In the middle of Argentina’s celebrations for sealing a spot in the FIFA World Cup2026 final, Lionel Messi found something that completely took his mind away from the game. In a video that has surfaced on social media, Messi and the rest of the Argentina players could be seen engrossed in reading the penalty notes that were pasted on the water bottle of England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, after the conclusion of the semi-final in Atlanta on Wednesday. While pasting such notes on the water bottle is a common practice, Messi was intrigued to see how in-depth England’s preparations were.
It was Nico Gonzalez who held the bottle for Messi as the Argentina captain tried to read the penalty notes. For Messi, the notes suggested that Pickford should take left and dive right.
Argentina players started laughing when they saw Pickford’s water bottle with their names written on it just in case it ends in a penalty shootout. pic.twitter.com/AuUUk9dSev
As the match concluded in a 2-1 win for Argentina, England captain Harry Kane had nothing but praise for his counterpart.
“Leo is still performing at the highest level,” England captain Harry Kane said. “I felt like for large parts of the game, we dealt with him really well. But as always with the most dangerous players in the world, when they have the ball in the final third, they can be place-setters. And he did that again today. He’s obviously one of the best players ever for a reason.”
Eight days after an improbable rally against Egypt in the round of 16, Messi returned to Atlanta to produce another stellar moment in a career that might already be the best of anyone to play the sport.
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England was surely envisioning going for its first World Cup title since its only one six decades ago after a 55th-minute goal from Anthony Gordon.
But Messi and his blue-clad teammates, as they have shown over and over again, are never done. Now it’s on to face Spain in the final on Sunday with a chance at becoming the first repeat champion since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.
In the 85th minute, with England hanging on for dear life, Messi pushed out a short corner, immediately got the return pass and spotted Enzo Fernandez lurking in the middle of the field, 25 yards from the goal. Fernandez ripped a curling shot past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to even the score.
At that point, it seemed inevitable that Argentina would pull out the victory.
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With AP Inputs
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France vs Morocco Highlights | Mbappé Inspires France to FIFA World Cup Semifinal Victory
Arcane makes her way into the playable roster of Arknights: Endfield, and comes with quite possibly the most unique kit till date. She deals Nature damage, wields Arts Unit as weapon, and can switch between two combat modes based on her stat distribution. Being the first Nature DPS unit in the game, and having the ability to support other Cryo and Nature characters, she has a lot of viability in the current sandbox.
Arcane is most definitely a character that new, veterans, and returning players should consider getting. However, let us break down everything related to her so you can decide for yourself.
Should you pull for Arcane in Arknights: Endfield?
Arcane in Arknights: Endfield has a very high pull value, and possibly the most out of any other characters that came out recently. As mentioned earlier, she has two combat modes, one being DPS, and the other being support. The way you can switch between these two is to have either Intellect stat higher than Will, or vice versa, respectively.
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Arcane’s ultimate with Will greater than Intellect in Arknights: Endfield (Image via Gryphline)
Hence, you have two characters in one unit, granting you tons of damage output on one hand, alongside supporting your allies with Corrosion status and grouping on the other.
Arcane’s kit easily sets her up as meta for multiple years down the line, as her support playstyle cannot even be fully utilized with her release, due to the game’s lack of Nature DPS characters. So when one or multiple Nature DPS units get released in the future, Arcane will surely have a part to play.
However, her combo skill deals Cryo Susceptibility, which is great for current Cryo teams.
Here’s what she offers in terms of pros and cons for your account:
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Pros:
Consists of two main forms, DPS and Support, effectively providing two character kits as one unit.
First Nature DPS in the game that scales easily off F2P characters.
Nature Support kit can be viable with more Nature DPS characters that releases later on, making her relevant for long-term.
Arcane can clear every endgame content without her dupes.
She has a lot of versatility in both her modes, from nuking enemies in DPS mode, to inflicting status and grouping enemies in support mode.
