Texas Rangers lineup for June 10, 2026 against the Kansas City Royals: starting pitchers are MacKenzie Gore for the Rangers and Seth Lugo for the Royals.

We have game two of the three game series in Kansas City. After the Rangers put just three runs up on the board yesterday, Skip Schumaker has decided to put offensive catalyst Nicky Lopez back in the starting lineup. Jake Burger is getting the day off.

The lineup:

Pederson — DH

Seager — SS

Jung — 3B

Nimmo — RF

Langford — LF

Duran — 1B

Carter — CF

Higashioka — C

Lopez — 2B

6:40 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -119 favorites.

Referee Omar Artan, center, of Somalia, is confronted by players after calling a penalty kick during the CAF Champions League final soccer match between AS FAR Rabat and Mamelodi Sundowns, in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo)

Somalian referee Omar Artan, who was set to become the first official from his country to officiate at a FIFA World Cup, was denied entry into the United States over suspected links to members of terror organisations, news agency Associated Press reported, quoting a US official.The 34-year-old referee had been selected on FIFA’s final list of match officials for the 2026 World Cup and was due to join other referees at their training base in Miami before the tournament. The United States is co-hosting the World Cup along with Mexico and Canada.US Customs and Border Protection said Artan “was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry.”After arriving in Florida, Artan was questioned about Somali politics and the Al Shabaab militant group, which US Africa Command described in 2022 as “the largest, wealthiest, and most lethal Al Qaeda affiliate.”A US official was later quoted as saying by AP that Artan was refused admission because of an “association with suspected members of terror organizations.”Following the decision, FIFA removed Artan from its list of World Cup referees. He returned to Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, on Wednesday, where he received a welcome from supporters and urged young people to remain proud of their country.Artan is one of Africa’s most recognised referees. He joined FIFA’s international panel in 2018 and became the first Somali referee to officiate at the Africa Cup of Nations when he took charge of the group-stage match between Tunisia and Namibia in January 2024.In May this year, he officiated the second leg of the African Champions League final in Morocco. He was also named Africa’s best male referee in 2025.FIFA selects World Cup referees through a long evaluation process. Referees are first nominated by their national associations before progressing through continental tournaments and FIFA competitions. Artan officiated at the men’s Under-20 World Cup in Chile last year and later attended World Cup preparation camps before being included in the final list announced in April.Somalia is one of nearly 40 countries whose citizens are banned from entry under the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration and AP reported that Somali officials say Artan might have been denied due to those restrictions.

Fifa President Gianni Infantino used his launch press conference for the World Cup on Wednesday to defend ticket prices and urge people to “chill” after a Somali referee was denied entry to the US.

The 2026 World Cup will begin on Thursday, with the US, Canada and Mexico serving as co-hosts. Many issues have already plagued the tournament, with Iran’s presence previously in doubt – amid the nation’s ongoing conflict with the US – and referee Omar Artan sent home this week after the Trump administration alleged he had links to “suspected members of terror organisations”.

Addressing the latter matter on Wednesday, Infantino urged fans to “chill, relax”, insisting that the football governing body is constantly working on solving every issue that the competition has faced.

He also defended World Cup ticket prices, saying: “If we are doing something wrong, everyone in North America is doing something wrong.”

Fifa priced tickets starting at $140 for the 48-nation, 104-game tournament that starts Thursday and priced regular seats up to $8,680 for the 19 July final in New Jersey. It raised prices for the final to $10,990 and then $32,970. After criticism, Fifa offered a small amount of $60 tickets to national federations for their regular supporters.

Infantino said the average ticket price was under $500 for the tournament and was comparable to other US sports during their play-offs, a claim that – while true for resale prices – does not appear to be accurate for list prices. He said he was unconcerned about investigations by attorneys general in California, New Jersey, New York and Texas.

Infantino said that the secondary ticket market is beyond his organisation’s control when it comes to the large prices fans are seeing for World Cup games. He pointed to the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs as an example of how other major American sporting events are experiencing a similar surge in prices.

