Neymar Jr. training in Brazil camp (Image: @CBF_Futebol/X)
Brazil fans have received mixed news ahead of their FIFA World Cup 2026 clash against Scotland on Thursday. Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that Raphinha will miss Brazil’s final group-stage match against Scotland on Wednesday (local time), while also revealing that Neymar is fully fit and available to play the entire game if required.Raphinha was forced off in the 40th minute of Brazil’s 3-0 victory over Haiti in their previous group-stage fixture after suffering an injury. Despite the setback, the Barcelona winger remained optimistic about his recovery, posting on Instagram that he would “do everything in my power to recover and return as soon as possible.”With Raphinha unavailable, Ancelotti indicated that Neymar is likely to take his place, stressing that the veteran forward is ready to play a full 90 minutes if needed.“We’re thinking of nothing else but playing a good match with the best possible line-up; the same goes for the forwards,” Ancelotti said via Globo, as quoted by The Athletic.“Neymar is available, he trained very well this week, he is fit, ready to play, and we are very happy he is back. He is a high-quality player” Ancelotti added.The Brazilian coach further explained that Neymar could either start the match or be introduced from the bench, depending on the team’s needs.“He can play from half-time or the whole 90 minutes. He is doing very well and has worked extremely hard, so he is ready. His attitude has been excellent, he’s in good spirits, he’s a great player and a great teammate. He’s very serious, and we want to get him back playing as soon as possible. I’m very happy. He brings experience and knowledge, and he is doing very well,” Carlo Ancelotti concluded. Neymar has not featured in Brazil’s opening two matches against Morocco and Haiti due to a calf issue.
Goal-scoring records have been tumbling at the 2026 World Cup – and the world’s most prolific strikers have another milestone in sight.
Usually a subplot, the race for the World Cup Golden Boot is one of the main talking points at this year’s tournament as the top marksmen set a blistering pace.
The overall record has already been broken by Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, who now has 18 goals over six World Cups after adding five in two games in the United States.
But he is being chased hard by Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland – who have four goals apiece – with Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane also in the mix.
Since then, at all but three tournaments, the leading scorer has hit six goals or fewer.
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Messi, who turns 39 on Wednesday, has been the standout performer so far at the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
He struck a memorable hat-trick against Algeria before scoring twice in a 2-0 victory over Austria, accounting for all five of the defending champions’ goals so far.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said it was “hard to explain” the genius of the veteran forward after their opening match in Kansas City.
“We are amazed with him still, although we get to see him on a daily basis and he’s been the best for 20 years,” he said. “He still pulls it off every single match.”
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Messi’s most likely challenger, based on the prospect of a deep run in the tournament, is Mbappé, who scored eight goals four years ago in Qatar to win the Golden Boot.
The 27-year-old, now France’s record goalscorer, is just two goals behind Messi’s career total.
The Real Madrid star said, perhaps unconvincingly, that chasing Messi was not top of his mind after his team’s 3-0 stroll against Iraq in their second game.
“Leo always scores goals and always will,” he said. “So I am not looking at what he is doing, I’m just focusing on helping my team.”
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‘They’re so inevitable’
Level with Mbappé on four goals is Manchester City forward Haaland, who has scored in his past 12 competitive appearances for Norway.
The giant forward, 25, played down his extraordinary talent after taking his international tally to a remarkable 59 goals in 52 games.
“It’s like many other things, I’m just really good at scoring goals and I’m quite lucky,” he said. “I don’t know what I’m doing. It’s just how it is.”
Germany’s Deniz Undav and Canada’s Jonathan David have three goals each and Kane and Ronaldo are among a clutch of players with two.
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Portugal’s Ronaldo briefly stole the spotlight from long-time rival Messi on Tuesday when he became the first man to score in six different World Cup tournaments.
The 41-year-old roared, “I’m back, I’m back” after his two strikes in the 5-0 romp against Uzbekistan, which followed an insipid performance from him in their opening 1-1 draw against DR Congo.
Ronaldo, the leading scorer in men’s international history, with 145 goals, said: “I always arrive, even if it’s later, but I’m there.”
Kane, whose six goals won him the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, is stuck on two after missing a golden chance during England’s goalless draw against Ghana on Tuesday.
US striker Folarin Balogun, who has netted twice, has set his sights on matching the world’s elite but realises he has a tough act to follow.
