The Freedom 250 isn’t the first race hosted in Washington, D.C. by the U.S. president in celebration of America’s birthday. 

On July 4th, 1801, 225 years ago, to celebrate America’s 25th birthday, President Thomas Jefferson helped put on festivities including horseback riding and cockfighting in Washington, D.C., according to the White House Historical Association. 

Jefferson, the third President of the United States, and the Washington Jockey Club “established a racecourse just blocks from the White House, with part of the course running across Pennsylvania Avenue and through what is now Lafayette Park.”

The United States Capitol is seen along the Freedom 250 Grand Prix track outside of the National Gallery of Art on Thursday. (Finn Gomez/Getty Images)

According to the White House Historical Association, “the north grounds of the President’s Park came alive at daybreak with the raising of tents and booths, soon followed by crowds of people. A festival took place just for the day. Food and drink and cottage goods of all types were sold. There were horse races and parades of the Washington Militia, along with other military companies. 

After the festivities, Jefferson invited attendees into the White House. The tradition of an annual reception at the White House continued for much of the nineteenth century.

Not only did Jefferson host a horse race near the White House, but he was an avid supporter and participant in horse racing. He often attended meets at the National Race Course in Washington, D.C.

Now Donald J. Trump, the 47th president of the U.S., is helping to bring a 250-mile, 147-lap race to Washington, D.C. to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. 

“I’m thrilled to be here with some of the most extraordinary figures in the history of motorsports and any sport, if you think about it,” Trump said at a Freedom 250 Grand Prix Showcase on July 13. “As we count down to the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, this will be like no other race, ever. I don’t think anything will ever be — will ever top what we’re going to be having.”

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., is the first NTT IndyCar Series race ever held in the nation’s capital. The FOX pre-race show will begin at 11:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 23, with the green flag scheduled for 1:13 p.m. ET. The course does not reach the White House, but it runs along Pennsylvania Avenue, Constitution Avenue and in front of the Washington Monument. 

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix is the second event hosted in proximity to the White House this summer, along with UFC Freedom 250. 

With this being the initial IndyCar race in Washington, D.C., no drivers have course experience as an upper hand. But Alex Palou (542 points) enters Sunday’s race with a healthy lead in the standings, despite finishing fourth at the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham last Sunday. 

The battle for second place is much closer, with Kyle Kirkwood (409), David Malukas (405) and Christian Lundgaard (403) separated by six points. So while the Freedom 250 will be a spectacle to watch, IndyCar’s top drivers can’t lose focus as the stakes are high.

WHAT YOU SHOULD READ NEXT

Here’s how the course was built for this weekend in Washington, D.C.

It’s the first game of this season, but a team can’t show why they’re the favorites to win the Premier League without coming out of the gates strong, and Arsenal did just that, defeating Coventry City 3-0. Getting out to a 2-0 lead by halftime thanks to goals from Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz. Martin Odegaard would add another goal in the second half to get to the final margin of victory, kicking off the season on the right foot.

It was a lineup that included Saka, Havertz, and Martin Odegaard, something that was rarely seen together last season. In fact, with Havertz starting the season with an injury and Saka ending the season with one, they only started together four times in all competitions, a number that Mikel Arteta will want to see rise in the new season, and the stats facing Coventry are a good reason why. 

Arsenal were still a strong defensive side, not allowing a shot on goal until the 86th minute of play when Jack Rudoni tested David Raya with a speculative effort, but they were dynamic in attack, playing on the front foot from the first minute straight through to the final whistle. A lot of that was the old guard of the Gunners, but new signing Christos Tzolis also continues to push to make the left wing his own. Starting over Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli after a two-assist showing in the Community Shield.

With two shots within the first 10 minutes of play, he showed his ability to get into space and was also credited with a fantasy assist on Saka’s goal after his cross was pushed into Saka’s path by the keeper. While it’s early, these are the kinds of things that he was added from Club Brugge for. Arsenal were interested in Vinicius Junior during the summer, and while Tzolis will not be confused with the Brazilian, they were looking for an upgrade at left wing in the worst way. If Tzolis adapts to life in England quickly it will be a huge boon for the Gunners’ title defense.

The Premier League is quite a step up from playing in Belgium for Club Brugge, but Tzolis was involved in 51 goals last season, including eight in Champions League play. Even if you factor in regression coming to a tougher league, this is a player who has something to bring to the squad. It’s always good to get off to a good start, and so far, so good for both Tzolis and Arsenal.

