England’s national anthem was drowned out by Argentinian boos and chants before Three Lions fans repaid the gesture as tensions boiled over before their seismic World Cup semi-final even kicked off.
Argentina invaded the British Overseas Territory in 1982 but emphatically lost the Falklands War in 74 days, which claimed the lives of 907 people: 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 from Britain and three Falkland Islanders.
Argentina still vehemently believe that the archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, which sits 300 miles away from its east coast, should be under its sovereignty, with the cause enshrined in much of the country’s culture, including its football.
Both teams saw their national anthems roundly booed (AP)
As the players lined up around the centre-circle for the national anthems, Argentina fans were deafening with their chants of “whoever doesn’t jump is English”, before heavily booing “God Save the King”.
England fans responded in toe by jeering Argentina’s anthem, setting the tone for the feisty semi-final that was being anticipated.
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“I am looking forward to it, and I am excited. Listening to those national anthems – that was brilliant. They don’t like each other and that is fine,” said former England striker Alan Shearer on BBC commentary.
Argentina’s vice-president stoked the fire pre-match by calling England “invaders” and “usurping pirates” before their semi-final clash, but others insist that expression surrounding the Falklands does not represent a hatred towards the British.
The April 2 War Veterans Federation has called on the match to banish the Falklands from the narrative, saying in a statement: “Sport is not war: The semi-final match is a global sporting event, not an armed rematch or a form of historical redress.”
Pros, says Justin Rose, love to be prepared. And they can certainly feel that way in an Open Championship.
But here, being prepared means being ready for the unexpected.
“I think ultimately at an Open Championship, your preparation needs to be — you can’t perfect something,” Rose said. “Play with creativity and play in the moment. Just play with a lot of flair in the moment. See a shot, bump-and-run.
“You might not have practiced it, you might not have hit that shot for a long, long time, but if you see it, go with it.”
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The thought came Tuesday, about seven minutes into Rose’s pre-Open press conference. It was perceptive to what’s needed this week at Royal Birkdale.
But what happens when you listen to everyone’s pre-Open press conference, 195 minutes and over 37,000 words in all?
You may just become, well, prepared for what starts Thursday in England.
And maybe, just maybe, ready to pick a winner.
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Below, then, is what this writer heard. Employ it wisely. Or not at all.
‘Distance control is going to be key’
Who said that: The phrase often used this week to describe Birkdale has been ‘firm and fast,’ and Jon Rahm was asked how a player combats that. “I would say see how firm they let the greens get, right?” he said. “St. Andrews was firm and their fairways were running very fast, but the greens, they managed to keep them decently soft. That’s why you saw the scoring be low, and it was a bit more about being aggressive.
“This time around, if these greens that are way smaller than the ones at St Andrews get firmer, distance control is going to be key. Knowing how the ball is going to react and where you need to land it to give yourself a putt is going to be very, very important.
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“This golf course is known as not being the easiest already. Weather conditions usually are pretty harsh, windy. It’s always windy, right? So a lot of those holes are going to present a very strong challenge.
“It also depends on the setup. With yesterday’s wind, 13 and 18 was 500-plus yards straight into the wind. They might have moved it a tee up, maybe not. If they didn’t, they would be very long holes. If they moved it a little bit up, still long holes but slightly easier. Same with 15.
“So it will be up to the tournament committee on the setup as well, but I think understanding how the ball’s going to react and the fairways and on the greens is always going to be the challenge.”
What it means for a pick: Who’s good on approach? Who has a plan off the tee? The PGA Tour’s top five in strokes gained: approach this season are Matt Fitzpatrick, Collin Morikawa, Si Woo Kim, J.J. Spaun and Tom Kim, while Jon Rahm and Laurie Canter are in the top five in greens in regulation on the LIV Golf circuit. As for the wind, here is the forecast from weather.com: 12 mph on Thursday, and 13 mph on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and each day, it will be blowing from the north.
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‘In Birkdale, you can still be aggressive, but you really don’t always have that chance’
Who said that: Rahm, who used the 1st hole as an example. “You could hit driver, but who knows where that ball is going to end up if you’re not accurate.” He also said this: “From what I’ve learned in the past, if you start pulling out drivers in an Open Championship, you can do a good job short term. You can maybe get away with it one round. Over four rounds, you’re going to start finding spots you don’t want to be in, and you’re going to pay the price.”
