Elsewhere in sports news, Switzerland pulled off a major statement win. The Nati defeated Canada 2-1 to claim top spot in Group B, finishing ahead of their opponents on the night.

Bosnia and Herzegovina also took a huge step towards the Round of 16 with a 3-1 victory over Qatar, a result that should see them through among the best third-placed teams.

Mexico made it three wins from three after beating the Czech Republic 3-0. The Mexicans topped their group, ahead of South Africa, who edged past and overtook South Korea in the standings with a 1-0 win.

On Thursday, already-qualified Germany face Ecuador with a simple goal: make it three wins out of three in the group stage. Ivory Coast, currently second in Group E, are also in a strong position to advance, a draw against Curaçao on Thursday would be enough for the Elephants to continue their World Cup journey.

France have already secured their place in the Round of 16. Against Norway on Friday, Les Bleus are expected to rotate their squad, with five changes likely. Captain Kylian Mbappé, who has scored four goals in two games, should start once again.

And finally, a long-awaited announcement: Brazilian legend Ronaldinho has officially joined Italian third-division club Ravenna. A publicity stunt or a real comeback? The 2022 World Cup winner is expected on August 21 for the team presentation.

The NFL offseason is over, all 32 teams have transitioned to minicamp, and training camp arrives in about five weeks. And with the perk of hindsight, CBS Sports has decided that the Minnesota Vikings’ main rival, the Green Bay Packers, had the fourth-worst offseason around the sport.

It’s rare shade for Green Bay, a franchise largely known for wise decision-making.

Packers Have Roster Questions ahead of 2026 Regular Season

Jordan Dajani: Packers’ Offseason Was Rough

Per Dajani, the Jacksonville Jaguars took the naughty prize of the worst offseason, but the Packers weren’t far behind, three spots away.

He explained, “Green Bay has established itself as a middle-of-the-road team, and the problem is I think it got worse this offseason. Green Bay lost its most reliable wide receiver in Romeo Doubs, linebacker Quay Walker and left tackle Rasheed Walker in free agency.”

“The Packers also parted ways with cornerback Nate Hobbs and offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins, and traded pass rusher Rashan Gary to the Dallas Cowboys and wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks to the Eagles. As far as additions go, the headliners were veteran linebacker Zaire Franklin, defensive lineman Javon Hargrave and South Carolina defensive back Brandon Cisse.”

Oddsmakers expect Green Bay to finish in second place in the NFC North, narrowly losing out on the top spot to the Detroit Lions.

Dajani continued, “Then factor in that star pass rusher Micah Parsons is expected to start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, which means he will miss at least four games, and the Packers should be worried about star running back Josh Jacobs, who is facing domestic violence charges. When you look at the NFC North, the Bears are coming off their best season in more than a decade, the Lions are always going to be competitive and the Minnesota Vikings have reason for optimism with new quarterback Kyler Murray.”

“Talking heads have tried to label the Packers as sleepers in 2024 and 2025, ever since that impressive 2023 playoff run in Jordan Love’s first season as a starter. However, I feel less optimistic about Green Bay than I have in years.”

Losses Outweigh the Additions

Dajani outlined the Packers’ additions — Franklin, Hargrave, and Cisse, among others — but the subtractions were unfortunately noteworthy.

Offloading Jenkins, Gary, Wicks, and Hobbs, in addition to Malik Willis, Quay Walker, Romeo Doubs, Kingsley Enagbare, and Emmanuel Wilson, is no small project. Green Bay even had a brief relationship with cornerback Trevon Diggs, but was not interested in prolonging it.

The Packers may find a way “not to miss” all their departures, but from a June perspective, they said goodbye to more talent than they welcomed.

Help Needed at OLB, at Least for a While

Green Bay also needs help at outside linebacker. It’s unclear when Parsons will return — it could be October, or it could be near Thanksgiving. Parsons is such a star that it would be utterly foolish to rush him back from his torn ACL.

In the meantime, the Packers will rely on these EDGE defenders:

• Lukas Van Ness
• Barryn Sorrell
• Dani Dennis-Sutton
• Brenton Cox Jr.
• Arron Mosby
• Nyjalik Kelly
• Dante Barnett

For a Super Bowl-contending team, that group is underwhelming, and until the Packers signed a free agent like Joey Bosa or Leonard Floyd, they’re merely hoping for the best.

The club has also been tied to Jadeveon Clowney’s free agency in the rumor mill, though every NFC North team could stand to add Clowney. It’s a summer of 2026 oddity — every NFC North squad seems to need one more pass rusher.

