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Fifa’s shameless scheme to sell off World Cup is gravest existential threat to football yet – but will anyone stop it?

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Fifa spent 1,403 words in a public statement seeking to rationalise their new plan to sell off stakes of the World Cup to private investment, but a few choice phrases are now ringing out elsewhere.

“Shocking.”
 “Football’s nuclear bomb.” “Worse than the Super League, and bigger than 115.” “The line in the sand.”

None of that is exaggerated because it ties together so many of the extremes that have been pushing, pulling and twisting football, let alone the world, for so long, potentially crystallising so much of what has been coming to dictate its future: what the game should be and what it’s becoming; how it repeatedly shows it has a social value that you can’t buy as so many involved try to financially exploit that; what people say in private and what gets done in public.

You can even roll that right up to the seemingly dry details of governance like how the people who are going to vote on this, the heads of the member associations, are in many cases directly paid by Fifa through positions and committees.

This is when all of that matters most. How are they going to vote?

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And, maybe most pertinently given the direction of the sport for so long, where is the resistance going to come from? Uefa have talked a good game, with a statement that directly says this “crosses a line” and rightly asserts the World Cup’s is “not Fifa’s to sell” – but are they finally going to play a hand?

Is this long-running tension going to spill out into a war that football arguably needs? Is anyone going to look at the bigger picture and actually make a stand?

Because, and this really can’t be stressed enough, once you start selling the game off, there’s really no getting it back.

Typical of how football and the world are going, Fifa’s 1,403-word statement of course turned all of this rationale on its head. It’s of a piece with Gianni Infantino’s unhinged Sunday statement about criticism. This announcement was headlined “Fifa intends to expand football development funding to over USD 10 billion subject to approval by Fifa Member Associations”, so duly framed by ideas of redistribution and democracy.

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The move comes hot on the heels of a Trumpian-style rant by Infantino defending the 2026 World Cup
The move comes hot on the heels of a Trumpian-style rant by Infantino defending the 2026 World Cup (PA)

Once again, a not-for-profit raising money, any money, was automatically elevated as if it’s a good thing without any further thought. The core reality was finally referenced a bit further down, as Fifa spoke of “carefully selecting long-term investors who will purchase minority, non-controlling interests” in the new Fifa Forward Enterprise programme. That is set to bring the creation of a new company being formed to run the primary competitions, where Fifa would own a majority stake, private investors would have 20 to 30 per cent and then the 211 members a small stake totalling around 20 per cent.

Except, “non-controlling” isn’t how such money tends to really work. In reality, that kind of money brings a lot of influence.

By the same token, for all that Fifa bleated in seemingly endless paragraphs about how such thinking “lifts the whole game” and the need “to make sure the rest of football grows”, those now responsible for voting on this need to actually earn their money and think about the deeper implications.

There are profound concerns here even beyond the core philosophical virtue that the World Cup only belongs to the countries of the world – and, by extension, its football communities – and that’s it. What do they think happens once you allow such interests in? There might be the short-term benefit of being able to point your own national association to newly flush cash reserves of up to $20m – but what next?

Infantino has been called before a US Congressional committee over allegations he sought to curry favour with Trump and his administration
Infantino has been called before a US Congressional committee over allegations he sought to curry favour with Trump and his administration (PA)

Clue: such interests don’t tend to have wider societal concerns; they don’t care for what doesn’t make money. As one source puts it, “the current stakeholders benefit but everyone loses out in the future”. Trickle-down economics don’t work here, as the last few decades of football have made emphatically clear. This is why Celtic or Ajax don’t win the Champions League any more. It’s why every other country suffers a talent drain to Western Europe.

And what would now be directly incentivised – especially through the establishment of a company to run all of this – is the expansion of the Club World Cup and all of the ideas that serve existing wealth, both in the game and society. It shouldn’t be forgotten that Infantino was involved in Super League discussions, with the clubs at one point thinking they had Fifa’s blessing.

