Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar (Image: X)

For nearly two decades, Royal Challengers Bengaluru carried a burden that seemed impossible to shake off. Every season began with hope and ended with disappointment. ‘Ee sala cup namde’ became less a rallying cry and more a reminder of how elusive the IPL trophy remained.Then came a captain nobody saw coming.Soft-spoken away from the spotlight and measured in his demeanour, Rajat Patidar never fit the image of a franchise-defining superstar. Yet under his leadership, ‘Ee sala cup namdu’ finally became reality.Now, with RCB one victory away from defending their title, Patidar stands on the verge of achieving something only Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni have managed in IPL history.The journey from injury replacement to title-winning captain was never supposed to look like this.

The Reinvention of 2026

Most championship-winning teams struggle to sustain success. Patidar ensured RCB remained contenders. If IPL 2025 was about ending a drought, IPL 2026 has been about proving it was no accident. The season has showcased another evolution in his leadership. His captaincy has become sharper, his field placements more proactive and his management of bowlers increasingly astute. His batting has also reached another level.Patidar has scored 486 runs in 14 matches, his highest tally in an IPL campaign. He has smashed 41 sixes and once again established himself as one of the most destructive middle-order batters in the competition. The calm, understated captain continues to be RCB’s middle-overs enforcer.The defining moment came in Qualifier 1 against Gujarat Titans. With a place in the final at stake, Patidar produced arguably the finest innings of his captaincy career, smashing an unbeaten 93 off just 33 deliveries. RCB posted a record playoff total and stormed into another IPL final.Now, the injury replacement who once went unsold at auction stands one victory away from achieving something only MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma have managed as IPL captains.

The Captain Who Changed RCB’s Fortunes

Along with batting coach Dinesh Karthik and head coach Andy Flower, Patidar helped transform RCB from a star-dependent side into one of the most complete teams in the IPL. The batting became deeper. The bowling became more structured. The dressing room became less reliant on individual brilliance. Looking back, it seems obvious. At the time, it wasn’t.Ahead of IPL 2025, RCB faced a massive leadership dilemma. Faf du Plessis had moved on. Virat Kohli was available but chose to continue without captaincy responsibilities. Most expected the franchise to appoint a bigger international name.Instead, RCB placed their faith in Patidar, whom they retained for Rs 11 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Patidar had already demonstrated leadership qualities while captaining Madhya Pradesh to the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2024, where they eventually lost to Mumbai, led by Shreyas Iyer.RCB were betting on character rather than celebrity. It proved to be one of the smartest decisions in franchise history.

RCB first picked Patidar at the IPL 2021 mini-auction for Rs 20 lakh. A top-order batter from Madhya Pradesh, he had already built a reputation in domestic cricket and would later play a pivotal role in ending the state’s 69-year wait for a Ranji Trophy title.Playing for RCB in his first season, however, Patidar had a miserable outing. He got only four opportunities in the middle order and scored just 71 runs. He was subsequently released ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction, where he went unsold.Disappointed, Patidar moved on from his IPL dreams and even fixed his wedding dates for May 2022. Midway through the season, RCB wicketkeeper Luvnith Sisodia suffered an injury. RCB head coach Mike Hesson called Patidar as a replacement. Although Patidar later revealed that he initially did not want to join because he thought he would spend the entire season sitting on the bench, he eventually agreed after the insistence of his family.The rest is history.Patidar played eight matches and finished as one of the most successful uncapped players for RCB that season, scoring 333 runs, including a breathtaking 112* off 54 balls against Lucknow Super Giants in the Eliminator. He became the first uncapped player in IPL history to score a century in the playoffs.

Injury Nearly Derailed Everything

Just when Patidar appeared ready to establish himself permanently, another setback arrived. An Achilles heel injury ruled him out of IPL 2023 entirely. Missing a full season was a massive blow. He returned to domestic cricket after recovering from the injury and slowly rebuilt his career. Following a successful domestic stint for Madhya Pradesh, he earned his ODI debut for India against South Africa in 2023, where he scored 22 runs as an opener. He later made his Test debut against England in 2024. Across three matches, he scored 63 runs.