“We are very relaxed about it because, before starting to sell 6.5m or 7m tickets, we checked what we do with the best lawyers, the best experts” he said. “We welcome every investigation.”

Infantino also admitted Fifa was powerless to get the US to admit entry to referee Artan and said people “should chill”. “We are not the kings of the world,” Infantino said.

Additional reporting by AP.

The England v Costa Rica kick-off has been delayed until 5pm local time (10pm BST) after lightning and rain threatened the World Cup 2026 warm-up friendly in Orlando.

The Three Lions were due to kick-off at 4pm local time (9pm BST), but the weather pushed the start back to the final preparation for both sides with the tournament due to begin in 24 hours on Thursday, 11 June.

But the delay and threat of a postponement appears to have been limited due to a quick reaction from the Inter&Co Stadium ground staff, with a kick-off at 5pm local time subject to there being no further lightning strikes in the area.

England arrived at the Inter&Co Stadium, home of MLS side Orlando City SC, at 3:30pm local time (8:30pm BST), according to BBC Sport, to complete their final stop before Thomas Tuchel’s side travel to their Kansas City training base.

Then the countdown begins to the first game in Group L against Croatia in Dallas, with the Three Lions one of the favourites to win the trophy.

But after a deluge just over two hours before kick-off, the friendly looked in doubt, with large pools of rain settling on the pitch.

But the water was cleared quickly with fans starting to enter the stadium and the heavy rain subsiding just over an hour before the original kick-off time.

While Inter&Co Stadium staff could be seen drying pools of water with dryers to quickly remove doubt over the match taking place on the eve of the World Cup 2026.

Tuchel opted to start with Harry Kane, with the Bayern striker flanked by Noni Madueke and Anthony Gordon. While Reece James and Nico O’Reilly start either side of Ezri Konsa and John Stones, with Jude Bellingham operating just ahead of Declan Rice and Elliott Anderson.

Bukayo Saka is on the bench, despite his fitness issues, with Tuchel admitting he has concerns over the Arsenal star: “We still have to take a little bit of care for Bukayo who had an injury in March and carried it through to club.

“He made himself available at the end of the season and did so brilliantly but he was managed in between matches; that continues a bit at the moment. We are building him up.”

NEW DELHI: For years, football fans have tried all sorts of ways to predict World Cup winners. Some trusted expert opinions, others believed in superstitions, and many still remember Paul the Octopus, who became famous for correctly predicting match results during the 2010 World Cup.Now, a group of statisticians has used artificial intelligence to make its prediction for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. A research team led by statistics professor Achim Zeileis created a machine-learning model and simulated the entire tournament 100,000 times to see which team had the best chance of lifting the trophy.According to the study, reported by The Independent, Spain have emerged as the favourites to win the 2026 World Cup. The AI model gives them a 14.5 per cent chance of becoming champions.England and France are tied for second place with a 12.4 per cent chance each, while Germany are close behind at 11.2 per cent. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal have been given an 8.9 per cent chance of winning the title, while Lionel Messi’s Argentina stand at 8.2 per cent.How did the AI make the prediction?The researchers looked at a wide range of information before making their forecast.They studied how teams have performed in recent years. Apart from this they considered betting market odds and assessed the quality of players. And all these information was then fed into a machine-learning system.The model then calculated the chances of different results in every match. It estimated not only which team was more likely to win but also how many goals each side could score.Using these probabilities, the researchers simulated every game of the tournament, including extra time and penalty shootouts, while following FIFA’s official rules.Why is there no clear favourite?The 2026 World Cup will be the biggest in history, featuring 48 teams instead of 32.With more teams and an extra knockout round, there is greater scope for surprises. A single upset can completely change the course of a tournament, which is why the leading contenders are separated by only a few percentage points.What are the chances of the United States?The United States, one of the tournament hosts, have been given a strong 78 per cent chance of progressing from the group stage and reaching the Round of 32.However, once the knockout rounds begin, the challenge becomes much tougher. According to the simulations, the United States have only a one per cent chance of winning the World Cup on home soil.The researchers were quick to point out that football does not always follow the numbers. The predictions are based on probabilities, not certainties. Upsets and surprises are part of what makes the World Cup special.Still, if the AI model is right, Spain currently have the best chance of lifting football’s biggest prize in 2026.