Cons:
Due to her two combat modes, you might need to farm double gear sets if you want to build both versions.
Arcane’s stat distribution can often lead to some annoyances when crafting gear pieces, or equipping weapons.
Arcane’s support mode needs Last Rite or Yvonne in all scenarios, be it her best or F2P team. If you do not own either of those two characters, you have no choice but to build her as a DPS unit.
Arcane’s best team as support in Arknights: Endfield (Image via Gryphline)
Overall, Arcane’s Pros far outweighs the Cons, and you should definitely get her in the current 1.4 patch.
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Goalkeeper Craig Gordon has announced his retirement from football, bringing an end to a 25-year playing career.
Gordon, 43, ended his second spell at first club Heart of Midlothian this summer and was part of Scotland’s World Cup squad.
He first left Tynecastle for Sunderland in 2007, with the Black Cats paying a then £9m British record fee for a goalkeeper. Gordon made one of the most famous saves in Premier League history when he denied Bolton Wanderers’ Zat Knight from close range in 2010.
However, a serious knee injury affected his time at the Stadium of Light and, at the end of his five-year spell, he entered a two-year spell out of the game rehabilitating and coaching.
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Gordon joined Celtic in 2014 and won his first league title, adding four more during a medal-laden six-year spell before returning to Hearts. A double leg break in 2022 resulted in another lay-off but the veteran keeper again recovered to return to playing.
The Big Ten is the best football conference in the nation. The league has won each of the last three national championships.
And the reason why it is such a strong conference is the strength of the coaches leading each program.
So how do all 18 of those head coaches stack up against one another?
Well, for that, we bring you our rankings of the 2026 Big Ten Football Coaches.
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1. Curt Cignetti, Indiana
Robert Goddin/Imagn Images
When Curt Cignetti arrived in Bloomington, the Hoosiers had the most losses in NCAA history.
In just two years at IU, the Hoosiers have gone 27-2 and won a national championship with a 16-0 season a year ago. Quite possibly the best coaching job in history, turning the program around.
Cignetti may be the best in the country at the moment and is certainly the top coach in the Big Ten.
2. Ryan Day, Ohio State
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Ryan Day brought the Buckeyes to the top of the college football world in 2024, and despite falling to Indiana in the Big Ten title game and an exit in the playoffs at the hands of Miami, Day still has OSU rolling.
He inherited a good situation in Columbus, obviously, but has only enhanced the Buckeyes’ profile in his seven years.
Day has turned OSU into an NFL factory while compiling an 87-12 record.
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3. Dan Lanning, Oregon
Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard
Since taking over in Eugene, Dan Lanning has gone 48-8, leading the Ducks to a 26-3 mark over the last two seasons.
The only Big Ten loss during his tenure came at the hands of Indiana last October, as UO is 17-1 in regular-season conference games since joining the league.
He may not truly get his deserved due until he wins a national title, but the Ducks have been oh-so-close during his tenure.
4. Kyle Whittingham, Michigan
MLive.com
It certainly appears that the Wolverines fell on their feet this offseason with their coaching change. Things certainly could not have worked better for UM after a sudden vacancy.
Kyle Whittingham won a lot at Utah and should step right in and lead Michigan to success.
The Maize and Blue may have a ways to go to match the likes of Oregon, Ohio State, and Indiana, but with Whittingham at the helm, they look like they have the head man to guide them back to the top of the Big Ten.
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5. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen
The consistency of Kirk Ferentz’s run at Iowa cannot be denied. He took over in Iowa City in 1999 and has had success for the bulk of it.
In his 27 seasons, there have been only three sub .500 seasons and only one such campaign since 2000—and that lone losing season was all the way back in 2012.
The 70-year-old head coach may not have many seasons left on the sideline, but for now, the Hawkeyes once again look poised for a strong season.
6. Bret Bielema, Illinois
Illinois Athletics
Bret Bielema is enjoying the same kind of success he had at Wisconsin in his first go-around in the league.
