Marcus Rashford will hope to star for England at this summer’s World Cup but faces an uncertain future at Manchester United

Marcus Rashford faces the prospect of being disappointed as reports emerge claiming that he is set to be denied a spot in England’s starting line-up for their World Cup opener. The Manchester United star is currently with the Three Lions squad for the tournament in North America.

Rashford spent the season on loan at Barcelona from United last term, scoring 14 goals and providing 14 assists across all competitions, with such form earning the 28-year-old a spot on the plane that has travelled to North America.

England have made the trip to their base in Kansas City after a training camp in Miami over the last two weeks.

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Thomas Tuchel’s side will face Croatia in their Group L opener on Wednesday night in Dallas, and it seems that Rashford may not get a place in the starting line-up.

According to the Daily Mail, Tuchel is expected to start new Barcelona signing Anthony Gordon on the left wing in England’s match against Croatia.

It remains to be seen if Rashford will get a spot in the team in a different position, but given that the United forward and Gordon operate on the left side of a forward line, it seems likely that he is set for a place on the bench.

Even if Rashford was to be named on the bench for the clash against Croatia, the United forward will hope to play an important role later in the game if needed.

Rashford featured in both of England’s pre-World Cup friendlies against New Zealand and Costa Rica, but was named on the bench for the second match, where Gordon was given the nod.

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Rashford’s future at United has been uncertain ever since Barcelona decided to sign Gordon from Newcastle in a deal worth £69million.

As a result, there have been rumours that the Spanish giants will no longer pay the £26million clause to sign Rashford on a permanent deal from United.

Reports emerged on Sunday that Rashford has already explored the possibility of returning to United’s first-team squad next season, and is said to have been in regular contact with manager Michael Carrick.

After facing Croatia on Wednesday, England will also take on Ghana and Panama in their remaining World Cup group stage matches, where Rashford will hope to play a key role for his country.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

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Edo Queens have been crowned champions of the 2026 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) after finishing top of the Super Six tournament in Port Harcourt.

The final round took place on Sunday in Port Harcourt, where Edo Queens played a goalless draw against Bayelsa Queens to secure the title. The result took them to 10 points from five matches.

Edo Queens recorded three wins, one draw and one defeat. They finished level on points with Bayelsa Queens, but won the league on goal difference.

It was a repeat of history, as Edo Queens also won their first league title in 2024 after another draw against Bayelsa Queens on the final day.

Bayelsa Queens finished second with 10 points, while Nasarawa Amazons came third with eight points after drawing with Rivers Angels, who ended fourth.

Abia Angels finished fifth with four points, while FC Robo Queens ended the competition in sixth place with three points after a 1-1 draw.

Edo Queens coach Moses Aduku praised his players for their strong response after losing their first match of the tournament.

“We lost the first game, but the players showed character and fought back strongly. I am proud of them,” he said.

He also thanked the Edo State Sports Commission and supporters for their backing throughout the season.

The Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Amadin Enabulele, said the victory was not only about winning a trophy but also about developing young talents for the future.

Also in this sports roundup:

Germany got off to a flying start against Curaçao (7-1). The Netherlands and Japan played out a spectacular draw (2-2). In Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton secured his first victory in two years. In rugby, Stade Français qualified for the Top 14 semi-finals. Paris Basket won Game 1 of the Betclic Elite finals. Paul Seixas withdrew from the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, which was won by Isaac del Toro.

Hamzah Sheeraz won the WBO super-middleweight world title last month, and with the unbeaten star willing to have a quick turnaround, a fellow 168lber has declared that he would be ready for a short-notice opportunity to challenge the Brit.

Next month, Anthony Joshua will make his return to action as he takes on Kristian Prenga in Jeddah on July 25, hoping to tee up a long-awaited showdown with perennial rival Tyson Fury.

Earlier this week, BoxingScene reported that two world titles could be up for grabs on the undercard, with both Josh Kelly and Sheeraz set for their first defences of super-welterweight and super-middleweight world honours respectively.

While Kelly is reportedly poised to face Belfast’s Caoimhin Agyarko, Sheeraz’s opponent is unknown, with a top 15 WBO ranking being the only stipulation. 

In an interview with Boxing News, 39-year-old Milorad Zizic, who is rated as the WBO #9, shared his willingness to challenge for Sheeraz’s crown, in a fight where he could join Dejan Zlatičanin as the second Montenegrin world champion in boxing history.

“It would mean a lot to me. I live for that goal. It would be a great honour for me, my family, Montenegro, and the entire Balkan region. To become only the second world champion in Montenegro’s history would be something truly special.

“It would mean everything to me. I live for boxing. I truly believe that this fight could become the upset of the decade.”