Packers Usually Figure It Out

If you’re a Packers fan reading this — probably not on a Vikings-themed site, right? — have no fear. Green Bay has an uncanny tendency to make the most of suspect situations, even after Aaron Rodgers left the franchise in 2023.

Jordan Love and Co. seem to have the NFC’s seventh seed on lock, and until proven otherwise, onlookers should pencil them for a 9-8 record or better. The Packers are coached well, Love is a Top 15 passer, and the rest just falls into place.

Regarding the naughty list — all the departures and the “bad” offseason — the Super Bowl might be a long shot. It’s why Green Bay has +2200 Super Bowl odds, when a club like the Los Angeles Rams is at +550.

The Packers’ season begins in about 80 days at U.S. Bank Stadium against — you guessed it — the Vikings.

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

Mexico completed a flawless group-stage campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a convincing 3-0 victory over the Czech Republic, securing maximum points and ending the Europeans’ hopes of reaching the knockout stage.

Already guaranteed top spot in Group A after victories over South Africa and South Korea, co-hosts Mexico took the opportunity to rotate their squad in Mexico City. The changes paid off as several fringe players impressed in a dominant display.

Left-back Mateo Chavez opened the scoring shortly after half-time, showing excellent composure to net his first international goal and give Mexico the breakthrough.

Teenage midfielder Gilberto Mora, making his first start of the tournament, was one of Mexico’s standout performers. The 17-year-old helped create the second goal when his pass released Jorge Sanchez through on goal. Although goalkeeper Matej Kovar initially made the save, Julian Quinones reacted quickest to poke home the loose ball for his second goal of the tournament.

Mora’s performance was another historic moment for Mexican football. At 17 years and 253 days old, he became the sixth-youngest player ever to start a men’s World Cup match and the youngest Mexican to achieve the feat.

The youngster received a standing ovation from the home crowd when he was substituted in the 72nd minute.

His replacement, Alvaro Fidalgo, put the result beyond doubt by curling a fine effort into the top corner from 15 yards to complete the scoring.

The Azteca Stadium crowd also gave a warm reception to veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa when he came on late in the match. The 40-year-old is taking part in his sixth World Cup, equalling the record held by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

The defeat confirmed the Czech Republic’s elimination from the tournament. They finished bottom of Group A with just one point from three matches.

Mexico, meanwhile, advance to the knockout stage with a perfect nine points from three games and will face one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams in the last 32.

Good Boost’s digital exercise programmes are helping adults with MSK at a lower cost than physiotherapy, according to a study carried out by the University of Exeter and Global Social Prescribing Alliance.

The social enterprise currently delivers its services in more than 300 community venues across the UK, such as swimming pools and leisure centres, providing personalised, therapeutic exercise via phones or tablets. The app personalises movement and responds to real-time feedback.

It’s aimed at supporting people who are living with long-term health conditions and the programme is being expanded nationally through leisure operators, local authorities and direct partnerships with Public Health teams, the NHS and Integrated Care Boards.

Studying more than 40,000 of these exercise sessions, Good Boost found that after six weeks, people showed small but significant improvements in how well they could move, how happy they felt, and their anxiety levels.

At 12-week and 26-week follow-ups, more than one third of people were experiencing less pain, while around 47 per cent achieved clinically meaningful improvement in physical function. More than 65 per cent reported a positive improvement in their condition.

Results were comparable to traditional physiotherapy but more affordable. If someone takes part in Good Boost sessions twice a week for three months, it will cost £100 to £120 – which giving a typical cost saving of £168 per person, when compared to the cost of NHS physiotherapy. In addition, patients often have to wait longer than 14 weeks for NHS physiotherapy appointments.

Ben Wilkins, CEO of Good Boost, says: “The study demonstrated that improvements individuals are making through our digital exercise programmes are very similar to the outcomes from face-to-face physiotherapy.

“The evidence shows us that our programmes are safe, accessible and a valuable tool in managing long-term joint and muscle conditions and also scalable with the potential to achieve a significant cost saving to the NHS.

“This could be genuinely transformative for the future of musculoskeletal care in the UK and we need to start reimagining community spaces as hubs for preventative healthcare.” 

The University of Exeter established that its programme delivers £2,000 in social value per participant. The average cost for every person taking part is £129 and for every £1 of cost, Good Boost delivers £16.50 in social value. That’s approximately more than 11 times more cost-effective than the expected cost of delivering similar NHS programmes.

Lifestyle and physical activity lead, Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi – who will be speaking at this year’s HCM Summit – says: “These findings highlight the huge potential of digitally-enabled, personalised physical activity to support people living with long-term musculoskeletal conditions. 