Consecutive top-25 finishes with the Illini have proven that his struggles at Arkansas are the outlier in an otherwise highly successful career. And let’s be real, three of his five seasons in Fayetteville ended in bowl games.
With a 19-7 mark over the last two seasons in Champaign, it appears the Illini will be staying near the top of the Big Ten. And Bielema is getting it done without the talent level on the roster that some of his brethren have.
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7. Lincoln Riley, USC
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This is probably a make-or-break season at USC for Lincoln Riley, but as recently as 2020 the head man was being hailed as one of the best coaches in the nation.
He has posted a 35-18 mark since arriving in LA, but the Trojans have gone just 24-15 in the last three seasons. Riley can still get it done, though, and a promising end to last season could springboard things in 2026.
He has the talent to succeed and needs to find that pre-2020 magic again.
8. Jedd Fisch, Washington
Lindsey Wasson/AP
Jedd Fisch had a ton of success at Arizona, turning around that program before coming to Seattle.
His first season with Washington was a bit of a struggle with a roster that had a ton of turnover. Last season, the Huskies were much improved and appear to be set for a breakout season in 2026.
Fisch has done a great job of developing talent, especially at the QB position. This season, we could see a big jump in the play of Demond Williams Jr., and that should bring a jump in the win column as well.
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9. Pat Fitzgerald, Michigan State
Nick King/Lansing State Journal
Pat Fitzgerald was about as successful as possible at Northwestern. He led the Cats to a pair of Big Ten Championship games and guided Chicago’s Big Ten team to 10 bowl games.
Finding success in East Lansing would seem to be less daunting of a task, but it certainly will not come overnight as he is inheriting a bit of a mess.
The landscape of college football certainly has changed since he was last on the sidelines, but “Fitz” should be able to navigate the new game without any trouble.
10. PJ Fleck, Minnesota
PJ Fleck | Getty Images
It is easy to hate on PJ Fleck. The quirky sayings, the sprinting between quarters…Sure, it is not for everyone. But Fleck gets a ton of production out of his players.
If you take out the 2020-COVID season, he has led the Gophers to a bowl game in every year since, except for his debut campaign. And Minnesota is a perfect 7-0 in those bowl games under Fleck.
The Gophers have not taken that next step into the upper echelon of the league with just the one 11-2 season and a share of the Big Ten West in 2019. Nonetheless, Fleck gets the job done and wins games for Minnesota.
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11. David Braun, Northwestern
Patrick Gorski/Imagn Images
Northwestern is not the easiest place to find success, but David Braun has done a pretty good job in his first three seasons.
A 4-8 campaign in 2024 has been sandwiched between two winning seasons at 8-5 and 7-6 with a bowl win in each. The Wildcats are about to get a massive facility upgrade, and that should make the job a bit easier.
Either way, it is hard to argue with the track record so far, especially considering the situation he took over.
12. Matt Campbell, Penn State
Blue White Illustrated
Matt Campbell had a ton of success at Iowa State. There is little to suggest there will be a drop-off with Penn State.
In Ames, Campbell went 72-55, and ISU had some of its best seasons in school history, including a program-record 11 wins in 2024.
In theory, it should be easier for him to win in Happy Valley, and if he can knock off some top-five opponents, he will be more successful than his predecessor.
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13. Bob Chesney, UCLA
Allen J. Schaban/Los Angeles Times
Bob Chesney is the only coach in the Big Ten without any prior Power-4 experience. The new UCLA coach will begin just his third season as an FBS head coach this season, but the success has been there.
In two seasons with James Madison, he led the Dukes to a 21-6 record, including a spot in the CFB Playoffs last season. It is easy to see why there is a lot of excitement around the UCLA program at the moment.
The Bruin faithful are energized, and the idea of them being Big Ten pushovers may not continue much longer.