Zizic, once named as the hardest puncher that Floyd Mayweather Sr. has ever witnessed, then went on to share his confidence in that proposed contest, where he hopes to continue a streak of six consecutive bouts that have not lasted more than two rounds.

“Hamzah Sheeraz is a true champion. He’s in his prime, and I have a lot of respect for him. But believe me, he has never faced — and will never face — a puncher as devastating as I am. I respect him as a fighter, but not to the point where I think I can’t beat him. I believe in my abilities, and I’m confident I can make my dream a reality.

“It will be a war from the first bell, I know how it can be. If we fight and he survives five rounds, he will be the winner, but five rounds against me is a long time.

“If Hamzah and his team want this fight, I’m ready. If not, that’s okay too. I’ll keep moving forward, keep working, and stay focused on my journey. My time will come.”

Whilst his lead trainer is Joco Todorovic, Zizic was previously cornered by fan-favourite four-division world champion Roy Jones Jr, who continues to coach him.

Speaking with Boxing News, Jones explained why he believes Zizic would be an interesting test for Sheeraz, agreeing with Zizic’s plan to force a shoot-out.

“Zizic is a very strong puncher, just like Sheeraz is, they are both very strong punchers. Zizic had been off for a minute, but he came back and got four quick wins, he is back active and I think that would be a great fight for Sheeraz.

“Like I said, they are both really good punchers and Sheeraz won’t meet many people that can match his punching power, but Zizic does have punching power like that.”

“He has got to go right to him. He can’t try to box him, he will go right to him. That would probably be the smartest approach because if you box him, with as long as he [Sheeraz] is, he is going to beat you. 

“So your best chance is try to and get to him as quick as you can and see if he can take your punches. If you wait, he is going to get you out of there.”

News on Sheeraz’s opponent – should he feature on the card – is expected imminently, with other WBO-rated contenders, Bernardin Jakaj (#12) and Jack Bowen (#14) also available as potential opponents.

The Fifa World Cup 2026 found itself at the centre of yet another controversy, this time involving one of its match officials.

Referee Shaun Evans has come under scrutiny after anti-discrimination campaigners accused him of making a hand gesture associated with white supremacist groups during Germany’s World Cup match against Curacao in Houston on Sunday.

The incident occurred when the television broadcast cut to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) room during the match. Critics alleged that Evans appeared to make an upside-down ‘OK’ hand sign, a symbol that has been linked to far-right and white nationalist movements in recent years.

The allegations have sparked calls for Fifa to remove the official from the tournament’s officiating panel.

A split-second image ignites a storm

What might otherwise have been an unremarkable television shot quickly became one of the most discussed moments in the first week of tournament.

Screenshots and video clips of the VAR room circulated on social media, with observers pointing to what they claimed was an upside-down ‘OK’ sign made by Evans while the cameras were focused on match officials. 

The symbol has generated controversy internationally over the past decade.

According to reports, the same gesture was displayed by Brenton Tarrant during a court appearance in 2019 following the mosque attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand, in which 50 people were killed.

The BBC has also included the upside-down ‘OK’ sign among recognised hate symbols in its reporting on extremist movements.

Anti-discrimination group demands action

The strongest response came from Fare Network, an organisation that campaigns against discrimination in football.

In a sharply worded statement, the group urged Fifa to take immediate action against the official.

“Advice from our experts is that the gesture used clearly resembles an upside down ‘OK’ hand symbol used as a ‘White power’ symbol in global far-right circles.

“Why is a VAR supervisor is using this symbol at a global football event at the very moment he knows the cameras are on him? It can only be that he is intentionally transmitting a far-right neo-nazi symbol,” it added.

Fare Network argued that football’s global audience should not be exposed to any display that could be interpreted as promoting extremist ideologies.

“We note that in the two subsequent games it appears TV directors have stopped introducing the VAR panel to the TV audience. A global television audience should not be subjected to extremist far right individuals using neo-Nazi symbols as they prepare to watch a match. Clearly this official should have no further role to play in this World Cup.”

Fifa silent as questions mount

Fifa had not issued any public response to the allegations at the time of writing.

The governing body has spent years promoting anti-discrimination campaigns and has repeatedly stated that racism, extremism and hate speech have no place in football.

The absence of an immediate response has only intensified scrutiny around the incident, particularly given the heightened sensitivity surrounding issues of racism and discrimination at major sporting events.

Whether Fifa chooses to investigate the matter, seek clarification from Evans or take disciplinary action remains unclear.

Another off-field distraction for Fifa

The controversy is the latest off-field issue to overshadow a tournament that has already faced criticism over visa disputes, immigration concerns and ticketing complaints in the build-up to kick-off.

