File photo of Virat Kohli© AFP

John Symons and Sheila Laxon, the training duo, are requiring a bit more patience as they monitor Nihancan’s development towards longer racing distances.

The ultimate objective for Nihancan is the Mahogany Challenge Series Final (2500m) at Flemington on July 4. However, Nihancan must first earn his spot in that race through the Ken Cox Handicap (2000m) at Flemington this Saturday.

Nihancan’s pedigree is well-suited for staying contests.

He is a son of the 2007 VRC Oaks winner, Arapaho Miss, a mare who has produced high-quality stayers including De Little Engine, the 2019 Oaks winner Miami Bound, Roaring Engine, and Kadavar.

Thus far, Nihancan has competed in five races, achieving a maiden win over 2040m at Seymour on May 21. He then finished sixth over 2000m at Flemington on June 6, behind Rockette.

However, Symons indicated that the colt is showing strong signs of being ready for the 2500m distance of the Mahogany Challenge Series Final.

“Hopefully we will pick up some points on the weekend to get to that race, as that’s what we’ve got him set for,” Symons said.

“I thought he ran really well the other day. He was jammed up behind other horses for quite a while and when he got some clean air, his last 100 (metres) was really good.”

“But the draw (barrier 16) makes it tricky.”

Nihancan commenced his racing career over 1600m, finishing last at Ballarat in March. He then contested a 2000m race at Kilmore in April, finishing seventh.

Following that, Symons stated that the stable decided to adopt a more assertive racing approach.

“Early on he wasn’t switched on and then we rode him forward at Pakenham,” he commented.

“Before that we had been teaching him to settle, and we saw improvement and then he really improved at Seymour.”

“The horse that he beat ran third in the Victoria Derby and I thought he took another huge step forward at Flemington the other day.”

“I know he only ran sixth, but I like the way he hit the line and he’s screaming out for the 2500 metres.”

“If he can get into the final of that series, I think he will be thereabouts.”

Having previously trained Knight’s Choice to victory in the Melbourne Cup, Symons hopes Nihancan might one day participate in Australia’s most prestigious race, following in the footsteps of his half-sister Miami Bound who ran in the race twice.

“We’ll look and see where he ends up this spring and how he develops,” Symons remarked.

“It will all depend on each run and where he’s at, but he is a nice horse.”

Consider the racing betting markets for the Ken Cox Handicap at Australian betting sites.

The Buffalo Bills and rest of the NFL could dip back into the free agent market in the coming weeks.

The next while in pro football will be quiet for the most part. The NFL does not have anything schedule until 2026 training camp at the end of July and offseason minicamp just wrapped up.

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Beside offseason drama (which teams will want to avoid), the only thing that could unfold for teams in the NFL until training camp is the signing of new players. There are a few known veteran names still on the market, too.

According to NFL.com, the two best vets that have value in free agency are two former Buffalo Bills players: pass rusher Joey Bosa and wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

Diggs has not played in Buffalo since 2023, meanwhile, Bosa was on the team last season. The problem relating to a return to the Bills is their fits on the 2026 team.

Here’s NFL.com’s rating and breakdown on both former Bills players:

Bosa took over a few games early last season and proved to be a quality pickup overall for the Bills. But he faded badly and ultimately hurt his team in the playoffs.

Still an excellent route runner and third-down option, Diggs would have been initially ranked higher as a short-term play if not for his then-pending legal matter. Recently, he’s been found not guilty and won’t be disciplined by the NFL, opening the door for a potential signing.

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This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Two former Bills players top list of NFL’s best remaining free agents

The United States men’s national team made a statement to open its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, routing Paraguay 4-1 last week behind two goals from Folarin Balogun.

The U.S. struck less than seven minutes in, taking a 1-0 lead when Paraguay’s Damian Bobadilla redirected the ball into his own net. Fans inside the packed stadium in Inglewood, California, roared as the USMNT seized an early advantage.

The result gave the United States its largest World Cup victory margin since 1930, when the Americans won twice by 3–0 scores in the tournament’s inaugural edition.

After opening the tournament in Southern California, the USMNT will stay on the West Coast, shifting north to Seattle for their next group-stage match against Australia at 3 p.m. ET.

