The countdown is on for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted for the first time by the US, Canada and Mexico. But a viral training video has triggered doubt on whether the US stadiums are ready for the tournament, after Senegal’s national team was seen practicing on a pitch that saw the ball barely bounce. Fans online said it would result in “player injuries” and the “worst World Cup ever,” but there’s key context missing about the stadium and pitch.
A video of Senegalese players testing the ball during football training has racked up millions of views across social media. It shows them repeatedly throwing a series of balls into the air and seeing it rebound on the pitch, with the players seemingly surprised that the balls don’t bounce.
It triggered criticism and concern from football fans online, who said “it completely changes the game” and that “this is going to be the worst World Cup in history.” Others mentioned potential effects for players, posting “a carnival of injuries is coming” and “if you plant your foot wrong, you’ve ruined your career.”
However, there is key context missing from this viral video. It’s an authentic clip with no indication it was modified by AI, and filmed in recent days at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina ahead of a Senegal-US friendly match. However, the stadium where it was filmed is not being used to host World Cup matches across the US, meaning the video isn’t necessarily a reflection of the conditions that players will see during the tournament.
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Venues like the Bank of America stadium – which is primarily used for NFL matches – are often used for multiple sports, and use temporary turf or grass that can be unrolled before games. It’s therefore unlikely to have had the same standards or maintenance as the pitches to be used by FIFA.
The turfgrass researchers hired by FIFA spoke to outlet The Conversation about the strictness of the pitch rules across multiple playing conditions and cities for the games, and how they’re confident that all the surface performance tests “met FIFA standards.”
That being said, the 2026 World Cup has not been without controversy. Due to FIFA introducing dynamic pricing for the first time, fans are left with eyewatering ticket prices. There’s also criticism of the “greedy” price hike by US transport authorities during the tournament period, as well as against the “Americanization” of adding the first ever halftime show.
Political controversies have also been present due to Donald Trump’s extensive travel ban rendering fans from multiple participating countries unable to visit, as well as uncertainty about Iran’s participation considering the ongoing war and concern that ICE will be mobilised in US stadiums.
The Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes meet in the postseason for the first time when they square off in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night. It’s an 8 ET puck drop on ABC from Raleigh, in the 68th unique matchup in Stanley Cup Final history. It is the first meeting of division champions since 2018. The NHL is big on parity.
Both franchises are eyeing a second championship, with Carolina winning the Stanley Cup in 2006 and Vegas lifting the Cup in 2023. The Hurricanes are -152 money-line favorites in the consensus Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes odds, with Carolina priced at +127 and the Over/Under for total goals set at 5.5.
Carolina is -155 on the series line to hoist its first Cup since 2006, and Vegas is +130 to win its first since 2023 – the last time a team from the Western Conference won it all. I’m simply hoping for seven games, and my early lean would be Hurricanes in seven, which is the +425 exact series result favorite. The Over/Under for total games is 5.5, with the Over at -185, and I absolutely believe this goes at least six. That we have a shutout in any game is -120.
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Only eight players in NHL history have won an Olympic gold medal and Stanley Cup in the same year all-time, and only one American: Ken Morrow, who debuted with the Islanders after the 1980 Olympics. But we will get at least one addition to both lists from this series as Carolina’s Jaccob Slavin and Vegas’ Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifan all played for the gold medal-winning Team USA at this year’s Olympics in Italy.
The Golden Knights might be rusty, as they haven’t played since last Tuesday when they shockingly swept out the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche in the West Final. They seek to become only the fourth team to win at least two Cups in their first nine seasons in the expansion era (since 1967-68).
Coach John Tortorella’s 22-year gap between Stanley Cup Final appearances is the longest by a head coach in NHL history. He won it in 2004 with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Vegas tries to become the eight team to win a Stanley Cup after changing head coaches midseason.
Knights forward Mitchell Marner leads the postseason with 21 points and is the +165 Conn Smythe Trophy favorite as playoff MVP after opening at +6600. At BetMGM, the book is very exposed, as Marner is taking the most tickets of any player on that prop at 17.5%
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He’s +330 to have the most points of any player in this series, behind his teammate Eichel (+300), who is second in the league with 18 playoff points. The former Maple Leaf Marner could become the fourth player in the NHL’s modern era (since 1944) to lead the postseason in points during his first season with a franchise. The Leafs tried to trade Marner to Carolina during the 2024-25 season, but he used his no-trade clause to reject the deal because his wife was pregnant and he didn’t want to leave her or Toronto.