The Rise of the Spin Basher

Patidar returned to RCB and enjoyed a full season in the middle order, scoring 395 runs in 15 matches. More importantly, he showed the cricketing world exactly what he was capable of. Rajat smashed 33 sixes during the season and earned the reputation of being one of the best spin-hitters in the league. He concluded the campaign with a stunning strike rate of 177.33, establishing himself as a genuine middle-order match-winner.By the time RCB entered a leadership transition phase, Patidar was no longer merely a comeback story. He had become one of the most destructive middle-order batters in the tournament and one of the franchise’s most dependable performers – and now the IPL-winning captain. In a franchise built around superstars, an overlooked domestic batter suddenly became the hero.

Under orders from Gian Piero Gasperini, Roma is working to renew the contracts of its players whose contracts are expiring.

Stephan El Shaarawy has chosen to embark on a new adventure, and no news has emerged regarding Lorenzo Pellegrini’s contract extension.

Advertisement

However, barring any surprises, Zeki Celik and Paulo Dybala will remain in the capital.

With the Argentine, there are still a few details to iron out, but an agreement is expected to be reached for a fee close to €2.5 million.

Meanwhile, for the Turk, there’s a gap of about half a million between supply and demand. Work is underway to secure a deal.

Celik currently earns two million net, and his goal, according to Il Corriere della Sera, is to reach three million.

In fact, the player’s entourage never offered the Giallorossi the four million they thought would have led the club to close the deal.

The Turk can leverage two factors: first, due to his versatility, he is a loyal supporter of Gasp, and the request for a contract extension comes from the coach himself.

Advertisement

Furthermore, the 1997-born full-back still benefits from the growth decree. The full-back has long since given Gasp his word, who will wait for a move from Roma: the player rejected an offer from Galatasaray.

Amanda Serrano equalled the record for the most knockouts in women’s boxing history with a second-round stoppage of Cheyenne Hanson in Texas to retain her WBA and WBO featherweight titles.

The American dominated the encounter and, having pinned Germany’s Hanson, 28, in the corner, unloaded a flurry of unanswered punches that lead to the fight being waved off in El Paso, Texas.

The 37-year-old, who now has 32 wins by knockout, was the first fighter to stop Hanson inside the distance.

In the co-main event, former UFC star Holly Holm was again narrowly defeated by Stephanie Han to miss out on claiming the WBA lightweight title.

One judge scored it even at 95-95, but the other two saw it 96-94 for the undefeated champion.

Prior to the fight, Holm said she wanted to make a statement and then challenge Taylor in Ireland, but instead it was Han who called for that fight.

“The next fight I want, and I know every fighter wants it, is Katie Taylor,” Han said ringside.

On the undercard, Desley Robinson retained her IBF and WBO middleweight titles by winning a wide unanimous decision against Mary Spencer, while Mexican Lourdes Juarez retained her WBC light-flyweight title with a split decision against Yokasta Valle.

Elsewhere, O’Shaquie Foster impressed to beat Raymond Ford by a majority decision to retain his WBC super-featherweight title at the Fertitta Center, Houston.

Dillian Whyte has predicted a possible clash between Oleksandr Usyk and Moses Itauma, based purely on the Ukrainian’s performance against Rico Verhoeven.

Usyk was introduced to a surprisingly challenging assignment last Saturday, but ultimately retained his WBC, IBF and WBA world titles against the Dutch kickboxer.

There were times, however, when Verhoeven was making it too close for comfort, with one judge even scoring it 96-94 in his favour, while the other two had it 95-95 after 10 rounds.

In the end, it was a whipping uppercut that sent him to the canvas in round 11, and despite getting back to his feet, the 37-year-old was controversially waved off by referee Mark Lyson at the sound of the bell.