Richa Ghosh produced a breathtaking late assault but India’s brittle top-order batting proved costly as Dani Gibson’s sparkling all-round show powered England to a narrow five-run win in their final Women’s T20 World Cup warm-up match in Cardiff on Wednesday. After Harmanpreet Kaur opted to bowl, England rode on half-centuries from Amy Jones (64 off 45 balls) and skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt (57 off 45 balls) before Gibson’s unbeaten 30 off just 12 balls lifted them to 171 for 6. India’s chase never quite gathered momentum as wickets fell at regular intervals, but Richa’s stunning 68 off 36 balls nearly pulled off the impossible before left-arm spinner Linsey Smith (3/42) held her nerve to bowl India out for 166 in 19.5 overs.

Gibson also took the wickets of Bhatia and Fulmali in the crucial middle overs phase to return with 2/17 from her two overs, while Charlie Dean (2/1) and Tilly Corteen-Coleman (2/22) also provided fine support.

The defeat exposed a few concerns for India ahead of the T20 World Cup, with the top order misfiring once again, and fielding lapses allowing England crucial extra runs.

Gibson smashed Renuka Singh for two fours and one six to collect 19 runs in the last over, and that proved decisive.

Smriti Mandhana‘s lean run continued as she fell for one, extending a worrying sequence in which her highest score in seven innings since her 82 against Australia in February has been just 37.

Shafali Verma made a brisk 13 off six balls before miscuing Issy Wong, while Yastika Bhatia (15), skipper Harmanpreet (17) and Bharti Fulmali (18) also failed to convert their starts.

At 132 for 7 in 17.3 overs, India looked well out of the contest before Richa launched a spectacular counter-attack.

Needing 38 from the last two overs, the Bengal wicketkeeper-batter tore into Wong, smashing three fours and a six in a 21-run penultimate over to bring the equation down to 17 off the final over.

Richa continued her charge against Smith, first sweeping her for a four and then launching a massive straight six to reduce the target to six runs from three balls.

However, with victory within sight, Smith lured Richa out of her crease and wicketkeeper Alice Capsey completed the stumping.

Renuka then holed out while attempting a big hit as India were dismissed with one ball remaining.

Earlier, England’s innings was built around a 70-run stand between Jones and Sciver-Brunt after India had kept things tight in the opening phase.

Jones punished anything loose during her 45-ball 64, while Sciver-Brunt, returned to rhythm with a 57-run knock with eight fours.

India’s bowlers did well to control the scoring for large periods, especially around the rain interruption, but Gibson’s late blitz tilted the balance decisively.

Shreyanka Patil was India’s standout bowler, claiming 2/29 and striking twice in successive deliveries in the penultimate over to dismiss Sciver-Brunt and Dean.

Four other bowlers picked up a wicket each.

India also gave the new ball to Shafali Verma, an indication that the team management views her as a potential sixth bowler. The off-spinner returned figures of 1 for 18 from two overs, including the key wicket of Jones.

However, veteran spin all-rounder Deepti Sharma was not used with the ball as India rotated six bowling options, while Shreyanka and Radha Yadav (1/38) once again made strong cases with disciplined performances.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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IPL 2026 | Delhi Capitals Wins By 6 Wickets Against Mumbai Indians: Redemption For Sameer Rizvi