On June 23, 2026, former NCT member Mark Lee’s photos were shared on social media, wearing a t-shirt with the Confederate flag. The images originated from his new label Upper Room’s Instagram story, which posted them from a fan event at a cafe before deleting the post.
The controversy centers on the Confederate flag, a symbol tied to the Confederate States of America, which fought to preserve slavery during the American Civil War. Historians widely regard the flag as a symbol linked to slavery, white supremacy, and racism.
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This has led to widespread backlash, as Mark Lee was born in Canada and has prior experience living and working in the United States as part of NCT. He left NCT and SM Entertainment in April 2026. He then established his solo label, Upper Room, earlier in June 2026. Following the backlash, Upper Room issued a statement on Instagram Stories apologizing for the incident.
This development has led to discussions among internet users about symbol awareness and accountability for international artists. Many questions about how Mark Lee was unaware of it despite being born in Canada and living in the United States.
One X user said:
“He didn’t know what it means is the weakest excuse in the book. Especially with the fanbase he has. This one’s actually crazy.”
He didn’t know what it means is the weakest excuse in the book. Especially with the fanbase he has. This one’s actually crazy.
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More users came forward criticizing Mark Lee.
“He didn’t know the meaning behind it” babes he’s 26 going on 27, was born in Canada and lived in the United States… he knew.
They learn about this in Canada right? GENUINELY curious so don’t come for me. I know they’re American too, but since we didn’t go into a lot of detail about it in school (yet we’re still told who was right and wrong) I’m wondering if Canadian schools talk about it. Assuming they would cause we’re so close, but idk. Glad he apologized but yikes….not a good look 😣
The concept of being born in North America and acting like you don’t know what this shirt means
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More users shared their opinion on the same. On the other hand, some Mark Lee fans have also shared their thoughts.
no because he’s literally canadian, you cannot convince me he doesn’t know what that racist shirt meant like stop making excuses for him
It was an accident. He already apologized:
How does this stuff keep happening? Who would think this is a good idea? You’re telling me NO ONE there knew or even had a thought to look it up?
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Mark Lee’s agency Upper Room issues an apology
Upper Room statement on Instagram story (Image via Instagram/@uprmlabel)
On June 23, 2026, his label, Upper Room, issued an apology on Instagram stories. The label described the shirt as a vintage item selected for its aesthetic. They noted efforts to avoid showing the symbol in official content and acknowledged the oversight.
In the statement, they stated:
“We would like to extend our sincere apologies for the concern, discomfort and disappointment caused by the vintage T-shirt that appeared in a recently shared photograph. The garment was selected solely as a vintage wardrobe item.”
They continued:
“However, upon recognizing the historical significance and sensitivity associated with the symbol displayed on the T-shirt, we took measures to ensure that it would not be visible in any official content. Regardless of intent, we acknowledge that this issue should have been handled with greater caution and care. We take full responsibility for this oversight.”
It stated that both the label and Mark reject racism, hate, discrimination, or intolerance. They also said that they are committed to stronger review processes for wardrobe and content in the future.
Upper Room concluded by saying that they would take “greater responsibility” moving forward.
After a transitional year, the Pac-12 is back in action, and many believe it instantly becomes the nation’s top Group of Six conference.
The cornerstones of the new football league are two holdover legacy teams, Oregon State and Washington State
The newcomers include five former Mountain West teams—Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State—plus former Sun Belt school Texas State.
Here’s my assessment of how the eight coaches stack up entering the inaugural 2026 season.
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1. Spencer Danielson, Boise State
Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images
Boise State football has won three straight Mountain West titles under Spencer Danielson’s leadership.
The Broncos also made the 2024 College Football Playoff in his first full year as head coach.
Daniels was named the Mountain West Coach of the Year that season and was a finalist for many national honors.
He’s been successful from the jump, winning 20 out of his first 25 contests.
After starting as a graduate assistant with the Broncos in 2017, he revitalized the program during a transitional state, turning around an Andy Avalos team that had gone 5-5 and winning a conference championship.
Career Record:24-8
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Postseason Accomplishments:Three Mountain West Championships and three bowl appearances.
Fun Fact:Danielson is only the second coach in FBS history to win three straight conference championships in his first three seasons.
2. Bronco Mendenhall, Utah State
Jeffrey D. Allred/Deseret News
Bronco Mendenhall is one of the more tenured coaches on this list, with over thirty years of coaching experience and 19 as the leader.