Usyk, meanwhile, was perhaps guilty of overlooking his opponent, whose only previous professional boxing match had come via a second-round finish over an 0-5 heavyweight in 2014.

At the same time, though, the 39-year-old’s post-fight admission – that his daughter had messaged him from a bomb shelter in Ukraine – could also explain why he underperformed.

Whatever the case, heavyweight veteran Whyte has told IFL TV that he believes Itauma would defeat Usyk, given where they are at this stage in their respective careers.

“[Based] on that performance last weekend, yeah, [Itauma would beat Usyk].”

Whyte felt the full force of an Itauma stoppage in August, not even making it through the opening round.

Since then, Itauma has defeated Jermaine Franklin, courtesy of a fifth-round finish in March, and placed himself as the No.1 contender with both the WBO and WBA.

The Minnesota Vikings are concluding their first week of organized team activities as we approach June in the NFL calendar. Training camp is just around the corner — less than two months away — and the rumor mill is already heating up.

This week’s headlines include an intriguing theory about Deebo Samuel, fresh trade discussions regarding Anthony Richardson, and a potential quarterback shift for the Vikings in preparation for the 2027 NFL Draft.

Welcome to the Purple Rumor Mill for May 31st — this is the second edition of the weekend.

Vikings WR and QB Rumors, Some beyond the Summer

Rumor: Deebo Samuel remains a free-agent fit for the Vikings, according to Bleacher Report.

Still available for any team to sign, BR’s Alex Kay wrote about Samuel this week, “The Washington Commanders moved on from Deebo Samuel after a single season, but the 30-year-old wideout should still have something left to offer another team as he gears up for his third NFL act. Samuel can be a dangerous playmaker when he possesses the football.”

“He’s amassed 800 or more yards from scrimmage and scored at least four touchdowns in all six of his healthy seasons — only missing those marks during an injury-shortened 2020 sophomore effort — and averages nearly 11 yards per touch on his career.”

Samuel seemed like a smart Vikings option prior to the Jauan Jennings addition. Then, when Jennings entered the mix, fans assumed he alone was enough to complete the WR room.

Kay continued, “While Samuel wasn’t a great fit in Washington and was limited by the lack of talent under center following Jayden Daniels‘ injury woes, he still managed to score six touchdowns on just 89 touches in 2025. He was a YAC machine — nearly two-thirds of his receiving yardage came after the catch — and he can be relied on to churn respectable gains if he gets the ball in space at his next stop.”

“Any team seeking a versatile weapon who can line up at multiple offensive positions, as well as contribute on special teams, should have interest in Samuel. Potential Landing Spots: Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots.”

It would be pretty wild if the Vikings signed Samuel after Jennings, but it evidently cannot be ruled out.

Rumor: The Vikings could trade for Anthony Richardson.

Analyzing trade scenarios for the league’s most tradeable players, ESPN’s Seth Walder landed on the Vikings as Richardson’s next employer.

He wrote, “Seth Walder’s offer: Colts get: 2027 fifth-round pick. Vikings get: Richardson. Why this deal makes sense: Richardson can come to the Kevin O’Connell school of quarterbacks and learn behind another mobile QB in Kyler Murray, who is on just a one-year contract with Minnesota.”

“Richardson’s deal expires in 2027, too, but his acquisition would give the Vikings more options going forward. Maybe Murray works out great and becomes the long-term starter in Minnesota. Or maybe Murray heads elsewhere and the Vikings see enough growth from Richardson to keep him around.”

The Colts drafted Richardson in 2023, and credible intel claimed Minnesota would’ve been interested had he tumbled down the draftboard.

Walder added, “In this scenario, the Vikings could keep both Richardson and J.J. McCarthy (though that’s a pretty risky backup room) or deal the latter in another trade. For Indianapolis, it can land a little draft capital now in exchange for a third-string quarterback.”

