Portugal failed to break down a courageous and well-organised DR Congo on Wednesday despite overwhelming dominance.

The Seleçao made a blistering start in Houston, with João Neves rising highest from a lofted pass by Pedro Neto in the sixth minute to head past goalkeeper Mpasi Nzau. Portugal, led by a 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, controlled possession from the outset and imposed a suffocating midfield fuelled by PSG talent that dictated play.

Their approach was tactical: they constantly ran the Congolese defenders ragged, using their technical superiority to create space and tire opponents in preparation for late opportunities. The Portuguese dominated with about 75% possession, displaying some of the tournament’s most flowing football.

Watch moreWorld Cup 2026: France and Kylian Mbappé off to flying start

DR Congo showed early promise when Wissa sent a header inches wide of the left post in the 11th minute after receiving a pinpoint cross, and Bakambu’s mid-range strike was blocked by the Portuguese defence moments later. But Portugal’s grip on the game was suffocating as the team played with an aesthetic quality that set them apart from the competition.

Les Léopards’ vulnerabilities lay in their transition play. Their passes rarely reached the attacking duo with rhythm or incisiveness. Bakambu and Wissa found themselves under constant pressure from Portugal’s defensive lines, which compressed space and neutralised their threat. Yet the African underdogs remained dangerous, and Wissa broke Portuguese resistance with a magnificent header in the 45th minute of added time.

Chances squandered in closing stages

Portugal’s second-half adjustments saw Francisco Conceição replace Bernardo Silva at half-time, followed by the introductions of Rafael Leão for Pedro Neto and Nelson Semedo for Nuno Mendes in the 72nd minute. Mendes had picked up a knock in the 59th minute.

Ronaldo squandered a golden opportunity in the 69th minute when his shot crept just past the right post after controlling a pass inside the box in a moment that could have changed the match. A VAR review denied Cancelo a goal for offside in the 55th minute. In the 74th minute, Ronaldo received a sweet pass, but his effort was blocked by the Congolese defence. 

Watch moreMessi becomes joint World Cup all-time scorer with hat trick against Algeria

In the closing stages, Portugal desperately pressed for a winner. Bruno Fernandes came agonisingly close in the 90+1st minute, finding himself unmarked at the edge of the box after receiving a cross, but his attempt sailed just wide of the right post. 

The draw leaves both teams with work to do. Both sides now face challenges in a competitive Group K that also includes Colombia and Uzbekistan. 

While refusing to overlook Lyndon Arthur, Lewis Edmondson is nonetheless eager to collide with Joshua Buatsi later this year, believing he can cause the Londoner “big trouble”.

First on the agenda, though, is his light-heavyweight clash with Arthur, which takes place at St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton, on June 20.

Edmondson was supposed to face domestic rival Ezra Taylor in October, only for a hip injury to keep him out of the ring since last July, back when he lost a majority decision to Daniel Lapin.

Having now recovered from his setback, the 30-year-old admits he was initially gutted not to face Taylor, but tells Boxing News that the rest and recuperation has done him a world of good.

“Yeah, it was gutting. I did the camp, lost a lot of money through flying sparring partners over, and there was a lot of heat on that fight as well. But it’s boxing – these things happen.

“I don’t think there’s a fighter out there that’s not had injuries. But now, I’ve had a long time to fully recover and am back sparring, performing really well in the gym.”

As mentioned, Edmondson will lock horns with Arthur, a former European champion, on the undercard of Ryan Garner vs Michael Magnesi.

With a home advantage and no small amount of tricks up his sleeve, ‘The Saint’ firmly believes he has the beating of Arthur, who comes off a majority decision victory over Brad Rea in November.

“This is the fight we wanted, this is the fight that we pushed for, and this is the fight that’s happening.

“I believe I’ve got the best team behind me and that we can beat anyone who’s put in front of us. We know this [fight] will skyrocket us towards the world scene.

“He’s a good fighter who’s been in with [Dmitry] Bivol and [Anthony] Yarde, but I wonder how much he’ll be up for this.

