Sports
Kyler Murray Gets the Sam Darnold Treatment
The top priority for the Vikings this offseason was the addition of another passer to provide competition for J.J. McCarthy. Minnesota’s decision-makers found Kyler Murray in free agency, a two-time Pro Bowler who was looking for a new job after being put on Arizona’s chopping block.
Widely expected to win the quarterback competition over McCarthy, Murray could rejuvenate his career in the Twin Cities, where Sam Darnold did just that two years ago.
Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon thinks Murray could enjoy the same redemption arc in the upcoming season.
In recent years, the NFL has had one of those revival stories each year, starting with Geno Smith, Baker Mayfield, Darnold, and recently, Daniel Jones.
Gagnon wrote about Murray, “I’m not remotely ready to give up on Murray—one of the most uniquely talented players in the sport but a quarterback who consistently fell short during a seven-year run with the Cardinals that was tainted by injuries, coaching turnover, and a distinct lack of institutional support.”
The Cardinals had some talent on the roster in the first half of Murray’s tenure, but the team around him hadn’t been good in years.
“Like Watson, Murray made multiple Pro Bowls early in his career,” Gagnon added. “Unlike Watson, he has enjoyed some success as recently as 2024 and has avoided off-field controversy. Plus, he now joins a Minnesota offense that features one of the most dominant receivers in football and a strong offensive line.”
Deshaun Watson and Kyler Murray were amongst the best passers in football in 2020, but Watson’s career took a serious tumble due to the off-field disaster and declining play, while Murray continued to perform at a solid level when available.
In 2024, Murray led a subpar Cardinals squad to an 8-9 record with 26 touchdowns (five rushing). Injuries derailed his 2025 season and he logged only a handful of games. A torn ACL also cost him time in 2022 and 2023. Without Murray, the Cardinals have a record of 5-25 since he was drafted in 2019.
“Murray just has to beat out 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, which shouldn’t be a problem considering just how poorly McCarthy has performed when healthy. And another way to look at it is that McCarthy could push Murray without actually doing enough to overtake him on the depth chart. This Vikings squad was a legitimate contender with 14 wins in 2024, so if a 29-year-old Murray can become comfortable and experience a rejuvenation under Kevin O’Connell, the sky’s the limit for both player and team.”
McCarthy still has a chance and it’s certainly not unprecedented that a 23-year-old signal-caller improves in a full offseason, but Murray’s experience and proven track record certainly give him the edge in the eyes of many.
Whoever gets the nod will have the benefit of throwing the ball to the receiving trio of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings. Furthermore, having head coach Kevin O’Connell in the corner has proven to be a real asset, especially for veteran quarterbacks.
In fact, Darnold is the best example. A journeyman backup at that point, Darnold arrived in Minnesota in 2024 and suddenly earned Pro Bowl recognition for a 35-touchdown season. Sure, he brought some god-given talent with him, but so does Murray, who has the arm talent and the legs to be a dangerous weapon in the passing game.
The Vikings bet that Murray is the next QB to revitalize his career. The former first overall pick will be supported by a strong offensive ecosystem and a defense that doesn’t require him to become Superman on a weekly basis and can take pressure off his shoulders.
The blueprint is there, but only time will tell if the theory can, indeed, become reality.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.
The goal was scored in the 95th minute of the final and sends the Tigers to the English first division
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1 min read
Hull City are back in the Premier League, the English first division, thanks to the late goal scored by Oliver McBurnie in the final against Middlesbrough at Wembley at the end of an eventful week, characterised by the “Spygate” scandal that disqualified Southampton and gave Middlesbrough a second chance in the playoffs.
The Tigers are back in the English top flight for the first time since the 2016-17 after going through some challenging years, also playing in the third division during the 2020-21 season.
Before the final, Hull City owner Acun Ilicali said they meant to take action in case Middlesbrough were going to win the final on Saturday, as reported by the BBC:
“Our legal team says that we have to go for action, that’s for sure. So we have no doubt about it. Here, all we want is justice. If justice is broken, nobody will enjoy football. If this action was so big that a team is out of the play-offs, why didn’t they let them not play the semifinal, investigate and take Southampton out and put Wrexham in? Why is Wrexham out now? Put Wrexham in and continue the competition. For me, an eliminated team [being] put back – also our lawyers say this and that’s their opinion too – is an incredibly wrong decision.”