Stephen Holder from the same network added, “The win-win here is Walder’s offer from the Vikings. First, it gives the Colts a fifth-rounder without a pick swap like Solak’s offer from Detroit. And Minnesota’s fifth-rounder will likely come earlier than Green Bay’s fifth-rounder, giving this deal the edge over Fowler’s pitch.”

Like the Samuel theory, this one is a long shot: Minnesota already has Murray, McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer at quarterback.

Rumor: Minnesota is a dark-horse franchise to draft a Round 1 quarterback next April.

ESPN’s Jordan Reid browsed the whole 2027 quarterback class and opined at the article’s conclusion, “What is a sleeper team to watch at quarterback? Minnesota Vikings. They are in the middle of a QB competition between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy for the starting job, with Carson Wentz behind them as the QB3.”

“If Murray and McCarthy don’t drastically improve from what they put on tape last season, Minnesota could be looking for its next franchise signal-caller as soon as the 2027 draft.”

If the Vikings are forced to use a 1st-Round pick on a quarterback next April, it will feel like the franchise is starting all over again.

Here’s to hoping Murray or McCarthy pan out.

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

The NBA rarely produces playoff series like the 2026 Western Conference Finals. The bout between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder was the first series to feature two teams that won 62 or more games since the 1998 NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz. We haven’t seen a series hyped to quite the extent that this one was since, at least, the 2018 Western Conference Finals between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors.

Well, the series — thanks to an unforgettable opener and dramatic closer — lived up to that hype. Game 1 was one of the greatest playoff games in NBA history, and the series went the full seven. In the end, the Spurs were crowned Western Conference champions with a 111-103 victory in Saturday’s Game 7. They will face the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals starting on Wednesday.

That’s four days away, and given both the stakes of this matchup and the quality of basketball that was played, we’re not ready to turn the page quite yet. So with this momentous series now in the books, let’s name some winners and losers for perhaps the most anticipated playoff series of the decade.

Winner: Victor Wembanyama

This isn’t supposed to happen. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won the championship in his second season, but he had a full college career. Magic Johnson did it as a rookie… but on Abdul-Jabbar’s team. It took LeBron James four years to make the Finals and four more to make it back after he got swept.

But Wembanyama is headed to the Finals in just his third NBA season. In getting there, he took down the two-time reigning NBA MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. More than that, he essentially neutralized his competition. Gilgeous-Alexander got to the basket at only slightly better than half of the rate he did so in the regular season. That forced him to live off of tough, contested mid-range jumpers. He made plenty of them in his 35-point Game 7, but not nearly enough in the rest of the series to move on.

Wembanyama is in rarified air now. He’s claimed the mantle of “best player in the NBA” at such a young age and with so much room left to grow that, if he remains healthy, it’s a title he might hold for another decade or more. His Spurs are favored in the NBA Finals, he plays for a young and asset-rich team, and he’ll have a chance to hold his coronation at Madison Square Garden, the world’s most famous arena. 

Now seems like the perfect moment to truly begin his campaign to unseat James and Michael Jordan as the greatest players of all time. He has a long way to go, but he’s hitting the checkpoints he needs to earlier than either of them did.

Victor Wembanyama’s ‘greatest of all time’ trajectory is officially ahead of schedule after Spurs’ Game 7 win

Sam Quinn

Advertisement

Loser: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Look, we can be reasonable here. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was at an enormous disadvantage in this series when Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell got hurt. He was the last high-level shot-creator standing for the Thunder, and Wembanyama taking away the rim as he did forced him into a very uncomfortable position. The series boiled down to him making tough shots off the dribble. He didn’t make enough of them for six games.

But here’s the thing about being a two-time MVP: you’re sometimes expected to do unreasonable things. Gilgeous-Alexander has spent the year getting compared to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Well, players of that caliber have won through adversity. Gilgeous-Alexander hasn’t. He won a championship last season that may well have boiled down to injuries suffered by the Nuggets and Pacers before and during their matchups. He has the best roster in the NBA surrounding him, and that probably contributes to why casual fans don’t regard him as highly as his numbers suggest they should.