He ranks fourth among active FBS coaches with 142 wins, and a career winning percentage of .606. He has led 17 different teams to bowl games, and has won seven of these matchups.
Mendenhall’s NFL connections are another facet of his resume, as 138 of his former players have signed a professional contract.
In his first season with Utah State, he led the Aggies to a 6-7 record and a bid to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
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The Aggies featured one of the best scoring offenses in the Mountain West, tallying 30.9 points per game.
Seven players from his 2025 roster are getting an opportunity in the NFL. The team also posted the highest GPA in program history.
Fun Fact:Mendenhall makes his players earn their jersey number every year.
3. Matt Entz, Fresno State
Jackson Moore/247Sports
Matt Entz gets overlooked because he made a name for himself at North Dakota State.
But Entz found instant success with Fresno State when the program felt rocky.
The Bulldogs finished with a 9-4 record last season, which was the second-most wins by a first-year coach in the Valley.
His team also won the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl, marking only the second time a first-year coach has gotten a bowl dub.
Prior to Fresno, he spent one year at USC, where he was the assistant head coach for defense and linebackers coach.
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At the FCS level, Entz won two national championships with the Bison and was named the National Coach of the Year in 2019 and 2021, while posting a 60-11 record at NDSU.
Career Record:9-4
Postseason Accomplishments: One win in the Arizona Bowl in 2025.
Fun Fact:Entz’s favorite professional team is the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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4. Jim Mora, Colorado State
Cait Mckinzie/Rocky Mountain Collegian
A lot of pundits would probably have Jim Mora in their top three, maybe even Number One.
Mora has the most experience on this list, because of his NFL pedigree, where he was a head coach for two different franchises. He also has vast experience at the collegiate level.
But outside of UConn, he’s never won at a consistently high clip.
He was awesome for the Huskies, however, leading them to a 10-2 record and an appearance in the Fenway Bowl.
He also posted UConn’s first back-to-back nine-win seasons in program history. But his career record of 46-30 at UCLA left a bit to be desired. As does his 3-3 career bowl record.
Nevertheless, his experience alone could prove vital in this conference.
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Career Record:73-53
Postseason Accomplishments:NFC Championship Game (NFL), six bowl appearances, three bowl victories.
Fun Fact:Moral played college football at the University of Washington.
5. GJ Kinne, Texas State
Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman
GJ Kinne might be the most unknown coach in the Pac-12. In fact, it feels like guys who’ve never coached an FBS game get more buzz than Kinne.
The Bobcats have won since becoming the head coach at Texas State. Last season TXST finished 7-6, with a victory in the Armed Forces Bowl.
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The two years prior, the Cats posted an 8-5 mark with two dubs in the First Responder Bowl.
The eight wins were a program high for a team that had only had one winning season before his arrival.
His “Take Back Texas” approach features a high-octane offense that has proven successful at multiple stops.
Texas State finished with the 12th-highest scoring offense in the country last year. Before San Marcos, he led FCS Incarnate Word to a 12-2 record and the FCS Semifinals.
Career Record:23-16
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Postseason Accomplishments:Three bowl appearances and three bowl victories.
Fun Fact:Kinne played multiple positions in the NFL and CFL.
6. Sean Lewis, San Diego State
San Diego Union Tribune
Sean Lewis is another guy whom most analysts would probably have in their top five. Lewis quickly turned around San Diego State’s program after a rough start.
In Year One, the Aztecs finished 3-9, but the following season, they responded with a nine-win campaign. Lewis is known for his offense, but it was defense that carried SDSU in 2025.
San Diego State’s defense ranked sixth nationally in points allowed per game. If his “Aztec Fast” offense comes to fruition, SDSU could be a tough out.
The “O” showed glimpses, scoring 40-plus points three times, but lacked consistency.
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Prior to SDSU, Lewis was the head coach at Kent State, where he brought life to a struggling program.
The Golden Flashes made two bowl appearances during his tenure, including a win in the 2019 Frisco Bowl.
Career Record:36-44
Postseason Accomplishments:Three bowl appearances and one bowl victory.
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Fun Fact:When hired by Kent State, Lewis was the youngest Head Coach in the FBS.
7. Kirby Moore, Washington State
WSU Athletics
Kirby Moore is one of two coaches in the Pac-12 who have never been a leader at the FBS level. Moore got this opportunity for two reasons.