India’s women shone at the Australian Open Super 500 badminton tournament on Wednesday, with PV Sindhu leading the charge and teenager Tanvi Sharma registering a notable win to reach the second round.Sindhu, Tanvi Sharma, Malvika Bansod, Isharani Baruah and Tanya Hemanth all advanced to the women’s singles round of 16. However, it was a disappointing day for the Indian men’s singles players as Kiran George, Tharun Mannepalli and qualifier Saneeth Dayanand exited in the opening round.Third seed Sindhu made a comfortable start to her campaign, beating Peru’s Ines Lucia Castillo Salazar 21-13, 21-11 in 32 minutes.The two-time Olympic medallist controlled the match throughout and did not allow her opponent to build any momentum.Sindhu will next face fellow Indian Isharani Baruah, who defeated China’s Han Qian Xi 22-20, 10-21, 21-14 in a match lasting one hour and three minutes.The standout result for India came from 17-year-old Tanvi Sharma. The world No. 36 defeated fifth seed and world No. 11 Chiu Pin-Chian of Chinese Taipei 21-12, 22-20 in 45 minutes.Tanvi will now face Malvika Bansod in the round of 16. Malvika recovered after losing the opening game to beat Thailand’s Tonrug Saeheng 15-21, 21-7, 21-13.Tanya Hemanth also moved into the next round after defeating USA’s Ishika Jaiswal 21-17, 21-18 in 39 minutes.She will next face Thailand’s second seed and world No. 8 Pornpawee Chochuwong.Indian men bow outIn men’s singles, Kiran George lost 19-21, 21-14, 15-21 to Malaysia’s Justin Hoh in a contest that lasted one hour and two minutes.Qualifier Saneeth Dayanand was beaten by China’s Hu Zhe’an 8-21, 10-21 in 35 minutes.Tharun Mannepalli came close to upsetting second seed and world No. 10 Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei before losing 21-18, 13-21, 23-25 in a match lasting one hour and 20 minutes.After winning the first game, Tharun fought back in the decider and earned match points, but Lin held on to seal victory.Dhruv-Manisha move aheadIn mixed doubles, Dhruv Rawat and Maneesha K progressed to the second round with a 21-13, 21-14 win over Australia’s Lim Jayden and Victoria Tjonadi in 27 minutes.Mohit Jaglan and Lakshita Jaglan, however, lost to second-seeded Chinese pair Guo Xin Wa and Chen Fang Hui 6-21, 5-21 in 20 minutes.

As one of Great Britain’s brightest amateur prospects, Odel Kamara appeared destined for a shot at Olympic glory in Los Angeles in 2028. Instead, the Liverpool standout has opted to forgo the amateur route and turn professional at just 22 years old, believing the move will better serve his long-term ambitions.

Fighting out of Salisbury ABC, Kamara won seven national titles and the Senior Elite Championship. Meanwhile, for GB Boxing, he claimed gold medals at both the Dacal Memorial World Cup and the World Boxing Cup in late 2024, and could have retained the latter in 2025 were it not for an injury that forced him to withdraw from the final.

The highlight of Kamara’s amateur career came back in September, when the World Boxing Championships made their way to his hometown of Liverpool. In his backyard, Kamara picked up the bronze medal in the 70kg category at the age of just 21, beaten only by eventual gold medallist Torekhan Sabyrkhan of Kazakhstan in the semi-finals.

As a result, many tipped Kamara as one of Team GB’s strongest hopes of a boxing medal at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Yet Kamara has decided that he won’t compete, instead favouring a move into the professional version of the sport.

Speaking with Boxing News, Kamara provided some insight into his decision, believing that additional professional experience will serve him better in the long run than the pursuit of a medal in L.A.

“I have decided to turn over in the end mainly for tactical reasons. A lot of people like to say being 24/25 when I turn over is perfect, I’ll have loads of experience, hopefully an Olympic gold medal and be pushed towards world title fights sooner. But, all of this ended up convincing me to go the other way because I believe in perfecting your craft, which can take years.

“At 22 years old I can perfect my pro boxing style and still be in contention for massive fights by time I’m 25/26 with a lot more experience then I would have had going the Olympics because, at the end of the day, pro and amateur boxing are different sports entirely.”

