Football’s biggest tournament is back on North American soil this summer, 32 years after Italy’s Roberto Baggio sent the ball flying over the crossbar in the final, tragic act of one of the most iconic World Cups to date.
Before the US hosted the world of “soccer” in 1994, neighbouring Mexico had become the first country in the world to organise two World Cups, first in 1970 and again in 1986, when it stepped in for Colombia.
As the two countries team up with Canada for an unprecedented three-host World Cup, running from June 11 to July 19, we look back at some of the highlights of the first three tournaments held on the continent.
1970: Pelé strikes back
Brazil’s captain Carlos Alberto with his English counterpart Bobby Moore at the 1970 World Cup.AP file photo
The first tournament held in North America is still regarded by many as the finest yet, won by a legendary Brazil team boasting the likes of Gerson, Rivelino, Tostao, Jairzinho and, of course, Pelé. The latter – already a two-time champion – was making his comeback to the Selecao, after injury had forced him out of the 1966 World Cup.
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Brazil faced their toughest test in the group stage when they took on defending champions England in a clash of titans that saw Gordon Banks famously deny Pelé with one of the greatest saves in history, before Jairzinho sealed a hard-fought 1-0 win in the searing heat of Guadalajara.
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Many had put their money on the two sides meeting again in the final. But Franz Beckenbauer’s West Germany, who faced the Three Lions in the quarterfinals, had other plans.
England looked to be in command when coach Alf Ramsey decided to rest Bobby Charlton with his side 2-0 up and only 20 minutes left in the game. But the Mannschaft came roaring back against the ageing English squad, prevailing 3-2 in overtime to set up a semi-final showdown with Italy – who had earlier ended home favourites Mexico’s dream run to the knockout stages.
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Dubbed the “Game of the Century”, the Italy-West Germany clash had it all: goals galore, refereeing blunders and Beckenbauer fighting on with his dislocated arm in a sling before 100,000 delirious fans at the Estadio Azteca. Despite the German captain’s sacrifice, it was the Azzurri who prevailed this time in a thrilling five-goal overtime, with Gigi Riva’s 111th-minute strike sealing a 4-3 win for Italy.
Days later, in the final, the Azzurri held their ground in a tight first half before the mighty Brazilians romped to a 4-1 victory. The sublime passing game that led to Carlos Alberto’s final goal summed up the virtuosity of the 1970 Selecao. And Pelé became the first player to lift the World Cup for the third time after 1958 and 1962 – a feat unmatched to this day.
1986: The ‘Hand of God’
“Thank you God for football and for Maradona!” It’s a cry of joy many have heard before, watching replays of Argentina’s quarterfinal victory over England at the 1986 World Cup, with the legendary live commentary of Uruguayan journalist Victor Hugo Morales.
The stage is once again the Estadio Azteca, and El pibe de oro (the golden boy) has just scored his second, memorable goal. “Cosmic kite, what planet are you from that you can leave so many Englishmen in your wake?” the commentator rambles on, sobbing with joy at a feat celebrated across Argentina – and much of Latin America – as revenge for the Falklands War in 1982.
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Maradona’s glorious run past England’s hapless defenders is the stuff of legend, second only in fame to the goal he scored minutes earlier with his hand, the “hand of God”, as he coined it. It has come to define both the tournament and its star player – the brilliance and the trickery, the prodigy and the myth.
The second World Cup on Mexican soil produced plenty of other memorable moments, starting with Morocco’s famous run to the knockout stages – the first for an African team. It saw the Lions of the Atlas top their group, ahead of England, before losing out to West Germany in a narrow 1-0 defeat.
Maradona aside, it was Michel Platini’s France who delivered the match of the tournament, edging out the likes of Socrates, Zico and Careca on penalties in a legendary quarterfinal. Both sides sported an unusual number of players in their 30s, and the Guadalajara heat took its toll on the French, who went on to lose 2-0 against West Germany in the semis – four years after their traumatic defeat at the same stage and against the very same opponents in Seville.
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Maradona did not score in the final, which saw the Germans once again claw their way back from a 2-0 deficit in the second half. But he did provide the through pass that set up Burruchaga’s 3-2 winner in the 84th minute, carrying the Albiceleste to their second World Cup title.
World Cups are not always best remembered for their winners. For all but fans of Italy, the defining image of the 2006 final is likely to be Zidane headbutting Materazzi – rather than Cannavaro lifting the trophy. The same could be said of the 1994 final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, which many neutrals remember as the scene of the most famous penalty miss in World Cup history.