The two players with the most goals in these playoffs are the Golden Knights’ Pavel Dorofeyev and Brett Howden, each with 10, but it’s the Hurricanes’ Andrei Svechnikov who is the +500 favorite as the top goal scorer in the series. That’s a bit curious, considering he has only three so far in the playoffs. Logan Stankoven (+900) leads the Canes with nine.
Carolina finished off Montreal in the East final last Friday and is the first team to enter the Stanley Cup Final with one or fewer loss since all four rounds went best-of-7 in 1987. Goalie Frederik Andersen is the +220 second favorite for the Conn Smythe as the Canes have allowed only 1.62 goals per game in these playoffs, the seventh-fewest in a postseason in league history with a minimum of 10 games played.
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Five of the top six won the Cup, most recently the 2012 Los Angeles Kings. Andersen’s 1.41 GAA is tied for the third-best by a goalie in a postseason in playoff history (minimum 10 games played). For some reason, goalies don’t win the Conn Smythe much these days, only twice since 2007, but I like Andersen at the moment. He could become the first netminder ever to record 13 wins in his first 14 games of a postseason.
In addition, the Hurricanes have been lights-out on special teams in killing off 92.5% of penalties, tied for the fourth-best in any postseason since tracking began in 1978 (minimum of 10 games). Vegas is scoring on the power play 23.9% of the time.
I don’t care much about the regular season. Montreal had won all three during the year vs. Carolina and that proved not to matter. Vegas won both vs. the Hurricanes, outscoring them 10-4, but those were way back in October. Eichel led the way with three goals and an assist, while Marner had four assists. Andersen was in net for both and finished with a 4.09 GAA, but the Dane wasn’t that great during the year. He has flipped a switch.
Current Knights No. 1 netminder Carter Hart — +1200 for the Conn Smythe — didn’t see Carolina during the regular season. Akira Schmid won both games, starting one and replacing an injured Adin Hill in the other.
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Jordan Staal and William Carrier are Carolina’s only players with Stanley Cup Final experience who have dressed at least one game this postseason, while Vegas has 13. Staal last won the Cup in 2009 and has a chance to set the NHL record for longest time between Stanley Cup championships as a player. Hall of Famer Chris Chelios has the record with a 16-year gap.
Game 1 winners have won 75.6% of Stanley Cup Finals all-time, and teams that take Game 1 at home are 52-11 in the Final all-time. Excluding the unusual 2020 bubble setup, the home team hasn’t lost Game 1 of a Final since 2015. Four of those past five won the Cup, but the 2025 Oilers didn’t despite the Game 1 win in Edmonton.
I believe the rust that got Carolina will get Vegas a bit in the opener, and frankly the Golden Knights benefitted from some Avalanche injuries in the last round. The Canes are healthy and absolutely rolling. They are also 5-0 in OT games. Check out more expert picks in the daily SportsLine newsletter.
The Manchester United players heading to North America this summer are now set in stone after the World Cup squad deadline
The deadline to submit World Cup squads has passed and Manchester United will have 12 players competing in North America this summer.
There were some notable snubs in the Red Devils’ ranks, with Harry Maguire unfortunate to miss out in Thomas Tuchel’s England selection after playing a key part in the resurgence Michael Carrick oversaw as interim boss.
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Luke Shaw was also left out by the German boss despite starting every Premier League game of the season, becoming just the fifth outfield United player to have done so.
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They and the rest of the contingent who were either not selected or whose nation didn’t qualify will enjoy an extended summer break before returning to start pre-season next month.
And there’s set to be United vs United action when Brazil play Morocco on June 13. Here’s a look at the confirmed list of players headed to Mexico, Canada and the United States.
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Ukrainian tennis star Marta Kostyuk has launched a scathing attack on Russian players, accusing them of hiding behind silence regarding the war in Ukraine and asserting that their inaction has revealed “whose side they are on” after four years of conflict.
Her comments came after she reached her first Grand Slam semi-final at the French Open on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old secured her place in the final four by defeating fellow Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 6-3 2-6 6-2 in an emotionally charged quarter-final, played just hours after another night of Russian strikes targeted Kyiv.