What it means for a pick: Accuracy off the tee won’t hurt. But approach again will be paramount — if players are hitting something less off the tee, strong iron play will become advantageous. However …
‘OK, it might be in the rough, but it’s not that penal’
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Who said that:Rory McIlroy, in talking about one of the effects of the dry conditions at Birkdale. “The big thing, especially off the tee here, is the fairway bunkers and avoiding those,” he said. “You might see some guys being more aggressive off the tee, taking driver, trying to take the fairway bunkers out of play. OK, it might be in the rough, but it’s not that penal, so you get a wedge in your hand and you can figure it out from there.”
What it means for a pick: Bryson DeChambeau has heard some chirps this week. But if Mcllroy’s assessment is right, DeChambeau is in play this week — he won very similarly at the 2020 and 2024 U.S. Opens.
‘The runoff areas were still quite long’
Who said that: Joe Dean, on Monday after his win at the new Last Chance Qualifier. “I was surprised to see the runoff areas were still quite long, the grass,” he said. “Usually you can putt them fine. It’s obviously just nearly putting off the green, but not today. I’m guessing it’s to stop it from drying out too much. Just a 5-iron chip-and-runs and seems to do the trick.”
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What it means for a pick: With putting potentially not an option, chipping will be a factor, and possibly even creative chipping, as Dean noted with his mention of a 5-iron chip. The PGA Tour’s top five in strokes gained: around the green this season are Fitzpatrick, Justin Thomas, Tommy Fleetwood, Jason Day and Ben Griffin. On LIV, Bryson DeChambeau, Thomas Detry and Scott Vincent are ranked in the top five in scrambling.
‘You’ve always got to make a choice’
Who said that: In some manner, several players said that, but let’s listen to Tommy Fleetwood’s thoughts.
“It’s an amazingly well-designed golf course because going back to the main goal a lot of the time in links golf is to avoid bunkers, avoid fairway bunkers, avoid pot bunkers, but I feel like there’s always something in play unless you want to be unbelievably sensible and then like you’re always on the back foot of the golf course. You’re always leaving yourself a long way.
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“I think it’s an amazingly well-designed golf course for that. I think you’ve always got to make a choice of you’re either taking something on, bringing something into play, or you’re almost playing too safe if anything.
“Yeah, it’s a course that makes you think. I think it’s a course that gives you options. You can hit driver everywhere if you want. There’s never anything stopping you doing that. It’s not how I would see the golf course, but some people will.
“Yeah, I think that’s always a great sign of a great golf course is that there’s — you could sit six people here, and they might think of six different things to do off the tee, and I think that’s always a really good sign.”
What it means for a pick: Open Championships force you to think — the horror! — and Birkdale is for the scholars. What’s the wind doing? What’s the turf look like? How much can you flirt with the bunkers? Where can you be aggressive? Is there any bail-out? Then there’s answering these questions all over again the next day. Then there’s answering these questions on Sunday, when there are just a few holes left. In a practice round at Birkdale, Rahm said he was hitting 6-irons off par-4s — 6-irons! We’ll say that if you’ve reached the Open, you can solve the riddles asked of you, along with being malleable because of ever-changing conditions and just the vagaries of golf — and especially Open Championship golf. But maybe your pick is a former Open winner, or at least a major winner. Or someone invested in analytics; someone who’s done the work ahead of time so any surprises feel a bit less shocking. Or they have a strong caddie. …
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‘I think the communication is obviously really important’
Who said that: Fitzpatrick, when asked about the value of caddies this week. “I think the communication is obviously really important,” he said. “Just you’ve got to be on the same page of the shots you’re seeing, particularly in links golf. There’s obviously such a variety that you can play. Birkdale allows you to play a lot of different shots because you might be able to fly on the green, you might be able to bounce it short, you might be able to use a contour to the right or left. That’s links golf.”
What it means for a pick: This week, a caddie must be decisive, reassuring and unstifling. Being a veteran looper will help.