And the agonizing thing here is that he did those unreasonable things in Game 7. He was genuinely spectacular. It’s hard to ask for much more than 35 points and nine assists on 12-of-21 shooting when you’re getting doubled as frequently as he was. This could have been the game that changed the way he was perceived forever, yet most of his teammates didn’t join him. There’s not much anyone can do when three of their fellow starters score 14 combined points.

It’s not as though his career or prime are over. The Thunder will be back in the mix next year and beyond, and Wembanyama’s ascent means that they’ll probably be underdogs. But this was a chance for Gilgeous-Alexander to shed some labels, to win a championship that frankly would have been more meaningful than the one he already had and legitimately launched him into those exclusive clubs occupied by the other multiple-time MVP winners. As good as he was in Game 7, he just wasn’t at this level for most of the series, and it’s hard not to be somewhat disappointed by that. He may one day push his way through those doors, but he missed a chance to barge into the Pantheon with a victory in Game 7.

Winner: De’Aaron Fox

This series almost went very, very badly for De’Aaron Fox. He missed the first two games with a high ankle sprain, and Dylan Harper laid out the case that he should be the starting point guard next year with a huge Game 1. Fox returned for Game 3, but wasn’t especially effective. The Thunder barely guarded him from deep, and his struggles culminated with a 5-of-24 shooting stretch in Games 5 and 6. With a max contract kicking in this offseason and Harper potentially rendering him obsolete, Game 7 was undoubtedly the biggest game of Fox’s career.

The numbers weren’t gaudy, but every single one of them counted. It’d be hard to score 15 bigger points than Fox did against the Thunder on Saturday. Seemingly every one of them came to slow a Thunder run or accentuate one of San Antonio’s. His 3s started going in. And the one thing he’s done well really all series? He basically never turns the ball over. One of the stories of the games Fox missed early on were the 20 turnovers Stephon Castle committed. Oklahoma City lives off of the transition opportunities those live-ball turnovers create, but putting Fox back in the mix helped minimize them.

All of the long-term questions here still linger. Harper probably does have to be the long-term starter. Fox probably is overpaid. It might not be possible to play the three-man combination of Fox, Harper and Castle together too much because of their shooting deficiencies. But the trade for Fox and the contract that followed justified itself in Game 7. He was the difference between the Spurs reaching the NBA Finals and going home. They can address everything else later. For now, they are four wins away from a championship because he is on their team.

Loser: Chet Holmgren

Most of the time, the Thunder are perfectly happy to have a passive Chet Holmgren on offense. He’s among the NBA’s best defenders and his presence usually spaces the floor. When you have the best roster in the NBA, you can get away without much more out of him.

Well, the Thunder couldn’t get away with less in this series. Without Williams and Mitchell, they needed some measure of shot-creation out of Holmgren. He didn’t offer much of it. Like Gilgeous-Alexander, he was limited at the basket by Wembanyama’s presence. But he just doesn’t have a quick enough trigger to really scare the Spurs from deep, either. After launching four 3s in Game 1, he took only seven in the next six games. He was, by and large, invisible offensively for large stretches of this series.

This culminated with one of the worst Game 7s you’ll ever see. Holmgren played 33 minutes and attempted two shots. Two. For reference, do you remember the infamous Ben Simmons Game 7 against the Hawks in which he passed up an open dunk? He took four shots in that game. Holmgren had as many turnovers as he had field goal attempts. He couldn’t hold onto passes or rebounds. He was a mess.

Years ago, Holmgren vs. Wembanyama was treated as one of the great impending rivalries in basketball. There’s not a rivalry right now. Wembanyama is the best player in the world. Holmgren is an enormously valuable overall player who shares a similar physical profile but couldn’t adjust to the adverse circumstances this series presented. Like Gilgeous-Alexander, he’ll probably have more chances with a healthier overall roster, but we got a glimpse of what Holmgren looks like on something resembling a normal playoff-caliber team in this series, and what we saw was pretty underwhelming.

