The latest reports claim that Roma’s Manu Kone is in line to start for France in their 2026 World Cup round of 16 match against Paraguay on Saturday evening as Real Madrid star Aurelien Tchouameni has been ruled out through injury.

Kone expected to start for France in World Cup round of 16 clash

France are among the favourites to go all the way at the 2026 World Cup and have a 100% win rate in tact after group stage victories over Senegal, Iraq and Norway and a 3-0 win over Sweden in the round of 32 on Tuesday.

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Didier Deschamps’s side will have to do without the services of Madrid’s Tchouameni, who reported a thigh injury during France’s most recent training session according to updates from the likes of l’Equipe and RMC (via Gianluca Di Marzio).

Roma’s Kone is the expected replacement for the Madrid man, given that he already has two starts to his name at the tournament in North America.

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 26: Manu Kone #6 of France is challenged by Patrick Berg #6 of Norway during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between Norway and France at Boston Stadium on June 26, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

Thus far, France have rotated between three different combinations of Kone, Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot in their midfield double pivot behind the frightening front four of Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Kylian Mbappe.

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Kone started alongside Rabiot for France’s 3-0 group stage victory over Iraq and alongside Tchouameni for the 4-1 win over Norway, but came out of the line-up for the round of 16 victory against Sweden.

The round of 16 clash between Paraguay and France will kick off at 22.00 BST, taking place in Philadelphia.

The Minnesota Vikings’ rumor mill is a constantly breathing beast, and this weekend it lassoes a wide receiver, a trade, and the projected winner of the summer quarterback competition.

The rumors will continue until training camp and beyond, so here’s a look at the latest.

The Hopkins Reunion Angle Still Has a Pulse

Rumor: Despite signing Jauan Jennings in May, DeAndre Hopkins remains an option for the Vikings.

This one came from CBS Sports. Brad Crawford wrote last week, “The Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs are three potential fits for Hopkins, all of which have been discussed by the former first-round pick at some point this offseason. Joe Burrow is one quarterback Hopkins said he would enjoy playing with during an interview with Sports Illustrated.”

“In Minnesota, Hopkins would reunite with former Arizona Cardinals teammate Kyler Murray. The pair played three seasons together from 2020-22, hooking up 17 times for touchdowns over that stretch.”

TMZ asked Hopkins about Murray and the Vikings in March, and he replied, “Kyler — that’s my boy, man. Kyler is like family. I talked to Kyler throughout the year last year. I talked to Kyler after, you know, his situation in Arizona. Kyler’s like family, man.”

“I would always, you know, embrace that journey with him. He’s on a one-year deal? Whatever I can do for what someone like that — if Kyler need me he know I’m there, if the Vikings need me they know I’ll be there.”

Minnesota doesn’t really need a WR3 or WR4 at the moment — Jennings basically solved all WR questions — but Hopkins on an affordable contract would assuredly excite fans.

Rumor: Justin Jefferson could grow disgruntled and request a trade.

Another CBS Sports special, Garrett Podell sized up prominent NFL stars who could ask for a trade in the near future. Sadly, Jefferson pulled down a nomination.

Podell wrote, “Prediction on whether or not Jefferson will eventually ask for a trade: Yes, by the 2028 NFL offseason. The McCarthy-Murray competition will fail to bear long-term fruit at football’s most important position, leaving Jefferson dissatisfied entering the final season of his four-year, $140 million deal in 2028.”

“Out of guaranteed money, Jefferson will be looking for a new, multiyear deal at the age of 29, but he’ll aim to get his next batch of guaranteed cash elsewhere. Compensation to get the deal done: First-round pick and third-round pick. It’s a similar package to the one the Patriots used to acquire Brown from the Eagles, but instead of a fifth-round pick, Minnesota gets a third-round draft choice since Jefferson doesn’t come with the same attitude and fluidity questions.”

Randy Moss left the Vikings after seven seasons in 2005. This year is — checks notes — Jefferson’s seventh season.

“Likely landing spot: Las Vegas Raiders. It’s hard to project how the NFL landscape will look years down the road, but the Raiders make plenty of sense for a multitude of reasons,” Podell continued.

“Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, will need a true WR1 to complement All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers, and Las Vegas has shown a willingness to trade for a superstar wide receiver at the back of the end their 20s: The Raiders traded a first-round draft choice and a second-round draft choice to the Green Bay Packers in 2022 in exchange for a 29-year-old Davante Adams.”

Rumor: Kyler Murray will win the Vikings’ QB1 competition, per NFL.com.

Nick Shook of NFL.com investigated which NFL players could most improve this season, citing Murray as a top contender. Along the way, he declared QB1 projection for the Vikings: “Murray’s shift from Arizona to Minnesota isn’t quite the discovery of an oasis, but it’s certainly a better situation for the former No. 1 overall pick than the one he inhabited in the desert.”

“After dealing with injuries and logging just five games in 2025, Murray is now playing under quarterback expert Kevin O’Connell and has the privilege of throwing passes to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings and T.J. Hockenson in a stable offensive scheme that helped Sam Darnold post a career year in 2024.”