‘It’s a tough environment’
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Who said that: McIlroy, when asked about playing an Open at home, which he did last year and in 2019 at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. “It’s a tough environment,” he said. “It’s a great environment, but tough in a way that you just feel the extra expectation on your shoulders, and you feel like you’re trying to play well for everyone else and not for yourself. I think there’s already enough pressure on anyone in this field to play well for themselves, so to add that extra layer on top of that is always pretty difficult. Yeah, like Tommy coming back here, for example, he grew up five minutes away, but I feel like Tommy’s more level-headed than I am and maybe won’t — he won’t fall into that trap like I did in 2019. It always seems like it takes me one go round to get it right.”
What it means for a pick: One of the stories of the year would be Fleetwood winning on a course close to where he grew up. But how sturdy are his blinders?
‘The more difficult the venue, it requires me to really dial in mentally’
Who said that:Jordan Spieth, when asked about his game. “The more difficult the venue, it requires me to really dial in mentally a little bit more, which I think is going to be a good thing,” he said. “Then being able to handle whatever comes your way on a difficult major venue and kind of react a bit less.”
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What it means for a pick: An interesting thought. Might a struggling player succeed? Or one undergoing some swing changes? Previous major championship winners would likely also say they dialed in mentally a little bit more when they won.
‘It’s important to get over here’
Who said that: Spieth, who didn’t play last week’s Scottish Open, but did play practice rounds at Birkdale last weekend. “It’s almost impossible to overestimate the wind,” he said. “I feel like I underestimate it every single time the first three or four days that I’m playing golf here. Whether it’s a cross-wind or it’s into or down, the effect on the golf ball is magnified almost double what it is in the States. … It’s important to get over here and really get your distance control, the total distance control dialed in. It’s firmer around the greens, making it more difficult. We can’t — some of us who like to use, like myself, a 60 degree and fly balls and spin it a lot, those shots are a lot harder when it’s firmer around the greens. It can bounce into it a lot easier. You have to be super precise. So figuring out different ways to play shots around the greens, too. I’ve been doing a lot of around-the-greens work trying to figure out what the best options are. A lot more putting, stuff like that, and speed control around the greens. Your typical stuff at Opens.”
What it means for a pick: Simple here. Go with players who either played the Scottish Open, or, like Spieth, spent time at Birkdale.
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‘Obviously we’re going to be watching’
Who said that: Rose, when asked if he planned to watch England’s World Cup semifinal match on Wednesday that started at 8 p.m. “Obviously we’re going to be watching,” Rose said. “But at the same time, I’m going to watch it with an eye on what’s important for me as well and not get too high and low and keep my own emotions in check. We’ve got big things as well to do this week, but at the same time, it’s a match where if you think that you’re not going to watch it, you’re probably kidding yourself.”
What it means for a pick: You might want to check which English players tee off early on Thursday.
And the pick?
Considering approach play, short game, major championship pedigree and preparedness, it really does seem like Matt Fitzpatrick’s week, doesn’t it? There’s this, too: Did Fitzpatrick feel he was playing better golf than he did in 2022, when he won the U.S. Open?
Desert Financial Arena is 52 years old and showing its age. Spectators have been lobbying for improvements for several years, and work finally got underway after graduations in May.
The venue is home to five sports: men’s and women’s basketball, gymnastics, wrestling and women’s volleyball.
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Here are the things to know for now.
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First phase of improvements
The multiyear renovations will cost an estimated $100 million. First phase improvements are all about fan comfort. Wider premium seats, boxes and padded lower-bowl chairs with cupholders will be added. That stage should be done by Labor Day, according to athletic director Graham Rossini.
Rossini said previously that all seats were the same size; there was no option.
The second phase of construction will begin in October, meaning renovations will continue during the season. Rossini expects to announce the “full scope of the project” and share renderings around that time.
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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos
Emmanuel Innocenti during ASU’s practice at the Weatherup Center in Tempe, Arizona, on June 30, 2026.
(Mark Henle/The Republic)
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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos
Emmanuel Innocenti during ASU’s practice at the Weatherup Center in Tempe, Arizona, on June 30, 2026.
(Mark Henle/The Republic)
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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos
Paulius Murauskas dunks during ASU’s practice at the Weatherup Center in Tempe, Arizona, on June 30, 2026.