The choice of venue that year was a strategic bet for FIFA, which hoped to establish soccer as a permanent fixture in the home of American football. Although heavyweights like England, France and Uruguay were absent, there was still an abundance of stars to sell the game to American audiences, including the likes of Romario, Dennis Bergkamp, Thomas Brolin, Gheorghe Hagi, Jürgen Klinsmann and Hristo Stoichkov.
Maradona also joined the party, though his fairytale comeback for Argentina was cut short in the group stage after he tested positive for a banned drug – just days after scoring a wondergoal against Greece – and was promptly banished from the tournament. A more sinister tragedy struck days later when Colombian captain Andrés Escobar was gunned down on his return to Medellin, after scoring an own goal while playing the US hosts.
On the pitches, however, there were plenty of compelling sights, including the five goals Russia’s Oleg Salenko scored in a single game against Cameroon – a record that still stands. The home side also earned their stripes, narrowly losing 1-0 to the future champions in what Brazil captain Carlos Dunga later called “probably the hardest game” the Selecao played in the entire tournament.
In truth, the Brazilians had a lot of hard games, relying on a sturdy defence and the attacking flair of Romario and Bebeto to overcome Bergkamp’s flying Dutch (3-2) and surprise package Sweden (1-0) enroute to the final, where Italy lay in wait.
The Azzurri had also laboured their way to Pasadena, with Baggio scoring five of their six goals in the knockout round as they battled past Nigeria, Spain and then Bulgaria – each time winning by a single goal, just like Brazil. Neither side was able to score in the final, with the tournament’s two best defences pushing the contest to the first penalty shootout in the history of World Cup finals.
Romario duly scored his penalty and would go on to be named player of the tournament. But Baggio’s miss is the one everyone remembers.
Italy were already in a tight spot when the “Divin Codino” (Divine Ponytail) walked up to take his fateful penalty, having carried the Azzurri to the final with his guile and genius. Both Baresi and Massaro had missed, meaning Brazil could still have won with their last kick even if Baggio scored. But his shot into the sky has come to embody Italy’s defeat – and with it the sheer injustice of the game.
Marcus Rashford enjoyed a scoring cameo from the bench as England beat Croatia, and the future of the forward is under scrutiny following a year on loan at Barcelona
England’s World Cup win against Croatia gave the Spanish media plenty to chew on when it came to Marcus Rashford and Anthony Gordon. Barcelona had Rashford on loan from Manchester United last season but opted to let their option for a permanent move expire after spending big on his Three Lions team-mate Gordon.
The pair had a mixed start to their respective World Cup campaigns. Gordon started against Croatia but failed to fully leave his mark on the game, while Rashford impressed in a cameo from the bench and scored a late clincher in a 4-2 victory.
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This didn’t escape the attention of newspapers across Spain. If there weren’t already questions about whether Barca signed the right Englishman, there are now.
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After the Catalan club’s decision, Manchester United could find themselves in line for more money or a chance to get the best out of their player this season. Here’s what the Spanish media said.
Sport
Sport pointed out that Rashford’s fine start was in contrast to most of the Barcelona players at this summer’s World Cup. “The Manchester United loanee was the only Barcelona player to make a difference, scoring a goal to seal a 4-2 victory for England against Croatia,” they wrote.
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Elsewhere there were some positive signs from Frenkie de Jong for the Netherlands while Sport didn’t criticise Gordon for his part in England’s win but there was a sense of their being more to come from the Barca contingent. “Although none of them lost in their World Cup debut, the first day was not brilliant for Hansi Flick’s boys, who will be looking to increase their prominence in the second round,” they added.
MisterChip
Stats-led account MisterChip pointed out quite how momentous an occasion Wednesday night was. “He becomes the first FC Barcelona player to score in the 2026 World Cup. He is also the FIRST Barca player to score for England in the entire history of the World Cup,” they wrote of Rashford.
A number of comments questioned the post, suggesting Rashford was a Barcelona player in name only after the failure to exercise the clause. For those wondering, by the way, Gary Lineker joined Barcelona in the 1986 close-season but didn’t play for the club until after his World Cup goals for England, perhaps explaining the wording of the post.
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AS
There was a closer comparison between Gordon and Rashford in AS’ write-up. “[The situation] allowed Tuchel to rotate: Gordon, who was ineffective, was out; Rashford came in,” the report said.