Southampton have been kicked out of the playoff final and docked four points for the 2026-27 season after admitting to spying on three different opponents during the course of the season. An appeal was officially dismissed on Wednesday, days after they admitted that they had not only spied against playoff semifinal opponents Middlesbrough but also Ipswich Town and Oxford United during the season.
Jul 21, 2022; Atlanta, GA, USA; The Auburn Tigers helmet on the stage during SEC Media Days at the College Football Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports In all of college football this upcoming season, it’s highly doubtful any team is expected to take more of a leap than LSU.
After missing the College Football Playoff for the sixth straight season, the Tigers ended Brian Kelly’s ineffective tenure and paid out to the tune of seven years and $91 million to bring Lane Kiffin over from Ole Miss to take over as head coach.
LSU also paid up for its roster, landing the No. 1 high-school recruiting class and No. 1 transfer portal class according to 247Sports’ rankings.
They brought in one of the best quarterbacks in the portal in Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt and a host of other top players who should immediately improve the roster drastically.
LSU hasn’t won more than 10 games since its last national title in 2019 — high standards, I know — but this roster looks poised to break through with a playoff berth this fall.
Here’s four other teams that appear ready to make the leap in 2026:
Auburn
Elsewhere in the Southeastern Conference, Auburn is also introducing a new coach this season in Alex Golesh, who left South Florida after a successful three-year stint to helm the Tigers.
Perhaps the biggest immediate win for Golesh is that his USF quarterback, Byrum Brown, followed him to Auburn. Brown arrives as one of the most experienced quarterbacks in college football, throwing for 7,286 yards, rushing for 2,086 yards and scoring 84 total touchdowns (56 passing, 28 rushing) over the last three seasons.
That’s the production the Tigers have been badly missing the last decade. At the least, it should lead them to their first eight-win season since 2019.
UCLA
Nov 8, 2024; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Jalen Berger (0) carries for a gain in the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The move from the Pac-12 to Big Ten has been challenging for UCLA.
The Bruins are a combined 8-16 (6-12 in Big Ten) in their two years in the conference. They’re coming off a 3-9 season, tied for the least wins in program history since 1971. They’ve made just two bowls in the last eight years.
Bob Chesney is hoping to fix that. The new Bruins coach has a 132-52 career record as a head coach over his unique career, which has taken him from D-III Salve Regina to UCLA. He led James Madison to a 21-6 record the last two seasons and a 2025 CFP appearance.
It may take some time for UCLA to peak under Chesney, but his track record indicates an immediate improvement is coming. It’s not that long ago that Wisconsin was a perennial fringe Big Ten contender.
The Badgers, like UCLA, have fallen on hard times of late. After making 22 straight bowl games from 2002-23, Wisconsin has finished the last two seasons below .500.
While Luke Fickell was seen as an ace hire from Cincinnati ahead of the 2023 season, something hasn’t clicked yet as expected. Instead of firing him this offseason, the Badgers announced they would be giving the football program more money to improve its roster.
We’ve seen a similar move pay off for other schools. We’ll see if it does in Madison. Boise State is finally getting what it’s been after for decades in 2026.
It is joining a conference which could increase its legitimacy. Given, the new-look Pac-12 the Broncos are joining isn’t the Pac-12 of two years prior given the vast and recent conference realignment.
But still, it’s an upgrade in conference branding and a conference the Broncos could have immediate success with as a competitor.
They’re less than two years removed from a CFP berth and followed with nine wins last season despite significant roster overhaul.
Wisconsin
Boise State
Apr 11, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images Memorial Day, which is the unofficial first major mile marker of the Major League Baseball season, arrives next Monday — which is May 25, the earliest possible date for the final Monday of May.
Of course, the Major League Baseball season started earlier than ever this year, so Memorial Day remains a pivotal point for everyone — especially those who are struggling. Here’s a look at nine players for whom it’s no longer too early to get worried.
—Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres 3B & 2B/RF: A 2-for-1 deal here for the Padres, who are in the thick of the National League West race with the Los Angeles Dodgers despite their franchise players batting a combined .209 with seven homers — all by Machado — and 37 RBIs. The slow start for Machado, whose .178 average is the fifth-lowest amongst qualified batters, is a reminder he’s going on 34 and hasn’t posted an .800 OPS since 2022. And Tatis possessing a .590 OPS — the 11th-lowest in the game — is a reminder his post-PED bust OPS of .781 is nearly 200 points lower than his pre-PED bust OPS of .965. Oh and Machado is signed through 2033 and Tatis through 2034. Gulp.
—Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles SS, and Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies SS: It’s not good when the AL and NL leaders in at-bats (209 for Henderson, 201 for Turner) are both posting an on-base percentage below .300. Henderson (10 homers, 24 RBIs) is providing some pop, but he’s got 14 walks and 63 strikeouts after entering the season with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of a little more than 2:1. Plate judgment has never been a strength of Turner, who has walked more than 45 times just once in nine full seasons, but the defending NL batting champ is hitting just .236, which would be his lowest mark since a 27-game cameo as a rookie in 2015.
May 21, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Mets shortstop Bo Bichette (19) hits a two RBI single against the Washington Nationals during the third inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images
—Bo Bichette, New York Mets 3B/SS: Of course one of the game’s most consistent and clutch hitters forgets how to hit and hit in the clutch upon joining the Mets. Bichette, who took to third base pretty well before shifting back to shortstop following injuries to Francisco Lindor and Ronny Mauricio, is batting just .225 overall and .200 with runners in scoring position, well below his career marks of .290 and .322, respectively. His three homers in back-to-back games Monday and Tuesday were two more than he had in his first 46 games combined. —Matt Chapman, San Francisco Giants 3B: The Giants, whose 173 runs are the fewest in the majors, have no shortage of disappointments in their lineup. But nobody’s struggles are as jarring as those being endured by Chapman, who has one homer, 13 extra-base hits and a .312 slugging percentage in 186 at-bats after averaging 23 homers, 54 extra-base hits and a .458 slugging percentage per season over his first nine years.
—Logan Gilbert, Seattle Mariners P: Gilbert entered this season with a 3.58 ERA while allowing an average of one homer every 7.5 innings over his first five seasons. But he has a 4.45 ERA in 11 starts this year while surrendering 11 roundtrippers, tied for the most in the AL. The Mariners have no shortage of quality starting pitchers, but they need something close to a peak Gilbert to make another run at that elusive first pennant.
—Aaron Nola, Philadelphia Phillies P: Nola was one of baseball’s most reliable pitchers from 2015 through 2024, when he ranked amongst the top five in wins (fifth with 104), strikeouts (third with 1,779) and innings pitched (fourth with 1,621 1/3) while posting a 3.70 ERA. But the mileage might have caught up to Nola, who posted a 6.01 ERA while being limited to 17 starts due to ankle and rib injuries last year and has a 6.04 ERA this year, the second-worst amongst qualified starters.
—Framber Valdez, Detroit Tigers P: The Tigers thought they were getting one of baseball’s best No. 2 starters when they signed Valdez, who led baseball with 68 wins and ranked fifth with 902 1/3 innings pitched while posting a 3.20 ERA from 2021 through 2025. But Valdez is 2-3 with a 4.58 ERA for Detroit, which is without ace Tarik Skubal and tied for last place in the AL Central. Valdez also got suspended five games for throwing at Trevor Story, which raised familiar questions about his maturity level.
Sports complexes that are slated to host key events like aquatics and athletics during the 2030 Commonwealth Games here are well on course to be ready by 2029, local organisers said on Saturday. The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (SVP) Sports Enclave here and the Gujarat Police Academy at Karai, near Gandhinagar, are going to be the key facilities for competitions during the Games. The Games Organising Committee is due to be constituted in the coming weeks. The SVP Sports Enclave, which spans 335 acres and includes the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, has three other facilities currently under development.