(Mark Henle/The Republic)
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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos
Paulius Murauskas (center) during ASU’s practice at the Weatherup Center in Tempe, Arizona, on June 30, 2026.
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(Mark Henle/The Republic)
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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos
Joel Foxwell runs a drill during ASU’s practice at the Weatherup Center in Tempe, Arizona, on June 30, 2026.
(Mark Henle/The Republic)
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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos
ASU men’s basketball coach Randy Bennett (center) talks with his team during practice at the Weatherup Center in Tempe, Arizona, on June 30, 2026.
(Mark Henle/The Republic)
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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos
ASU men’s basketball coach Randy Bennett (center) talks with his team during practice at the Weatherup Center in Tempe, Arizona, on June 30, 2026.
(Mark Henle/The Republic)
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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos
ASU men’s basketball coach Randy Bennett (right) with Dillan Shaw (left) during practice at the Weatherup Center in Tempe, Arizona, on June 30, 2026.
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(Mark Henle/The Republic)
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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos
ASU men’s basketball coach Randy Bennett (center) at the end of practice at the Weatherup Center in Tempe, Arizona, on June 30, 2026.
(Mark Henle/The Republic)
Will seating capacity be affected?
The listed capacity of the venue is 14,198. With wider seats, there would be a lower capacity, but Rossini said the reduction would not be significant. There are seven Big 12 venues with seating capacities smaller than Desert Financial, and six are significantly smaller. Houston’s Fertitta Center is the smallest, seating 7,100.
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None of the sports that play in the arena sell out games, so it shouldn’t reduce attendance.
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What comes next?
Also in the works are a new court, new restrooms and the renovation of existing restrooms, new concession stand offerings, a new video board, locker room improvements, upgrades to the air conditioning system and ensuring ADA compliance with new elevators and accessible stairs with handrails to the event floor.
Renovations will also include a basketball court-level club for premium ticket holders. The club will have direct access to courtside seating.
“We’re excited about the vision that’s coming to life,” Rossini said. “Again, we want energy in the arena. We want it to be a home-court advantage for the five sports that play there.”
Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel believes Argentina are favourites to beat England in tonight’s 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final.
The former Chelsea midfielder said Lionel Messi remains the biggest threat on the pitch and believes England will struggle to stop the Argentina captain.
Mikel, who faced Messi at the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups, admitted that every team he played in tried to stop the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner but failed.
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“I’m a Messi fan and I want Argentina to win,” Mikel said on the Rest is Football podcast.
“How do you stop Messi? We’ve all tried and we’ve all failed. He’s simply a genius and an incredible player.”
The 39-year-old recalled how former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho always came up with different plans to stop Messi before their matches against Barcelona.
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“Mourinho always had ideas, but you can’t defend Messi one-on-one. It’s almost impossible,” Mikel said.
“He dribbles like the ball is attached to his feet. People talk about his goals, but his passing and vision are also among the best in the world.”
Mikel also warned England against asking midfielder Declan Rice to man-mark Messi.
He believes such a plan would leave space in midfield and play into Argentina’s hands.
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“Argentina will win. England have not been at their best in this tournament. If Messi gets space in midfield, he will punish you,” Mikel added.
He also praised the experienced Argentina squad, saying they know how to protect Messi and perform in big matches.
England and Argentina will meet in the second World Cup semi-final at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, with kick-off scheduled for 8:00 pm WAT.
Meanwhile, England manager Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that Declan Rice has recovered from illness and is available for the match.
2026 Candidates women champion Vaishali with her mother (FIDE Photo)
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has approved a new qualification system for the 2028 FIDE Candidates Tournament and the 2028 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament. These events decide who will challenge for the World Championship titles. The updated rules are designed to make qualification fairer by rewarding players for strong performances across major tournaments instead of relying on world rankings alone. The changes were proposed by FIDE’s Global Strategy Commission and aim to give players more ways to earn a place in the Candidates.One of the biggest updates is the addition of the Total Chess World Championship Tour 2026–2027 as a direct qualification route. The top two players in the Tour standings will earn spots in the 2028 Candidates Tournament.FIDE has also reduced the number of Candidates spots available through the World Cup. From the 2027 edition onwards, only the two finalists in both the Open and Women’s World Cups will qualify, instead of three players as in previous cycles. Clear replacement rules have also been introduced if a qualified player cannot take part.Another major change is the removal of the rating-based qualification spot. Instead, every place will now be earned through performances in events such as the Grand Swiss, World Cup, Total Chess World Championship Tour, Women’s Grand Prix and the FIDE Circuit. In addition, the FIDE Circuit will now award two qualification places based on combined results over the 2026–2027 season rather than one place each year.