Loser: Lu Dort

We have to discuss another OKC starter in a negative light. It’s not an exaggeration to suggest that Lu Dort might’ve been playing for his job in this series. The Thunder are far above the second apron for next season, and Dort’s $18.2 million team option is one of their easiest paths to saving money. The Thunder have one of the deepest group of 3-and-D wings in the entire NBA. Even at his best, he might have been a luxury here.

What’s next for Thunder? OKC faces a stark financial reality, and only SGA is truly indispensable

Sam Quinn

Advertisement

Well, he wasn’t at his best in this series. His offense has always been up and down, but it became a real problem against the Spurs. He shot just 20% on 3s, and in the first six games of the series, Oklahoma City’s offense was more than eight points per 100 possessions worse with him on the floor. Part of the reason the Spurs kept jumping out to those huge first-quarter leads was the Thunder’s continued insistence on starting Dort. It was as if the game started for Oklahoma City four or five minutes into the first quarter when the team finally pulled him out.

Dort has specific functions in Oklahoma City. He’s great on the ball. He’s burlier than Cason Wallace and therefore better suited to taking on certain matchups. But Wallace and Alex Caruso are both better players than he is, and the continued decision to start Dort over Wallace was one of the reasons the Thunder lost this series. If they have to choose between the three of them as financial fits moving forward, Dort is the odd man out. 

Winner: New York Knicks

Look, the Knicks were going to be underdogs against either of these teams (they are +172 underdogs against the Spurs on FanDuel). There’s an argument to be made that they would have preferred the Thunder purely because of the injuries they’ve endured. But the Knicks haven’t beaten the Thunder since November of 2022. Conveniently enough, they faced off in early March under eerily similar circumstances as they may have in the Finals: no Mitchell Robinson for the Knicks, no Jalen Williams or Ajay Mitchell for the Thunder. Oklahoma City won the game at Madison Square Garden. Jalen Brunson shot 5 of 18.

The Knicks faced the Spurs three times this season and beat them twice, including in the NBA Cup final. Now, Wembanyama didn’t play his typical minutes load in that game, but it’s worth noting here that across those three games, the Knicks won the Wembanyama minutes by 16 total points.

Potentially missing Robinson or having a limited version of him stings against a star opposing center, but OG Anunoby is about as well-equipped to guard San Antonio’s martian as anyone in the NBA. Oklahoma City’s deep group of perimeter defenders likely would’ve been harder for Brunson to deal with than just Stephon Castle. The Spurs have more slightly weak links for him to seek out. Avoiding Isaiah Hartenstein‘s screens will probably help the typically contact-averse Mikal Bridges defensively. The Thunder have been there before. The Spurs haven’t. 

On balance, San Antonio is just a slightly more favorable matchup for New York. Really, though, New York’s victory came before the game even began. This is now the third consecutive series in which they will face an opponent coming off of a seven-game series… and the second in which they were coming off of a sweep. Their rest advantage cannot be overstated. The longer the Finals go, the better for them. If they pull off the Finals upset, they’ll be sure to send the Thunder a card for pushing the Spurs this hard.

Evans took full advantage of being the first driver on the road to set himself up for victory on Friday – winning stage two by 7.5 seconds.

Posting the fastest time on stage three, and again winning the afternoon’s second run through Isegami’s Tunnel, meant the Welshman led by 15.7 seconds at the end of the first day.

Toyota team-mate Oliver Solberg and English co-driver Elliott Edmondson cut that by more than five seconds with two stage wins on Saturday morning, but the 24-year old Swede crashed out of contention on stage 12 – earning a rebuke from veteran Ogier.

“Unfortunately it’s not really a surprise, but it’s a shame,” said the 42-year-old Frenchman.

“I’ve seen the risk he’s taking is too high.”

Solberg, who dismissed Ogier’s comments, rejoined to claim the maximum 10 Sunday bonus points and is third in the championship, 49 points behind Evans.