“The new Barcelona signing didn’t stand out, neither for better nor for worse. He still has time for that. In his debut, with so many eyes on him, he couldn’t show his full potential. Not so [Rashford]. From a Saka pass, and with two cuts in the box, he finished the game with the fourth and final goal.”
The same publication was particularly glowing in its assessment of another Spain-based star, Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham. “The heir becomes king” was their headline, pointing to the way Bellingham outshone former Madrid star Luka Modric on the night.
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Manchester United have launched their new home kit for the 2026/27 season, inspired by the club’s heritage and featuring a classic polo collar with iconic adidas details.
Major League Cricket (MLC) captains ahead of the fourth season. (Instagram)
New Delhi: Major League Cricket (MLC) returns for its fourth season on June 18 with Texas Super Kings taking on Seattle Orcas at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, Texas. It will be the venue for the first seven games of the 34-match competition before it moves to the Oakland Coliseum in California and the Knight Riders Cricket Field in Pomona, California.The Knight Riders Cricket Field is one of the two biggest ‘what’s new’ elements to MLC 2026. It will act as the home base of the LA Knight Riders franchise, allocated seven matches in total. After its christening during the MLC, its capacity will be expanded for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. With LAKR taking on Washington Freedom on July 1, it will be a big moment for cricket in the USA. It will be the first time Los Angeles will host a top-level cricket match.“Bringing Major League Cricket to Los Angeles is a huge milestone for our league and for the growth of cricket across the United States,” said Johnny Grave, CEO of MLC about a week’s cricket festivities in southern California.“The Pomona Fairgrounds will be the future home of Olympic cricket in 2028, and we’re thrilled to give fans in Southern California their first taste of the sport at this well-known venue that is home to the LA County Fair.”
LA Knight Riders will play their home games at the newly established Knight Riders Cricket Ground at the Pomona Fairplex in Pomona, California. (File photo/AP)
The second ‘what’s new’ for MLC 2026 is R Ashwin who will play for the San Francisco Unicorns.The 39-year-old is poised to become the first ex-India international to play in the MLC. It will also be the spinner’s first appearance in a foreign league. He was signed up to play in the Big Bash League but an untimely injury took that opportunity away from him.Now, he is set to dazzle at the Oakland Coliseum, the home base of the Unicorns. It will be his first competitive fixture since playing in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) in July 2025.“When I was interested in playing outside of India, when I retired, Anand (Rajaraman) and Venky (Harinarayan) [team co-owners] were the first people to reach out. They were very excited about me getting here,” said Ashwin in a video posted by the franchise. “I’m mostly excited because this is not one country where you play a lot of cricket. Even though I have played for a couple of decades, didn’t really get a chance to come around and experience America. I was here a couple of months ago. I played a bit of an exhibition game in the same venue. It’s very different, even for me. Even though I have played cricket for a long time, to get in, blend in with these people… Look forward to it,” he added.Elsewhere, the veterans and familiar faces return. Steve Smith, who led the Freedom to the title in 2024, is back and takes over the leadership duties from Glenn Maxwell. Jason Holder, Nicholas Pooran, Faf du Plessis and Matt Short have all been retained as captains by LA Knight Riders, defending champions MI New York, Texas Super Kings and Unicorns, respectively.Seattle Orcas, meanwhile, have decided to switch things around after missing the playoffs for two straight seasons, including just three wins in 10 matches last time around. Marcus Stoinis will lead the team in the upcoming season with Adam Voges coming in as the coach.
Steve Smith (Washington Freedom), Faf du Plessis (Texas Super Kings), Jason Holder (LA Knight Riders), Nicholas Pooran (MI New York), Matt Short (San Francisco Unicorns), Marcus Stoinis (Seattle Orcas) will lead their respective teams in MLC 2026. (Instagram)
Defending champions MI New York are once again top contenders if their squad is any indication. Besides skipper Pooran, who did have a horrid season with the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL, the two-time champions have Kieron Pollard, Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, Trent Boult, Corbin Bosch, Romario Shepherd, Allah Ghazanfar and Corey Anderson in their midst.Pollard is on the cusp of glory and milestones in MLC 2026. The 39-year-old needs just 81 runs to eclipse Chris Gayle as the all-time highest scorer in T20s. Alex Hales, part of the LAKR, is 33 runs adrift of Pollard.As with most T20 leagues, there’s the question mark over player availability as competitions clash. But MLC finds itself in a largely favourable position with the Hundred not starting until later. The T20 Blast in England does overlap, as does Lanka Premier League at the fag end with EUT20 Belgium closing out just as the MLC begins.