Kostyuk, who is set to face Russian Mirra Andreeva next, dismissed the argument that Russian athletes must remain silent due to potential repercussions at home.
“There is a way if you don’t agree,” Kostyuk told reporters. “I know some people who have left Russia the moment the war began, who sold all their business, who left everything behind because they just don’t agree with what their country is doing to other people.”
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Kostyuk will face Russia’s Mirra Andreeva in the semi-finals (AP)
She highlighted fellow player Daria Kasatkina, who switched allegiance from Russia to Australia last year, as an example of someone who has publicly spoken out despite family pressure.
“I don’t think she lives in Russia anyways, but the majority of players don’t live in Russia,” Kostyuk added. “There is nothing that’s stopping you if this is something you don’t believe in. After four years, I think they’ve made it very clear whose side they are on.”
Kostyuk’s remarks followed questions about comments from Russian players, including Diana Shnaider and Andreeva, who have previously stated their focus remains solely on tennis, avoiding political discussions.
“They are all grown-ups. They know what they’re talking about. They know what’s going on. They have phones. They have Instagram. They have news,” Kostyuk stated. “I wish there was some more clear stance on what’s going on, especially when your country is killing other people.”
Earlier, the Ukrainian dedicated her victory to “the Ukrainian people” after revealing she had woken to news of further deadly bombings before checking on her family’s safety. Kostyuk emphasised that representing Ukraine has become more significant than individual results.
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“With everything that’s happening, for me being here is a real blessing, and I don’t think about winning,” she said. “I’m here to represent Ukraine and to enjoy.”
Australia produced a disciplined all-round performance to defeat Pakistan by 41 runs in the second ODI at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday, leveling the three-match series 1-1 and setting up a winner-takes-all decider.After being asked to bat first, Australia overcame early setbacks to post a competitive 231/9 in their 50 overs. Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi struck with the very first ball of the match, dismissing Alex Carey and giving the hosts a dream start. The Australian innings, however, was rebuilt through crucial contributions from Josh Inglis and Cameron Green.Inglis top-scored with 51 off 74 deliveries, while Green compiled a composed 53. The duo steadied the innings after Australia slipped to 51/3, adding valuable runs in challenging batting conditions. Youngster Oliver Peake then provided a late flourish to push Australia past the 230-run mark.Pakistan’s bowlers shared the wickets, with Shaheen leading the attack and finishing among the standout performers. Despite keeping Australia in check for large parts of the innings, the hosts were left chasing 232 for victory.Australia’s bowlers responded brilliantly. The visitors struck twice inside the opening three overs before trapping former captain Babar Azam early, leaving Pakistan reeling at 35/3. Matthew Short and Nathan Ellis played key roles with the ball as wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals.Shadab Khan mounted a spirited resistance with a fighting 71, keeping Pakistan’s hopes alive despite the collapse around him. Arafat Minhas also offered support, but the required rate continued to climb as Australia maintained relentless pressure.Nathan Ellis emerged as the chief destroyer, producing career-best ODI figures of 4/33. Matthew Short also made a major impact, and together they claimed seven wickets to derail Pakistan’s chase. Eventually, the hosts were bowled out for 190 in 44 overs, falling 41 runs short of the target.The victory marks a strong comeback for Australia after their defeat in the opening ODI and keeps the series alive heading into the final match. For Pakistan, Shadab’s valiant knock was one of the few positives on an otherwise disappointing batting display as they failed to capitalize on a strong start with the ball.Result: Australia 231/9 (50 overs) beat Pakistan 190 (44 overs) by 41 runs. The three-match ODI series is now tied 1-1.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell greets fans before kickoff on Aug. 10, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis ahead of a preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Entering his fourth season with the franchise, O’Connell continued a familiar tradition by interacting with supporters during pregame warmups near the sideline. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.
After June 1st, a date well-known in the NFL as a salary cap milestone and reset each year, the Minnesota Vikings have over $13 million in cap space. SI.com‘s Will Ragatz wrote Monday, “For much of May, after signing Jauan Jennings, the Vikings were pretty tightly up against the salary cap, with maybe 1 or 2 million dollars to spare.”
“That changed on Monday, as the NFL’s June 1 processing date provided Minnesota with a solid chunk of cap space. The Vikings released defensive tackle Jonathan Allen in March with a post-June 1 designation, allowing them to spread out the dead cap hits over 2026 and 2027. The Vikings also get another $1.3 million from Harrison Smith’s contract coming off the books, bringing the total to $12.5M.”