Qualification paths and FIDE’s view
Both the Open and Women’s Candidates Tournaments will feature eight players. Each event will have two qualifiers from the Grand Swiss, two from the World Cup, two from the Tour or Women’s Grand Prix, and two from the FIDE Circuit.“The qualification system for the Candidates Tournaments is one of the cornerstones of the World Championship cycle, and it is essential that it continues to evolve alongside the game itself,” said FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich. “These changes have been carefully developed to make the qualification process more balanced, transparent, and performance-based. “By introducing the Total Chess World Championship Tour as a new pathway, refining the allocation of World Cup places, and placing greater emphasis on results achieved during the cycle, we are ensuring that every route to the Candidates rewards sustained excellence at the highest level of competition.”
Argentina vs England Highlights | ARG vs ENG FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-Final: Lionel Messi Magic Inspires Argentina To 2-1 Comeback Win, Heartbreak For England
Giuliano Simeone will play on the right wing instead of Rodrigo De Paul, reports TYC Sports. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni hinted at changes to the starting XI on the eve of the clash.
“We might make some changes with the opponent in mind. The idea is to field our best lineup; the lads are in good shape,” said Scaloni.
Argentina XI, as reported by TYC Sports: Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero , Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico; Giuliano Simeone, Enzo Fernandez, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allsiter; Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez
Oct 21, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton (7) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The 2026 Minnesota Vikings have much more cornerback depth than the 2025 club, but according to Bleacher Report, new general manager Nolan Teasley should be in the market for one more — ideally, Kansas City Chiefs corner Kristian Fulton.
BR’s Moe Moton found one player per team to target for each NFL squad, and for Minnesota, that’s evidently the Chiefs’ veteran defender.
A Late-Round Gamble Could Strengthen Vikings’ Cornerback Depth
Nov 25, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton (7) enters the field before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Moton: Vikings Should Trade for Fulton
Minnesota probably needs an extra EDGE defender or backup guard per roster need at the moment, but Moton recommended Fulton.
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He explained this week, “Minnesota Vikings: Trade a late 2027 pick for Kansas City Chiefs CB Kristian Fulton. Aside from Byron Murphy Jr., the Vikings’ cornerback group is highly questionable with Isaiah Rodgers and James Pierre in line for big roles.”
“Rodgers had a decent 2025 campaign, allowing an 88.2 passer rating in coverage. Pierre only has 13 career starts. Minnesota should add veteran insurance to cover the boundary when Murphy lines up in the slot.”
Fulton entered the NFL as a 2nd-Rounder in 2020 — the day after Justin Jefferson — and was on the Vikings’ radar at the time, at least per the mock draft community. Minnesota instead picked 1st-Rounder Jeff Gladney.
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“Fulton could be serviceable in that role. Last year, he only appeared in eight games but allowed a solid 81.7 passer rating in coverage,” Moton continued.
“The 27-year-old may be behind L’Jarius Sneed and Nohl Williams on the Chiefs’ depth chart. With 53 career starts, Fulton could take on a prominent role on the perimeter in nickel packages or provide quality depth.”
Fulton was a teammate of the aforementioned Jefferson at LSU.
The Career So Far for Fulton
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For starters, here’s Fulton’s career resume:
Tennessee Titans (2020–2023)
Los Angeles Chargers (2024)
Kansas City Chiefs (2025–now)
Fulton’s six-year NFL career has been largely unremarkable compared to his original draft stock. In 65 games, including 53 starts, he has recorded five interceptions and 38 pass breakups. However, he has also surrendered 2,346 yards and 17 touchdowns in coverage, far from the production of a “shutdown corner.”
Oct 21, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton (7) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
His most effective season was 2021, when opposing quarterbacks achieved a 75.3 passer rating against him, and he secured two interceptions. Pro Football Focus awarded him a 66.2 coverage grade that year.
