One of the most dramatic matches of the FIFA World Cup unfolded Tuesday afternoon at Atlanta Stadium.

After next week’s World Cup semifinal, the stadium will shed its tournament identity. Mercedes-Benz Stadium will reclaim its name, and the natural grass installed for the tournament will give way to the artificial turf used for Falcons games before Atlanta hosts the Denver Broncos in a preseason game next month.

While the retractable-roof stadium continues to host World Cup drama, its regular tenant knows all too well what it’s like to be at the center of football heartbreak.

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Lionel Messi (10) of Argentina celebrates with teammates after the 3-2 victory during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium on July 07, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Patrick Smith – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

More than nine years ago, Tom Brady engineered one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history, rallying the New England Patriots from a 28-3 deficit to defeat the Falcons in overtime in Super Bowl LI.

Moments after Lionel Messi equalized in the 83rd minute to erase Argentina’s two-goal deficit against Egypt, Enzo Fernández completed the comeback with a header as the final minutes ticked off the clock. Brady then took to social media, drawing a comparison to the Patriots 2017 comeback.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium on Feb 5, 2017, in Houston, Texas. (Kevin Jairaj/Imagn Images)

“Yeah so that might top 28-3,” the seven-time Super Bowl winner wrote on X, adding a mind-blown emoji.

Egypt got on the board first on Tuesday afternoon, courtesy of Yasser Ibrahim’s goal in the 15th minute. His teammate Mostafa Zico followed with a score in the 67th to build Egypt’s lead to 2-0.

MESSI, ARGENTINA AVOID A SHOCKING UPSET IN WILD KNOCKOUT STAGE MATCH AGAINST CAPE VERDE

Messi helped guide Argentina to its first World Cup title in four years, defeating France in a final that was ultimately decided by penalty kicks.

Lionel Messi (10) of Argentina celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium on July 7, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Elsa/Getty Images)

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Argentina’s 3-2 comeback Tuesday booked its place in the quarterfinals, where it will face the winner of Switzerland and Colombia on Saturday in Kansas City, Missouri. Switzerland and Colombia were scoreless at halftime of their Round of 16 match.

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68 fights into an iconic career, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez may just have a few years left in the sport.

The Mexican superstar remains one of boxing’s biggest attractions and is set to return in October when he challenges new WBC super-middleweight champion Christian Mbilli.

It is a belt that Alvarez held up until September last year before he was dethroned by Terence Crawford. Following the unanimous decision win, the American pound-for-pound star announced his retirement, but Canelo continues to make it clear that he wants to run it back.

Speaking to the Ring Magazine, Canelo said he would love the opportunity to share the ring with Crawford once again.

“I hope that [Crawford] fight happens again. That’s what I hope, and I think it would be amazing for fans, too, right? For everybody. It’s a big fight. I hope I get my rematch.”

In an interview with the same outlet earlier this year, he was a little more bullish when asked if he was upset that Crawford had retired without ‘giving him the opportunity back’.

“Yeah, of course. I always give him credit, but we need to run it back. I didn’t feel the way I wanted to and I need to make it happen again and it’s gonna be different. I think for him to deserve all the credit, he needs to give me the rematch.”

Despite Canelo’s willingness and the potential mega payday, Crawford has consistently said that he is happy in retirement. It leaves the Mexican to focus on the current challenges in the super-middleweight division, with champions Hamzah Sheeraz and Osleys Iglesias waiting should he beat Mbilli in Saudi Arabia this October.

THE FUTURE KICKING IN A virtual taekwondo competitor performs a high kick during a competitive event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on June 20. —Associated Press

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — When Vietnamese athlete Nguyen Thanh Hien Linh stepped into her first virtual taekwondo competition in Singapore in 2024, she had little idea what she was doing.

“I was just kicking into the air,” recalled the 21-year-old. Despite her background as an elite national taekwondo champion, she struggled in the virtual arena with no clue on strategy, skills or how the technology worked.