With that in mind, Kamara is content to bide his time and improve both his ability and profile before throwing himself in at the deep end of the super-welterweight division, where he confirmed he plans to campaign.

The Liverpudlian, managed by Sam Jones, has adopted a similar approach behind the scenes, planning to be patient when selecting who will be in his corner when he makes his professional debut.

“With me, I feel like there’s no actual rush. I would rather take a month or two to find the right coach, train hard and then whatever happens, happens. I’ll get some rounds in and when my team decide it’s the right time for titles, I won’t hesitate to take whatever one is in front of me.

“I am definitely going to travel around the UK, and possibly even the US [to identify the correct trainer], who knows? I just want the best guy possible for the job, I’m not taking anything lightly. I’m all in on becoming the best now, so whoever my team and I decide is the guy for the job will play a pivotal role.”

Still, despite not yet appointing a lead trainer, Kamara is aiming to make his professional debut before the end of 2026. There, he hopes to deliver a performance that puts the super-welterweight, middleweight and super-middleweight divisions on notice.

“Super-welterweight seems like the future of boxing right now with so many high-level contenders. I can see myself becoming top of the division someday and then transitioning through to middle and super-middle and doing the same there.

“I feel like my style will adapt perfectly to the pros. My speed, power and explosiveness will be expressed a lot easier and way more effectively with slower paced fights. I’m built for this.

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“This year is going to be graft, but at the end of it, people will know I’m the future of boxing.”

News regarding Kamara’s promoter is expected imminently – he will not have been short of offers ahead of what could prove to be both a fascinating and fruitful professional career.

Even supporters from countries not subject to travel bans have faced uncertainty.

BBC Scotland reported cases involving Scottish supporters who had already received travel authorisation through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) process, only to see their approvals revoked days before departure.

The Speirs brothers from Kirkcaldy applied for their ESTAs in December and were initially approved. Months later, shortly before travelling to support Scotland at their first World Cup since 1998, their status reportedly changed to “travel not authorised.”

For many supporters, the financial burden has compounded the bureaucratic hurdles. While ESTA approvals cost around $40, supporters requiring standard visitor visas face fees of approximately $185 before even considering flights, accommodation or match tickets.

A Tournament Built on Inclusion

When FIFA awarded hosting rights to the United States, Canada and Mexico, the decision was presented as a celebration of football’s global reach.

The expanded 48-team format was designed to make the World Cup more inclusive by allowing more nations to participate. Countries such as Haiti, Uzbekistan and Curacao qualified for the tournament for the first time, creating opportunities for new footballing communities to experience the sport’s biggest stage.

Yet critics argue that while qualification has become more accessible, physically attending the tournament has become increasingly difficult for many of the very people FIFA claims to be including.

Visa Issues Create Unprecedented Challenges

One of the biggest controversies surrounding the tournament has been access to the United States.

Iran has faced some of the most significant logistical difficulties. State media reported that at least 15 Iranian officials and team staff members, described as being “integral” to the national team’s campaign, were denied visas.

While US authorities maintained that all “necessary” support staff had been granted entry, the Iranian Football Federation alleged that authorities had also revoked portions of Iran’s ticket allocation for group-stage matches.

“We are upset about this behaviour,” Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei said. “It has certainly never happened before.”

The complications forced Iran to establish its training base in Tijuana, Mexico, rather than inside the United States. Reports suggested the team could face repeated cross-border travel for group-stage matches, creating logistical challenges rarely seen at a World Cup.

For many observers, the situation represented a significant departure from FIFA’s long-standing principle that qualified teams should be able to participate without political or administrative obstacles.

Security screenings spark global debate

The treatment of some teams upon arrival in the United States has also generated criticism. According to multiple reports, members of the Senegal national team underwent detailed bag inspections directly on the airport tarmac after landing in San Antonio.

Uzbekistan’s squad reportedly encountered drug-sniffing dogs and extensive security checks upon arriving at their training base in New York. Images and videos quickly spread across social media, prompting strong reactions from supporters.