Since then, his performance has declined. In 2023, he allowed a 129.3 passer rating and three touchdowns, resulting in a coverage grade of 46.9. While a move to Los Angeles offered some improvement, he still gave up six touchdowns in 2024 and finished with a 66.6 coverage grade.
Kansas City utilized him sparingly in 2025, with only 208 defensive snaps. He allowed eight catches on 16 targets and received an overall grade of 60.4 from PFF.
Fulton’s experience suggests he can serve as a backup corner and potentially fill in as a starter if necessary. Nevertheless, his career trajectory indicates he is an average player who never developed into the reliable outside starter, as was the best-case scenario back in 2020.
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The Vikings’ CBs at the Moment
Do the Vikings need a cornerback? Not really, unless one is analyzing the depth chart from a long-term angle. Minnesota hasn’t successfully drafted a cornerback of any kind with staying power in a decade; before too long, it will need to change that habit in the draft.
As a whole, though, the Vikings’ current cornerback corps is deeper than most summers:
CB1: Byron Murphy Jr. CB2: Isaiah Rodgers CB3: James Pierre CB4: Charles Demmings CB5: Dwight McGlothern CB6: Zemaiah Vaughn CB7: Da’Veawn Armstead CB8: Marcus Allen CB9: Tyreek Chappell
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Murphy Jr., Rodgers, Pierre, and Demmings will easily make the 53-man roster at the end of August. The rest are mysteries.
Acquiring Fulton, per the Moton recommendation, would make the CB room run five men deep and probably put Demmings, a rookie, in line for a redshirt season.
For a Late-Round Pick, Why Not?
It’s debatable whether the Vikings should take the plunge for a fourth or fifth cornerback. It feels like a conversation to have if a starting cornerback gets hurt and is lost for the season at training camp or in the preseason — like Mekhi Blackmon in 2024.
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Nov 19, 2023; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) makes a catch against Tennessee Titans cornerback Kristian Fulton (26) in the second quarter at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports
Still, sending a 6th- or 7th-Rounder to Kansas City for a decent performer isn’t the worst idea. Fulton will be a free agent in eight months, and the Vikings would have to cover about $10 million of his 2026 salary if traded. Teasley has approximately $13 million in cap space in mid-July. Late-round picks rarely amount to much. Fulton would at least serve as insurance for the 2026 campaign.
He’ll turn 28 in September.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Lionel Messi will have the chance to build on his legendary legacy even further.
After beating England 2-1 on Wednesday in Atlanta, Argentina is on its way to the World Cup final, where a matchup with Spain awaits on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J.
In a nervy semifinal showdown between the two sides, Lautaro Martinez broke a 1-1 deadlock in the 92nd minute after Enzo Fernandez pulled it even in the 85th, cancelling out an Anthony Gordon goal from earlier in the second half.
With the win, Argentina is heading to its second straight World Cup final, where it took down France four years ago. The side will take on Spain on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET / noon PT.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 14: Robert Lewandowski #9 poses with a jersey after being unveiled by the the Chicago Fire FC at a press conference at Endeavor Health Performance Center on July 14, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jayden Mack/Getty Images)
Robert Lewandowski has explained why his move to Chicago Fire felt like the right next step after leaving Barcelona.
The Polish striker was officially unveiled as a Chicago Fire player and admitted that Barcelona was always going to be his final club in Europe.
Speaking at his presentation, Lewandowski said:
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“I decided that after Barcelona I didn’t want to stay in Europe. I didn’t want to keep playing in Europe. I wanted a different challenge, and I couldn’t imagine myself at another club, so I decided my next step would be outside Europe.”
The 37-year-old also acknowledged that moving to the United States was a major decision for both himself and his family.
“It wasn’t easy to move to the USA, but I’m excited about this new experience for me and my family.”
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Lewandowski revealed that conversations with former Bayern Munich teammates Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Müller also helped shape his decision to join Major League Soccer.
“MLS has had players like Bastian and Müller, and they both explained what the league is like. I understood what we can achieve with this team going forward. I’m here to play at the highest level and help the team on and off the pitch.”
The veteran striker added that he is still adapting to life in Chicago but is eager to get started.