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MLC 2026 will begin with Texas Super Kings vs Seattle Orcas at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, Texas. (Instagram)
These arrangements could change plans for AM Ghazanfar (MINY), Romario Shepherd (MINY), Mark Chapman (Freedom), Nikhil Chaudhary (Freedom), Rachin Ravindra (Freedom), Xavier Bartlett (Unicorns), Aaron Hardie (Unicorns), Peter Siddle (Unicorns) and Shimron Hetmyer (Orcas) among others.
Jun 17, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; San Francisco Giants designated hitter Bryce Eldridge (8) celebrates a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the second inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images
Luis Arraez homered and drove in four runs and Carson Whisenhunt tossed five solid innings in his season debut on Wednesday to help the visiting San Francisco Giants post a 7-5 victory over the Atlanta Braves.
Whisenhunt (1-0) allowed two runs on six hits while striking out two and walking two after being called up from Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday morning. Willy Adames and Bryce Eldridge hit solo home runs for the Giants, who won 7-2 in the completion of a suspended game earlier in the day and won their third straight overall.
J.R. Ritchie (1-2) threw five innings of five-hit, five-run ball, striking out four and walking three for the scuffling Braves, who dropped their sixth game in seven tries. Carlos Carrasco allowed two runs across four innings in relief.
After Arraez began the first inning with a walk, Rafael Devers drove in the Giants’ first run with a two-out double.
Atlanta threatened in the bottom of the first, as Mauricio Dubon began the frame with a walk and Ozzie Albies laced a two-out single. After Whisenhunt’s wild pitch advanced both runners, Austin Riley’s fly out to center ended the inning.
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Adames began the second with his 13th homer of the season to double the Giants’ lead. Four batters later, Arraez connected on a two-run shot to give the visitors a 4-0 lead.
San Francisco continued the onslaught as Eldridge launched another homer to push the margin to five.
In the sixth, Matt Olson, Albies and Riley each singled to cut the Braves’ deficit to 5-1.
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JT Brubaker then relieved Whisenhunt. Two batters later, Dominic Smith’s sacrifice fly made it 5-2.
Olson singled off Sam Hentges to begin the eighth. Ryan Walker then entered in relief and struck out Albies. Riley singled to bring the tying run to the plate.
From there, Eli White flied out and Rowdy Tellez struck out to leave the margin at three.
Casey Schmitt singled and Drew Gilbert was hit by a pitch in the ninth. Two batters later, Arraez drove in both runners with a single to give the Giants a 7-2 lead.
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In the bottom of the ninth, Matt Gage allowed Jair Camargo’s one-out double and Dubon’s two-run homer, pulling the Braves within three. After Drake Baldwin and Olson both singled, Gage was replaced by Tristan Beck.
A wild pitch then cut the Giants lead to two, but Beck retired Albies and got Riley to strike out to end the game.
Canada will face Qatar in their next 2026 World Cup match tonight. The World Cup co-hosts tied up their first match 1-1 against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar did the same with Switzerland. Now, the two Group B teams will face off for their second game of the World Cup. The Canada vs. Qatar game will air at 6 p.m. ET on FS1. (and Telemundo).
Here’s everything you need to know about watching the Canada vs. Qatar match at the 2026 World Cup live from the U.S. (Plus, find out how you can catch every other game of the tournament).
Canada’s next 2026 World Cup game kicks off at 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 18, 2026.
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Canada vs. Qatar channel:
FS1 will be broadcasting the Canada vs. Qatar World Cup game in English. A Spanish-language broadcast of the game will air on Telemundo.
Where to watch the 2026 World Cup without cable:
YouTube TV
YouTube TV gets you all the channels you need to watch the 2026 World Cup, including Fox, FS1, Universo, and Telemundo.
Right now, you can get a great deal on YouTube TV: $67.99/month for your first 5 months, then $82.99/month thereafter, and you can try it all for free for 10 days.
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One thing to note: YouTube TV livestreams tend to run a slight delay, which isn’t ideal if you’re trying to keep up with the live game down to the exact second.
FOX
FOX One is a relatively new streaming service from FOX that launched last summer. With a subscription to FOX One, you can tune in to all your favorite FOX channels like FOX News, FOX Sports, FOX Weather, FS1, FS2, FOX Business, FOX Deportes, Big Ten Network (B1G), and local FOX stations all in one place.