Despite not having Jurrien Timber and William Saliba in the XI as both deal with injuries, the Gunners picked up right where they left off last season, and it’s only going to get better as Bruno Guimaraes is coming to join a midfield that is already a strength for the club, and Ezri Konsa will also add to the defense once that deal is complete with Aston Villa. Manchester City and Liverpool, not to mention Manchester United and Chelsea, will likely have something to say about the title race before it’s all said and done, but winning games like this one comprehensively is what will make sure that the Gunners have some room for error.

Winning the games you’re supposed to and then not being overpowered in other games when you face top opposition is a route to the title, and facing a newly promoted side, Arsenal did what you would expect. It shows how tough the jump to the Premier League is going to be for the Sky Blues, but after getting this win, it’s now all attention to Aston Villa next week in what will be a much tougher match, but for now, Arteta’s machine keeps rolling.

Nigeria champions Edo Queens have arrived in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, ahead of the WAFU B qualifying tournament for the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League.

The Edo-based side travelled with 21 players and 12 officials. The team left Lagos on Thursday, travelled through Lomé, Togo, and then continued to Burkina Faso, where the tournament will take place.

Edo Queens, popularly known as the Ada Bendel, have been drawn in Group A alongside Ghanaian side Ampem Darkoa Ladies, ASFC Mimosas of Côte d’Ivoire and Niger’s AS Garde Nationale.

The Nigerian champions will be without their head coach, Moses Aduku, who is currently with the Falconets at an international assignment.

Bendel Insurance manager Kennedy Boboye will take charge of the team during the competition.

Edo Queens will rely on key players such as Mose Chioma, Atume Doosuur, Vera Doris and Uroko Valentina as they aim to secure a place in the CAF Women’s Champions League.

The WAFU B qualifying tournament will run from August 23 to September 5, 2026, with the winners earning a place in the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Reuters)

Former India head coach Rahul Dravid believes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi needs a carefully managed pathway as the 15-year-old begins to make his mark across formats, stressing the importance of giving him enough opportunities in red-ball cricket alongside his white-ball commitments.Sooryavanshi, who enjoyed a breakthrough IPL season before making his T20I debut in England in June, is now set to return to the longer format with East Zone in the Duleep Trophy.While the teenager has already attracted significant attention in white-ball cricket, his first-class record remains modest. He averages 17.25 from 12 innings across three stints in the Ranji Trophy Plate League, with his domestic campaigns interrupted by India U19 commitments.Dravid, who coached Sooryavanshi at Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025, said the youngster’s exposure to both formats is a positive development.“I think you always have to find that balance. And I think it is a great thing that Vaibhav is getting the experience of playing some white-ball cricket through the IPL in India, but he is also having the time to go back and play red-ball cricket in the Indian domestic system and grow his red-ball career,” Dravid said while speaking to Cricinfo.The former India batter also highlighted the wider importance of developing players capable of succeeding in Test cricket.“All of us also want to see Tests survive, all of us want to see Tests grow and we need players like him to be able to hopefully play all formats of the game,” Dravid added.For Sooryavanshi, the Duleep Trophy provides another opportunity to build experience in red-ball cricket. Dravid feels the teenager needs sustained exposure to the format, particularly because he has not played it as regularly as white-ball cricket.“The good thing is he is going to take some time, he is going to need some experience, he is going to get an opportunity to play a lot of red-ball cricket. He hasn’t played as much red-ball cricket as probably white-ball cricket,” Dravid said.The 15-year-old’s rapid rise has naturally brought expectations, but Dravid urged everyone to allow him time to develop rather than judge him solely on his early success.“He is only 15 and I think you have got to just give him some time and you have got to be patient with him. He has obviously been such a success straightaway, right, but he is going to go through his ups and downs and I think people are going to have to be patient with him,” Dravid added.

Fernando Mendoza continued to make his case for becoming the NFL’s most interesting interview on Thursday night.

During the fourth quarter of the Raiders’ 22-20 win over the Houston Texans in the team’s second preseason game, Mendoza joined ESPN’s Laura Rutledge for an interview. Play-by-play announcer Joe Buck segued to the interview by saying, “Hi, Laura! Hi, Fernando!”

The rookie quarterback made sure to greet Buck in return while being incredibly formal in doing so.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza looks to throw against the Houston Texans during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

“Please tell Mr. Buck I say, ‘Hello.’” Mendoza said as the interview concluded with a salute to the camera.

