NEW DELHI: Spain’s celebrations after winning the FIFA World Cup 2026 caught the attention of football fans around the world. Apart from the usual scenes of joy, hugs, cheers and trophy celebrations, one moment stood out at the New York New Jersey Stadium, officially known as MetLife Stadium. After beating Argentina 1-0 in extra time to lift their second World Cup title, several Spain players were seen cutting pieces of the goal net and taking them home as souvenirs.

Spain borrow a famous basketball tradition

The unusual celebration came after substitute Ferran Torres scored the only goal of the final in the 106th minute to seal a historic victory over defending champions Argentina.Once the celebrations began, Spain’s players borrowed one of basketball’s most famous traditions by cutting down the goal nets.

The pieces of the net became personal keepsakes, marking one of the biggest achievements of their careers.

Where did the tradition begin?

Cutting down the nets is a long-standing basketball tradition that began in the US state of Indiana.In the early 20th century, winning teams started taking the nets home as souvenirs to remember championship victories. The tradition became famous in 1947 when North Carolina State coach Everett Case celebrated his team’s Southern Conference Tournament title by climbing onto his players’ shoulders and cutting down part of the basket net.

Case spent 23 years coaching high school basketball in his home state of Indiana, winning four state championships before joining North Carolina State in 1946.After leading NC State to the Southern Conference Tournament title in 1947, Case cut down the net as a souvenir of the victory. The gesture quickly became one of basketball’s most iconic championship traditions and is now seen regularly during NCAA tournaments and other major competitions.

Spain’s players brought the tradition to football’s biggest stage, turning the goal net into a lasting reminder of their World Cup triumph at MetLife Stadium after defeating Argentina in the 2026 final.

Spain dominate FIFA World Cup 2026 final

Spain were crowned world champions for only the second time in their history after a dominant performance against Argentina.Although the scoreline was only 1-0, Luis de la Fuente’s side controlled the game from start to finish. Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made a string of outstanding saves to keep his side in the contest before Ferran Torres finally broke the deadlock in the 106th minute after Nico Williams headed Pedro Porro’s cross into his path.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 promised to open new doors, reach a wider audience, and mark the beginning of a new chapter with 48 teams participating for the first time. While there’s no denying that the expanded tournament gave hope to several of those nations that had stopped dreaming of participating in the ‘Greatest Show on Earth’, it also hinted at how catastrophic it could be if politics were allowed to infiltrate sports. As the tournament concludes with Spain’s triumphant performance against defending champions Argentina in the final, the sporting world isn’t only buzzing about the footballing drama that unfolded in North America, but also about the precedent set when commercial expansion and geopolitical realities diluted the most loved game on the globe.

For decades, international football federations have balanced the global expansion of the game against accessibility for local and international supporters. In 2026, the sheer cost of attending-from elevated ticket pricing to dynamic surges in host city accommodation-raised pertinent questions about whether traditional fans were being forced out of the game.

Even if the financial barrier was crossed, non-sporting political friction became the second hurdle that saw many fall.

The case of Somali referee Omar Artan, who was named the CAF’s Referee of the Year, drew international attention. Despite holding valid travel documentation, Artan was denied entry by US immigration authorities in Miami under strict border-vetting protocols. Even FIFA couldn’t intervene, leaving Artan with no option but to return home.

Similar geopolitical tension affected the Iranian national team, whose delegation faced stringent visa and logistical restrictions that required them to base operations in Mexico and commute under tight timelines for fixtures held in the US. Iran was even asked to return to its base in Tijuana immediately after the game, creating a logistical nightmare for players that they found tough to recover from between matches.

FIFA and global bodies have often advocated open-access ideals, but implementation is frequently overlooked.

Political Neutrality Blurred

In its rulebook, FIFA mandates political neutrality and states that football governance must remain independent of state interference. However, the lifting of USA striker Folarin Balogun‘s one-match ban is a prime example of how the line between politics and sports was blurred in this tournament.