14. Barry Odom, Purdue
Credit: X
Sometimes things are better than they seem. Odom is a pretty good coach and did a great job getting things rolling at UNLV.
Perhaps he should have stayed in the desert. It was a struggle in his debut season with Purdue. A 2-10 record and winless conference season proves how tough the job of rebuilding the Boilermakers will be.
It will be a long rebuild and we will see how much patience they have in West Lafayette.
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15. Matt Rhule, Nebraska
Jeff Hanisch/USA TODAY Sports
Matt Rhule worked wonders at Temple. Then, at Baylor, following a 1-11 season, he turned it around, going 18-9 over the last two years, posting an 11-3 mark in his final season in Waco.
The three seasons at Nebraska have not yielded the same kind of success. Season Three was again supposed to be the turning point, but an injury to Dylan Raiola, among other issues, derailed the Huskers’ campaign.
Rhule has posted a pedestrian 19-19 mark in Lincoln, and while I am not ready to write him off yet, this season will be a big one.
16. Greg Schiano, Rutgers
Chris Faytok/NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
The time for Greg Schiano to find success in his second stint at Rutgers might be running out. The track record of success is there for the head coach, but it is getting more difficult, and his days in Piscataway might be numbered.
The Knights simply have not done enough in the NIL era to keep pace with the elites, or even moderates, of the Big Ten. Schiano led Rutgers to bowl games following both the 2023 and 2024 seasons before missing out at 5-7 last season.
If RU can find success on the gridiron this season, it will be a testament to Schiano’s coaching ability.
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17. Luke Fickell, Wisconsin
Luke Fickell | Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports
Luke Fickell had a lot of success at Cincinnati, but his tenure with Wisconsin has been nothing short of a disaster.
It started off bad with the fans when he changed the offensive schematics and went away from the power run attack the Badgers had so much success with. It got a lot worse with some hires that were complete misses and rosters that were not constructed well.
Last season things culminated with a 4-8 record and the inability to keep a QB upright and healthy. It is now or never in Madison.
18. Mike Locksley, Maryland
Mike Locksley | ESPN
Mike Locksley is about to start Season Eight of his current stint at Maryland. And for the second straight season, he enters firmly on a very hot seat.
The last two seasons have yielded a pair of 4-8 seasons, and just a single conference win each season.
For Locksley to have a ninth season in College Park, he will need to find a way to win more than just the non-conference games.
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writes about various topics for SuperWest sports, including stats and records, college sports, and motorsports. He also founded and runs the Sports and Entertainment Research Center (SERC).
May 24, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Seattle Sounders FC forward Paul Rothrock (14) kicks the ball during the first half against LAFC at BMO Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
The Portland Timbers will have a fresh face on their bench when they return from the World Cup break to face the host Seattle Sounders on Thursday night in a Cascadia Cup clash.
The Timbers (4-8-2, 14 points) parted ways with coach Phil Neville after a 3-1 loss to visiting San Jose heading into the break that extended their winless streak to three matches (0-2-1). Jack Cassidy, 36, who is in his first year as coach of the Timbers’ MLS Next Pro team Timbers2, will take over on an interim basis until a new coach is found.
“Jack has impressed in his first year with Timbers2 and (we) see this is the right temporary staffing structure until we complete the coaching search,” Timbers general manager Ned Grabavoy said in a news release.
The Timbers went 27-31-24 in two-plus seasons under Neville, losing in the wild-card round in 2024 and the first round of the playoffs in 2025.
Kevin Kelsy leads the Timbers in goals and is tied for second on the team in assists (three), with Kristoffer Velde adding four goals and three helpers. The Timbers, who are just 1-6-1 on the road, have conceded 28 goals while scoring 22.
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The Sounders (7-3-3, 24 points) had a nine-match MLS unbeaten run snapped with losses to both Los Angeles teams heading into the break. They took their first home loss of the campaign in a 2-0 defeat to the Galaxy, then dropped a 1-0 decision at Los Angeles FC.
