lost nearly all of his leverage over the Pistons in contract negotiations, and is now stuck in free agency limbo. 

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Chris Haynes reported Monday that Duren and the Pistons are a “sizeable difference” apart in negotiations, and Duren wants to join the Sacramento Kings via a sign-and-trade. Meanwhile, Sam Amick reported that Duren is set to meet with the Lakers, who could also be a sign-and-trade candidate. The Pistons, however, control the situation. They have the right to match any offer Duren receives, and Marc Spears reported that Detroit has no interest in trading him. 

Duren is still going to get a big contract this summer, but he likely lost tens of millions of dollars due to his poor playoff showing and may now have to stay in Detroit against his wishes. — Maloney

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ICC T20I rankings: Abhishek Sharma’s year-long reign as World No. 1 comes to an end | Cricket News

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ICC T20I rankings: Abhishek Sharma's year-long reign as World No. 1 comes to an end

Abhishek Sharma‘s year-long reign as the world’s No. 1 T20I batter has ended after India teammate Ishan Kishan moved ahead by a slender margin of seven rating points in the latest ICC Men’s T20I batting rankings.The 27-year-old’s rise is the result of his consistent form, especially during this year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. With his explosive batting, Ishan scored 317 runs at a strike rate of 146, including a Player of the Match award against Pakistan in Colombo. He also finished as India’s second-highest run-scorer, behind Sanju Samson, at the tournament.Following Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan has now joined an elite club featuring Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav, becoming only the fourth Indian batter to reach the No. 1 spot in the ICC Men’s T20I batting rankings.

ICC T20I rankings

ICC T20I rankings

Both power-hitters will next be in action when India takes on England in the five-match T20I series, beginning in Durham, with both expected to play crucial roles for the visitors.Ishan made his T20I debut against England in Ahmedabad in 2021. In 47 innings, he has scored 1,341 runs at an average of 29.15 and a strike rate of 146.87. His record includes one century and 10 fifties, with a highest T20I score of 103.

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2026 John Deere Classic Thursday tee times: Round 1 groupings

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The 2026 John Deere Classic begins Thursday, July 2, with the opening round at TPC Deere Run. You can find full John Deere Classic tee times for Thursday’s first round at the bottom of this post.

John Deere Classic tee times: What to know

It’s been a long time since Jordan Spieth has lifted a trophy as a PGA Tour winner. How long? More than four years. His last win came at the 2022 RBC Heritage, and it represented his 13th career win.

But Spieth has shown flashes of his old self so far in 2026. He has two T11 and two T12 finishes among eight top 25s this season.

The John Deere Classic may be the perfect place for Spieth to finally get off the schneid. Why? He’s a two-time John Deere champion, having won the event in 2013 and 2015.

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Spieth will tee off for the opening round on Thursday at 8:35 a.m. ET alongside Ben Griffin and Jackson Koivun.

You can watch Thursday’s first round of the 2026 John Deere Classic from 3-6 p.m. ET on Golf Channel. PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will provide exclusive early streaming coverage starting on Thursday at 7:45 a.m. ET, in addition to featured group and featured hole coverage.

Check out the complete Round 1 tee times and groupings for the John Deere Classic below.

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2026 John Deere Classic tee times for Thursday: Round 1 (ET)