Two years later, she won a gold medal at a recent virtual taekwondo competition in Malaysia and was part of a growing community of the gamified combat sport across Southeast Asia.

Once unfamiliar and experimental, virtual taekwondo is now emerging as a structured competitive discipline. Co-developed by World Taekwondo and Singapore-based technology company Refract Technologies, it combines virtual reality technology with traditional taekwondo techniques to woo tech-savvy young athletes.

Competitors wear VR headsets that transport them into a digital 3D arena, and strap motion-tracking sensors on their spine, thighs and shins. They use their bodies to control digital avatars in noncontact virtual matches, where every fast and well-timed strike depletes the opponent’s virtual health bar.

Unlike conventional taekwondo where competitors are separated by age, weight and gender, virtual taekwondo places everyone in the same digital arena.

READ: Will virtual competition become the new normal in the world of sports?

It was showcased at Singapore’s Olympic Esports Week in 2023 and held its first World Championships in Singapore in 2024. This year, the sport will make its debut at the Asian Games in Japan, and it is expected to be included in the 2027 Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia.

Reshaping perceptions

During last month’s Malaysian competition, athletes and coaches described how the discipline is reshaping perceptions of both martial arts and gaming.

Singapore national athlete Brian Peh, 46, said he was not into gaming but joined the 2024 championship with his son out of curiosity. Both won gold and have since participated in many other local and regional games.

Peh now also trains students in virtual taekwondo in his dojang, or training hall.

READ: De los Santos bags 6th gold in virtual meet

“I always tell parents: your kids love games. Do you want them using their hands to play, or using their legs?” he said. “When they put on the headset and start to fight, wow, their energy is so high. They can play and play and they love it.”

Cambodian coach Vandy Yiv said more children and parents in his country are showing interest due to the low risk of injury. In a local tournament earlier this year, he said there were more participants for virtual taekwondo than traditional segments.

Disorienting

Many initially thought it was a video game but quickly realized it was a physically grueling combat sport. “Your whole body is moving. There is action, but no injury,” he said. Vandy said he hopes virtual taekwondo can become a medal event in the Olympic Games in the near future.

Some athletes described their initial experiences as disorienting, reporting dizziness before they adjusted to the virtual environment. Many teen players, however, were immediately attracted to the gamified experience. Matches consist of intense and fast-paced rounds, only a minute for each bout, and requires continuous offensive pressure.

For Nguyen, success came after she learned that virtual taekwondo requires far more than simply throwing kicks. “You have to guess first where your opponent is and move” before they do, she said.

While matches take place in an immersive arena, coaches say success depends on physical conditioning as much as technical ability. Athletes still execute front kicks, turning kicks and spinning techniques, with success hinging on speed of execution rather than impact force.

“So our training is first stamina, muscle endurance, flexibility. Then we go toward the skills, the strategies, how to fight,” Malaysian coach Henry Lee said during a recent training session at a club. “Strength … is about how fast your leg can lift and strike. Speed becomes your power.”

Lee, who is also an elite national taekwondo athlete, said he scouts for players with a strong physique and a good “game sense”—the ability to read movement and make split-second decisions inside the virtual environment.

Game feels like a dream

One of his students, Victoria Siow, 12, said the challenge lies in judging space she cannot physically see.

“You have to work on your mind—when to kick, how far to move,” she said during a training session. “It feels like a game and like a dream at the same time.”

For Raja Mardiah Idris, 45, who trains at the same club, virtual taekwondo has opened doors that traditional sparring no longer could. It allows older athletes and women to compete safely and on equal footing, she said her young daughter has also embraced the sport, in a healthy alternative to digital device.

“When you wear the VR, everybody is the same,” said Raja, a member of a state royal family. “You win through your technique, your strategy and your fitness.”