The first is due to his work as Offensive Coordinator at Missouri. He helped guide the Tigers to the 44th-ranked scoring offense last season.
But more importantly, for his player development.
Running back Ahmad Hardy shone under his tutelage, leading the country in rushing yards per game.
Moore did the same with former quarterback Brady Cook, who led Mizzou to a 21-5 mark as a starter.
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The other reason Moore landed in Pullman is his familiarity with the region.
His Dad is a high school coaching legend in Eastern Washington, and he found success as a standout receiver at Prosser High School, less than 170 miles from WSU’s campus.
Career Record:N/A
Postseason Accomplishments:N/A
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Fun Fact:Moore is the younger brother of former NFL quarterback Kellen Moore.
8. JaMarcus Shephard, Oregon State
Soobum Im/Getty Images
JaMarcus Shephard is last on this list by default.
While he has noteworthy titles such as the assistant head coach and co-offensive coordinator at Alabama, he’s never actually run his own unit at the collegiate level.
His highest individual title was wide receivers coach at Alabama. Regardless, he still feels like a good fit for Oregon State.
Before Tuscaloosa, he was the pass game coordinator and wide receivers Coach at Washington during the 2023 season.
The Huskies finished 14-1 and made the National Championship, driven by arguably the best passing attack in West Coast history.
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This, combined with his exuberant passion, could make the Beavers a competitor in short order.
Career Record:N/A
Postseason Accomplishments:N/A
Fun Fact:Shephard was an All-American receiver at DePauw University.
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Writes about football and basketball as a Senior Writer and hosts “The Nick Bartlett Show” for SuperWest Sports.
Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant recently issued a three-word blunt response to Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) farewell post. Incidentally, Pant was traded to his former team, Delhi Capitals (DC), in a high-profile deal that sent star spinner Kuldeep Yadav to LSG.
Pant’s trade ends a disappointing two-year stint with the Super Giants after he joined the franchise for a staggering INR 27 crore ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, making him the most expensive player at the time.
However, he didn’t look at his usual best during his career with Lucknow. The franchise also failed to make it to the playoffs in both seasons under his leadership. They even finished last in IPL 2026, winning only four out of 14 matches.
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Thus, an exit was inevitable. After his departure from LSG, the franchise posted a farewell message on their social media handle. Pant responded with a three-word message, saying:
Pant also struggled miserably with the bat during his two seasons with the franchise. Across both seasons with LSG, he accumulated 555 runs in 27 matches, including a hundred against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2025.
Rishabh Pant takes a massive INR 12 crore pay cut to join Delhi
The 28-year-old cricketer took a huge INR 12 crore pay cut to join his former franchise, Delhi, for INR 15 crore. He spent nine seasons with the Capitals between 2016 and 2024 before joining Lucknow.
He was a cornerstone for the franchise and played multiple match-winning knocks. The southpaw scored 3,284 in 111 matches at a strike rate of 35.31, including one hundred and 18 half-centuries.
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Pant was a highly successful team leader, posting a strong win percentage during his tenure as captain. He has captained Delhi in 43 matches, leading the team to 23 wins and 20 losses. His best outing as a leader came in IPL 2021, when DC finished atop the points table but lost the Qualifier to Kolkata Knight Riders.
You have to give Jazz Chisholm Jr. this much: he’s never boring. Monday night, the Yankees second baseman made headlines when television cameras caught him with a lollipop in his mouth while playing the field. While playing the field with the Yankees down 4-1 in the fifth inning, specifically. Up big in a blowout? Maybe that flies. Not down in the middle of the game, though.
“I talked to him about it and it should be over with,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday, adding he didn’t know Chisholm played with the lollipop until after Monday’s game (via MLB.com). “I mean, let’s face it. I was annoyed by it. I addressed it. And at the end of the day, it’s not that big of a deal.”
Chisholm said the conversation between him and Boone will remain private. Monday was the second time he played with a lollipop this season, it should be noted. He had one in his mouth during an at-bat against the Red Sox in April. Chisholm did not have to make a play on the ball while sucking on the lollipop Monday.
Sure enough, the spotlight again found Chisholm on Tuesday. He clubbed a go-ahead two-run home run against the Tigers in the top of the sixth inning, then made sure to show the bucket of lollipops to the camera when he got back to the dugout. To the action footage:
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Chisholm started the season slowly and did not hit his first home run until New York’s 25th game on April 23. Tuesday’s homer was his 12th in 52 games since, and his sixth in the last 18 games.