Behind defender Jackson Ragen, who was named a reserve for the MLS All-Stars for their match against the Liga MX All-Stars on July 29 in Charlotte, the Sounders are tied for the league lead with only 11 goals allowed. Paul Rothrock has a team-high four goals for Seattle, which has tallied just 17 times, 13th out of 15 Western Conference teams.
The Sounders have ruled out U.S. international Cristian Roldan after reaggravating a right quad injury he sustained in training during the World Cup. Roldan didn’t appear in any of the Americans’ matches, including their two played in Seattle.
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As difficult as that might have been for Roldan, keeping the ultra-competitive midfielder out of a Cascadia Cup match might be just as daunting for the Sounders.
“It’ll be impossible. An unforgettable bashing of skulls,” Sounders general manager Craig Waibel joked. “There is going to have to be some rest somewhere.”
Jim Corrigall, the standout Canadian defensive lineman who spurned the NFL for a career with the Toronto Argonauts, has died. He was 80.
Kent State, Corrigall’s alma mater, announced his passing on Wednesday. The university didn’t divulge the cause of death but in 2019 Corrigall and his daughter, Amy Corrigall Jones, told the Akron Beacon Journal he had learned that he likely suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), an incurable degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head trauma.
“We mourn the passing of Kent State great Jim Corrigall,” the school posted on social media. “Jim embodied what it means to be a Golden Flash both as a player and a coach.
“Our thoughts are with his family, friends, teammates, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.”
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Kent State head coach Mark Carney echoed those sentiments.
“Sad to hear of the passing of @KentStFootball great Jim Corrigall,” Carney said in a social media post. “(He’s) one of just five players to have his number retired here.
“Your legacy will not soon be forgotten Coach!”
Corrigall was born in Barrie, Ont., and attended high school in North Bay, Ont., before going on to play collegiately at Kent State. The six-foot-three, 253-pound Corrigall enjoyed a stellar university career, being selected the team’s most valuable sophomore, top defensive lineman and most inspirational player.
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He was also the first Kent State player to be selected to the first team All-Mid-American Conference three consecutive years. Upon his graduation, the school retired Corrigall’s No. 79 jersey.
Corrigall’s play caught the eye of the St. Louis Cardinals, who made the Canadian lineman their second-round pick, No. 33 overall, in the 1970 NFL draft. But Corrigall opted instead to play for the Argos, who held his territorial rights.
Corrigall went on spend his entire 12-year CFL career with Toronto.
“I thought that they had a better opportunity to win at that particular time and they offered me a two-year contract,” Corrigall told the Argos’ website. “I liked the idea of a short-term contract.”
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Corrigall was the East Division’s top rookie in 1970 and a conference all-star eight times. A four-time All-Canadian, Corrigall was named the CFL’s top defensive player in 1975 as well as Toronto’s outstanding player and top Canadian nominees.
He was again nominated for all three awards three years later and finished his tenure with Toronto as a player-coach his final two seasons.
“It was an energizing time for me,” Corrigall said. “My emotions really run the gamut — it was exciting, it was sad, it was rock ‘n’ roll time.
“It was a great, great time and you couldn’t find a better place to play than in Toronto. The people, the press, they were always very, very good to me.”
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Corrigall, long regarded as the heart and soul of the Argos’ defence, appeared in 148 career regular-season games with Toronto as well as five playoff contests. He played in one Grey Cup, that being the ’71 game that saw the Calgary Stampeders hold on for a 14-11 victory after recovering Leon McQuay’s late fumble on a wet Empire Stadium field in Vancouver before 34,404 fans.
Corrigall was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1990 and named to the All-Time Argos list in 1997.
“That was a thrilling moment in my life,” Corrigall said of his Hall of Fame induction. “It was very humbling.
“I never thought I would get elected. It’s because of the people who pushed me throughout my life. I am very fortunate to get there. The great thing is that when you are young enough to appreciate it, my family saw me inducted and now my kids can go to see it. I feel very blessed that way.”