“There’s a way to beat any fighter, and we believe we’ve put together the right gameplan [to beat Arthur].”

Should he defeat Arthur, which is no foregone conclusion, then Edmondson will be angling for a showdown with Queensberry Promotions stablemate Buatsi.

Despite coming off a debatable points victory over Zach Parker in November, Buatsi is still regarded by many as a top 10 light-heavyweight, especially given his gallant effort against Callum Smith in February 2025.

According to Edmondson, however, the 33-year-old has now reached a stage where he is there for the taking.

“If we come through [Arthur], we want Joshua Buatsi. I know I’ll cause him big, big trouble. He’s a well-respected fighter, a big name, but I know I’ve got the style to beat him.

“Zach Parker should have got the decision. I think that Callum Smith fight took a lot out of him, and I think Zach Parker was the wrong style for him.”

Having identified several chinks in Buatsi’s armour, perhaps Edmondson will eventually be given the opportunity to expose them.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy has a quarterback competition waiting in August, pitted against Kyler Murray at training camp, but according to CBS Sports, that won’t really matter because he’s destined to end up as a draft “bust.”

Tyler Sullivan sized up eight players flirting with the dreaded label last week, and McCarthy got the nod.

Vikings QB Competition Now Carries a Sharper Edge

CBS Sports: McCarthy Will Bust

On his list, which included Michael Penix Jr., Marvin Harrison Jr., and others, McCarthy could not escape the feared bust label.

Sullivan explained, “The decision to go with McCarthy over Sam Darnold — who won 14 games for the club in 2024 — blew up in the Vikings’ face. They missed the playoffs with McCarthy ranking as arguably the worst starter in the NFL, while Darnold went on to win a Super Bowl with the Seahawks.”

“After McCarthy ranked last among qualified quarterbacks in completion percentage, TD-INT ratio and passer rating, Minnesota brought in veteran Kyler Murray this offseason to compete for the job. Why he will bust: The Vikings brought in legitimate competition in Murray this offseason, and the veteran appears to have the inside track to winning the job.”

McCarthy began the 2025 campaign — his first as a starter — with wild inconsistency and a barrage of injuries, before becoming the NFL’s sixth-best quarterback per EPA+CPE from Weeks 14 to 18.

“With Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the general manager who selected McCarthy, fired earlier this offseason, arguably McCarthy’s biggest supporter is no longer in the building. Our prediction: Will bust,” Sullivan concluded.

Vikings Fans’ Worst Nightmare

When the Vikings embarked on the 2023 season, most knew that Kirk Cousins, now a member of the Las Vegas Raiders, was on borrowed time and wouldn’t remain with the franchise much longer. That forecast turned out to be true, especially after Cousins tore his Achilles in October 2023. So, all eyes shifted to the future at quarterback for Minnesota, eyeing a deep 2024 rookie quarterback class.

The one thing that could not happen was a swing and a miss, as Minnesota has not nailed down the QB1 spot for the long term with an organically drafted signal-caller since Daunte Culpepper — 25 years ago. Fans debated whether Minnesota should trade up for Drake Maye that draft, roll with the aforementioned Penix Jr., or capitalize on McCarthy’s post-NCAA Championship flair.

The Vikings chose McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in April 2024, ushering in a new era. Four months later, he tore his meniscus, ending his rookie season and setting a foreboding tone for his future.

And here we are, 26 months later, with outlets like CBS Sports calling him a bust. What Vikings fans dreaded the most could be unfolding in real time.

2026 as a Pivotal Year

Of course, Sullivan’s forecast is merely a prediction. McCarthy could redefine his career with the snap of two fingers, either by defeating Murray this summer in Minnesota’s much-anticipated quarterback battle. He could also assume the QB1 job if Murray gets injured during the regular season, which indeed happens somewhat frequently to Murray.

The 2026 season is an all-telling slate of 17 games to determine McCarthy’s future in Minnesota. If Murray seizes the QB1 job for the long haul, there won’t be many growth opportunities for McCarthy as a Viking in the long run. Suppose McCarthy takes over and balls out. He can just keep the top job in Minnesota, while Murray sets sail on a journeyman’s path around the league.