After receiving a red card during a Round of 32 fixture against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Balogun was facing an automatic one-match ban. US President Donald Trump intervened and reportedly called FIFA chief Gianni Infantino three times, asking for his intervention in the matter. Eventually, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee froze the suspension under Article 27 of its code, placing Balogun on probation and clearing him to play in the Round of 16 against Belgium.

Though the decision arguably ended up putting more pressure on the US team and Balogun, European football authorities (including UEFA) and rival associations expressed concern over the precedent, saying the action was strictly against FIFA’s own anti-politics protocol.

A World Cup Broken To Suit US Taste

From an operational standpoint, the 2026 edition of the World Cup was broken and re-moulded into a format to match American broadcast and event-management standards.

With matches scheduled across extreme climate conditions and designed to maximise prime-time advertising slots, mid-half cooling breaks became standard practice, functionally altering the match rhythm into distinct quarters-breaking a flow that has been central to the way football is played for years.

What was mind-boggling was the fact that the FIFA World Cup final saw the half-time window being broadened to accommodate a show that purists, including Wayne Rooney, branded ‘crap’. The half-time break in the final lasted for nearly 30 minutes to accommodate large-scale musical performances, often witnessed in models used by North American sports leagues.

Critics strongly believe that this over-commercialisation prioritises broadcast revenue and corporate sponsors over the traditional integrity and physical demands of the 90-minute game. If the trend continues, football as we know it may start to go extinct.

What Next For Football?

While this World Cup has clearly demonstrated FIFA’s capability to stage an unprecedentedly large event, it has also exposed how far the sport’s governing body is willing to go to suit its commercial and political interests.

When financial growth and geopolitical influence dominate the conversation surrounding a World Cup, the reputation of an international sport like football is eroded. Restoring confidence before future expansion cycles will require FIFA to establish stronger safeguards, ensuring the soul of the game continues to be protected from outside interests.

Some fans would say outside linebacker; others would shout backup guard. But NFL.com came along last week, claiming the Minnesota Vikings’ main roster need heading into 2026 is at tight end.

And that’s despite employing T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver at TE1 and TE2, respectively. Matt Okada just doesn’t think that’s enough firepower.

Hockenson’s Role Makes the Depth Question Easy to Miss

NFL.com: Vikings Need TE Help

Okada combed through the NFL, identifying one roster need per team, landing on tight end for the purple team.

He explained, “Once upon a time (three years ago), T.J. Hockenson was a strong starting tight end. In two seasons since, he has totaled just 893 yards and three touchdowns. Vikings TEs accumulated the fourth-fewest receiving yards in the league in 2025.”

“And they did nothing to improve the position this offseason. While Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings are a strong wide receiver trio, a lack of production at tight end lowers the ceiling for the Vikings and their yet-to-be-named starting quarterback.”

Generally speaking, it’s unlikely that Minnesota would invest heavily in a tight end trade or signing this summer, aside from perhaps something minimal, like Darren Waller in free agency.

The Group Doesn’t Lack Options

Here’s the Vikings’ TE depth chart ahead of training camp:

Hockenson, barring injury, is guaranteed to get the lion’s share of passing game targets from Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy. Oliver is Minnesota’s blocking-TE asset. And Yurosek and Bartholomew will do battle at training camp for the TE3 job.

Okada thinks the group is underwhelming or mid.

A Rebound Season for Hockenson?

Hockenson tore his ACL late in the 2023 season, and based on his production, he hasn’t quite been the same since. He totaled 960 receiving yards in 15 games that year, but in 2024 and 2025, he’s accrued 893 yards combined. Hockenson averaged about 35 receiving yards per game in those two seasons.

While his numbers from 2024 and 2025 are not bad, he’s paid among the richest tight ends in the NFL, and if a team spends top dollar on a TE1, that guy should get close to 1,000 yards per season or exceed it.

Instead, Hockenson’s role has changed, while his paycheck did not in 2024 and 2025, deployed more as a blocking tight end when offensive line injuries have arisen. Minnesota is due for a season with relatively sturdy OL health, so the working theory suggests that Hockenson can get back on track as a pass-catcher.