The Games roster will feature 17 disciplines with India promising to include events like shooting, badminton and hockey, which have been dropped from the upcoming Glasgow edition as part of cost-control measures.
The Narendra Modi Stadium, which can accommodate more than one lakh spectators, will be the venue for the cricket competition.
Apart from this an aquatics centre, a tennis court and a multipurpose arena will be a part of the complex.
The aquatics venue will have a capacity of 12,000 and is due to be finished by the second quarter of 2029.
The tennis facility, with a capacity of 24,000, is due to be completed in the third quarter of the same year, alongside the multipurpose arena that can house a crowd of 18,000.
A National Institute for Sports Excellence (NISE) is also planned within the complex.
The 143-acre Gujarat Police Academy in Karai will have an athletics stadium with a capacity of 50,000 and, according to the local sports development officials, its completion is due in September 2028.
The Academy will also house a shooting centre incorporating indoor and outdoor ranges, with a capacity to hold 4,000 spectators. It is proposed to be completed by March 2029.
According to the local officials, both the projects are progressing in phased timelines.
“…the Commonwealth Federation decides which sports will be held where. The Indian Olympic Association and the state government also have a role in this. It is a team effort. You will get to know which sports will be held (where) in the future,” said Bhaumik Oza, the administrative head of another key facility Veer Savarkar Sports Complex here in Naranpura that is expected to host the weightlifting competition.
On Sunday, shooter Anjum Modgil and badminton player Trupti Murgunde will be among the sporting stars in attendance when the country celebrates the Commonwealth Games Day across 8,000 locations with the main event in Ahmedabad.
The 75th edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle will be organised here “in the spirit of the Commonwealth Games movement, celebrating sportsmanship, unity, fitness and national pride”.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, along with Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, will lead the event in Ahmedabad.
A special CWG-themed exhibition will also be inaugurated during the event, showcasing India”s sporting achievements over the last 12 years, alongside flagship schemes such as the Khelo India Mission and Sports Goods Manufacturing initiatives.
Actor Ayushmann Khurrana, along with former Commonwealth medallists, including Rajani Etimarpu (Hockey), Gurjit Kaur (Hockey), Sonika Tandi (Hockey), Ankur Mittal (Shooting), Murgunde and Modgil (Shooting), as well as thousands of cyclists, will participate in the event.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Prabhsimran Singh(w), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer(c), Suryansh Shedge, Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.
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UK prime minister Keir Starmer has written to TNT Sports, urging the broadcaster to make the upcoming Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain free to watch.
TNT (owned by Warner Bros Discovery) hold broadcast rights for the Champions League in the UK and have made the final available to stream for free in previous years. However, earlier this month it caused outrage by confirming that viewers will only be able to watch the clash at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on Saturday 30 May on either its own platform or HBO Max, both requiring a subscription.
The broadcaster said subscriptions to HBO Max were available from £4.99, calling it “exceptional value”.
However, this will be the first time since the European Cup rebranded to the Champions League back in 1992 that the final won’t be available to watch for free. It was shown on ITV from 1992 to 2015 and then streamed for free by TNT Sports and its forerunner, BT Sport, for the past decade.
Prime Minister Starmer, who is a huge Arsenal fan, has now decided to intervene by writing an open letter to TNT imploring them to make the game available without cost – although insists he would have done the same even if his beloved Gunners, who have reached the Champions League final for the first time since 2006, weren’t involved.
“I was saddened to see that, for the first time since the competition started 34 years ago, TNT Sports has decided that the Champions League final will not be free to watch for football supporters here in the UK,” wrote Starmer.
“The Champions League is the biggest club football competition in the world and rightly means a lot to fans in this country – the home of football. I am a firm believer that the final of this competition should remain free to watch, whether Arsenal have made it or not.
“Obviously, I want as many fellow fans as possible to be able to watch our team in this historic final for the first time in 20 years. However, this is bigger than that. This is about supporters of all teams coming together in living rooms and pubs in every corner of the country to watch the most elite players in Europe battle it out.
“Hard-working people should not have to worry about forking out for a subscription to watch a game of this magnitude.”