By February 2027, Vikings faithful will know if McCarthy is “the guy” or a trade asset.

Bust Label Too Early after Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield Examples

One might think that the NFL-themed sites would’ve learned its lesson by now. From 2019 through 2023, Sam Darnold was emphatically considered a bust. In 2022, after the Carolina Panthers expelled Baker Mayfield, his career had a similar trajectory.

Heading into 2026, both are considered Top 15 quarterbacks in the NFL, a statement that would’ve felt laughable in the summer of 2023, for example.

McCarthy could flame out of Minnesota, but folks won’t know his true “bust” outcome until 2029 or so. Unless he’s a Josh Rosen-style bust, a team or two will be willing to give McCarthy more chances if he bounces out of Minnesota.

The former Michigan Wolverine also has youth on his side. He turned 23 in January, and it’s next to impossible to know a quarterback’s full talent at that young age. Age-27 McCarthy could be a vastly different player than age-22 McCarthy.

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England and Croatia open Group L of the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a fixture carrying far more significance than a typical group-stage encounter. The clash reunites two nations whose recent World Cup histories have become closely intertwined, most notably through Croatia’s unforgettable extra-time victory in the 2018 semi-finals, a result that propelled the Balkan nation into its first World Cup final while extending England’s wait for a return to football’s biggest stage.

England arrive in the United States carrying substantial expectations. The 1966 world champions are making their 17th World Cup appearance and eighth consecutive qualification, having established themselves as one of the most consistent international sides of the past decade. Under new manager Thomas Tuchel, England became the first European nation to secure qualification for the 2026 tournament, winning all six matches in a group featuring Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra while conceding no goals. The former Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain manager inherited a squad already rich with talent and has largely maintained the core that successfully navigated qualification.

Captain Harry Kane remains the focal point of England’s attack and is expected to start after another prolific season with Bayern Munich. Around him, Tuchel can call upon an enviable collection of attacking talent, including Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon, Morgan Rogers and Declan Rice. England’s strength in depth has created selection dilemmas rather than injury concerns, reinforcing their status among the favourites to lift the trophy and end a 60-year wait for World Cup glory.

Croatia arrive with a different profile but an equally impressive tournament pedigree. Despite a population of less than four million, they have reached the World Cup final in 2018 and secured third place in 2022, establishing themselves as one of international football’s most resilient tournament teams. Zlatko Dalić, now approaching a decade in charge, guided Croatia through qualifying without defeat, recording seven wins and one draw while scoring 26 goals. Their attacking output included a 7-0 victory over Gibraltar and a 5-1 win over Czechia, with Andrej Kramarić finishing as the team’s leading scorer during qualification.

The enduring presence of 40-year-old Luka Modrić continues to define Croatia’s identity. The veteran midfielder enters his fifth World Cup with 19 tournament appearances already to his name, while experienced figures such as Ivan Perišić, Joško Gvardiol, Mateo Kovačić and Josip Stanišić provide a blend of leadership and quality around a newer generation featuring Martin Baturina and Petar Sučić.

With Ghana and Panama also competing in Group L, both England and Croatia recognise the value of beginning their campaign with three points. For England, victory would reinforce their credentials as genuine contenders. For Croatia, another positive result against elite opposition would further strengthen a remarkable World Cup legacy that continues to exceed expectations.

As a rookie, Tai Felton may have brought back memories of Laquon Treadwell. Neither did much on offense.

Nevertheless, the Vikings’ young fella at receiver hasn’t seen the final chapter of his story written. Far from it, in fact. Maybe Felton becomes an upside WR4 in 2026 as somebody who challenges for snaps due to his capacity to take the top off the defense. Doing so will mean mirroring previous depth Vikings such as Jalen Nailor and K.J. Osborn, guys who overcame modest beginnings to become strong contributors.

The Vikings’ Young Receiver in a Battle to be WR4

Quite possibly, Felton’s job is going to involve creating some breathing room for Justin Jefferson, which is no small feat.