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The global governing body have now already confirmed that Josh Kushner, brother of Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, has been in talks about becoming the proposed lead investor.

Infantino’s long relationship with the US president suddenly takes on an even sharper perspective, especially among the mooted next steps for this. An excellent exclusive by Martyn Ziegler of The Times has already broached that Infantino would be lined up to run the company as a “commissioner” once his final presidential term expires in 2031. In other words, a lucrative post-presidency life.

Members of the Fifa Council insist they found out about the plan through the media
Members of the Fifa Council insist they found out about the plan through the media (Reuters)

When you stand back, this looks a lot like one man using his position – and the sport – for personal betterment. Or, as one senior insider put it, “only in Infantino’s world can things somehow get worse for the game every day”.

It should be what anyone who cares for the sport stands against, but will those with actual say really do that? Will they, as one other insider states, “put their bollocks on the line”?

Some who despise the idea have already marvelled at its realpolitik “genius”, likening it to the fait accompli of the Saudi Arabia 2034 “acclamation” in how everything already looks lined up. Every individual association would get a huge figure – or could sell off some of their share in the new company – so those in power right now are clearly incentivised to vote for it. And this in a world where only a fifth of member associations actually return audited accounts to show how the money is used.

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It reminds us how broken the system is, how the reform that was supposed to take place after Infantino succeeded Sepp Blatter never happened. And in that structure, how is this actually going to be stopped when such a financially attractive package is taken to Congress for approval and there are no checks and balances?

Josh Kushner has been in talks about becoming the proposed lead investor, Fifa confirmed
Josh Kushner has been in talks about becoming the proposed lead investor, Fifa confirmed (Reuters)

It all speaks to this central long-running theme of the game being taken further and further away from those who have an actual emotional stake in it; a personal stake – right up to the ownership of clubs. Members of the Fifa Council insisted they only found out through the media, reiterating how the body now works. The FA, chaired by Fifa vice-president Debbie Hewitt, were completely unaware of the proposal and it was not mentioned at Friday’s board meeting.

Many similar figures declared themselves shocked, appalled, disgusted. Except we’ve heard so much of this before. This, more than ever before, is a time to act. Could Uefa countries actually threaten to pull out… or will the individual countries just look at those financial figures?

The world should watch how everyone votes on this. Hiding behind the majority, and pointing to Fifa’s dismally dull politics, will no longer cut it. This is a decision with repercussions way beyond all of that.

This is what all of the politics, all the game’s long problems, were ultimately leading to. This is the line.

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Let’s see who stands where.

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Curtis Mead injury: Will Red Sox reenter trade market after losing deadline acquisition?

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The Red Sox’s new-look infield suffered a blow on Tuesday, as the club placed Curtis Mead on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left wrist. Infielder Nick Sogard has been recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move. 

Mead, whom the Red Sox acquired late Saturday night from the Nationals in exchange for young starting pitcher Connelly Early, suffered the injury while at the plate in his Red Sox debut on Monday: 

The Red Sox have not yet provided a timetable for Mead’s return, but wrist fractures typically require a recovery period of almost two months. Such a timeline would put Mead at risk of missing the remainder of the 2026 regular season. 

The 25-year-old Mead had been in the midst of a breakout season in 2026 after experiencing gains at the plate with Washington that had previously eluded him as a member of the Rays and White Sox from 2023-25. 

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The above numbers are good for an OPS+ of 133, and that’s versus Mead’s pre-2026 career OPS+ of 75. 

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Big blow for Boston’s infield

For the Red Sox, who have surged back into contention thanks largely to their 18-3 record in July, it means the infield situation that Mead’s addition had addressed is now unsettled once again as the Aug. 3 trade deadline approaches. 