And if his quarterback is Murray, well, Murray has a history of feeding tight ends, namely Trey McBride in Arizona. It would not be strange at all for Hockenson to deliver a bounce-back season with Murray under center.

Hockenson also took a pay cut this offseason.

2027 Best Time to Evaluate TE Need

If Okada has it right, and the Vikings end up needing a new tight end in 2027, the free-agent options are grim. Names like this are on tap for the open market:

• Evan Engram
• Hunter Henry
• David Njoku

The 2027 NFL Draft is a bit more promising, with these players tentatively expected to be taken before the end of Round 3:

• Trey’Dez Green (LSU)
• Jamari Johnson (Oregon)
• Peter Clarke (Temple)
• Terrance Carter Jr. (Texas Tech)

Many expected the Vikings to entertain the idea of drafting Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq in April — which would go hand in hand with Okada’s theory — but the New York Jets beat the Vikings to it, and Minnesota selected defensive tackle Caleb Banks from Florida.

Hockenson turned 29 a couple of weeks ago.

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Team India’s tour of the United Kingdom turned out to be an absolute disaster. The assignment started with the team losing all three T20Is against Ireland. Then came the five T20Is against England, which also saw Shreyas Iyer‘s men being hammered 4-0. India hoped to bounce back in the 3 ODIs against England, but the team could only muster up a solitary win in the second match. As the BCCI does a thorough analysis of the results on the tour, head coach Gautam Gambhir‘s decision-making is being severely criticised.

Former India cricketer Sadagoppan Ramesh questioned the Gambhir-led team management’s baffling decision-making in the third ODI against England at Lord’s, asking the logic behind benching Kuldeep Yadav even when Jasprit Bumrah wasn’t playing.

“Even England employed three spinners and the wicket was dry. Yet, without Bumrah, if Kuldeep Yadav can’t fit even in this bowling lineup, what logic is there? It is clear that this team management keeps making glaring errors in the overall selection and in picking the playing 11,” he said in a video on Instagram.

Kuldeep is arguably India’s premier white-ball spinner. He has 194 wickets in 121 ODIs for the national team, at an average of 27.04. He didn’t get to feature in a single match against England.

Ramesh, who featured for India in 24 ODIs and 19 Tests, was impressed by the way Rohit Sharma silenced critics, who were saying his days in the Indian team were coming to an end. Rohit ended up scoring a century, albeit in a losing cause as India couldn’t reach the target of 388 runs set by England.

“Despite the immense pressure on him, Rohit Sharma produced an extraordinary knock. Yet, despite him, Gill and Kohli playing brilliantly, we always felt India would slip somewhere because of the total they were chasing. But India produced an excellent chase as the pitch was more up and down in the second innings,” said Ramesh.

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Andrea Leek is still contemplating the spring plans for Cosmic Crusader, but she is looking forward to seeing him race for the first time this Saturday.

The Group 1-winning Western Australian gelding will debut in Victoria in the $200,000 Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.

The Bob and Sandra Peters-owned five-year-old gelding has joined Leek’s stable from Perth’s leading trainer Michael Grantham, who prepared Cosmic Crusader for his Northerly Stakes win last year. Leek is very pleased with the horse’s transition to his new Victorian environment.

“I think he loves it,” Leek said. “He seems very happy and we’re just looking forward to seeing what he can do on Saturday. It’s a bit short of his (best) distance, but you’ve got to start somewhere and it just looked like a nice starting point.”

Leek mentioned that no specific major spring target has been identified for the horse, who arrived in Victoria considered by many to be the best galloper from WA, with Peters keen to see his performance this weekend.

The son of Maurice was unable to gain a start in Perth’s most prestigious race, the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m), but was a dominant winner of the Listed Carbine Club Stakes (1400m) on the same day, followed by a victory in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) on December 6.

He then dropped back to 1400m for the Group 3 Gold Rush seven days later, where he was narrowly defeated by Victorian sprinter Rey Magnerio.

Cosmic Crusader has not raced over 1200m since winning at Ascot in October 2024, his second win from three starts at the distance. He heads into the Bletchingly Stakes off one Victorian jumpout, finishing second to Pop Award at Caulfield on July 1.