The UFC just placed an $825,000 cherry on top of Justin Gaethje’s crowning achievement. Gaethje’s shocking upset win over Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 netted him the undisputed lightweight title and two post-fight bonuses. 

UFC CEO Dana White previously announced the biggest post-fight bonuses in the promotion’s history to be paid out at UFC Freedom 250. The two Performance of the Night recipients received $425,000, plus $400,000 to each participant in the Fight of the Night.

White announced the big winners at Sunday’s post-fight press conference. Gaethje and Gane, the latter of whom knocked out Alex Pereira to win the interim heavyweight title, netted the two Performance of the Night bonuses. The main event was awarded the Fight of the Night, meaning Gaethje double-dipped while Topuria collected the remaining $400,000.

This marks the third time Gaethje has won Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night in the same fight. He did it in his UFC debut against Michael Johnson, and again when he beat Tony Ferguson for the interim title. He now averages more than 1 bonus per fight inside the Octagon.

The one-time bonus increase is up at least 400% from the promotion’s usual bonus payouts. 

The UFC permanently increased its post-fight bonuses from $50,000 to $100,000 at the start of the Paramount+ era. The organization also introduced a new $25,000 incentive for any fighter who scores a stoppage, excluding Fight of the Night or Performance of the Night awardees. White confirmed that the five other fighters who scored knockout wins on Sunday would earn the $25,000 bonuses.

The increased bonuses for UFC Freedom 250 came from contributions from World Liberty Financial and Crypto.com. 

UFC 300 held the previous record for largest post-fight bonuses. For one night, the UFC awarded $300,000 performance bonuses to celebrate the milestone card.

As we count down to the first college football game of the 2026 season, we continue our new series: The records of each top CFB program in the West against all the others in the region.

Some schools have met many times over the years, while others are beginning new rivalries in the wake of recent realignment.

For each opponent in the table below, we provide the total games played, wins, losses, ties, winning percentage, first year played, and most recent contest.

We continue with Colorado, which has played 449 games vs. regional foes, winning 243, losing 197, with 9 ties for a winning percentage of .549.

The Buffaloes have recorded the most wins (69) and played the most games (93) against Colorado State. CU has lost the most games (36) against Utah.

Here is a breakdown of Colorado’s records vs. the region’s teams.

Bangor striker Ben Arthurs will return for pre-season after being suspended by the club in April, the Irish Premiership side has confirmed.

The 28-year-old did not feature in the final games of the season after being investigated and suspended over a disciplinary matter.

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In a statement on 20 April, Bangor said the club were “unable to provide further details” while an investigation took place.

However, the club said on Monday that an internal review has been completed and Arthurs will be available for the start of pre-season.

The forward has been part of the Bangor squad as they earned promotions through the divisions in recent seasons, initially playing for the club in the Ballymena & Provincial League, and culminating in their return to the top tier of Irish League football for the 2025-26 season.

Arthurs sits second in the all-time scoring charts for the club and the new campaign will be his ninth year with the north Down outfit.

Lee Feeney’s side finished their first campaign back in the Irish Premiership in 10th place.

Fifa has been blamed for the travel chaos afflicting World Cup 2026, with Uruguay slating the governing body after they experienced trouble arriving in Miami for their opening game against Saudi Arabia this evening.

On the eve of the game, the Uruguayan plane didn’t have clearance to fly from Cancun, where the team have been based, to the US, which left the squad stuck at the hotel until a solution was found, with the Uruguayan FA pinning the blame on Fifa, who in turn claimed it was an issue with the airline.

Iran captain Mehdi Taremi has also criticised Fifa for the impact that his nation’s war with the US has had on preparations for their first game against New Zealand tonight, having been forced to move their base to Mexico, visa issues plaguing members of their delegation and travelling fans being stripped of match tickets. “I have felt the tension from the first moment we arrived at this World Cup,” said Taremi. “This kind of tension, it undermines that joy and it undermines the message of Fifa and our people, which is that football brings about peace. I feel like this World Cup could have provided a better atmosphere than it has.”

As England continue to build up to Wednesday’s game with Croatia, Jordan Henderson has leapt to the defence of teammate Jude Bellingham, claiming external criticism is way off the mark. “I know a lot gets written in the media and I really find it hard to read sometimes because I just know how big an influence he is on this team, how good a teammate he is off the field,” said Henderson. “And what he gives us is just something really special, he really gives us the X-factor in our team. We all know what he can do, and how much we all love him inside the camp, and I suppose that’s the main thing.”

Follow all of the latest from our writers in North America with our live blog below:

Sweden’s deadly duo Isak and Gyokeres both off the mark in win over Tunisia

One of the big challenges for successive Sweden managers has been how to get the best out of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres on the same pitch, at the same time. Graham Potter’s solution against Tunisia was to play a 3-5-2 formation in which his star strikers were paired together, and it paid off with a 5-1 win in which both players got on the scoresheet – as Brighton’s Yasin Ayari scored two belters from range against his mother’s country.