The loss of Mead and the uncertainty surrounding the shortstop situation — Trevor Story is still sidelined after undergoing hernia surgery in late May — may prompt lead decision-maker Craig Breslow to reenter the infield trade market in the coming days. Some notable names who may be available leading up to the deadline include Zach Neto of the Angels, Gleyber Torres of the Tigers, Luis Arraez of the Giants, and CJ Abrams of the Nationals. 

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Coming into the season, Boston figured it would have a stable infield situation. However, injuries and a disappointing performance by highly regarded youngster Marcelo Mayer left the Sox with issues. The Mead trade came at a significant cost and was supposed to give the Red Sox needed infield stability down the stretch and into the playoffs. 

The Red Sox enter Tuesday night’s slate of games with a record of 55-50 and in second wild card position in the American League. 

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5 keys to help you unlock more speed

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UEFA accuses FIFA of ‘selling football’ with World Cup investment plan

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FIFA said Tuesday it plans to sell a stake in the business operations of the World Cup and its other competitions through the creation of a semi-private subsidiary.

World football’s governing body said it would retain a majority share in FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) but hoped to raise $4.2 billion later this year by “carefully selecting long-term investors who will purchase minority, non-controlling interests”.

FIFA’s statement was a rapid response to a story in British newspapers The Times and The Financial Times based on leaks of the plan from two sources.

The Times reported that FIFA president Gianni Infantino, 56, stood to profit from the scheme by becoming commissioner of the FFE after his expected next term expires in 2031. FIFA denied that this had been discussed.

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The article also said discussion had started with financial advisors and potential investors.

Those include Thrive capital, an investment company founded and led by Joshua Kushner, brother of US President Donald Trump‘s son-in-law Jared, as well as an arm of JP Morgan Chase, the US bank that attempted to finance the failed breakaway European Super League.

Sepp Blatter, Infantino’s disgraced predecessor, drew attention to the American connection.

“The close relationship between the FIFA President and the US President has reached a financial dimension that is deeply damaging football. No one has the right to sell our game,” the former FIFA president posted on social media.

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European football’s governing body UEFA, which has been critical of Infantino, also responded.

“This crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross. UEFA takes it extremely seriously,” said UEFA’s statement.

“The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade — especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us are the owners of football. It is not FIFA’s to sell.”

The plan would still have to be approved by the 38-member FIFA council an the majority of the MAs. FIFA said it intends to present the plans to the council soon.

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FIFA said in its statement that it “would retain sole control of FFE and exclusive authority over football governance, competitions, match calendar, and all regulatory and sporting decisions”.

It said it believed FFE would achieve an “initial equity valuation of $20bn”.

FIFA said each of its 211 member associations (MAs) would be given the chance to take a one-off stake of 20mn dollars in FFE.

That represents only 0.1 percent of the total, but would be a significant sum for the leaderships of FIFA’s poorer or smaller members.

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“Together with other existing FIFA programmes, these investments could bring FIFA’s total planned development funding to more than $10 billion over the next four years,” FIFA said.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, an Everton fan, decried the plan saying football was not a product in a post on X.

“Football does not belong to investors. It belongs to the people who fill the stands and who stand on the touchline week in, week out, rain or shine. The World Cup is not a product. It is the greatest competition in world sport, and it was never anyone’s to sell. Dress the deal up however you like. Once you have sold a piece of it, you have sold out. Football belongs to the fans. It always has, and it always will,” he wrote.

‘Expanding to 64 teams’

In June, ahead of the World Cup, FIFA, which folds competition income into revenue for the whole year, anticipated record revenues exceeding seven billion euros ($8bn) for 2026.

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It was the first World Cup with 48 teams. At the start, Infantino said “we have had discussions about expanding to 64 teams” for 2030.

The Times quoted an unnamed “senior football figure” calling the plan “potentially much worse than the European Super League”, as it would have an impact on all levels of football across the globe.

Another anonymous source told the British paper that the plan would create “unacceptable” conflicts of interest for FIFA and Infantino.