Teams tend to know where #18 is on the field. How could the unproven 3rd-Round talent draw away attention? Well, he needs to show that he can hurt a team deep. Doing so will necessarily command the eyes of the deep coverage defender, possibly clearing some room for Jefferson to work into the intermediate area for his patented 20-yard crossing routes.

And, to be sure, there’s upside if Felton fails to attract a defender’s attention. Speed kills, meaning Felton could land a kill shot or two – think a long bomb for a score – if the secondary doesn’t give him respect.

The 6’1” receiver comes in at 190 pounds. Nobody will mistake him for Calvin Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald, but he offers a nice build. Moreover, he demonstrated excellent compete and hustle as a gunner during his rookie season, showing off the needed feistiness to make life difficult for the returner.

What’s needed is being sturdier. Think closer to Jauan Jennings, the “dirtbag” who has generated so much praise at TCO Performance Center. He brings physicality and snarl that Felton would be wise to emulate.

Seldom did the opposition’s PR1 not have a gunner directly over his toes upon catching the ball since Felton and Tavierre Thomas were so sensational in 2025. Special teams coordinator Matt Daniels therefore has a good understanding of where Felton needs to go in his game.

“Yeah, I think the biggest thing is,” Coach Daniels explained, “when Tai came in, there was a big emphasis [and] focal point of him really working on his play strength.” Essentially, keep his weight over top of his feet when making contact with other players. Put more succinctly: maintain his balance. Daniels went on: “He really did a great job for us last year, the play strength really showed up.” Daniels did indicate, though, that there’s more room for improvement here.

Not long afterwards, there was a mention of adjusting to how fast NFL ball is while figuring out the spacing on the field.

Some good insights from the special teams coordinator.

In Tai Felton, the Vikings have a tall receiver who has blistering speed. That’s a good place to start. Where he needs to improve is in his balance and by adjusting to how quickly the NFL plays. Shoring up these weaknesses can lead to increased opportunity.

At times, Felton appeared to battle drops at Vikings minicamp. Like a linebacker missing a tackle, a receiver dropping the ball can be the death knell as it relates to earning more snaps. Quite possibly, Felton needs to calm his mind, letting his abilities to shine more brightly in the process. He has the talent and compete, suggesting the issue could be as simple as putting too much pressure on himself.

Tai Felton, 23, needs a good camp to maintain his spot as the WR4 in Minnesota.

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The 2026 FIFA World Cup has produced plenty of memorable moments on the pitch.

But one of the tournament’s biggest talking points has nothing to do with goals, tactics or refereeing decisions.

Instead, it is the growing controversy surrounding FIFA’s mandatory hydration breaks.

Introduced as a player welfare measure to combat extreme temperatures across the United States, Canada and Mexico, the stoppages are increasingly drawing criticism from players, pundits and supporters who believe they are disrupting the flow of matches.

Fans Boo During England’s World Cup Opener Against Croatia

The backlash was visible again during England’s World Cup opener against Croatia.

When play stopped for a hydration break, sections of supporters inside the stadium responded with boos, reflecting growing frustration among fans who feel the interruptions are changing the rhythm of the game.

The reaction quickly spread across social media, with many supporters questioning whether football is becoming too reliant on scheduled stoppages.

For decades, one of football’s defining characteristics has been its continuous action.

Many fans fear that is beginning to change.

Virgil van Dijk Voices Concerns

Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk has emerged as one of the most prominent voices questioning the use of hydration breaks during the tournament.

The Dutch defender raised concerns about the frequency of the stoppages and suggested football risks losing some of its natural flow when matches are repeatedly interrupted.

His comments have resonated with many supporters who believe football’s uninterrupted nature is one of the sport’s greatest strengths.

The Mexico vs South Africa Incident

The debate intensified earlier in the tournament during the opening match between Mexico and South Africa.

According to reports from journalist Romain Molina, players were reportedly forced to wait following a cooling break because broadcaster FOX was still airing advertisements.

The match eventually resumed while commercials were still being shown.