If Darnold could explode in the Twin Cities, so can Murray — is the idea here.

“Yes, he’s going to win the job over J.J. McCarthy, and I believe he’ll form a beautiful partnership with O’Connell, the coach of a team that is a reliable quarterback away from a return to the playoffs. Expect Murray to become that quarterback and rebuild his reputation along the way,” Shook concluded.

Most Vikings fans, too, agree that Murray will take home the QB1 bacon.

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

England made it through after a scare against DR Congo, and now they face the tough test of a last 16 tie against World Cup 2026 co-hosts Mexico.

BUY MEXICO VS. ENGLAND TICKETS HERE

We perhaps haven’t seen the very best of England yet at this tournament, and they’ll need to produce something better against a Mexico side who’ve started brilliantly with four wins and four clean sheets.

KANSAS CITY, KANSAS – JUNE 22: Thomas Tuchel, Manager of England, looks on during an England Training Session on June 22, 2026 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

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This could be a tough game, but also potentially a classic that will give us some idea of how serious England’s World Cup credentials are, so it’s sure to be one fans will be desperate to make sure they don’t miss.

How to buy England World Cup tickets

If you want more information on how to buy World Cup tickets, you can always try the link here for FIFA’s official website, but there might be quicker and simpler ways as well.

We can highly recommend our dedicated tickets hub here which offers competitive prices for all the big games, and the security of a 150% money back guarantee if for whatever reason you’re not satisfied.

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BUY MEXICO VS. ENGLAND TICKETS HERE

How to buy Mexico World Cup tickets

Co-hosts Mexico have a ticket hub on their official site here, but we would again recommend having a look around for alternatives.

Be sure to make use of our link here which gives you access to this big game with an easy-to-use and reliable site that has earned hugely positive reviews from fans.

How England could line up vs Mexico

TOPSHOT – England’s forward #09 Harry Kane fights for the ball with Netherlands‘ defender #22 Denzel Dumfries during the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-final football match between the Netherlands and England at the BVB Stadion in Dortmund on July 10, 2024. (Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP) (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)

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Thomas Tuchel might need to rethink a few things for this game, which will likely be a lot harder than DR Congo.

Anthony Gordon made a big impact when he came on to replace Marcus Rashford, while it’s also surely time to start Bukayo Saka over Noni Madueke, even if the former doesn’t seem to be fully fit.

Reece James‘ fitness will also be key, as he’s been missed at right-back, and he’s given some slightly positive noises about his situation, perhaps suggesting he’ll be able to make it back for this one.

England predicted line up: Pickford; James, O’Reilly, Guehi, Konsa; Rice, Anderson, Bellingham; Saka, Gordon, Kane.

How Mexico could line up vs England

Mexico predicted line up: Rangel; Vazquez, Montes, Sanchez, Chavez; Alvarez, Mora, Romo; Quinones, Alvarado, Jimenez.

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England vs Mexico head-to-head record

England and Mexico have only played each other nine times, with the first meeting coming in 1959 and the most recent one prior to this coming in 2010.

And if you’re interested in omens, England’s only other World Cup game against Mexico was a 2-0 win in that 1966 campaign.

Overall, England have by far the better record in this fixture, winning six times, drawing once and losing twice. The last four games between these sides have all been wins for England, with 12 goals scored and just one conceded.

Predictions for this one? Let us know in the comments!

Terence Crawford and Shakur Stevenson have offered conflicting views on Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn, to which ‘King Ry’ has now responded via social media.

The WBC welterweight champion is expected to defend his world title on September 12, with mandatory challenger Benn having been named as a likely opponent.

According to Golden Boy boss Oscar De La Hoya, though, the Las Vegas event cannot take place without permission from his promotional outfit and DAZN.

The Hall of Famer confirmed his stance via an Instagram message to Zuffa Boxing promoter Dana White, who is seemingly attempting to broadcast this fight on Paramount+.

With contracts in place, De La Hoya insisted that he has not approved Garcia’s next outing, which appears to be part of a two-fight deal with Turki Alalshikh and Sela.

As the situation continues to develop, only time will tell as to whether Garcia ends up facing Benn, who has not fought at 147lbs since his second-round finish over Chris Van Heerden in 2022.

Nevertheless, Crawford has backed ‘The Destroyer’ to dethrone Garcia, who subsequently urged four-division world champion Stevenson to enter the discussion.

Taking to social media, the 28-year-old admitted to disagreeing with his friend and mentor but nonetheless respects his opinion.

“[Crawford] is the realest dude I met, his pick is his pick. I think [Garcia is going to] win. It’s all opinionated.”

He is the realest dude I met, His pick is his pick I think you’re gone win it’s all opinionated https://t.co/Q0KTdSawln

— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) July 2, 2026

Indeed, Garcia would be made a sizable favourite against Benn, especially after claiming his title with a dominant points victory over Mario Barrios in February.

Benn, meanwhile, comes off back-to-back unanimous decision wins over faded versions of Chris Eubank Jr and Regis Prograis.