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Corrigall was also named to Kent State’s Athletics Hall of Fame, the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame, Summit County Sports Hall of Fame and Barrie Sports Hall of Fame.
Former Argos head coach Leo Cahill said Corrigall’s Canadian Football Hall of Fame selection was fitting.
“He was a great football player,” Cahill said. “He was actually a middle linebacker at Kent State and I converted him to defensive end.
“I didn’t think he had the mobility and quickness to drop back on pass coverage. But Corrigall could do a lot of things very, very well … Corrigall had an insatiable need to get to the ball carrier in the least amount of time in a bad frame of mind. I think that best sums up Jim Corrigall.”
With Oleksandr Usyk no longer the heavyweight ruler, the next generation of the division is well and truly here, but fan-favourite contender Derek Chisora has declared that there are only two potential candidates who can truly dominate the heavyweight scene at present.
Another fighter that is tipped for big things is Moses Itauma, who looks to move a step closer to a shot at world honours when he takes on Filip Hrgovic at The O2 Arena in August.
Speaking to Seconds Out, Chisora stated that Dubois and Itauma are the two men that are a level above their heavyweight rivals.
“There is only one person in this generation, right now, who can cause a headache for everybody and that is Moses [Itauma]. Then, I think that Daniel [Dubois] has got rid of his demons [too].
“[There are] them two, but I don’t see anybody else, could be in America, could be in Africa, can be anywhere, I don’t see anybody else troubling those two guys right now. I don’t see anybody.”
Chisora then went on to explain why he believes Dubois can keep up with the highly-rated 21-year-old, stating that Dubois, who is just 28 years old himself, is also continuing to improve.
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“Daniel is going to improve, improve and improve and get better and better. So, Moses and Daniel are the guys to watch out for right now – they are the killers of the game.”
Chisora may get his wish as Itauma and Dubois could face off next year, with boxing’s hottest prospect currently positioned as the WBO – and therefore Dubois’ – mandatory challenger.
Super Falcons forward Chinwendu Ihezuo has expressed confidence that Nigeria can successfully defend their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title and qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The 14th edition of the tournament will take place in Morocco from 26 July to 16 August.
Ihezuo admitted that this year’s competition will be more difficult than the previous edition because teams will also be battling for places at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
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“This tournament will be much tougher,” Ihezuo said.
“Last year, there was no World Cup ticket to fight for. Once the tournament begins, every team will focus on qualifying for the World Cup. As defending champions, we cannot afford to be over-confident.”
Despite the expected tough challenge, the Pachuca Tuzas striker believes the Super Falcons have the quality and unity to achieve their goals.
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“I believe in the team that we have, our togetherness, hard work and determination. We are not only going for a World Cup ticket but also to retain the trophy,” she added.
Ihezuo also gave an update on her fitness after spending time on the sidelines with an injury.
The former Nigeria junior international said she has fully recovered and is ready to rejoin the Super Falcons for the tournament.
“God has been great and I give Him all the glory. I am now fully fit and recovered. My club is currently in pre-season, but I am ready to fly to Morocco and join the Super Falcons to make Nigeria proud,” she said.
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Nigeria will be aiming to win a record-extending 11th Women’s AFCON title when the tournament kicks off later this month.
After a breakout 2025-26 campaign, Trevor Zegras is staying put in Philadelphia.
The RFA centre and the Flyers agreed to a four-year deal on Wednesday, holding an average annual value of $9.125 million, the team announced.
“We’re thrilled to have Trevor committed to our organization for the next four years,” said general manager Daniel Briere in a statement. “The growth he showed this past season, proving that he is the skilled player he entered the league as, reinforced our belief that he will be an impact player for the Flyers for the years to come. He’s the type of player who can help take our team to the next level, and we’re excited to continue building alongside him.”