The forward pair were helped by some poor Tunisian defending and goalkeeping, and there remain some question marks over their link-up play. At one point during the second half, Gyokeres should have played Isak through on goal but the Arsenal striker dallied and when he eventually passed, Isak was offside. Gyokeres’s goal might technically have been an Isak assist, but Isak was trying to score himself and the ball only ran to his strike partner when he lost control under pressure.

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So perhaps there is still something to work on to develop a thriving partnership in which they are as happy to pass to one another as to take on the shot. But for Potter and Sweden, just seeing their star duo play together is a huge boost after Isak’s season of injuries. Group F rivals Netherlands and Japan will be wary of the threat Sweden pose.

Luke Baker15 June 2026 09:11

Jordan Henderson defends England teammate Jude Bellingham: ‘We all love him’

As England continue to build up to Wednesday’s game with Croatia, Jordan Henderson has leapt to the defence of teammate Jude Bellingham, claiming external criticism of the Real Madrid midfielder is way off the mark.

It has been suggested that one of the reasons Thomas Tuchel wanted veteran Henderson in his World Cup squad was his good relationship with Bellingham, who has developed a reputation externally as something of a tricky character.

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“I know a lot gets written in the media and I really find it hard to read sometimes because I just know how big an influence Jude is on this team, how good a teammate he is off the field,” said Henderson.

“And what he gives us is just something really special, he really gives us the X-factor in our team.

“I do think a lot of the media and the stuff that gets written isn’t all true to be honest, or a lot of it is actually untrue. But we all know what he can do, and how much we all love him inside the camp, and I suppose that’s the main thing.”

Luke Baker15 June 2026 08:58

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The unwanted Premier League reality exposed by Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne’s World Cup showdown

For two ageing greats who contested an epic rivalry over years, the World Cup could provide a last duel. Not Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi – or not definitely, anyway, given the number of results required to ensure that Portugal actually do meet Argentina in the Kansas City quarter-final – but Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah.

They have met in the Community Shield, the Champions League and the Carabao Cup but theirs is primarily a Premier League battle. Now for the north-west of the United States not the north-west of England. They meet in Seattle as captains of Belgium and Egypt and arguably the Premier League’s two best players of the last decade.

There are cases for Harry Kane and Virgil van Dijk, one for Erling Haaland that is based on a much briefer stay in the division, but De Bruyne and Salah allied creativity with class, assists with goals, medals with magnificence, individual exploits with collective achievement.

Richard Jolly analyses a final showdown between two Premier League greats:

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Luke Baker15 June 2026 08:54

Iran captain Mehdi Taremi criticises Fifa over impact of USA war at World Cup

Iran captain Mehdi Taremi has criticised Fifa, with his team is having a challenging World Cup experience amid the multifold disruptions created by their nation’s war with the US.

The Iranians arrived in the Los Angeles area on Sunday from their training base in Tijuana, Mexico, ahead of their clash with New Zealand this evening, while visa issues have plagued members of their delegation and travelling fans have been stripped of match tickets.

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“I have felt the tension from the first moment we arrived at this World Cup,” said Taremi. “This kind of tension, it undermines that joy and it undermines the message of Fifa and our people, which is that football brings about peace. I feel like this World Cup could have provided a better atmosphere than it has.”

Luke Baker15 June 2026 08:50

Uruguay blame Fifa after flight chaos hurts plans for World Cup opener

Uruguay’s national team have blamed Fifa after a chaotic start to their World Cup campaign following the delay to their travel from their Mexico base to Miami for their first match.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side have travelled to Cancun for final preparations before getting their World Cup underway against Saudi Arabia on Monday but the squad were left waiting as their prepared plane didn’t have clearance to fly to the US. The problem facing the team was reportedly due to issues with paperwork for the aircraft which meant it had not been approved to take the route from Cancun to Miami.

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The Uruguayan FA maintained Fifa was responsible, while adding in a statement: “Due to problems beyond the control of the AUF, the departure from Mexico has been delayed. The squad is resting at the hotel. The new departure time set by FIFA is 4.15pm.”

A Fifa statement read: “Due to an airline permitting error in Mexico, the Uruguay national team’s departure from Cancun to Miami was delayed. The airline has apologised for the inconvenience caused.”

Luke Baker15 June 2026 08:38

World Cup 2026 – live updates

Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the 2026 World Cup.

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The tournament rolls on after a goalfest on Sunday, with Uruguay’s travel chaos and Iran’s litany of issues dominating the news

Luke Baker15 June 2026 08:36