The former Indiana star’s response drew a laugh from Rutledge, Buck and analyst Troy Aikman. Rutledge asked Mendoza why he didn’t greet Aikman the same way.

“Oh, of course,” Mendoza said. “I mean, he’s a legend. I think Mr. Buck needs some love, because Mr. Aikman is already, you know.”

The crew laughed through Mendoza’s response and then showered praise upon the No. 1 overall pick following another memorable interview.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) is hit by Houston Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

“You see, there it is. Back to Mr. Buck,” Buck said. “That’s the stuff. He is unique. And yeah, I’ll take that. We’ll take the love from Fernando Mendoza. And he says all the right things.”

“What a refreshing personality he is,” Aikman said.

The former Dallas Cowboys star called Mendoza easy to root for. Unfortunately for Mendoza, his second preseason start didn’t go as swimmingly as his first.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza throws a pass during a preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev., on Aug. 13, 2026. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

On his second pass of the game, he threw an 80-yard pick-six to Texans fourth-round rookie linebacker Wade Woodaz. Mendoza, who played the first half, completed eight of his 15 passes for 86 yards and the aforementioned interception.

Thursday was the first time Mendoza seemed to endure some growing pains. Against the Arizona Cardinals last week in his first preseason game, he completed 10 of 16.

Despite Mendoza’s struggles on Thursday, Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak surprisingly declined to name Kirk Cousins the Week 1 starting quarterback. The Raiders’ preseason finale is against the San Francisco 49ers next Thursday.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Seeing the Brazil national football team and their star players line up against the Blue Tigers on home soil is undoubtedly a dream come true for thousands of passionate football fans across India. Opportunities to face five-time World Cup winners do not come around often for Indian football. However, a section of the domestic football spectrum, led by former national team captain Bhaichung Bhutia, is calling for a ‘boycott’ of the fixture, arguing that the considerable funds allocated for the high-profile exhibition match would be better invested in long-term grassroots and sporting infrastructure projects.

When NDTV contacted sources close to the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), they confirmed that the governing body remains entirely unconcerned by the growing chatter in India and is not altering its plans for the October friendly.

A delegation from the CBF inspected the playing surface at Kolkata’s Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Thursday. While subsequent reports suggested that the grass density on the pitch was low and required immediate work to prevent potential injury risks to players, sources clarified to NDTV that the feedback was merely a routine precautionary measure that had been blown out of proportion. The condition of the field, sources confirmed, will have no impact whatsoever on the schedule of the match.

The Brazilian federation also denied being affected by the calls for a boycott, suggesting that such reactions appear to be driven by local politics. Addressing India’s decision to pull out of the inaugural FIFA-ASEAN Cup in order to accommodate the marquee friendly against Brazil, sources stated that no changes are being considered regarding the fixture, as it has already been officially announced. As for the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) decision to withdraw from the regional tournament, the source added that the CBF was completely unaware of the move.

In an official release, Brazil’s team coordinator framed the upcoming visit to India as a sincere attempt by the national team to express gratitude to local fans for their long-standing devotion to the Selecao.

“We will face Australia, who qualified from the group stage and were eliminated in the second round, but have shown great improvement. Against India, there’s the technical aspect and a great deal of gratitude to the Indians, who showed enormous affection and support for the Brazilian National Team during the World Cup. So it’s only fair that we go there as a way of thanking them, but also to put on a great performance,” said Rodrigo Caetano, the Brazil national team coordinator.

READ | Bhaichung Bhutia’s Brutal Verdict On India-Brazil Clash: “Boycott That Match”

India are expected to play a total of three friendly matches during the October international window. While the high-profile fixture against Brazil is confirmed, Cape Verde is being targeted as the second opponent, with the name of a third team currently being finalised.

Featured Video Of The Day

Spain’s Royal Family Welcomes World Cup Champions To Zarzuela Palace

Fantasy football draft season is here, and NFL news such as Kyler Murray being named the starter for the Vikings over J.J McCarthy is already rolling in, with other QB battles in Atlanta and Cleveland to be decided. The search for 2026 Fantasy breakouts is on, and rookies are always a popular target. First-year players such as Jeremiyah Love, Carnell Tate, Omar Cooper, Jadarian Price and Makai Lemon are expected to be near the top of their respective depth charts, while top overall pick Fernando Mendoza is expected to sit come Week 1.