Raja said she plans to quit full-contact kyorugi sparring to focus on virtual taekwondo. She runs and trains in the gym to stay strong, and hopes to represent Malaysia in virtual taekwondo in the SEA Games next year.

Malaysia’s national virtual taekwondo coach Tony Lee, said the sport is still in its infancy. While equipment cost is high and access may be limited in the region, he said growing interest will push clubs to invest. Malaysia has national programs and coaching certification courses now in place.

“Virtual taekwondo is our future because young people like gaming,” he added. /cb

Donovan Mitchell got quite a payday from the Cleveland Cavaliers Tuesday, agreeing to a four-year, $273 million maximum extension, which includes a full trade kicker and player option for the 2030-31 season.

While Mitchell could’ve waited one more year to get a potential five-year, $353 million deal, the 29-year-old wasted no time signing an extension on the first day he was eligible to do so this summer.

It’s hard for Cleveland not to want to build its team around Mitchell now and for the foreseeable future. He has been an All-Star seven straight seasons, which includes three with the Utah Jazz before he was traded to Cleveland during the 2022 offseason.

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Donovan Mitchell (45) of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks to pass the ball during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies Feb. 2, 2023, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. (David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)

He has averaged 26.7 points in four seasons with the Cavaliers, including 27.9 last season, and has made an All-NBA team in three of his four years.

Mitchell also noted having “unfinished business” after the team got swept by the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals.

Mitchell was heading into the 2026-27 season on the last guaranteed season of his previous contract before a 2027 player option kicked in.

CAVS NEED LEBRON JAMES ‘TO RETURN HOME TO SAVE THE DAY,’ ESPN STAR STEPHEN A SMITH SAYS

Now, the bigger question for the Cavaliers: Does Mitchell’s contract extension hurt or help their chances of yet another reunion with LeBron James?

The 41-year-old has made it clear he will be playing elsewhere for the 2026-27 NBA season, marking the end of his eight years with the Los Angeles Lakers.

James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, hasn’t indicated where he might be heading, but reports have indicated his agent, Rich Paul, is actively looking at specific teams.

LeBron James (6) of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to a foul call during the second half of a game against Dallas Mavericks at Crypto.com Arena Jan. 12, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Among them is the Cavaliers, as the man from Akron, Ohio, has played a significant role in the franchise’s history, including an NBA title in 2016. If this is James’ final NBA run, why not do it where it all began, where he returned after his successful stint with the Miami Heat and where he can close the book on a one-of-a-kind career?

However, other teams, including the Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors have been rumored and debated about.

Of course, the salary cap and staying within its parameters is a big deal for NBA teams. While a Cavaliers fan could view Mitchell’s max extension as a bad thing for James to land back in Cleveland, it is not believed it will affect their chances at signing him.

As for James’ NBA title chances, the Cavaliers did reach the Eastern Conference finals, and the 41-year-old wouldn’t have to be the center of attention in terms of offensive playmaking. Mitchell and Evan Mobley can lead the way there, while Jarrett Allen protects the rim down low.

The Cavaliers and James Harden, whom they acquired before the trade deadline last season, are reportedly negotiating a team-friendly deal as well to keep their salary cap at bay.

Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons in Game 7 of the second round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 17, 2026 in Detroit. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

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Whether the big fish will be landed, bringing “The Chosen One” back to his roots one last time remains to be seen.

Mitchell has left no doubt, though, where his future lies in the NBA, and he will look to get that unfinished business squared away in Cleveland.

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Oleksandr Usyk and Muhammad Ali both ruled the heavyweight division during different eras and now Canelo Alvarez has revealed if he thinks the Ukrainian would have been able to overcome ‘The Greatest.’

Usyk has established himself as the best heavyweight of his generation after a number of impressive victories in recent years, notably defeating Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois all on two occasions each to twice become undisputed champion.