Canada battle Morocco for a spot in the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals when they meet on Saturday. Co-host Canada have never advanced past the group stage until this year, while Morocco is looking to top their fourth-place finish from 2022. The Canadians have found offense so far, outscoring their four World Cup opponents 9-3. Morocco, meanwhile, finished second behind Brazil in Group C and have outscored their foes 7-4. In the Round of 32, Canada downed South Africa 1-0, while Morocco survived a penalty kick win over Netherlands after a 1-1 draw in regulation.  

Kickoff for Canada vs. Morocco is 1 p.m. ET from Houston. The latest Canada vs. Morocco odds from FanDuel Sportsbook list Morocco at -120 (risk $120 to win $100) on the 90-minute money line, with Canada at +370 and a draw at +230. The over/under for total goals is 2.5. Morocco are -260 to advance, with Canada at +205. Before locking in any Canada vs. Morocco picks or World Cup 2026 predictions, check out the Canada vs. Morocco predictions from SportsLine’s Jon Eimer.

Eimer is a high-volume bettor who has vast knowledge of leagues and players across the globe. Since joining SportsLine, he has covered the English Premier League, Champions League, Serie A, the FA Cup, and much more. He’s been red-hot on his soccer betting picks in 2026, posting a 31-13-2 record and returning over $1,200 of profit on his Champions League picks. He’s also on a 25-15-2 run (63%) on World Cup picks. Anyone wanting to follow his World Cup betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could see big returns.

Now, Eimer has studied Canada vs. Morocco and just revealed his 2026 World Cup picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several World Cup odds and soccer betting lines for Morocco vs. Canada:

Top Canada vs. Morocco predictions

After examining Canada vs. Morocco from every angle, Eimer is leaning Over 2.5 total goals (+125). Eimer sees Morocco as having the side with the more offensive potential. Morocco have scored two or more goals in four of their last eight competitions, including the World Cup.

“(Morocco’s) attack led Ismael Saibari, Azzedine Ounahi and Brahim Diaz will overwhelm this Canadian backline that has struggled to keep up with the pace of play by these more physical sides,” Eimer said. Because of that, Eimer is siding with the Over. See Eimer’s best bets for Canada vs. Morocco at SportsLine, and you can bet the Over in Morocco vs. Canada at FanDuel here:

How to make Canada vs. Morocco picks

After studying the Canada vs. Morocco matchup from every angle, Eimer has found a critical x-factor and locked in three best bets, including two that return plus money. You can head to SportsLine to see what they are. 

So what are the best bets for Morocco vs. Canada? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for Canada vs. Morocco, all from expert on a 25-15 roll on World Cup picks, and find out.

FILE – Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton dunks during the first half of Game 3 in a second-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, May 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

WASHINGTON — Deandre Ayton is being traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Washington Wizards, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.

The Lakers have agreed to send Ayton to Washington for Jaden Hardy and second-round draft picks in 2031 and 2032, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because the trade was not yet official.

Ayton, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft, played for the Phoenix Suns for five seasons and the Portland Trail Blazers for two. He joined the Lakers for last season and averaged 12.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in 72 games.

The Wizards have won just 50 games over the past three seasons, but their future looks brighter after adding Trae Young and Anthony Davis last season and then taking AJ Dybantsa with the top pick in last month’s draft. Of course, Davis’ availability is often a concern.

The 7-foot Ayton adds another rim protector to a Washington team that has Davis and Alex Sarr. Ayton now gives the Wizards three No. 1 overall picks along with Davis and Dybantsa.

Ayton has averaged 15.8 points and 10.1 rebounds for his career.

Ayton’s exit continues an offseason of upheaval for the Lakers. LeBron James isn’t coming back, and Los Angeles is giving up two first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps as part of a sign-and-trade that’s bringing big man Walker Kessler from Utah to the Lakers.

Ben Whittaker has outlined the time it should take to become a worthy opponent for David Benavidez, who seemingly remains in search of a dance partner for his next outing.

‘The Mexican Monster’ comes off a sixth-round stoppage over Gilberto Ramirez in May, dethroning the WBO and WBA titlist to become a three-division world champion.

In doing so, Benavidez has afforded himself options between 175lbs and 200lbs, given that he still holds the WBC light-heavyweight strap.

Having just become the unified cruiserweight champion, however, the 29-year-old may look to cement himself at the new weight by taking on Noel Mikaelian.

As the WBC mandatory challenger at 200lbs, Benavidez has effectively confirmed his interest in a clash with Mikaelian, who currently holds the green and gold title.

Eventually, though, the Mexican-American could drop back down to 175lbs in pursuit of a more lucrative opportunity, possibly against rising star Whittaker.

The Olympic silver medallist has ended his last four contests inside two rounds, most recently stopping American veteran Richard Rivera in New York.

After making his US debut last weekend, the next step, it seems, is for Whittaker to face a domestic opponent in Birmingham this coming October.

This will likely come against an opponent rated below world level but, even so, the 29-year-old has told Fight Hub TV that he is not a million miles away from facing the likes of Benavidez.

“100% [I’ll be ready for Benavidez in a year or so].”

Interestingly enough, Benavidez has already expressed his interest in a future showdown with Whittaker, naming London’s Wembley Stadium as his dream destination.