So, the question becomes: how will they spend the new dough? We have theories.
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Minnesota Has Four Salary Cap Paths This Summer
Los Angeles Chargers outside linebacker Joey Bosa celebrates after recording a sack during an AFC Wild Card playoff game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. In the first quarter on Jan. 11, 2025, Bosa brought down quarterback C.J. Stroud, helping set the tone for Los Angeles in the postseason matchup. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images.
1. An Extra Outsider Linebacker
Here’s a simple way to look at it: if the Vikings sign another prominent free agent soon, an outside linebacker is the most likely target.
The position is currently the weakest link on Minnesota’s roster. The trade of Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles in April transformed what was once a major strength into a noticeable question mark.
While Bo Richter and Tyler Batty might be ready for expanded roles, Jake Golday could contribute as an inside/outside linebacker hybrid, and Brian Flores might even experiment with Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins as a stand-up outside linebacker. But these are largely speculative scenarios for a team with playoff aspirations.
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Golday could certainly impress at training camp and quickly prove to be the solution. However, the Vikings’ recent approach with rookies suggests they prefer a more gradual integration rather than immediate reliance. Therefore, OLB (OLB3 specifically) remains the clearest area of focus for Minnesota before the season begins. Here are the highest-profile free agent options:
Cameron Jordan
Derek Barnett
Haason Reddick
Jadeveon Clowney
Joey Bosa
Kyle Van Noy
Leonard Floyd
Marcus Davenport
Von Miller
Yannick Ngakoue
2. A Center Trade or Ethan Pocic from Free Agency
Pocic remains the one free-agent center the Vikings could sign today and reasonably insert into a training-camp battle against Blake Brandel. He’s 30 years old and fired up a 63.8 Pro Football Focus grade in 2025. PFF also ranked him as the league’s 12th-best center entering 2025. At this stage in the offseason, he’d likely cost between $5 million and $9 million.
Otherwise, Minnesota could shoot for the stars and trade for Miami Dolphins center Aaron Brewer, an established center who paired with offensive coordinator Frank Smith in the Dolphins’ offense for the last two seasons. Smith is now the Vikings’ assistant head coach. The problem? The trade would cost a mid-round pick, and Minnesota may not want to part ways with precious draft capital after Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s poor drafting habits dating back to 2022. Minnesota must connect on draft picks henceforth, and subtracting them seems silly.
The Vikings could also peek at Matt Hennessy down in Dallas. The former 3rd-Rounder is still only 28 years old. What’s unusual is that he hasn’t had a real opportunity to consistently play center in five years, despite performing well in his last extended run at the position.
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While he’s unlikely to start for Dallas this season, as the Cowboys appear set with Cooper Beebe at center, leaving Hennessy as a backup, this situation could pique the Vikings’ interest.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa lines up behind center Aaron Brewer during a game against the New Orleans Saints at Hard Rock Stadium. On Nov. 30, 2025, Tagovailoa directed the offense during the first half as Miami hosted New Orleans in an interconference matchup late in the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-Imagn Images.
Perhaps the most realistic option, Minnesota has more players seeking new contracts than usual, at least at this time on the offseason calendar. Heading into an ordinary training camp, the Vikings generally have 1-3 key players looking for extensions. This is the list in 2026:
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Jordan Addison (WR)
Blake Brandel (C)
Blake Cashman (ILB)
Jordan Mason (RB)
Brian O’Neill (RT)
Isaiah Rodgers (CB)
Andrew Van Ginkel (OLB)
Jay Ward (S)
All of those men are slated to hit free agency next March. New general manager Nolan Teasley could simply lock in his existing players.
4. Save for a Rainy Day
Last year, fans studied Minnesota’s available cap space, wondering what the previous boss, Adofo-Mensah, might do with it — and then he just sat on it. That could happen again.
The Vikings may not be in a rush to spend their savings, setting the stage for a nest egg during the regular season that could be used to sign emergency free agents or to carve out space ahead of the NFL trade deadline in November.