His achievements are all the more remarkable due to the fact he initially campaigned at cruiserweight, becoming undisputed champion in that division before moving up in weight and deciding to test himself against fighters that were naturally much bigger than him.

He weighed just 221lbs when he first became world heavyweight champion, and while that is much lighter than some of the other world heavyweight champions in the past, it is similar to what Ali would campaign at throughout his illustrious career.

Ali first claimed world honours in February 1964, and would finish his career as a three-time world heavyweight champion, earning memorable wins in the ‘Rumble In The Jungle’ against George Foreman and the ‘Thrilla In Manila’ against Joe Frazier.

The success of both Usyk and Ali has led to discussions amongst fans about who would have triumphed in a fantasy clash between the two fighters, and now Mexican superstar Canelo has weighed in with his own take.

Speaking to Daily Mail Boxing, four-weight world champion Canelo was asked about several hypothetical fights between past and present heavyweights, and had no doubt about his answer when quizzed about Usyk and Ali.

“Muhammad Ali.”

Canelo isn’t the only big name to predict a fight between the two heavyweights, with former Ali foe Larry Holmes also recently sharing his thoughts.

Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. will embark on Year No. 3 in the Twin Cities in 2026, and according to ESPN, he’s one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks, believe it or not. Jeremy Fowler from that website surveyed coaches, executives, and scouts in his annual rankings series, and Murphy Jr. was considered an “honorable mention” among the league’s top corners.

Murphy Jr. isn’t typically included in such lists, so this one is noteworthy.

A Little Praise for Brian Flores’s Trusted CB1

Murphy Jr. an Honorable Mention in NFL’s Best CBs

Fowler described his CB pecking order process: “The pantheon of elite cornerbacks has a high barrier to entry. Nine players from last year’s list made this year’s top 10, and the one debut needed a first-team All-Pro season to grab the last spot. That’s serious competition, and the game’s best all jockeyed for position.”

“Seven cornerbacks appeared on at least 85% of ballots. While the top two carried over from 2025, spot Nos. 3-10 were all reconfigured. A pair from the first round of the 2023 draft made a major move, and the No. 1 player appears to be on a path to Canton.”

Fowler then revealed additional votes for Honorable Mention: “Also receiving votes: DJ Turner II, Marlon Humphrey, Alontae Taylor, DaRon Bland, Kool-Aid McKinstry, Travis Hunter, Tyson Campbell, Byron Murphy Jr., Deommodore Lenoir, Riq Woolen.”

The same series also published the NFL’s top running backs this week, and no Vikings whatsoever were mentioned.

The Production in 2025

Murphy Jr. has quietly built a remarkably solid NFL career.

Over seven seasons, he’s played 104 games, starting 96 of them. His career totals include 438 tackles, 16 interceptions, and 68 passes defended. This is notable production for a cornerback who has adapted to various teams and schemes while remaining highly effective.

His standout year was undoubtedly the 2024 season. Murphy started all 17 games for the Vikings, recording six interceptions — including a pick-six — and earning a Pro Bowl selection. Opposing quarterbacks targeted him 110 times, completing 70% of those passes, but Murphy limited the impact, holding them to a 79.3 passer rating. Pro Football Focus acknowledged his strong performance with an overall grade of 73.4 and a 73.5 in coverage.

The 2025 season presented a more mixed outcome. Murphy again started every game, finishing with 71 tackles, two interceptions, and seven passes defended. His coverage statistics showed some improvement, as he allowed only 45 catches on 76 targets for 448 yards. However, PFF’s overall grade dropped to 58.5, indicating a more unstable performance throughout the year.

Despite some fluctuations, Murphy remains a reliable starting cornerback in Brian Flores’ demanding defense, where corners bear substantial responsibility.

Another Year Lined Up as Vikings’ Main CB

Murphy Jr. enters Year No. 3 as Minnesota’s primary cornerback, and truth be told, the team defense has flourished along the way. Over the last two seasons, the Vikings rank No. 1 in the NFL per EPA/Play, and that’s precisely when Murphy Jr. came aboard, at the start of 2024.