In an effort to snap out of his early season slump last month, Chisholm began using his Giancarlo Stanton’s pants and, eventually, Aaron Judge’s bats as well. “Definitely didn’t ask him. Like a big brother, little brother thing,” he joked when asked about using Judge’s bat.
This is Chisholm’s second full season with the Yankees. He was acquired from the Marlins at the 2024 trade deadline. Last season Chisholm joined Bobby Bonds and Alfonso Soriano as the only 30-30 players in Yankees history. He will be a free agent after this season.
The FIFA World Cup has transformed North America into the center of the soccer world.
For nearly two weeks and counting, fans from around the globe have poured into the United States, Canada and Mexico, filling stadiums, fan festivals and watch parties across the 16 host cities.
Former Texas Tech and Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman Cody Campbell joined Fox News Channel’s “The Will Cain Show” on Tuesday. During the wide-ranging conversation, Campbell expressed optimism about the way international visitors have embraced some of the best the United States has to offer during the World Cup.
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“It’s great to have everybody here. And I’ve loved the comments on social media from people from around the world just saying how nice and how surprised they were with how great the United States is. Because I don’t think we’re portrayed that way in international media. So it’s a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase the whole country.”
Norway fans perform the Viking row in Times Square in New York on June 21, 2026, ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match against Senegal.(John Sibley/Reuters)
Campbell, who advises President Donald Trump on college sports issues, was asked about the Protect College Sports Act and its path to the Senate floor as the legislation continues to move forward.
“The Protect College Sports Act is the first viable college sports bill that has made it out of committee in either house. At this point, it’s our far and last and only chance to restore some measure of order and stop the chaos in [the] college sports landscape. You’re going to look at the high (level) things, limiting transfers, limiting eligibility, finding ways to get actual control over (the) ability to enforce rules. But it does a lot more than that, it thinks about the future of college sports and how those look. We know how much it’s changed over the last decade or so and so the bill has built into it provisions that will allow us to actually address what happens next.”
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Cody Campbell stands backstage during ESPN’s College GameDay at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, on Nov. 8, 2025.(John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., have spearheaded the Protect College Sports Act. The legislation would grant the NCAA a limited antitrust exemption, allowing the governing body to enforce restrictions on athlete compensation.
A Senate panel approved legislation supporters say would bring stability to college sports as critics warn it expands federal involvement.(Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
The bill also addresses eligibility and transfer rules across college athletics.
The proposal could pave the way for colleges and universities to consolidate their media rights under a single entity, replacing the current conference-by-conference structure.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) trade window action for IPL 2027 has already begun. Star India wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant grabbed headlines on Tuesday, moving back to Delhi Capitals (DC) from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), while spinner Kuldeep Yadav went the other way. DC co-owner Parth Jindal welcomed Pant with a heartfelt message on social media. In response to that message, former Australia batter and IPL-winning captain David Warner left a couple of intriguing responses that got the internet talking.
Soon after, Warner posted another reply to Jindal’s post, this time explaining how auction dynamics and Pant’s poor fortunes at LSG have led to DC getting him back.
“It was always going to happen. Auctions can get out of hand, and if there is a dip in form and one owner wants to get rid of you while the other wanted you but was unfortunately outbid, you can bide your time,” Warner said.
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It was always going to happen. Auctions can get out of hand, and if there is a dip in form and one owner wants to get rid of you while the other wanted you but was unfortunately outbid, you can bide your time.
Dear Kuldeep, thank you for your service over the last 5 years. You have been a core part of our team and you will be sorely missed. Go well – you are a champion player and I am sure you will do extremely well back in your home ground. Rishabh – Kiran and I are both happy to have you back at DC. Hope you can find your best form back home in Delhi.”
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Pant was signed by LSG for an IPL record price of Rs 27 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction. Although DC had originally right-to-matched LSG’s winning bid of Rs 20.75 crore, the latter raised it to Rs 27 crore, which the former did not match.
However, after two unsuccessful seasons, including a last-place finish in IPL 2026, LSG and Pant have parted ways. Pant has taken a massive Rs 12 crore paycut, rejoining DC for Rs 15 crore.