The new deal comes after Zegras potted career highs in goals (26) and points (67) in 81 games with the Flyers.
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The 25-year-old spent the previous five seasons with the Anaheim Ducks, but injuries limited Zegras in his final two seasons in Southern California, playing just 86 games over that time and falling down the pecking order on a Ducks team looking to take the next step.
That led to his trade to Philadelphia in the 2025 off-season as the Flyers sent Ryan Poehling and two picks to Anaheim in exchange.
Selected ninth overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2019 NHL draft, the six-foot, 185-pound Boston University product has played in 349 career NHL games, and has 93 goals and 160 assists for 253 points. He has 60-plus point seasons in three of his six seasons in the league.
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Zegras has also represented the United States on five occasions, most recently at the 2024 World Championships where he had a goal and an assist in eight games. He also played in back-to-back World Junior Championships in 2020 and 2021. In 2021, he helped the U.S. win gold and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player with seven goals and 18 points in seven games.
International Chess Federation (FIDE) President Arkady Dvorkovich isn’t going anywhere – at least if he has things his way.
“FIDE must become even more open, efficient, and responsive,” the former Russian deputy prime minister said in late June when announcing his candidacy for a third term.
The Russian was first elected to the post in 2018. The sanctions imposed on Russian sports over the war in Ukraine have thus far failed to checkmate the 54-year-old economist and politician. On the contrary, in August 2022, months after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Dvorkovich was re-elected by a large majority.
Yet Russia lost its dominance at the chessboard long ago; recent world champions have come from China and India. Within FIDE, however, Russian influence remains substantial. Little happens within the organization without funding that is directly or indirectly linked to Russia.
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One of FIDE’s key sponsors is financier Timur Turlov. Although he became a Kazakh citizen in 2022, he is originally from Russia. Turlov is now running to become a FIDE vice president under Dvorkovich.
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However, the vote in September could prove to be a tight race, as two Germans have announced their candidacies for the presidency. The congress in Uzbekistan could thus see a three-way contest for the votes of the approximately 200 national delegates.
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“I still consider Arkady Dvorkovich the favorite in this race,” Peter Heine Neilsen, the coach of former world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway, said. However, should he be put under EU (European Union) sanctions this could change the situation.
Jan Henric Buettner has been working to helpestablish “freestyle” chess as a format of the gameImage: Marcus Brandt/dpa/picture alliance
Neilsen, of Denmark, was on the ticket with Ukrainian grandmaster Andrey Baryshpolets, when he unsuccessfully ran for FIDE president in 2022.
This time, he is backing German investor Jan Henric Buettner. The former internet executive’s goal is “to improve transparency and create sustainable, long-term growth for our sport.”
Buettner’s candidate for vice president is the veteran English chess official Malcolm Pein.
“All over the world, chess has grown immensely over the last five years – but FIDE hasn’t,” Pein told DW. “We want to change that.”
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According to Pein, a key challenge for FIDE is attracting new sponsors who have no ties to Russia. The Englishman is an outspoken critic of Russia’s dominance of FIDE.
However, the fact that Buettner is now seeking to become the head of FIDE has surprised some in the chess world. Buettner has spent recent years helping former world champion Carlsen to establish “freestyle” chess—a variant in which the starting position is determined by a draw, rendering memorized opening moves irrelevant. However, to many, he comes across more like an outgoing startup entrepreneur than a future federation president holding a diplomatic passport.
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“I cannot fathom Jan Henric Buettner’s candidacy, nor do I think it has any chance of success,” Paul Meyer-Dunker, president of the German Chess Federation (DSB) told DW.
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“Buettner did not contact us before announcing his candidacy, nor did he collaborate with the DSB on his freestyle activities.”
The DSB are pinning their hopes on another German: Wadim Rosenstein. The 35-year-old entrepreneur from Düsseldorf has been financing and organizing top-tier chess events worldwide since 2022. He even participates himself as an amateur player sometimes. His vision is to make FIDE “one of the most respected institutions” in international sports.