Critics accused authorities of treating players “like criminals” rather than welcoming them as participants in one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events.

One social media user questioned whether the treatment was selective, writing: “Did any white teams get treated like this, or is this treatment reserved for Senegal? Bizarre.”

The controversy deepened after reports emerged that Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein was detained for seven hours at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, while Iraq’s team photographer was reportedly denied entry following an extensive screening process.

In a separate incident, award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry into the United States altogether.

These episodes have intensified concerns that some nations are facing significantly different experiences from others despite all being participants in the same tournament.

The cost of inclusion

While immigration issues have dominated headlines, financial accessibility has become another major point of contention. Ticket prices for many matches reached levels rarely associated with previous World Cups.

Premium tickets for the final were initially priced around $11,000, while FIFA’s dynamic pricing system meant supporters often paid vastly different amounts for identical seats.

As the tournament approached, reports indicated that some remaining final tickets were still being listed for thousands of dollars, with certain premium seats reaching extraordinary prices.

Critics argue that rising ticket costs, expensive travel requirements and hospitality-focused packages have transformed the World Cup from a global football festival into an event increasingly accessible only to wealthier supporters. For many fans, the barriers are no longer merely geographical, they are financial as well.

Can Football Still Unite?

The World Cup has historically provided moments that transcend politics. Fans from rival nations have shared celebrations in fan parks, communities have united behind underdog stories and players from vastly different backgrounds have inspired audiences across the globe.

Those moments still exist at the 2026 tournament. However, the surrounding controversies have created an uncomfortable contrast with FIFA’s messaging around inclusion and unity.

When some supporters struggle to obtain visas, when participating nations face travel complications, and when fans question whether the event remains financially accessible, the idea of the World Cup as football’s universal gathering place inevitably comes under scrutiny.

The bigger question facing FIFA

The central question is not whether football remains capable of uniting people. It clearly does.

The question is whether the structures surrounding the modern World Cup are making that unity harder to achieve. The expansion to 48 teams was intended to make the tournament more global than ever before. Yet for many supporters, journalists and even some participants, access has become more complicated, expensive and uncertain.

As the tournament unfolds across the United States, Canada and Mexico, the football itself may still deliver the drama and joy that have defined World Cups for generations.

But away from the pitch, FIFA faces an uncomfortable challenge: proving that the world’s biggest sporting event remains a force for bringing people together rather than another example of the divisions shaping the modern world.

Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez are credited with being two of boxing’s modern greats, but in the eyes of a shared former sparring partner, Jack Catterall, there is one active fighter who trumps them both as ‘the best he has shared the ring with’.

Last month, Catterall decisioned Shakhram Giyasov to get his hands on the WBA Regular welterweight world title; a win which he hopes will tee up a showdown for a shot at super champion, Rolando Romero.

Catterall, who boasts wins over both Josh Taylor and Regis Prograis, had been preparing for world level far before he arrived, sharing the ring with Mayweather and Canelo in the past.

In 2015, the Chorley operator was brought in as one of many sparring partners for Mayweather ahead of his long-awaited mega-fight with Manny Pacquiao. Then, just days later, Catterall ventured to San Diego to help Canelo prepare for his bout against James Kirkland.

Yet, speaking with Pro Boxing Fans, Catterall claimed to be more impressed by former stablemate Jaron Ennis, whom he expects to halt Xander Zayas when challenging for the unified super-welterweight world titles later this month.

“I would go as far as saying that he is one of… the best fighter that I have sparred or been in the ring with; the speed, the power, the timing, the footwork.

“So, I am excited for that fight. I am going to try and make the trip over there and support him. I think that it is a good night’s work for him.

“I believe [that he will stop Zayas].”

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Ennis established himself as the leading welterweight of the post-Terence Crawford era, unifying the IBF and WBA world titles before moving up to 154lbs in search of further championships.

He faces on Zayas on June 27 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, as Ennis seeks to capture the unified titles.