WATCH USA VS AUSTRALIA ON FOX ONE

A view of the ball in the back of the net after the USMNT scores a goal in a FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay in group stage action at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California, on June 12, 2026. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Australia opened its World Cup campaign last week with a 2-0 win over Türkiye.

Under head coach Mauricio Pochettino, the USMNT entered the tournament as the No. 17 team in the FIFA World Rankings. FIFA determines its world rankings using the Elo rating system, which rewards teams for wins and penalizes them for losses while also factoring in the strength of the competition.

Team USA’s star midfielder Christian Pulisic’s availability remains a question after he was substituted out of last week’s win over Paraguay with a left calf issue. Pulisic said the move was precautionary after he took a kick to the calf, adding that he was “really hoping that it’s nothing.”

Fans of the U.S. men’s national team celebrate outside Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Friday, June 12, 2026. (Photo by ETIENNE LAURENT / AFP via Getty Images)

Pochettino said he will consult the medical staff before deciding whether Pulisic can play in a pivotal Group D matchup. The result of the match could go a long way toward determining which team sits atop the group next week.

“Tonight – the day before the game – we have a meeting with our medical area, and we will assess the whole group, the players and tomorrow we will communicate on the things that we cannot agree [on] tonight,” Pochettino told reporters on Thursday. “He’s involv[ed], he’s much better from Friday. We’ll see.”

WATCH USA VS AUSTRALIA

This year’s World Cup features an expanded field of 48 teams.

Here’s how to watch the game, including start time, TV information and streaming options.

Sebastian Berhalter and Giovanni Reyna of the United States celebrate after their victory in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match against Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California, on June 12, 2026. (Jared C. Tilton/FIFA via Getty Images)

How to Watch United States vs Australia

When: Friday, June 19, 2026, at 3 p.m. ET

Where: Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington

TV: FOX

Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One, Watch free on Tubi, FOX Sports.

Former England goalkeeper Mary Earps has joined London City Lionesses on a two-year deal after leaving Paris St-Germain.

The 33-year-old left France after two seasons upon the expiry of her contract, having made 22 appearances in the Premiere Ligue this season.

She kept 12 clean sheets as PSG finished third in the table, 13 points behind champions Lyon.

“I feel the club aligns with what I stand for. I can’t wait to get started and to get down to business,” said Earps

“The club’s values represent what I want to represent and they are passionate about what I want to achieve. All the conversations have been really positive and every time I spoke with the club I wanted to hear more.

“The vision and ambition, including the new training facility, is incredible and I’m looking forward to seeing that develop. It shows what our owner Michele [Kang] and everyone at the club want to do in terms of really going for it.

“It’s about putting a marker down and saying we want to be competitive in a short space of time.”

Two-time Fifa Best Goalkeeper of the Year award-winner Earps played a crucial role in England’s victory at Euro 2022 and their route to the 2023 World Cup final.

She spent five years at Manchester United, making more than 100 appearances, and helped them win their first major trophy in 2024 as they lifted the Women’s FA Cup.

The goalkeeper earned many individual accolades during her successful international career before she announced her retirement in 2025.

She became one of the country’s most recognised and influential players, though her book – released in November – caused controversy and dominated headlines in the media for several weeks.

However, on her return to Old Trafford earlier this season in the Women’s Champions League, Earps was given a warm applause at full-time by home fans.

There is a mural of Earps painted outside Old Trafford celebrating her spell at the club.

London City Lionesses are demonstrating their summer ambition in the Women’s Super League transfer window as they pursue several high-profile players.

As well as Earps’ return to England, they are set to sign Spain defender Mapi Leon and are in ongoing talks with two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas following her exit from Barcelona.

London City Lionesses, who are backed by wealthy American businesswoman Michele Kang, finished sixth in their first season in the WSL in 2025-26.

“I feel I still have so much left to give to the game and that’s exactly why I chose London City,” said Earps.

“It won’t be easy – the WSL is extremely competitive. The team had a brilliant 2025-26 season finishing mid-table in their first season, now it’s about climbing the table and working towards finishing as high as possible.”