After three crashes this year in Tarmac events he is now looking forward to the remaining seven rallies on gravel.

“Gravel and so on has been very strong,” said Solberg.

“It’s only gravel from now, so I still believe everything is possible.”

Failing to win any of seven consecutive gravel rallies between May and September last season ultimately cost Evans and co-driver Scott Martin the title – as they finished championship runners-up for a fifth time in six years.

Running first as championship leader can be a disadvantage in gravel rallies, as the opening car ‘sweeps’ the road, leaving a cleaner run for those following.

Evans is mindful of the pitfalls ahead, admitting dry gravel rallies are “what we identified as perhaps the weakest point of our championships in the past”.

A stern examination of those skills, and a threat to his WRC lead, comes next – with round eight heading to Greece for the Acropolis Rally from 25-28 June.

Soccer Aid is back with England battling the World XI for bragging rights in the name of charity with funds raised for Unicef.

Last year’s spectacular at Old Trafford raised over £15m for Unicef to help children around the world.

Going strong since its inception in 2006, this year’s game is set to become the 15th edition with more than £120m raised in that time.

The World XI claimed the win last year at Old Trafford, mostly thanks to Carlos Tevez and the former Man United and Man City star’s four goals, taking the overall score across the series to 8-6 in the World XI’s favour.

And ahead of the serious football at the 2026 World Cup, fans will get to enjoy some legendary footballers rolling back the years, plus other celebrities ready to seize a famous moment on the pitch at West Ham’s London Stadium.

When and where is Soccer Aid 2026?

Soccer Aid is on Sunday, May 31, with kick-off scheduled for 6:30pm BST at West Ham’s London Stadium.

How can I watch Soccer Aid 2026?

Soccer Aid will be shown on ITV 1, and coverage begins at 5pm BST, fans can also live stream it for free on ITVX. While Independent Sport will bring you a live blog, including all the action, updates and analysis.

Who’s playing at Soccer Aid 2026?

England

Managers

Robbie Williams (England)

Harry Redknapp (England)

David Seaman (England)

Players

Wayne Rooney – Former Manchester United and England player

Jermain Defoe – Former Tottenham and England player

Jill Scott – Former Manchester City and England player

Jack Wilshere – Former Arsenal and England player

Shaun Wright-Phillips – Former Manchester City and England player

Tom Hiddleston – Actor

Paddy McGuinness – Comedian and presenter

Owen Cooper – Actor

Danny Dyer – Actor and TV personality

Damson Idris – Actor

Theo Walcott – Former Arsenal and England player

Angry Ginge – YouTuber

Chloe Burrows – Former Love Island star and radio host

Jack Whitehall – Comedian

Jordan North – Radio presenter and podcaster

Sam Thompson – Reality TV star and podcaster

Olly Murs – Singer

Steph Houghton – Former Manchester City, Arsenal and England player

Toni Duggan – Former Manchester City and England player

Joe Marler – Former England rugby player

Joe Hart – Former Manchester City and England goalkeeper

GK Barry – Influencer and podcaster

Alex Brooker – Comedian

World XI

Managers

Usain Bolt (World XI)

Clarence Seedorf (World XI)

Players

Jordi Alba – Former Barcelona and Spain player

Leonardo Bonucci – Former Juventus and Italy player

Lukas Podolski – Former Arsenal and Germany player

Michael Essien – Former Chelsea and Ghana player

Dimitar Berbatov – Former Manchester United and Bulgarian player

Nemanja Matic – Former Manchester United and Serbia player

Ali Krieger – Two-time World Cup winner with United States’ Women

Behzinga – YouTuber and member of the Sidemen

Dermot Kennedy – Singer

Edwin van der Sar – Former Manchester United and Netherlands player

Maisie Adam – Comedian

Jen Beattie – Former Arsenal and Scotland player

Nicky Byrne – Singer (Westlife)

Nitro – Former Team GB sprinter and Gladiators star

Chris O’Dowd – Actor and comedian

Simon Neil – Singer (Biffy Clyro)

Richard Gadd – Actor and comedian

Nikolaj Coster Waldau – Actor

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey – Former Commonwealth athlete and Gladiators star

Molly McCann – Former UFC fighter

TBJZL – YouTuber and member of the Sidemen.