“He had the one jumpout at Caulfield, just to give him a look at it,” Leek stated. “I was really happy with it, very happy.”

Cosmic Crusader was one of 13 nominations for the weight-for-age Bletchingly Stakes. Potential rivals include Monash Stakes winners Winnasedge and Recommendation (the 2024 winner), the classy Zou Sensation, and Group 2-winning mare Miraval Rose.

The Bletchingly Stakes is shaping up to be a competitive affair, and punters are already checking the racing odds at various bookmakers.

Two wheelchair-bound women of indomitable spirit — one with spinal cord injury after a fall from a tree and another an amputee above knee after a bus accident in childhood — are aiming something no Indian has ever done in sport, winning a medal for the country in the upcoming Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Minakshi Jadhav of Maharashtra and Ritu Chanu of Manipur are among the Indian quartet competing in the 3×3 wheelchair basketball event in the Glasgow Games beginning on Thursday. The other two members are Reena Gupta from Maharashtra and Laxmi Rayannavar from Karnataka.

The 3×3 wheelchair basketball event, which was introduced in the 2022 CWG in Birmingham, has three players on the field at a particular time. One player is used as substitute during the match which has a duration of 10 minutes.

The Indian team qualified for the CWG through the 2025 IWBF (International Wheelchair Basketball Federation) Asia-Oceania Championships in Bangkok, Thailand.

“I was a normal girl at a village in Maharashtra. But in 2012, when I was 23 years old, I fell down from a tree and injured my spinal cord. I initially didn’t know that I got spinal cord injury but later I didn’t have any sensation from my navel,” said Minakshi, the captain of the team.

“Only upper body strength was there. After some time, my injury got worse. I had to struggle in the ICU for some time.” 
Minakshi left her village at Satara district and went to Mumbai to join a rehabilitation centre in Mumbai to undergo therapy. She also completed her graduation from Mumbai University.

“In 2017, I competed in my first Nationals in Hyderabad. It was very hard work. I had to manage the wheelchair. I had to do a lot of things.” 
The journey to the rehabilitation centre in Mumbai proved to be a blessing for Minakshi as she met wheelchair players, including former India players, and coaches there, and she was initiated to the sport.

“I got to know about sports after meeting all of them. The social workers at the rehabilitation centre were themselves sportspersons. I had the support of many people. The rehabilitation centre itself helped me a lot. They helped me in sponsorship. Wheelchair Basketball Federation of India (WBFI) is also there. They supported me when in need.” 
The Indian Wheelchair Basketball team was formed in due course.

“We used to play 5×5. We got a chance to play 3×3 for the first time. We will prove it by winning a medal in Glasgow. That is our target, to make the country proud.” 
For Ritu Chanu, hailing from Irengbam village at Nambol in Bishnupur district of Manipur, life changed abruptly when she was seven years old due to a freak accident. She was hit by a bus coming in reverse gear.

“I was just six or seven years of age at that time,” said Chanu, who uses a clutch as her right leg has been amputated above knee.

“I have competed in three Nationals and also in the qualifying event in Thailand last year,” said Chanu, who trains at the Khuman Lampak sports complex in Imphal.

Despite her financial struggles, Chanu has completed her graduation and does weaving at her home in Manipur.

Asked about the financial support to pursue her sport, Chanu said, “I do weaving at home and earn a bit. I also get support from the state government. Besides, my elder sister is also there to support me.” 
Wheelchair Basketball Federation of India (WBFI) President Varun Ahlawat said the team has trained well in Gwalior and hoping to win a medal in Glasgow.

“This is the first time we are qualifying for the CWG and we are aiming to win a medal in the first attempt,” he said.

WBFI vice-president Ulhas KS is accompanying the athletes to Glasgow as team leader.

Eight teams have been divided into two groups of four each. Each team in a group will play three matches in a round-robin format. The top two teams from each of the two groups will qualify for the semifinals.

The 3×3 wheelchair basketball events begin on July 24.