Tee No. 1

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7:40 a.m. – Luke List, Tyler Duncan, Pierceson Coody
7:51 a.m. – Matthieu Pavon, Lee Hodges, Troy Merritt
8:02 a.m. – S.Y. Noh, David Lipsky, Austin Smotherman
8:13 a.m. – William Mouw, Davis Riley, Daniel Berger
8:24 a.m. – Taylor Pendrith, Lucas Glover, Webb Simpson
8:35 a.m. – Michael Brennan, Stephan Jaeger, Aaron Wise
8:46 a.m. – Seamus Power, Mackenzie Hughes, Kevin Roy
8:57 a.m. – Camilo Villegas, Joel Dahmen, Rico Hoey
9:08 a.m. – Kevin Streelman, Max McGreevy, Johnny Keefer
9:19 a.m. – Patrick Fishburn, Chan Kim, A.J. Ewart
9:30 a.m. – Haotong Li, Kris Ventura, Marcelo Rozo
9:41 a.m. – Trace Crowe, Chandler Blanchet, Luke Gutschewski
12:50 p.m. – Adam Svensson, Denny McCarthy, Ben Silverman
1:01 p.m. – Austin Eckroat, Patton Kizzire, Michael Kim
1:12 p.m. – Taylor Moore, Harry Higgs, Carson Young
1:23 p.m. – Andrew Novak, Tony Finau, Sungjae Im
1:34 p.m. – Rickie Fowler, Keith Mitchell, Zach Johnson
1:45 p.m. – Chris Gotterup, Keegan Bradley, Tom Kim
1:56 p.m. – Emiliano Grillo, Ben Martin, Michael Thorbjornsen
2:07 p.m. – Justin Lower, Chandler Phillips, Danny Walker
2:18 p.m. – Cameron Champ, Martin Laird, Dylan Frittelli
2:29 p.m. – Jackson Suber, Luke Clanton, (a) Mason Howell
2:40 p.m. – Zecheng Dou, Jimmy Stanger, Patrick Adler
2:51 p.m. – Alejandro Tosti, Davis Chatfield, Augusto Núñez

Tee No. 10

7:40 a.m. – Rafael Campos, Ryan Brehm, Beau Hossler
7:51 a.m. – Brendon Todd, Fabián Gómez, Mark Hubbard
8:02 a.m. – Nick Dunlap, Robert Streb, Andrew Putnam
8:13 a.m. – J.T. Poston, Jacob Bridgeman, Eric Cole
8:24 a.m. – Brian Campbell, Davis Thompson, Max Homa
8:35 a.m. – Ben Griffin, Jordan Spieth, Jackson Koivun
8:46 a.m. – Matt Wallace, Zac Blair, Ryo Hisatsune
8:57 a.m. – Erik van Rooyen, Doug Ghim, Vince Whaley
9:08 a.m. – Nick Hardy, Tom Hoge, Ben Kohles
9:19 a.m. – Christo Lamprecht, Blades Brown, (a) Preston Stout
9:30 a.m. – Hayden Springer, Neal Shipley, Michael Feagles
9:41 a.m. – Adrien Dumont de Chassart, Jeffrey Kang, Darin Fisher
12:50 p.m. – Patrick Rodgers, Dylan Wu, Takumi Kanaya
1:01 p.m. – Brice Garnett, Lanto Griffin, Max Greyserman
1:12 p.m. – Jonathan Byrd, Hank Lebioda, Sudarshan Yellamaraju
1:23 p.m. – Steven Fisk, Aldrich Potgieter, Garrick Higgo
1:34 p.m. – Adam Schenk, Joe Highsmith, Kevin Yu
1:45 p.m. – Karl Vilips, Jhonattan Vegas, Matt Kuchar
1:56 p.m. – Chad Ramey, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Thorbjørn Olesen
2:07 p.m. – Peter Malnati, Adam Hadwin, Mac Meissner
2:18 p.m. – Kensei Hirata, Pontus Nyholm, John VanDerLaan
2:29 p.m. – David Skinns, Paul Peterson, Jeremy Paul
2:40 p.m. – Nicholas Lindheim, Zach Bauchou, Noah Goodwin
2:51 p.m. – Keita Nakajima, Gordon Sargent, Ryan Voois

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2026 World Cup parlay, best bets: Top picks for matches on Wednesday include England, USA

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The 2026 World Cup Round of 32 keeps rolling on as the calendar flips to July, and there are three more games on tap on Wednesday with the co-hosts United States taking the field in primetime against Bosnia and Herzegovina. England will get things started against DR Congo, and Belgium will be in action against Senegal in the late afternoon window.

Those interested in wagering on Wednesday’s games should take a look at the parlay we’ve put together with odds from FanDuel and insights from SportsLine experts Jon Eimer, Martin Green and Brad Thomas. Anyone following their World Cup betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.