The incident sparked widespread criticism online, with many fans arguing that hydration breaks are increasingly serving television schedules and commercial interests rather than their original purpose of protecting players from extreme heat.

While FIFA continues to insist that player welfare remains the primary reason for the stoppages, the perception problem surrounding the breaks continues to grow.

Are Hydration Breaks Here To Stay?

FIFA maintains that player welfare remains the priority, particularly during summer matches played in high temperatures.

Medical experts have also supported additional precautions for players competing in demanding conditions.

However, the growing criticism from players and fans suggests the governing body may face increasing pressure to review how the breaks are implemented.

For now, what began as a health and safety measure has become one of the most divisive topics of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

And judging by the reaction from both the stands and some of football’s biggest names, the debate is far from over.

Terence Crawford dethroned Canelo Alvarez in September 2025 via unanimous decision.

Canelo has now lost three times in his career, coming up short against only elite fighters; Floyd Mayweather, Dmitry Bivol and Crawford. The four-division world champion from Mexico has never been stopped or even knocked down during his 68-fight career.

Against Crawford, Canelo suffered his first super-middleweight defeat, despite Crawford moving up significantly for the opportunity to claim Alvarez’s undisputed crown and become the first three-weight undisputed champion since Henry Armstrong in 1938. It was a comprehensive win, but, again, Alvarez did not look hurt, despite the 31 KOs on ‘Bud’s ledger.

Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience, Crawford – who retired months after that final victory – explained that he believes he was unable to halt the Mexican icon inside the distance because of his ‘ginger’ genetics.

“They say that red-heads are hard to knock out. It’s proven, I googled it, what are they called? Gingers. I promise you.

“Yes, [they have a higher pain tolerance], I looked it up because my cousin, she is a nurse and she said, ‘yeah, them gingers, they are hard to put to sleep, even when you give them the anaesthetics to go to sleep’.”

“When she told me that, I was like ‘Damn! That is why Canelo can take so many good shots’.”

Research shows that natural redheads often require about 20% more general anaesthesia to stay sedated and may show resistance to local anaesthetics. How that translates in the ring is less researched.

Alvarez will looking to show his resilience again when he attempts to regain the WBC super-middleweight world title on September 12 in Riyadh, where he will challenge newly crowned champion, Christian Mbilli. 

After kicking off its World Cup debut with a 2-2 draw against New Zealand in Los Angeles, viral posts online claimed the Iranian football team were sending political charged messages on the pitch. This included an AI-generated image of an Iranian player carrying a pink backpack, which was presented as a symbolic gesture to honour the Iranian schoolgirls killed in Minab on the first day of the US-Iran conflict. Captioned “paying tribute to the 168 girls murdered by Donald Trump”, it racked up millions of views on X. 

The US military have not released a report on their findings into the investigation into the Minab strike, nor publicly acknowledged responsibility.

Another viral image claimed to show the entire Iranian squad with purple backpacks on the pitch during the World Cup, though these images are out of context and misleadingly presented as current World Cup scenes. They date from earlier this year, when Iran played a friendly match against Nigeria in Turkey. The team held up the backpacks during the national anthem as a moment of remembrance.

Viral claims also extended to the pitch, where Iranian forward Mohamed Mohebi faced accusations of making a threatening gesture during a goal celebration. Internet users claimed Mohebi was “threatening” Iranians and World Cup crowds by doing a finger-gun shooting celebration towards fans. There’s no indication FIFA are investigating the incident. Mohebi later said the hand signal carried no political message and was simply a spontaneous celebration. Many football fans online also defended Mohebi, pointing out that several footballers from around the world have made similar gestures during a match when celebrating a goal.

The controversy comes as Iran navigates an unprecedented World Cup campaign in a host nation with which it was directly exchanging fire with. The team’s coach recently said Iran was the “most oppressed team” in the tournament.

The war in Iran has certainly affected the squad’s buildup to the 2026 World Cup. The team, their families and management have complained of visa troubles and the team’s base camp redirected to Mexico, while online debate continues over how politics and football are intersecting around the team’s participation.

Vedika Bahl investigates in Truth or Fake.