Which one of these Fantasy football rookies should you invest picks in, and which other overlooked players from around the league are set to burst onto the Fantasy scene this season? Before crafting your 2026 Fantasy football draft strategy, be sure to check out the 2026 Fantasy football rankings and cheat sheets from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

Paramount+ Premium is now included with every SportsLine membership! Watch the NFL on CBS, UFC, Champions League and more than 40,000 episodes and movies. Join right here to get both for one low price.

Last year, the model accurately predicted that Panthers receiver Tetairoa McMillan would comfortably outperform his ADP (WR28). The result: McMillan had 70 grabs for 1,014 yards and seven scores en route to being named Offensive Rookie of the Year. He finished as WR17 in CBS Sports PPR leagues and was a great addition to Fantasy football lineups.

The same model has a proven track record providing Fantasy football tips, identifying A.J. Brown as a sleeper in 2020, nailing Jonathan Taylor’s monstrous season in 2021, correctly predicting C.J. Stroud would take a step back in 2024 and calling Daniel Jones’ huge 2025 season. Additionally, it’s called past Fantasy football sleepers like Derrick Henry in 2019, Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara in 2018, and Davante Adams in 2017. Anybody who banked on players like those made a run at their league title.

Now, SportsLine has simulated the entire NFL season 10,000 times and released its latest Fantasy football rankings 2026, along with plenty of sleepers, breakouts and busts. Head to SportsLine now to see them. 

Top 2026 Fantasy football breakouts

One of the 2026 Fantasy football breakouts the model is predicting: Chargers running back Omarion Hampton, who has an ADP of No. 20 after finishing as the RB35 in PPR leagues a year ago. As a rookie, Hampton played in just nine games due to injury and finished with 737 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns. He finished as the RB35 but injuries shouldn’t be a concern going forward. Hampton was a durable workhorse in college, not missing a game due to injury over his last two years at UNC, while leading the ACC in carries in both seasons.

His improved health is coupled with better health from Los Angeles’ starting tackles, Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater, as the two Pro Bowlers combined for just six games a year ago. Their returns, plus the addition of former Pro Bowl center Tyler Biadasz gives Hampton one of the best O-lines in football. SportsLine’s model slots him ahead of the likes of Kyren Williams and Javonte Williams, despite those two being drafted earlier on average. See more Fantasy football breakout picks here.

Another potential breakout that SportsLine’s Fantasy football rankings 2026 have identified: Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis. Willis had stints as a clear-cut backup for the Titans and Packers, and now he gets a chance to start for Miami after signing a three-year, $67.5 million deal in the offseason. There are major questions about his surrounding cast, but playing from behind can be a good thing from a Fantasy standpoint as quarterbacks often pile up big numbers late in that scenario.

His ability to run helps raise his floor substantially, but his ADP is only No. 147 overall. SportsLine’s model ranks him above Sam Darnold, Kyler Murray, Bo Nix and others being picked earlier, making Willis a sneaky later-round pick who can be a strong QB2 on a Fantasy roster and potentially much more. See which other Fantasy football breakouts 2026 to pick here.

How to find proven 2026 Fantasy football rankings

SportsLine is also extremely high on a young tight end to make a huge impact. The model ranks this player as a top-8 option ahead of more established stars like Travis Kelce and George Kittle. You can only see who it is, and the 2026 Fantasy football rankings for every player, at SportsLine.

So which 2026 Fantasy Football breakouts should you target, and which TE shocks the NFL with a top-8 performance? Visit SportsLine now to get 2026 Fantasy Football cheat sheets for every single position, all from the model that called Tetairoa McMillan’s breakout rookie season, and find out.

2026 Fantasy football ADP

(PPR, via CBS)
Get Fantasy football cheat sheets at SportsLine.

1. Jahmyr Gibbs (1.30)
2. Bijan Robinson (1.92)
3. Ja’Marr Chase (3.98)
4. Puka Nacua (4.91)
5. Jonathan Taylor (5.29)
6. Jaxon Smith-Njigba (6.98)
7. Christian McCaffrey (7.20)
8. Amon-Ra St. Brown (9.15)
9. James Cook (11.11)
10. De’Von Achane (11.75)
11. Ashton Jeanty (12.93)
12. Chase Brown (13.09)  

The 26-year-old wide receiver is set to enter his sixth NFL season with Baltimore in 2026

Advertisement

Aug 21, 2026

at

7:33 pm ET

•

1 min read