In 2019, a FIFA stakeholders’ committee rejected an Infantino-backed plan for a $25bn private investment in an expanded Club World Cup. Reported backers included SoftBank of Japan and Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. FIFA did expand that competition from seven teams to 32 clubs in 2025.

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The Times speculated that the creation of FFE could have an impact on the World Cup and the Club World Cup.

“It could lead to pressure for both events to be further expanded or played more regularly than the present once every four years,” it wrote.

FIFA has previously found itself in trouble with deals spinning off commercial activities to private partners.

Estimates for its losses when ISL, which negotiated World Cup rights deals, went bust in 2001 were anywhere between $30mn and $115mn.

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(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

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Bodycam shows Tony Romo arguing with officer during DUI arrest: report

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Tony Romo questioned police during his July 23 operating while intoxicated arrest in Wisconsin, according to newly released police bodycam footage obtained by Fox News Digital.

The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback told the officer he was coming from a golf course and insisted he had consumed “zero” drinks before asking to call his attorney. When asked to step out of the vehicle, Romo responded, “Because I’m coming from a golf course, you think I’m drunk?”

Police detained Romo and transported him to a nearby station to conduct field sobriety tests. The arresting officer said she observed red, glassy eyes and smelled alcohol coming from Romo.

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Tony Romo mugshot.

(Left) Tony Romo #9 of the Dallas Cowboys slaps hands with Terrance Williams #83 prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 1, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Right) Tony Romo was arrested in Milwaukee on Thursday night for operating while impaired. ( Mitchell Leff/Getty Images; Fox News Digital)

After completing the tests, Romo refused to take a breath test, telling the officer, “I’ve heard from all the lawyers don’t ever do that.”

Romo was cited for first-offense operating while intoxicated and refusing to submit to a chemical test. Romo was released and is due in court on Sept. 21. 

TONY ROMO ALLEGEDLY REFUSED INTOXICATION TEST AFTER OWI ARREST FOLLOWING MILWAUKEE GOLF EVENT: REPORT

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CBS did not immediately responded to emails from Fox News Digital following initial news of Romo’s arrest.

Romo was stopped on an interstate following his round at the Wisconsin Amateur Golf Championship. He was set to appear at another golf tournament, the M&P Group Texas State Open, but he withdrew over the weekend.

Romo retired from football in 2017 and soon joined CBS as a color commentator.

Tony Romo speaks to officers

Tony Romo speaks to police on bodycam footage during traffic stop that led to arrest. (Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office)

Tony Romo in back of cop car

Tony Romo sits in back of police vehicle after arrest for operating while intoxicated. (Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office)

He was the Cowboys’ starter from 2006 to 2015, but an injury cost him his spot in 2016 to Dak Prescott. The Cowboys released him after the season, and he eventually hung up the cleats.

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Romo threw for 34,183 yards, 248 touchdowns, and 117 interceptions, completing 65.3% of his passes.

TONY ROMO’S BRUTAL GOLF SCORE BEFORE GETTING ARRESTED PAINTS A NIGHTMARISH PICTURE

He was named to the Pro Bowl four times and finished tied for third in the MVP vote in 2014 behind Aaron Rodgers and J.J. Watt — he was tied with DeMarcio Murray.

Romo went 2-4 in the playoffs, famously dropping a snap for a potential game-winning field goal in his first against the Seattle Seahawks. Romo then picked up the ball and tried to run for a touchdown but was stopped short, giving Seattle the win.

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Tony Romo on police bodycam

Ex-NFL quarterback Tony Romo during operating while intoxicated arrest on police bodycam footage.  (Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office)

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Since retiring, Romo and Jim Nantz have been the main tandem for CBS, calling three Super Bowls, including the Kansas City Chiefs’ overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII.

Romo has yet to comment on his arrest.

Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.