World Cup parlay for Wednesday

  • England -1.5 vs. DR Congo (-120)
  • Senegal double chance vs. Belgium (-155)
  • United States regular time money line vs. Bosnia (-280)

FanDuel parlay price: +309

England -1.5 vs. DR Congo

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The knockout round games have been close. Every team is trying to avoid a major mistake, but we’ve seen some heroics with late goals and penalty shootouts already. Therefore, presenting any sort of spread pick is risky despite the clear talent gap between these sides. DR Congo have plenty of threats, but I don’t see them slowing down an England team that has shown it can be dangerous in the final third. Green is taking England against the spread, saying “they’ve covered a 1.5-goal spread in two out of three games so far. They also covered a 1.5-goal spread in seven of their eight World Cup qualifiers. Going back further, The Three Lions have covered a 1.5-goal spread in 12 of their last 14 competitive matches.”

Senegal double chance vs. Belgium

On paper, Belgium should win this match without much trouble. However, they have looked mediocre at best in this World Cup and needed a five-goal onslaught against New Zealand to secure a spot in the Round of 32. Senegal largely held their own against France and Norway before eventually pummeling Iraq, and I don’t think their results necessarily show how talented or resilient they are. Belgium are in bad form, and that matters in a knockout game with pressure. Senegal double chance in regular time is a strong play.

USA money line in regular time vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina

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It’s hard to find value in this match for USA, who started off the World Cup with a bang against Paraguay. The South American side just knocked off Germany, which shows how good the Americans are for putting four goals on them. Bosnia are scrappy and have shown moments of brilliance but they are unlikely to keep USA at bay for 90 minutes. Christian Pulisic being healthy is another boost. Give me the home team to get the job done without needing extra time or penalties. Green is more confident in USA, taking the Americans against the spread in this match.

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World Cup 2026 Golden Boot: Mbappe vs Messi standings in thrilling race to finish top scorer

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The race for the golden boot at the World Cup is hurtling towards an epic contest during the knockout stage as Kylian Mbappe reined in Lionel Messi at the top of the standings with Vinicius Jr and Erling Haalandalso very much in the race.

The stars continue to dominate at this tournament, none more so than Messi after backing up a hat-trick against Algeria with a double against Austria to highlight one of his greatest traits after a penalty miss. Another arrived off the bench against Jordan – inevitably.

Not to be outdone, Mbappe has been in excellent scoring touch and a brace against Sweden propelled France to a 3-0 victory and a spot in the last-16 as he once again thrives on the biggest stage. It also sends him above Messi in the standings though they are level on goals scored.

Elsewhere, Haaland scored for the 13th straight international when he netted an 86th-minute winner in Norway’s last-32 clash with Ivory Coast to send his side into the next round and move on to five goals for the tournament – just one behind Messi and Mbappe.

Harry Kane is there or thereabouts, too, after heading home against Panama in England’s final group game and Vinicius Jr stamped his mark with a brace against Scotland while Ousmane Dembele hit a superb hat-trick against Norway to throw his hat in the ring.

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If players are tied for goals, the number of assists will determine who ranks higher. If there is still a tie, it comes down to minutes played and the goals-per-minute ratio. Here are the latest 2026 World Cup golden boot standings:

World Cup 2026 golden boot standings

1. Kylian Mbappe (France), 6 goals, (2 assists)

2. Lionel Messi (Argentina), 6 goals

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3. Erling Haaland (Norway), 5 goals

4. Ousmane Dembele (France), 4 goals (2 assists)

5. Vinicius Jr (Brazil), 4 goals (1 assist)

6. Deniz Undav (Germany), 3 goals (2 assists)

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= 7. Johan Manzambi (Switzerland), 3 goals (1 assist)

= 7. Ismaila Sarr (Senegal), 3 goals (1 assist)

= 7. Cody Gakpo (Netherlands), 3 goals (1 assist)

= 7. Julian Quinones (Mexico), 3 goals (1 assist)

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= 10. Jonathan David (Canada), 3 goals

= 10. Ismael Saibari (Morocco), 3 goals

= 10. Matheus Cunha (Brazil), 3 goals

= 10. Brian Brobbey (Netherlands), 3 goals

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= 10. Elijah Just (New Zealand), 3 goals

= 10. Harry Kane (England), 3 goals

= 10. Yoane Wissa (DR Congo), 3 goals

= 10. Kai Havertz (Germany), 3 goals

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