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Tushar Deshpande’s Brilliant Final Act Ensures Thrilling Win For RR Over Gujarat Titans
Three-time Indian Premier League (IPL) winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are reportedly eyeing to trade in star all-rounder Hardik Pandya from Mumbai Indians (MI) ahead of IPL 2027. According to the report, Rajasthan Royals are also interested in signing the former India skipper, but have now fallen behind in the race.
Pandya’s future with MI looked uncertain after the five-time IPL champions finished ninth in IPL 2026. This is the second instance in a row that Mumbai has failed to reach the playoffs under Pandya’s leadership since his return to the franchise from the Gujarat Titans.
According to a PTI report via Hindustan Times, an insider close to the development revealed that the two franchises have had multiple discussions over Pandya’s trade. It further adds that Pandya will take over the leadership role from Ajinkya Rahane if he joins the Knight Riders.
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“Ajinkya Rahane was always a stop-gap arrangement for KKR, and he was always going to be released after this season,” the report stated. “The KKR top brass had approached MI owners towards the end of last season, but since Reliance’s Annual AGM was round the corner, IPL trade discussions weren’t a priority at that stage.
“However, it has been learned that KKR has once again approached MI’s top leadership and there have been a few rounds of discussions,” it added.
Pandya enjoys a good record as an IPL captain, winning 36 of 61 matches, while losing only 25. The energetic all-rounder guided Gujarat to their maiden title in their debut season in 2022 before leading them to a runner-up finish next year.
“He’d better be with a fresh setup” – Michael Vaughan wants Hardik Pandya to join a new IPL team
Former England captain Michael Vaughan had floated the same idea last month when he predicted that Pandya would fare better in a new IPL team. He also predicted a direct swap with a KKR all-rounder, Cameron Green.
“Replace him with Cameron Green. If he wants to carry on as captain, then he’d better be with a fresh setup. Maybe KKR. Kolkata will be looking for a new captain. That’s why the Green-Hardik swap,” Vaughan had said in a video shared by Cricbuzz.
Pandya had a lean outing in IPL 2026, scoring only 206 runs in 10 matches without a single half-century. He also struggled with the ball, picking up only four wickets and conceding runs at an economy rate of 11.43.
You may well have seen one of these images yourself. Some have racked up millions of views as they go viral on social media.
One of the most-viewed of these images shows a fan in a World Cup stadium wearing a Germany jersey, waving a German flag and bearing a striking resemblance to Adolf Hitler, a fake that DW’s Fact Check team debunked shortly after Germany’s World Cup match against Curacao.
Some of these images we spot as fake right away; others we might easily mistake for real. Either way, they’re having an effect.
“It is an event that gets billions of people around the world from different countries, different regions, different political circumstances, all watching the same matches at the same time,” said Henry Ajder, one of the world’s leading experts on deepfakes and manipulative AI. “It is the perfect environment for people to start spreading deepfakes and AI generated content.”
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Alongside more lighthearted World Cup deepfakes, plenty carrying political messages are going viral, too. DW Fact Check examined several of them and shows how you can spot the fakes yourself.
An Iranian protest with a pink backpack?
Before the conflict between Iran and the US had even ended, Iran kicked off its World Cup campaign against New Zealand, coming away with a point in a 2-2 (1-1) draw. But did one of the players really mark the result with a protest gesture?
An OpenAI analysis of this viral World Cup image shows that it was created using OpenAI toolsImage: Open AI
The image doesn’t show a scene from Iran’s World Cup match, and it doesn’t show any of Iran’s actual World Cup players, either.
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No such protest took place during the match against New Zealand, and the player in the photo doesn’t match anyone on Iran’s World Cup squad.Iran’s actual World Cup jersey looks different, too. The stadium doesn’t match up either: the arena in the image looks noticeably different from the World Cup stadium in Los Angeleswhere the game was played; even the shape of the stands is different.
The fake does have a real event behind it, though: Iranian fans staged genuine protests in the stands at the Los Angeles match, some commemorating children allegedly killed by the US in a school in the Iranian city of Minab.
Reportingby outlets such as The New York Times and investigations by Bellingcathave pointed to possible US military involvement in that strike, which killed more than 150 people. But the viral image of a player protesting the incident is fabricated.
Keir Starmer in a Croatia jersey?