The deliberations on India’s roadmap for the 2027 World Cup are “not meant for public consumption”, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said in an interview to PTI, refusing to be drawn into any discussion on individual players and their much-speculated future in the team. Veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli dominate the chatter whenever there is any talk around the Indian team’s 2027 global campaign but Saikia is categorical that “strategic discussions in the board room” are best left inside.

While both former skippers are determined to play the mega-event, chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir have been non-committal on whether the squad will have space for the white-ball legends. Asked if the BCCI has had any internal conversations on the matter, Saikia said all stakeholders are aligned in their views in what is essentially an ongoing process.

“We have a very well-knit team and a lot of experts. All stakeholders are taken on board,” Saikia told PTI during an exclusive interaction.

“Whatever decisions that are made involve the cricket committee, the selectors and all other stakeholders, including the support staff, the head coach and the players concerned.

“There are regular conversations taking place. For that reason, we do not need any special session of interaction. This is an ongoing process,” the secretary said, keeping all his cards close to his chest.

He maintained that he would not divulge any board room information.

“I do not think I should disclose anything before the media or the public because these are strategic discussions. I am not authorised to speak about them before the media.” “Secondly, these are matters that should remain within the boardroom.”

BCCI to follow government diktat on Bangladesh

The Indian cricket team had postponed its white-ball tour of Bangladesh last year due to unrest in the neighbouring nation.

India’s eastern neighbours now have an elected government in place.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board too has a new president in former skipper Tamim Iqbal, who is keen on resumption of bilateral cricketing ties with India.

Asked if the BCCI’s stance would now change, Saikia replied: “The BCCI is a cricketing controlling board, and we have nothing to do with what is going on politically in other countries.” “As the BCCI, we follow whatever policy the Government of India has in place regarding participation in bilateral and multinational sporting events. Whatever regulations and policies the central government frames, we follow them, just like any other sports federation, whether it is football, athletics or any other sport,” he explained.

Saikia made it clear that it doesn’t concern the BCCI as to which party is running the government in Bangladesh.

“We are not concerned with who is running the government in a particular country, whether it is democratically elected, undemocratically elected or an autocratic government. That is none of our business.” “Our job is to run cricket. Whenever there is a scheduled tour to a foreign country for bilateral matches, we will proceed according to our plans and schedules,” Saikia said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Canada recorded the first men’s World Cup win in their history in stunning fashion, thrashing Qatar 6-0 at BC Place in Vancouver on June 18.

Jesse Marsch’s side produced a dominant display from start to finish, overwhelming their opponents and securing one of the most memorable victories in Canadian football history.

The hosts took the lead in the 16th minute through Cyle Larin before Jonathan David scored twice before half-time to put Canada firmly in control. Qatar’s problems worsened when Homam Ahmed was sent off in the 33rd minute.

Canada’s dominance was reflected in the statistics. According to Opta, the team registered eight shots on target before the break, matching a World Cup record set by Romania against Argentina in 1994.

The second half brought more goals as Qatar were reduced to nine men following the dismissal of Assim Madibo. Nathan Saliba added a superb free-kick in the 64th minute before an own goal by Mohammed Manai made it 5-0.

David completed his hat-trick in stoppage time to seal a famous victory for the hosts.

The night was not without concern for Canada after midfielder Ismaël Koné suffered a serious leg injury and had to leave the pitch. Saliba paid tribute to his teammate by holding up Koné’s No. 8 shirt after scoring.

After the match, coach Jesse Marsch described the occasion as a historic day for Canadian football. It was a landmark moment for a nation that had previously failed to win a match in its men’s World Cup appearances in 1986 and 2022.

This time, however, Canada made history in emphatic style with a record-equalling first-half performance and a memorable six-goal victory.

“Amercians have been used to in-play ads for 40, 50 years, so culturally this fits right in,” says Rob di Gisi, lecturer in sport management at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

“There is very little pushback here. Any changes which make games more Americanised will be embraced without people noticing.”

Fellow US broadcaster Telemundo, which shows matches in Spanish and is aimed at Latino Americans, is one of the few broadcasters which has decided not to show ads during the breaks.

During Canada’s opening match last week, its commentator said: “We prefer the old school way. We should be able to see what the players do.

“We show fans, people enjoying themselves, not the corporate direction of football.”