In response, a TNT Sports spokesperson said: “It has been a privilege to bring Uefa club competitions to sports fans across the UK throughout the season. Having three Premier League clubs reach the finals shows the strength of English football and something that we are proud to continue to support.
“We have made all three Uefa finals this year available from just £4.99, the price for a month-long subscription to HBO Max that also includes the great entertainment on the service. This represents exceptional value for fans to watch the conclusion of the competitions.”
Arsenal have reached the Champions League final for just the second time in their history, and the first since 2006, with reigning champions PSG standing in the way of Mikel Arteta’s men, who will try to seal a remarkable double after outduelling Manchester City to clinch a first Premier League title for 22 years.
According to a report in The Guardian, governing body Uefa is irritated at TNT Sports’ decision to charge fans to watch not only the Champions League final, but also the Europa League and Conference League finals – which also involve English teams – despite having made the showpieces available to stream for free in previous seasons. The Guardian’s sources at Uefa say the decision breaks the spirit of a contract that states “best endeavours” should be made to ensure the finals are available for free.
TNT Sports can be accessed through HBO Max, BT, Sky, Virgin Media or Amazon PVC, with subscriptions typically costing between £25 and £34 a month, while a separate HBO Max plan in the UK starts from £4.99.
And Starmer has appealed to TNT to make watching football more affordable for fans, citing a similar plea to Fifa to lower World Cup ticket prices.
“We should be putting supporters first,” continued Starmer. That is why I have already encouraged Fifa to do more to make tickets more affordable at this summer’s World Cup.
“That is also why I want to strongly urge you to reconsider and make the final next Saturday free to watch for the millions of passionate football fans in this country.”
TNT Sports are set to lose TV rights to all three European competitions from the 2027-28 season, having been outbid by Paramount for the Champions League and by Sky Sports for the Europa League and Conference League in Uefa’s media rights auction last year.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant have recalled all of their players from the Indian national team camp ahead of the upcoming Unity Cup, scheduled to take place from May 26 to May 30. The tournament will feature India, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Jamaica.
Eight players from Mohun Bagan had initially been named in the preliminary squad for the competition. The list included Vishal Kaith, Abhishek Singh Tekcham, Ashique Kuruniyan, Sahal Abdul Samad, Anirudh Thapa, Manvir Singh, Liston Colaco and Suhail Ahmad Bhat.
Injury Concerns Behind Club’s Decision
The Kolkata-based club reportedly raised concerns over the timing of the Unity Cup fixtures, which fall outside the official FIFA international window. Since clubs are not protected under FIFA regulations during non-international windows, Mohun Bagan feared potential financial and medical liabilities in case of player injuries.
According to reports, the club’s insurance provider also flagged concerns surrounding player safety and compensation, prompting the decision to withdraw the players from the national camp.
Previous Injury Experiences Influenced Move
Sources close to the club reportedly pointed to past injury setbacks involving Subhasish Bose and Ashique Kuruniyan, which allegedly forced the club to spend nearly ₹2.5 crore on salaries and rehabilitation during their recovery periods.
Interestingly, the club has clarified that it has no objection to releasing players for India’s June international friendlies, which fall within the official FIFA international calendar.
India Set for Unity Cup Campaign
The Indian national team, also known as the Blue Tigers, have already assembled in Bengaluru for a preparatory camp before travelling to London on May 24.
India are scheduled to face Jamaica in the second semifinal on May 27, while Nigeria will take on Zimbabwe in the first semifinal. The losing sides will contest the third-place playoff on May 30, with the final set to be played on the same day.
Gstaad (4/11 favourite) gave trainer Aidan O’Brien a 13th win in the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh, with victory in the first Irish classic of the season on Saturday afternoon.
The mount of Ryan Moore, who was runner-up to Bow Echo in the Betfred 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, ran out a three-length winner over the Charlie Appleby-trained Distant Storm (5/1), the mount of Billy Loughnane.
The English handler also provided the third placer as Pacific Avenue (40/1) was another length behind his stable companion and was ridden by Irish jockey Jamie Spencer.