Frankie Dettori – Former champion horse racing jockey

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) said that its immediate priority is to keep the national team programs going after it got suspended by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).

“The Federation acknowledges receipt of the FIVB communication dated 29 May 2026 and is carefully reviewing its implications with the appropriate advisers and stakeholders,” the PNVF wrote.

“PNVF’s immediate priority is to serve the Filipino athlete, preserve the country’s participation in international volleyball, and ensure continuity for the sport.”

READ: PNVF suspended by FIVB over governance issues, alleged violations

The FIVB suspended the Philippine National Volleyball Federation with immediate effect, citing “serious governance concerns and multiple purported violations.”

The FIVB Board of Administration made the shocking announcement Friday night, saying it was obliged to suspend the PNVF in accordance with Article 13.1.1 of the FIVB Disciplinary Regulations.

During the suspension, a committee will be tasked to oversee PNVF affairs. A path for the local federation’s reinstatement has also been established, according to the FIVB.

The Asian Volleyball Confederation Board of Administration also reaffirmed its full confidence in its president Tats Suzara and its “commitment to institutional stability and good governance.”

The Philippine Sports Commission also reportedly suspended its funding support and engagements involving the PNVF and PNVF-adjacent activities due to a breach of “contractual obligations” related to the recent Beach Pro Tour Nuvali and “continuing operational misalignment with the LOC and PSC in the handling and execution of events.”

READ: Alas Pilipinas withdrawals, De Brito case rock PNVF

The Philippine Olympic Committee is also set to suspend the PNVF in its general assembly.

“The Federation respects the important roles of FIVB, PSC, POC, and all relevant institutions in Philippine and international sport, and is prepared to engage constructively through the proper channels,” the PNVF said. “Given the seriousness of the matter, PNVF will seek a full understanding of the issues raised, the process moving forward, and the operational implications for Philippine volleyball.”

Alas Pilipinas continues to train ahead of the AVC Women’s Cup in Candon from June 6 to 14.

FIVB vows to continue supporting Philippine volleyball with several events scheduled, including the hosting of Volleyball Nations League (VNL) women’s division at Philsports Arena.

State of Origin returns on Wednesday night with a new-look rivalry set to unfold at Accor Stadium, where New South Wales and Queensland launch the 2026 series. With both sides unveiling several debutants and key stars missing, the opener shapes as one of the more unpredictable clashes in recent memory. The Blues enter as favourites after winning last year’s series opener, while the Maroons will be eager to respond after suffering defeat in Sydney the last time the venue hosted a decider.

When: Wednesday May 27, 2026 at 8:05 pm

Where: Accor Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

New South Wales Blues vs Queensland Maroons Odds

New South Wales Blues vs Queensland Maroons Preview

The 2026 State of Origin series gets underway at Accor Stadium on Wednesday night, with New South Wales out to continue its recent dominance after winning last year’s opener and entering the series as warm favourite. Ironically, home-ground advantage has meant little in recent campaigns, with neither side managing to win at its designated home venue since the Blues’ victory in Origin III, 2023.

There will be a fresh look to both line-ups following recent eligibility changes. Laurie Daley has named six potential debutants for New South Wales, including Tolutau Koula, Addin Fonua-Blake and Ethan Strange, who was promoted into the starting side after Mitch Moses suffered a hamstring injury. Queensland coach Billy Slater has also turned to new faces, with Jojo Fifita, Sam Walker and Max Plath all set to start, while Briton Nikora looms as an impact option off the bench. Reece Walsh headlines the Maroons’ omissions as Queensland looks to rebound from last year’s 18-6 opening-game defeat.