“By combining evidence-based movement with community delivery, programmes like Good Boost can improve outcomes, widen access, and reduce pressure on NHS services. This is exactly the kind of prevention-focused, neighbourhood health approach the NHS urgently needs.”

While the damage had already been done by the new hopes of Selecao, the old timer showed flashes of what could still be to come in the canary yellow of his nation.

He spent 20 minutes on the park, enjoying 24 touches – the man he replaced on 76 minutes managed just 14 more. He also managed a shot on target.

Really, it did not matter. The big screens once again locked on to him post match as he went over to the fans before embracing his young daughter at the front of the stand.

A hero had returned for Brazil at a time where the want for greatness is craved ferociously.

The five-time world champions have been without the game’s biggest prize since 2002. You have to go back to 2019 for their last tournament win when their ninth Copa America was bagged.

Under Ancelotti, the Brazilians have been inconsistent. Wins have not been achieved against Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia, Japan, Tunisia, France and, most recently, Morocco.

Against a self-sabotaging Scotland, they had spells of swagger, with a ruthless streak cooked in for good measure.

Supporters drifted out of the Miami Stadium rejoicing, for the victory which has them topping Group C, and because their forgotten man played his part.

“Pele is the best player of all time. No comparison,” one supporter told BBC Sport as he headed out the ground. “He won three World Cups for Brazil.

“Neymar will be among the best ones. He could be in the same level as Ronaldo or Ronaldinho if he wins the World Cup.

“I was in 2016 at Maracana, when he was the guy who scored the decider at the Olympics, and that was a title that Brazil never had before, but the World Cup is the title that we need, and we’re going for the six stars.

“I think he’s able to open up the field and bring out jogo bonito [play beautifully], as they say.

“They have to respect who he is and who he once was, because if you don’t, he’ll make you pay, that’s for sure.”

Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, also known as Memo Ochoa, officially retired from professional football after scripting a massive record on Thursday. He played in Mexico’s final FIFA World Cup 2026 group game against Czechia in Mexico City, which the co-hosts ended up winning 3-0. Ochoa came in as a substitute in the 77th minute of the match. With this final appearance at the age of 40 years and 346 days, he became the oldest player to represent Mexico in the tournament’s history. Ochoa broke the previous record of Rafa Marquez, who had achieved it against Brazil in 2018 at the age of 39 years and 139 days.

Mateo Chavez and Julian Quinones scored in a six-minute span early in the second half, and Mexico beat the Czech Republic 3-0 on Wednesday night to win all three of its World Cup group-stage matches for the first time.

The 22-year-old Chavez, in his first World Cup, opened the scoring in the 55th minute and Quinones scored his second goal of the tournament in the 61st. Alvaro Fidalgo added a goal in second-half stoppage time.

Mexico’s previous best group-stage performance was two wins and one draw, done in 1986 and 2002 and both featuring Javier Aguirre, the first as a midfielder and the second as El Tri’s coach. Aguirre is back as coach this year, his third stint leading the team.

Already the winner of Group A, Mexico will play again at Estadio Azteca on Tuesday in a round-of-32 match against an opponent to be determined.

Mexico is undefeated at nine World Cup matches at the massive stadium, which was packed with 80,824 fans on Wednesday. El Tri has only two losses at Azteca, most recently in World Cup qualifying against Honduras on Sept. 6, 2013.

The match included nods to Mexico’s past and future. Gilberto Mora, at age 17, became the youngest Mexico player to start in a World Cup. And 40-year-old goalkeeper Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa entered in the 77th minute, joining Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players to appear in six World Cups.

Mexico’s triumph was marred, however, by the return of a homophobic chant by fans that has previously led to fines and other sanctions against its soccer federation. The chant, a one-word slur that literally means male prostitute in Spanish, was heard near the end of the first half when Czech goalkeeper Matej Kovar took a goal kick.

The Czech Republic was eliminated, finishing with one point in three games.

Mexico is unbeaten in 11 games dating to a friendly loss against Panama last November. And Aguirre has made the most of his roster, using 25 of 26 players in the tournament. Chavez was one of five starters Wednesday who did not start last Thursday’s 1-0 win over South Korea.

Ochoa, who wears No. 13, played the last 13 minutes, plus stoppage time, in what’s likely to be his final appearance for Mexico. He turns 41 on July 13 and has said he plans to retire from international competition after the World Cup.

He was a substitute in the 2006 and 2010 tournaments and started for Mexico in 2014, 2018 and 2022.

Raul Rangel is the starter this year, stepping in for the injured Luis Angel Malagon, who helped Mexico win the CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup last year. Malagon’s injury opened the door for Ochoa’s return.