Flores, the Vikings’ defensive coordinator, has proven that he doesn’t need utterly elite cornerback performance to cook, evidenced by men like Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, Stephon Gilmore, Shaquill Griffin, and Fabian Moreau on the roster.

While Minnesota will eventually use a high-round draft pick on a cornerback of the future, the group, headlined by Murphy Jr., certainly isn’t hurting anything. It’s tough to decry the cornerbacks from the NFL’s best defense since 2024.

Pat Surtain Is the Top Dog

Surtain II in Denver took home the top prize, and Fowler wrote, “Surtain held a convincing grip on the process, eliciting more than 75% of the first-place votes. Surtain is the prototype, with the ideal combination of size (6-foot-2, 202 pounds), lateral agility, downfield speed and instincts.”

“The 2024 Defensive Player of the Year missed three games due to a shoulder injury in 2025 but still deflected 12 passes. From the nit-pick file: A few coaches and scouts thought he got handsy in 2025 (finished the season with 10 penalties) and didn’t always show an extra gear to close gaps for interceptions.”

Few onlookers will disagree with the ranking.

“But when lined up against the game’s best — Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase in Week 4 — Surtain allowed one reception for 8 yards across 13 coverage matchups. And his 12 interceptions over five seasons are a reminder that ball production is not a problem,” Fowler added.

“Surtain is one of seven NFL cornerbacks to win Defensive Player of the Year. Four are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”

The Vikings will see Surtain II when the Broncos roll into U.S. Bank Stadium in 2027.

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

Lionel Messi once again showed why he is regarded as one of football’s greatest players after inspiring Argentina national football team to a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Egypt national football team in the FIFA World Cup.

Argentina looked to be heading out of the tournament after falling 2-0 behind with less than 20 minutes left at Atlanta Stadium. Egypt took control through goals from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico, while goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir produced a brilliant performance to frustrate the defending champions.

Messi also had a difficult night early on. The 39-year-old saw his first-half penalty saved by Shobeir, adding to his list of missed World Cup spot-kicks. At that stage, Argentina appeared to be on the verge of a shocking exit.

However, the South American giants refused to give up.

With 11 minutes remaining, Messi delivered a perfect cross for Cristian Romero, who headed home to make it 2-1 and give Argentina hope.

Just over four minutes later, Messi produced another moment of magic. The veteran forward fired a powerful left-footed shot that flew past Shobeir and went in off the crossbar to level the score at 2-2.

As Egypt struggled to recover from the late pressure, Argentina completed the turnaround in stoppage time when Enzo Fernández headed home the winning goal, sealing an incredible 3-2 victory.

The final whistle sparked emotional scenes. Messi, who had looked heartbroken when Argentina were two goals down, was left in tears as he celebrated with his team-mates. The Argentina players lifted him into the air while their fans filled the stadium with songs long after the match ended.

The victory keeps Argentina’s hopes of defending their World Cup title alive. Messi and his team will now face either Switzerland national football team or Colombia national football team in the quarter-finals as they continue their bid for another world title.

The US Men’s National Team entered Monday night’s game against Belgium in Seattle with the highest expectations of any U.S. World Cup team in decades.

They had a mostly “golden generation” of players in their peaks, like Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic, Malik Tillman, and Sergino Dest. Folarin Balogun, arguably the best striker the US has had in recent memory, was also available for the must-win match after FIFA controversially postponed his red card suspension with some involvement from President Donald Trump.

Belgium was widely viewed as a “beatable” opponent. They’d trailed Senegal 2-0 in the 86th minute in the round of 32, before a ferocious, fortunate comeback led to a 3-2 victory deep in extra time after a questionable penalty allowed Youri Tielemans to slot home the winner. Their defense was seen as questionable, at best, and their “golden generation” had aged past their primes. Star forward Jeremy Doku was also out of the starting 11, seemingly giving the US back line an advantage.

Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku (9) kicks the ball past the United States’ Chris Richards (3) to score his team’s fourth goal during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between the United States and Belgium in Seattle, Washington. Monday, July 6, 2026. (Lindsey Wasson/AP Photo)

BELGIUM EMBARRASSES TEAM USA BEFORE BREAKING OUT TRUMP’S SIGNATURE DANCE CELEBRATION AFTER FOURTH GOAL

As it turns out, not only did the USMNT not have an advantage, they were hopelessly outplayed and outclassed by an organized, composed, aggressive Belgian attack. They created few good chances, facing a much better defensive structure without Kevin De Bruyne on the pitch. After tying the match on another fantastic free kick from Tillman, they conceded again in less than 70 seconds. There was a humiliating goalkeeper error when Matt Freese kicked the ground instead of the ball, leading to the third goal that effectively put the match away. 4-1 defeat, and little to show for it.

All that might be more forgivable, after all, Belgium is still a very good international team, if the USMNT had a clean match and were simply beaten by a better team. But they didn’t just get beaten. They embarrassed themselves on the biggest stage they’ve ever had. Literally. And soccer analyst Taylor Twellman went off on the players and staff for the many, many, inexcusable mistakes.

Tim Ream (L) #13 and Sebastian Berhalter #14 of the United States lament after a 4-1 loss in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 16 match between USA and Belgium at Seattle Stadium on July 6, 2026 in Seattle, United States. (Photo by Al Sermeno/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) (ISI Photos via Getty Images)

He discussed what happened with Yahoo Sports! “The Cooligans” podcast after the loss, saying the team failed their first “real test.”

“That was the first real test of the World Cup,” he said. “What’d we get? Yeah, I mean, what’d we get?

“And listen, we’ve done stuff, right? We did stuff…[but] you can’t make mistakes at the highest level. You can’t miss fundamentals. The first two goals from Belgium. They make you want to…it’s not an easy watch guys. That’s not an easy watch…That’s a 50-50 ball inside the 18 that Dest just looks around, lets it bounce. Run through it.”

He continued, saying that he’d rather have players ready to “run through the wall” instead of being passive or unsure of themselves.

AFTER BLOWOUT LOSS TO BELGIUM, MANY ARE WONDERING IF TEAM USA IS BETTER OR WORSE THAN IT WAS A DECADE AGO

“And listen, everyone on social media talks about, oh, Sebastian Berhalter this…Give me 10 Sebastian Berhalters,” he said. “They’ll run through the wall, at least. You cannot forget fundamentals. The little things, that is gonna be, for that group of players, the most difficult pill to swallow. Because when you watch the tape, when you watch, the tape, it’s not my experience, I watched it, that’s a difficult one to swallow. Those are simple fundamentals and we missed all of them tonight. All of them.”

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Not much to argue with there. Just look at the lack of defensive effort on Belgium’s first goal, in the 10th minute. When the ball goes into the air, there are literally four US players around one Belgian player. Plus three more defenders nearby or in front of the goal. Somehow, that one Belgian player got by all of them, before threading a pass into an unmarked Charles De Ketelaere for the easiest shot of his life.

Belgium’s Charles De Ketelaere (17) celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between the United States and Belgium in Seattle, Washington. Monday, July 6, 2026. (Maddy Grassy/AP Photo)

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Freese’s error was compounded by Ream jumping to try and deflect an open shot on goal by Hans Vanaken, only to mostly whiff and see the ball roll directly into the net. On the second goal, De Ketelaere just outjumped two US defenders, while two other stood around helplessly.

These are fundamental problems that cannot happen at this level. Inexcusable, indefensible mistakes. There’s a focus on managers and coaching in the international game, when managerial importance pales in comparison to having better players. Right now? The USMNT simply doesn’t have enough good ones.