Seattle Seahawks assistant general manager Nolan Teasley speaks during a behind-the-scenes feature highlighting the club’s NFL Draft preparation process. The video, produced after the NFL Combine, examined how Seattle’s personnel department evaluates prospects, compares scouting reports, and assembles its draft board before making key decisions during the annual event. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Then, if that isn’t used, Teasley can roll the funds over to the 2027 cap, leaving more cash on hand for the future. The San Francisco 49ers, for example, are sitting on a pile of $72 million. They could be waiting to ease some future pressure. The Vikings could do that, too.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle says Nigeria will play for victory when they face Poland in Wednesday’s international friendly in Warsaw.
The Nigerian team received a major boost on Tuesday with the arrival of Fulham defender Calvin Bassey, taking the number of players in camp to 20 ahead of the clash at the 58,000-capacity PGE Narodowy Stadium.
Bassey’s arrival gives Chelle more defensive options as the coach continues shaping his squad following Nigeria’s recent Unity Cup triumph in London.
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“Now, we have a team and we are preparing to go out there and win. Winning is the mentality that we are trying to create in the team, in the players. We will go for a win on Wednesday,” Chelle said.
The former Mali coach now has several defensive combinations available, with Semi Ajayi, Igoh Ogbu and Emmanuel Fernandez also in camp.
Nigeria’s goalkeeping department also looks competitive, with Maduka Okoye arriving in strong condition after joining training on Monday. Arthur Okonkwo, who kept clean sheets in his first two appearances for Nigeria during the Unity Cup, is also pushing for a starting place alongside Francis Uzoho.
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In midfield, captain Wilfred Ndidi is expected to play a leading role alongside Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Tochukwu Nnadi and Abdullahi Bewene.
The attack contains several in-form forwards including Moses Simon, Terem Moffi, Akor Adams, Rafiu Durosinmi and Philip Otele.
One of the biggest talking points in camp, however, has been Paul Onuachu after the striker woke up in Warsaw to news that he had won the Turkish Super Lig Goal of the Season award.
The towering Trabzonspor forward was reportedly one of the standout performers during training as confidence continues to grow within the squad.
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Poland are also expected to experiment with several younger players after handing debut opportunities during their recent match against Ukraine.
Coach Jan Urban may rely on winger Jakub Kamiński alongside a group that includes Oskar Pietuszewski, Mateusz Żukowski, Norbert Wojtuszek, Kacper Potulski and Oskar Wójcik.
Wednesday’s match kicks off at 8:45pm local time in Poland (7:45pm Nigeria time).
Iran finalized a 26-man World Cup squad on Monday to play in the United States including 17 home-based players whose clubs have not played since February due to the Middle East regional war.
Star forward Mehdi Taremi, who plays in Greece for Olympiakos, was among nine overseas players but they did not include his strike partner at the 2022 World Cup, Sardar Azmoun.
Azmoun was dropped from coach Amir Ghalenoei’s squad in March, reportedly because of a social media post that angered Iranian authorities during the ongoing war with the United States and Israel. His teammate at Dubai club Shabab Al-Ahli, Saeid Ezatolahi, was picked.
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Iran features five players with clubs in the United Arab Emirates, two in Belgium, Taremi in Greece and one in Russia. Belgium-based Dennis Dargahi on the official squad list is known as Dennis Eckert Ayensa at his club Standard Liege.
Iran is preparing for the World Cup at a training camp in Antalya, Turkey, before a scheduled departure on Friday to its tournament base in Tijuana, Mexico.
Citing complexities with visa issues to enter the U.S., Iran got FIFA approval 10 days ago to move from a planned training base in Tucson, Arizona.
Iran plays two games in World Cup Group G in Inglewood, California – against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium six days later – then goes to Seattle to face Egypt on June 26.
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Iran and the U.S. could meet in the round of 32 on July 3 at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium in Arlington, Texas, if both place second in their groups.
Iran:
Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Tractor), Hossein Hosseini (Sepahan), Payam Niazmand (Persepolis)
Defenders: Danial Eiri (Malavan), Ehsan Hajsafi (Sepahan), Saleh Hardani (Esteghlal), Hossein Kanaani (Persepolis), Shoja Khalilzadeh (Tractor), Milad Mohammadi (Persepolis), Ali Nemati (Foolad), Ramin Rezaeian (Foolad)
Midfielders: Rouzbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal), Saeid Ezatolahi (Shabab Al-Ahli), Mehdi Ghayedi (Al-Nasr), Saman Ghoddos (Kalba), Mohammad Ghorbani (Al-Wahda), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Dender), Mohammad Mohebi (Rostov), Amir Mohammad Razzaghinia (Esteghlal), Mehdi Torabi (Tractor), Aria Yousefi (Sepahan)
Forwards: Ali Alipour (Persepolis), Dennis Dargahi (Standard Liege), Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh (Tractor), Mehdi Taremi (Olympiakos), Shahriar Moghanlou (Kalba).