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Tiger and Phil vanished from this major season. But at Lytham, history lingers

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Commonwealth Games: Amy Hunt forced to settle for women’s 100m silver as England’s 40-year drought goes on

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England‘s long wait for a women’s 100m Commonwealth Games champion will continue after Amy Hunt secured silver, narrowly beaten by New Zealand‘s Zoe Hobbs in a thrilling final at a sodden Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow.

The 24-year-old had carried significant hopes, aiming to end a 40-year drought in the Games’ blue riband event, last won by Heather Oakes in Edinburgh in 1986.

Despite a slow start, Hunt surged powerfully through the middle lanes, outpacing rivals to clock 10.98 seconds.

Yet, she was outmanoeuvred by Hobbs, who stormed from lane seven to clinch gold in a blistering 10.93 seconds.

Australia‘s Torrie Lewis completed the podium with 10.99, just ahead of Hunt’s England teammate Imani Lansiquot, who recorded a season’s best of 11.02 for fourth place.

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Hunt had been favourite for victory, following the late withdrawal of St Lucia’s Olympic champion Julien Alfred and multiple world champion Shericka Jackson’s decision to contest only relays.

She was also one of the few significant home nation medal hopes still standing across the track and field programme after a slew of late pull-outs including Katarina Johnson-Thompson and her sprint team-mate Dina Asher-Smith.

And despite a series of low-key health issues this season, Hunt certainly arrived in Glasgow on a high after recording a 200m season’s best despite finishing fifth at the Diamond League meting in London earlier this month.

Amy Hunt celebrates silver
Amy Hunt celebrates silver (Jane Barlow/PA)

Hunt, who beat Jackson to win world silver over 200m in Tokyo last year, had cruised through her semi-final earlier on Tuesday, shrugging off the teeming rain to qualify third fastest in 11.02 seconds – just ahead of Hobbs.

Welshman Jeremiah Azu finished fifth in the men’s 100m in a race won by Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme in a Games-record time of 9.83 seconds.

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Eseme, the fastest qualifier from the semi-finals, started slowly but surged past silver medallist Lachlan Kennedy of Australia, who finished in 9.85 seconds.

Nigeria’s Kayinsola Ajayi took bronze in 9.90 with Azu, the world and European indoor champion over 60m, having to settle for fifth in a time of 10.03.

David Mullarkey claimed a bronze medal for the Isle of Man in the men’s 10,000 metres after he came in third behind winner Ky Robinson of Australia, with India’s Gulveer Singh taking silver.

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Warriors’ Draymond Green agrees to 1-year, $27.7M deal to stay

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FILE – Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) shoots a free throw during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings on April 10, 2026, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall, File)

SAN FRANCISCO — Draymond Green has agreed to a one-year, $27.7 million deal to return to the Golden State Warriors, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Green will sign the contract that essentially matches the deal he opted out of last month before the Warriors made an unsuccessful bid to sign LeBron James, the person said.

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The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal hadn’t been announced.

READ: NBA: Warriors’ Draymond Green details LeBron recruiting pitch

ESPN first reported the deal.

Green is now set to play his 15th season with the Warriors and if he plays in 51 games he will join Stephen Curry as the only players in franchise history to appear in at least 1,000 contests.

Green, Curry and coach Steve Kerr are the main remaining pieces of the team from the dynasty that delivered four championships. Golden State last won the title in 2022 and haven’t made it past the second round of the playoffs since then. The Warriors missed the playoffs this past season when they lost to Phoenix in the play-in tournament.

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Golden State tried to add James earlier this offseason and Green waited to sign his deal until after James made his decision to sign with Philadelphia to give the Warriors more flexibility. Green, Curry and Jimmy Butler are all entering the final seasons of their current contracts, although Curry could sign an extension starting late next month.

Green has been one of the best defensive players in the NBA since being drafted in the second round in 2012. He has made nine all-defensive teams and was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2016-17.

He has averaged 8.7 points per game in his career, along with 6.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists. He averaged 8.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists in 68 games last season for Golden State.