(With agency inputs)

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The Indian Premier League (IPL) has long blurred the line between sport, entertainment and commerce. The 2025 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500 has now given that shift a corporate stamp, with five IPL franchises making their debut among India’s 500 most valuable non-state-run companies.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) have entered the list, becoming part of the same corporate universe as India’s largest private-sector businesses. Their combined valuation of more than Rs 71,000 crore signals a defining moment for Indian sport: cricket franchises are no longer being seen only as teams, but as mature business enterprises.

“Cricket is no longer just India’s sport; it is India’s business. The debut of CSK, KKR, PBKS, RR and RCB on the 2025 Hurun India 500, with a combined valuation of over Rs 71,000 crore, is a defining moment: for the first time, the boardroom and the boundary rope are on the same list,” said Anas Rahman Junaid, founder and chief researcher, Hurun India.

Knight Riders leads the group at rank 270 with a valuation of Rs 20,850 crore, followed by Super Kings at rank 285 with Rs 19,550 crore. RCB has been valued at Rs 16,700 crore, placing it at rank 330. Royals is ranked 343 with a valuation of Rs 15,700 crore, while Punjab Kings entered at rank 390 with Rs 14,050 crore.

The debut of IPL franchises in the Hurun India 500 marks a shift in how sports properties are being valued in India. For years, IPL teams were seen largely through the prism of on-field performance, star players, sponsorship deals and fan loyalty. Their entry into a list of India’s most valuable private-sector companies suggests that investors and valuation experts are now looking at them as scalable corporate assets.

An IPL franchise today resembles a consumer-facing enterprise as much as a sports team. Its value is tied not only to wins and losses but also to the strength of its brand, the size of its fan base, its ability to attract sponsors, and the predictability of cash flows from cricket’s most valuable league.

Why KKR, CSK and RCB lead the table

The ranking also shows how brand depth and market recall are being rewarded. KKR, CSK and RCB are the three most valuable franchises among the five that entered the list.

KKR’s valuation of Rs 20,850 crore puts it ahead of the other IPL entities in the ranking. CSK follows closely at Rs 19,550 crore, underlining the value of one of the league’s most consistent and widely followed franchises. RCB, valued at Rs 16,700 crore, continues to command significant corporate value despite not having the same title-winning history as CSK or KKR.

This suggests that franchise value is no longer determined only by trophies. Fan loyalty, brand visibility, star association and marketability also shape enterprise value. RCB’s presence in the top three among IPL franchises is a clear example of how a large and engaged fan base can translate into corporate worth.

Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings, valued at Rs 15,700 crore and Rs 14,050 crore, respectively, show that the value creation is not limited to the league’s most decorated teams. Even franchises with uneven on-field histories are now valuable enough to sit among India’s top 500 non-state-run companies.

The IPL’s corporate evolution

The IPL has always been a commercial success, but this development reflects a deeper evolution. Franchises are now being valued as enterprises with recurring relevance rather than seasonal visibility.

A strong IPL team can generate commercial value across multiple layers. It offers live sport inventory, digital engagement, sponsorship exposure, content opportunities and brand extensions. The league’s annual cycle also keeps franchises in public conversation through auctions, retentions, player trades, pre-season campaigns, match windows and off-season content.

Total India Inc value exceeds $3.4 trillion

The 2025 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500 values India’s 500 most valuable non-state-run companies at $3.4 trillion. To qualify for the list, companies needed a minimum valuation of Rs 10,230 crore as of April 30, 2026, up 7 per cent from last year. The cohort employs 8.9 million people, contributes Rs 3.23 trillion in taxes, and invests Rs 13,433 crore in corporate social responsibility initiatives.

“The companies in the 2025 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500 form the backbone of India’s private sector, wielding significant economic influence. Together, they have a cumulative valuation of US$3.4 trillion — higher than the GDP of Canada and the combined GDPs of Indonesia and Spain — and employ 8.9 million people,” Junaid said.

Reliance Industries retained the top rank for the fifth consecutive year, while Bharti Airtel entered the top tier after adding Rs 7.6 trillion in value since 2021. The list saw 95 new entrants, the highest in its history. Financial services and healthcare dominated value creation, while artificial intelligence, defence manufacturing and renewable energy emerged as important growth themes. Sarvam AI became the first homegrown large language model developer to enter the list.

Arnika Dixit, Group Head – Cards, Payments and Wealth Management, Axis Bank, said the report reflected a phase of steady evolution in India’s corporate landscape, where companies were building scale even as they adapted, invested through cycles, and found new ways to stay relevant.

“What is increasingly evident is how the drivers of value creation are becoming more varied, with momentum extending beyond traditional centres into a wider, more diverse set of businesses and markets,” Dixit said.