Alice Capsey hits 82 whilst Heather Knight finishes unbeaten on 70 as England chase down 181, the highest run-chase in women’s T20 history in England, to secure a six-wicket win against India, sealing an impressive 2-1 series win in Taunton.
A couple of months ago, Megha Ganne, the 2025 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion and a decorated collegiate player, surprisingly missed the cut at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. And how did she take it?
She called it cool.
Let her explain.
“ANWA was cool for me because I have not played that poorly in a big event in a long time, so I guess there has always been a little pocket of my head where it’s like, What happens when you don’t play well at a really big tournament?” she said Monday at the U.S. Women’s Open, her first start as a professional.
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She seems to already think and talk like a pro.
“Maybe not fear is the right word, but just curiosity of what that would look like and how that would affect me,” she continued, answering the question about how she stays confident when things don’t go her way. “At ANWA I learned the answer, and the answer is absolutely nothing. Life goes on. Then you wake up the next day and go practice. So I think just knowing there is so many opportunities, so many opportunities to prove yourself is the main thing I learned.”
That next opportunity is this week, at the 81st U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera in Pacific Palisades, Calif., and Ganne enters with some momentum. Last week, she helped her Stanford women’s golf team win the NCAA Championship, its third win in the last five years. Ganne finished second in stroke play and then went undefeated in match play, even clinching the title-winning point in the final against USC.
That put a bow on her senior year at Stanford, where over the last few years she continued to morph into one of the best amateur golfers in the country.
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Now, as a professional — she finished atop the LPGA’s LCAP Ranking, meaning she has full Epson Tour status — she has new goals, like “just being comfortable being uncomfortable,” as she gets used to life on tour.
This will be Ganne’s fourth major start — and third U.S. Women’s Open — and she’s five years removed from her first, where for most of the week she was the talk of the tournament. As a 17-year-old, she held a share of the first-round lead, was tied for 3rd after 54 holes and ultimately finished 14th at the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open at The Olympic Club.
She’s played in pro events since then, but for amateurs playing up with professionals, the whole thing can feel so novel, she said. Now it’s a job.
“When you go on Tour just with an exemption or just once, you spend so much time getting accustomed to the stuff that feels a little bit different, you don’t feel like you can maybe delve into your routines as much,” she said. “So I’m excited to build those new routines and see what they look like.”
The 51-year-old former England captain’s plaque on the famous Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles will be unveiled at a ceremony on June 12 ahead of the first game of the tournament on US soil between the United States and Paraguay in nearby Inglewood later that evening.
“David Beckham’s recognition with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in the Sports Entertainment category comes at a fitting moment as the United States prepares to host the FIFA World Cup,” said Ana Martinez of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.
“Beckham’s role in elevating soccer’s profile in America and his lasting influence on sports, entertainment, and global culture make this honor especially meaningful,” she said.
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Beckham: From English talent to global celebrity
In a highly decorated club playing career, Beckham enjoyed most success at Manchester United where he won six Premier League titles and the Champions League – the latter as part of an unprecedented treble in 1999.
David Beckham starred for Manchester United in the 1990s and early 2000sImage: Paul Barker/picture alliance/empics
He went on to star for European giants Real Madrid, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, as well as American MLS side LA Galaxy, and also made 115 appearances for England, who he represented at three World Cups.
Since retiring in 2013, he has become a co-owner of the American team Inter Miami CF, which signed Argentine superstar Lionel Messi and won the Major League Soccer Cup Championship last year.
Beckham, who was knighted by the United Kingdom‘s King Charles III last year, has also ventured into the entertainment industry, co-founding the content production company Studio 99 in 2019.
Ever since meeting his wife Victoria, a former pop singer with the Spice Girls, in the late 1990s, Beckham has enjoyed global celebrity status far beyond the football pitch.
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The World Cup kicks off on June 11 when co-host Mexico faces South Africa in Mexico City.
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