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Rockies vs. Padres MLB picks: Trade candidate and ace Michael King could be making final San Diego start

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Michael King might be making his last Padres start on Tuesday ahead of the MLB trade deadline

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Kanyinsola Ajayi Ends 20-Year Wait, Wins Nigeria’s First Commonwealth Games Men’s 100m Medal Since 2006

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Nigeria’s Kanyinsola Ajayi has written his name into the country’s athletics history after becoming the first Nigerian male sprinter in 20 years to win a medal in the 100m at the Commonwealth Games.

Ajayi claimed the bronze medal in the men’s 100m final at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, clocking 9.90 seconds with a legal wind reading of +1.3m/s.

The 20-year-old wait dates back to the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, where Nigerian sprint legend Olusoji Fasuba won the silver medal in the men’s 100m. Since then, no Nigerian male sprinter had reached the podium in the event until Ajayi’s historic performance in Glasgow.

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Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme won the gold medal in a new Commonwealth Games record time of 9.83 seconds, while Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy finished second with 9.85 seconds.

Ajayi’s bronze medal is another important achievement for Team Nigeria, adding to the country’s growing medal haul at the Games and highlighting the progress of Nigerian athletics on the international stage.

His performance also confirms his status as one of Nigeria’s brightest sprint talents, with many expecting him to play a key role for the country at future global competitions, including the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

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By ending a two-decade wait for a Commonwealth Games men’s 100m medal, Ajayi has revived Nigeria’s proud sprinting tradition and given athletics fans another moment to celebrate.

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Tigers blast Orioles 14-0 in hit parade

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Jul 28, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres (25) hits a two run home run off of Baltimore Orioles pitcher Dean Kremer (not pictured) in the fourth inning and celebrates with shortstop Kevin McGonigle (7) at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn ImagesJul 28, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres (25) hits a two run home run off of Baltimore Orioles pitcher Dean Kremer (not pictured) in the fourth inning and celebrates with shortstop Kevin McGonigle (7) at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images

Gleyber Torres homered and drove in five runs and the host Detroit Tigers scored in every inning they batted in a 14-0 rout of the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday.

Eduardo Valencia, recalled from Triple-A Toledo earlier in the series, hit a pair of homers among four hits and drove in four runs as the Tigers snapped a three-game losing streak. Kevin McGonigle had four hits, scored four runs and drove in another.

Colt Keith reached base four times and knocked in two runs. Javier Baez, activated off the 60-day injured list, added three hits and scored a run as the Tigers rang up 19 hits to Baltimore’s three.

Detroit starter Troy Melton (6-1) lasted seven innings, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out five. Ty Madden completed the shutout with two perfect innings.

Baltimore starter Dean Kremer (1-4) surrendered eight runs and eight hits in four innings.

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The Tigers jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first. McGonigle led off with a single and Riley Greene drew a one-out walk. With two down, Keith ripped a triple into the right-center-field gap that drove in both runners.

Detroit extended its lead to 5-0 in the second. With one out, Valencia hammered a fastball over the left field wall for his third homer. Baez and McGonigle had back-to-back singles and Torres knocked both runners in with an opposite-field double.

The Tigers tacked on a run in the third. Keith drew a leadoff walk, moved up on two groundouts and scored on Valencia’s single up the middle.

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Detroit made it 8-0 in the fourth. McGonigle led off with a walk and Torres then hit a cutter 402 feet over the left-center-field wall.

The Tigers scored another run in the fifth on consecutive singles by Valencia, Baez and McGonigle.

Detroit reached double digits in the sixth. Pinch hitter Ben Malgeri led off with a single and Keith moved him to third with another single. Malgeri scored on Spencer Torkelson’s sacrifice fly.

The Tigers scored twice more in the seventh on Torres’ RBI grounder and Malgeri’s run-scoring single. Valencia homered again in the eighth, a two-run shot off Baltimore position player Chadwick Tromp.

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–Field Level Media

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