“I feel good. Today I trained with the team for the first time and I’m happy. Life in Barcelona was different, but we were waiting for this. I’m ready to play in Chicago and ready for this new experience. I hope that by the end of the season we have something to celebrate because I believe this club has a very good future.”
India’s Hardik Pandya, right, celebrates with teammate Ishan Kishan (AP Photo)
The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) revamped format for the 2027 ODI World Cup has not only increased the possibility of India and Pakistan facing each other three times during the tournament, but it has also reignited criticism over how inclusive cricket’s biggest event really is. At a time when major global sporting events are expanding opportunities for more nations, the ICC has opted for a format that, despite officially increasing the ODI World Cup from 10 to 14 teams, effectively limits meaningful participation for lower-ranked sides. The new structure requires the three lowest-ranked qualified teams to fight for a single place in the main competition, meaning only one of them progresses while the other two are eliminated before the tournament reaches its principal stages. The governing body has said the new format is designed to make every match more meaningful from the opening day and strengthen the competitive narrative throughout the event. However, it also creates a pathway for multiple meetings between cricket’s biggest rivals.
First meeting in the group stage
The tournament will begin with a ‘Super Series’ involving Teams 12, 13 and 14. Only the winner of that round-robin advances to the next phase. The remaining 12 teams will then be split into two groups of six. Each side will play the others in its group once, with the top three teams from each group and the next best team overall qualifying for the Super 7. The ICC does not use a completely random draw for its global events, and India and Pakistan have regularly found themselves in the same group in recent tournaments. If that continues in 2027, the rivals could meet for the first time in the group stage.
Super 7 opens door for second encounter
The seven qualifying teams will then compete in a single round-robin Super 7 stage. Since every team plays each other once, India and Pakistan would be guaranteed another meeting if both reach this phase, taking their tally to two matches in the same tournament. The top four teams from the Super 7 will qualify for the semi-finals.
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Knockout stage could produce a third blockbuster
The format also leaves room for a third India-Pakistan contest. If both teams qualify for the last four, they could meet in the semi-finals if they finish first and fourth or second and third in the Super 7 standings. If they finish on opposite sides of the draw, they could instead face off in the final. That means the revised format allows for as many as three India-Pakistan matches in a single ODI World Cup: one in the group stage, one in the Super 7, and another in either the semi-final or the final. While the ICC has presented the changes as a way of increasing the significance of every game, the format has also drawn attention for effectively reducing opportunities for emerging nations while simultaneously increasing the chances of repeat meetings between the sport’s biggest commercial rivals.
The Golden State Warriors know that LeBron James is the biggest free agent available and want to pair him with Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and the rest of their veteran core. James has largely stayed out of the process, allowing his agent, Rich Paul, to handle phone calls and negotiations.
“Pairing him with Stephen Curry is going to be something that the Warriors are going to pursue over the next few weeks… It seemed very doubtful, it seemed low percentage, now it’s kind of questionable. Now there’s going to be some legs to this… That same source told us that Steph is planning on meeting and talking with LeBron about potentially joining the Warriors over the course of the next few weeks leading up to free agency,” NBA insider Brett Siegel said.
James has narrowed his list to five organizations he believes can compete for an NBA championship. Now, all that remains is for him to make his decision.
“It’s decision time for LeBron James… The Leading suitors have been CLE, MIA, GSW, PHI, and MIN…. LeBron James has made it clear privately that he wants to go somewhere he can compete for a championship. Somewhere he feels he finds that happiness from a team environment and culture that he can uplift,” ESPN’s Shams Charania said.
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While the Warriors have done everything possible to convince James to come to the Bay Area, it no longer appears to be enough. Golden State reportedly feels like it is on the outside looking in.
“I’m kind of hearing today that the Warriors internally kind of feel like they’re a dark horse at this point, that LeBron James is probably going out east,” ESPN insider Marc Spears said.
The Warriors believed they were in a strong position to land James until recently. They offered him the chance to form a generational duo with Curry, a pairing that would have immediately become one of the most feared in the NBA. James would also have had the opportunity to play alongside Green, one of his closest friends.
It is an unfortunate position for the Warriors, but the reality is they may not offer James the best opportunity to win another championship. Ultimately, that appears to be what his free agency decision will come down to.
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