“Wadim Rosenstein is someone who doesn’t just talk; he takes action,” Meyer-Dunker stressed.
By his own account, Rosenstein has invested millions of euros in the sport of chess over the past few years, in part through his company WR Logistics, which has been a major sponsor of FIDE international events. However, he declined when asked by DW to put a figure on just how much he has invested in the sport.
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Wadim Rosenstein is not just an investor but also an enthusiastic playerImage: Meurer/Beautiful Sports/IMAGO
Even the Buettner camp acknowledges that Rosenstein has set a great deal in motion in the global chess world. However, questions remain.
“I am grateful for Wadim Rosenstein’s work as a sponsor and organizer of chess events all over the world,” Pein said. “But I am worried about the absence of hard facts about his business background.”
Rosenstein counters that his businesses are private as opposed to publicly listed companies, meaning he is under no obligation to release details of his assets. He did, however, say that his companies were active in some 70 countries.
Until 2022, a key focus for Rosenstein, who was born in 1990 in present-day Ukraine, was supporting German companies in regions like Ukraine and Russia. In 2022, however, he ceased doing business with Russia, even though he “formally” remains the owner of companies there.
DSB President Meyer-Dunker is well aware of the questions surrounding his candidate for the FIDE role.
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“There is constant speculation among some people regarding Wadim Rosenstein’s motives and background, but we know that he is a successful and reputable entrepreneur with a great love for the sport of chess,” Meyer-Dunker said.
“In my view, he represents the best chance of ousting Dvorkovich and pushing through necessary reforms in international chess.”
Pein sees things differently.
“Wadim Rosenstein asked me to join his ticket, but I declined, because I could not move past my suspicions,” Pein said.
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“Wadim Rosenstein has been evasive on the issue of Russia’s role in chess politics. I demand that he makes a clear statement about the illegal activities of the Russian Chess Federation in the occupied territories in Ukraine and about the participation of Russian players and teams in official FIDE events,” Pein explained.
Current FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich (left) is well connected in the KremlinImage: ITAR-TASS/IMAGO
CAS ruling leaves Russia without a vote
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) recently ruled in favor of Ukraine, which had complained that the Russian Chess Federation had organized chess events in occupied Ukrainian territories. In June, FIDE suspended the Russian federation’s membership because of the ruling.
“As a matter of principle, I would prefer a world in which every player can compete under their own national flag,” Rosenstein replied, when DW asked him to outline his position on the matter.
“At the same time, the President of FIDE must serve every member federation responsibly and within the rules. In this case, there is a clear legal framework: the Russian Chess Federation has been affected by a CAS ruling, and those decisions must be implemented immediately.”
The ruling also means that as things stand, the Russian federation is barred from voting in September’s FIDE election. Nevertheless, the campaign is being watched with great interest in Russia. The Russian Chess Federation’s website features a favorable article on Dvorkovich’s candidacy, as well as one about Rosenstein’s.
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There is no mention of Jan Henric Buettner and Malcolm Pein. Perhaps this is merely a coincidence, but Heine doesn’t seem surprised.
“Generally, in the world of chess, players, officials and the broader chess community are happy if interesting tournaments and events are organized,” he said. “And they don’t tend to ask too many questions as to where the money comes from.”
Argentina still has a chance to defend its title. La Albiceleste’s passionate comeback against England in the World Cup semifinal unleashed a wave of emotion. The final still has to be played, but the now three-time world champions are taking the evening to properly celebrate their glorious last-minute victory.
The tears of joy on the pitch were then replaced in the locker room by pure final euphoria at the latest. You could say: Argentina’s inner party animals had been awakened.
Apparently, their physical reserves were not even depleted after that enormous effort. There’s no other way to explain this late-night cardio session.
And the reason why it is such a strong conference is the strength of the coaches leading each program.
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