BBC Sport has contacted Fox Sports and Telemundo for comment.

In other big markets around the world ads are being used too, including in Mexico, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, India, Australia, the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa.

The broadcasters in those territories will not be able to charge prices as high as Fox Sports, and not all are running them for the maximum duration allowed, but the total amount accrued will be huge.

“When you start scaling that up over all the rest of the countries, it’s probably a billion dollars (£756m) from hydration break ads across the globe,” Di Gisi adds.

Having eyeballs on products during in-game breaks doesn’t necessarily guarantee success, however.

“Will advertisers in the hydration break be met with enough discontent that it negates the value of the advertising?” says T. Bettina Cornwell, head of marketing at the University of Oregon.

“It is the case that when brands violate the expected experience, in this case the flow of the game, fans can react negatively.”

After Spain’s disappointing draw in their opener against Cape Verde, speculation is, whether or not Lamine Yamal will start against Saudi Arabia. Several Spanish websites have reported that he may be ready to play for 45 minutes on Sunday. While Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente had said that he is in perfect shape, Barcelona won’t want to see the national team take risks with the forward. Yamal‘s fitness aside, one of the big talking points has been why La Roja’s biggest star is not wearing the most famous shirt number at the World Cup. And nobody in the dressing room seems to mind. The No.10 jersey has always carried a certain mystique. It belongs to artists, play-makers and match-winners. To the players who make stadiums rise from their seats. At this World Cup, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Bernardo Silva, Florian Wirtz and Luka Modric are all carrying that iconic number. Neymar, once he makes his tournament bow, will join the list.

Yet Spain’s brightest talent, and arguably one of the biggest attractions of this World Cup, has stepped onto the pitch wearing No.19. And for Lamine Yamal, that is perfectly fine.

The 18-year-old sensation arrived in North America as Spain’s main attacking weapon and one of the favourites to light up the tournament. At Barcelona, he has already inherited the famous No.10 shirt, following in the footsteps of Lionel Messi and generations of club legends. But with La Roja, things seem to work differently.

Spain’s No.10 belongs to Dani Olmo. And that is a sound decision, backed by team culture. 

Olmo may not be considered a bigger player. But his seniority counts. Olmo, who wears No.20 at Barcelona, has been part of the national setup much longer. With 50 caps to his name, he earned first choice when squad numbers were distributed. Yamal, despite already becoming the face of Spanish football, has made 25 appearances since his debut in 2023 and falls behind his Barcelona team-mate in the pecking order.

The system is straightforward. Players with the most international appearances get first pick among the available numbers. Olmo had the No.10 long before Yamal burst onto the scene, and no one inside the camp sees any reason to change that.

Yamal has already proven he can handle the burden that comes with football’s most glamorous shirt. Barcelona handed him the No.10 last summer, a responsibility that once proved too heavy for Ansu Fati.

After Messi’s emotional departure in 2021, Barcelona desperately searched for an heir. Fati inherited the number but injuries and enormous expectations made life difficult. The club later felt that placing such weight on a young player had been premature.

Yamal’s story has unfolded differently.

The teenager embraced the challenge. Last season, he delivered the finest campaign of his career, scoring 24 goals and adding 17 assists in 45 appearances. The number on his back mattered little because football spoke loudly enough.

That has been the case with Spain as well.

Inside the squad, there is no sense of frustration or rivalry over the jersey. Those close to the team insist Yamal has never viewed Olmo as an obstacle. If anything, respecting the established order is considered part of his growth.

Commercially, there is an argument that Spain are leaving money on the table. Yamal wearing No.10 would almost certainly boost shirt sales, and further strengthen the image of the country’s biggest football star.

But many feel Luis de la Fuente has built something more valuable than marketing opportunities.

His Spanish team thrives on collective values where hierarchies are respected. Veterans are valued. Individual status, however glittering, does not override team culture.

Even when that individual happens to be Lamine Yamal, he does not necessarily get the most famous shirt. And perhaps that says as much about the team’s unity as it does about the teenager’s maturity.

Besides, Yamal hardly needs a number to announce himself.

Everyone already knows who he is. And at the World Cup Spanish fans are waiting for the real Yamal to show up.

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