Would a British prime minister really pose in the rival team’s jersey right before England’s opening match? Seems unlikely, yet that’s exactly what social media would have you believe. A viral image circulating on X shows Starmer smiling alongside three other people in a pub, all of them wearing Croatia jerseys — England’s first opponent of the tournament.
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Left: the real photo featuring Starmer (third from left); the photo on the right is fakeImage: Facebook/X
A quick Google search for “Keir Starmer pub football fans”turned up the original photo:same pub, same people — including former Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner — but different outfits. Three of them are wearing England jerseys, and Starmer is in a plain white T-shirt. The photo is actually two years old, taken around the 2024 European Championship in Germany.
In other words, the jerseys were digitally altered, almost certainly with the help of an AI tool.
The AI detector ZeroGPT flags a high probability that the image was AI-generated, and the jerseys themselves give it away: two have black collars, two have white ones, the Croatian federation (HNS) logos are blurry and inconsistent in size, and overall the jerseys look noticeably softer and less detailed than the sharply rendered faces.
Political protest isn’t exactly welcome at the World Cup, but it keeps happening anyway, as the Iran example shows. Some cases, though, are worth a second look.
A screenshot of an X post allegedly showing a protesting fan; the image is AI-generatedImage: X.com
Claim: “I’d trade the sixth title for Lula and Janja’s imprisonment. Would you support that?” reads a sign supposedly held up by a fan, in a photo that’s been circulating on X, among other places.
DW Fact Check: Fake
After a 1-1 draw to open the tournament against Morocco and a rocky run-up to the World Cup, it’s still an open question whether Brazil can dream of a sixth title. What is clear, however, is that the fan’s message is not real. ZeroGPT puts the probability that the image is AI-generated at 96%, and other AI detectors land in the same range.
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A closer look backs that up. The handwriting on the sign is suspiciously neat for something supposedly scrawled by hand: the letters are too even, and the cardboard’s texture looks unnaturally smooth. The sign-holder’s face has a glossy, idealized look that’s become a telltale sign of AI generation.
Zoom in further and the background gets stranger still, with some faces looking unfinished, almost melting into the wall behind them. Other versionsof this fake have also turned up, showing different people holding the exact same sign, and AI detectors flag those as generated too.
A spectacular opening ceremony with an Iranian float?
Around 1.2 billion peoplewatched the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Plenty of clips from it circulated on social media afterward, but some showed a show that simply never happened.
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Users claim this video shows the World Cup opening ceremony, but it’s AI-generated footage
Claim: A videoshared on X claims to show the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Cup.
DW Fact Check: Fake
The nearly five-minute clip shows fireworks, dance numbers, and performances representing the participating nations. The real opening ceremony looked quite different and featured different artistic elements.
Watch closelyand the stadium itself gives it away. Across different shots, its roof is sometimes round, sometimes oval, sometimes open, sometimes closed, shape shifting repeatedly over the course of the “ceremony.”
Look even closer and the usual AI video tells appear: visual artifacts, warped objects, blurry faces. AI detectors again flag a high likelihood of generative AI here.
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A separate video claiming to show a giant golden float symbolizing Iranat the same ceremony has the same problem; the stadium changes shape mid-video there too.
Deepfakes that leave a mark
Thanks to AI tools that are now both widely available and easy to use, fakes like these can be whipped up in no time, and at a mega-event like the World Cup, they spread almost as fast.
And they’re not harmless.
“These kinds of moments are really activating and really visceral to audiences. They play into narratives and really quite hot topics, so to speak, that people around the world are paying attention to,” Ajder said.
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The takeaway for this World Cup: Keep a close eye not just on the matches, but also on whatever’s going viral online to not fall for fakes.
Washington has been surging (again) on the recruiting trail. 
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Mendenhall’s NFL connections are another facet of his resume, as 138 of his former players have signed a professional contract.
The Bulldogs finished with a 9-4 record last season, which was the second-most wins by a first-year coach in the Valley.
But outside of UConn, he’s never won at a consistently high clip.
The two years prior, the Cats posted an 8-5 mark with two dubs in the First Responder Bowl.
San Diego State’s defense ranked sixth nationally in points allowed per game. If his “Aztec Fast” offense comes to fruition, SDSU could be a tough out.
Running back Ahmad Hardy shone under his tutelage, leading the country in rushing yards per game.
Before Tuscaloosa, he was the pass game coordinator and wide receivers Coach at Washington during the 2023 season.
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