Commenting on the winner, Gstaad, Aidan O’Brien said of the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner:
“He’s very straightforward, he just needs little bit of room to get going. Sometimes if it gets too tactical or if he gets caught up in pace that wasn’t strong early (it doesn’t suit). He’s probably stronger now and The Curragh was lovely.”
Gstaad leads them home in the @Tattersalls1766 Irish 2,000 Guineas! @curraghrace | @WorldPool pic.twitter.com/lgRRPnWsm1
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 23, 2026
O’Brien and Moore teamed up for a further two winners on The Curragh card on Saturday.
The pair claimed the Group 3 Heider Family Stables Gallinule Stakes with Causeway (5/6 favourite). The son of Wootton Bassett, who hold entries in the Group 1 Betfred Derby at Epsom next month, and in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, was winning for the fourth time in his five-race career.
41-111
Causeway is a tough nut to crack!
The Wootton Bassett colt makes it three from three this term under a strong Ryan Moore in the Group 3 Heider Family Stables Gallinule Stakes @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/seJ7025kb5
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 23, 2026
Sergei Diaghilev (4/6 favourite) got the day off to the perfect start for O’Brien, Moore and the Coolmore partners as he took the opening Tally Ho Stud Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden.
The well-supported Sergei Diaghilev (Wootton Bassett) strikes on debut and this colt is likely a name to note for Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/vCS1V0yYf8
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 23, 2026
O’Brien said of the juvenile son of Wootton Bassett:
“He only stepped into main work in the last two weeks and he did a nice piece of work last Saturday. We ran him because we thought he could be a Coventry (Stakes) horse, Ryan (Moore, jockey) wasn’t sure if he was going to know enough in time.”
Moore achieved a four-timer on the first day of the Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival as he also won the Group 2 Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes with Commanche Brave.
Fifth behind the mighty Ka Ying Rising last month, Comanche Brave dominates back on home soil in the Group 2 @weatherbysltd Greenlands Stakes for Ryan Moore and Donnacha O’Brien @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/CpramQf1xI
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 23, 2026
Trained by Donnacha O’Brien, youngest son of Aidan, Commanche Brave was fifth to Ka Ying Rising on his most recent start when racing at Sha Tin.
Her holds entries in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes and the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Royal Ascot next month.
Sports
Zee and Jio in the race for 2026 FIFA WC broadcast rights in India: Reports | FIFA World Cup 2022
India is close to finalising broadcast rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Zee and Jio expected to be among the frontrunners to secure the television and digital rights for the tournament from FIFA.
Zee and Jio emerge as contenders
According to media reports, Zee and Jio are in contention to acquire the broadcast rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in India. The formal announcement regarding the rights holder is expected in the coming days.
The deal is reportedly valued between $30-35 million and would secure access to television and digital audiences across the country for the tournament.
Expanded World Cup to feature 48 teams
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. It will mark the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 teams, up from the previous 32.
As a result, the number of matches will increase significantly from 64 to 104, making it the biggest World Cup in the competition’s history.
India remains a key football broadcast market
Despite the national team’s struggles in international football, India continues to be an important market for global football broadcasters.
Football viewership in the country has grown steadily over the years, driven by strong interest in European leagues and FIFA World Cup coverage. Cities such as Kolkata, Kochi, Goa and Bengaluru remain major football hubs with large followings.
Global rights strategy sees shifts
According to reports, FIFA has adopted a more flexible commercial approach in certain Asian markets. China is understood to have secured rights for the 2026 World Cup at a significantly lower valuation compared to previous cycles.
The FIFA World Cup remains one of the most valuable sports broadcasting properties globally, particularly across major football markets.
Indian football faces challenges amid rights developments
The race for broadcast rights comes at a time when Indian football continues to face on-field and structural challenges.
India’s men’s national team has slipped in the FIFA rankings following a difficult run of results, while issues related to grassroots development, governance and competitive depth remain under focus within the domestic football ecosystem.
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Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch died Thursday from complications related to “severe pneumonia [that] progressed into sepsis,” according to a family statement obtained by FOX Sports on Saturday.
“The medical evaluation provided to the Busch Family concluded that severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications,” the statement, according to FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass, read.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
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