FOX One offers live programming, as well as shows and movies on demand. At launch, the base price for FOX One will cost $19.99 a month, or you can save with an annual subscription for $199.99, but before you commit to a subscription, you can try it free for 7 days, which means you can catch at least a few World Cup games for nothing.
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Peacock
For $11/month, an ad-supported Peacock subscription lets you stream live sports and events airing on NBC, including Spanish-language broadcasts of every 2026 World Cup game. Plus, you’ll get access to thousands of hours of shows and movies, including beloved sitcoms such as Parks and Recreation and The Office, every Bravo show,and much more.
For $17/month, you can upgrade to an ad-free subscription, which includes live access to your local NBC affiliate (not just during designated sports and events) and the ability to download select titles to watch offline.
The Brendan Sorsby saga at Texas Tech ends with the Red Raiders eventually caving to public pressure from the Big 12 and the college football community.
What will the relationship be like going forward?
On today’s episode of Locked On College Football, I discuss the hiring of the new athletic director at Kentucky.
Does the move raise the pressure level on new HC Will Stein to win?
Tulane compiled the clearly #1 G6 resume last year en route to the Playoff.
Do they have the roster capable of actually pushing for that position again in 2026, or will they regress?
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00:00 Federal and NCAA investigation details 05:08 Discussing Will Hammond’s injury 07:14 Discussion on McGuire and mental health 13:58 Coach and athletic director alignment 19:27 Will Stein’s coaching prospects 23:14 Skepticism about Tulane’s prospects 25:36 Coaching changes and key departures 28:26 Discussing first-year head coaches
A WWE star recently fell off the top rope in a scary bitch during a singles match. The incident raised a lot of concern at ringside regarding a potential injury to the star. The person in question is none other than EVOLVE’s Anya Rune who has gathered a lot of attention over the last few months due to her Anime-inspired gimmick.
The Stamford-based company has been trying to build their next generation of stars organically under their own developmental promotions. With the acquisition of EVOLVE, the company has been trying to create new stars by scouting young college talent and repackaging them with modern gimmicks. The Japanese anime culture has been on the rise globally over the last few years and WWE decided to capitalise on this.
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Anya Rune made her EVOLVE debut as the Anime Girl back in March in a Fatal 4-Way Qualifying match for the EVOLVE Women’s Championship. While she failed to win the match, she continues to appear on the show spontaneously. She recently faced Zena Sterling in a singles match on the show where she tried to attempt a move from the top rope. However, she wasn’t able to hit the move as she slipped from the top rope.
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The Anime Girl decided to give it another shot but failed again. Sterling hit her with a Sideslam to pick up the win in the match. People at ringside and commentary were concerned about Rune and were hoping she hadn’t injured herself. Before taking her first leap from the top rope, the Anime Girl said this:
“In the name of UWU, this anime girl is going to FLY.”
A lot of people criticised the gimmick when it debuted and are now even more concerned about Anya Rune’s in-ring performance. Fans are curious to see what is next for her in WWE.
A lot of WWE stars have been getting injured lately
While WWE has been getting a lot of momentum following WrestleMania, a lot of their stars are on the shelf due to injury. The list includes major names like Kevin Owens, Randy Orton, Bronson Reed and Logan Paul. Owens has been away from in-ring competition ever since he suffered a neck injury last year and had to miss WrestleMania.
Orton suffered a back injury during his match against Cody Rhodes in the main event of WrestleMania 42 Saturday. Bronson Reed got injured earlier in the year during a match on WWE RAW. Logan Paul tore his tricep a few weeks ago at Saturday Night’s Main Event during a tag team title defense against the Street Profits.
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Fans across the world are hoping that all these WWE stars get healed and make their return to the squared circle soon.
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ENG vs NZ Day 2 LIVE: New Zealand will begin Day 2 of the second Test at The Oval in a strong position on 291/7, with Glenn Phillips and Kyle Jamieson tasked with extending the innings against an inexperienced England attack and pushing the total beyond the 350-run mark.
After interim captain Joe Root elected to bowl first, a delayed start due to a wet outfield did little to disrupt New Zealand’s batting rhythm. The visitors were built around valuable contributions from Tom Blundell (51), Daryl Mitchell (44) and Rachin Ravindra (33), all of whom helped lay a solid foundation.
However, England found a way back into the contest through an unlikely source. Part-time spinner Jacob Bethell produced a crucial spell late in the day, claiming 2 wickets for just 8 runs in five overs to trigger a mini-collapse and prevent New Zealand from taking complete control.
Heading into Day 2, the focus will be on the unbeaten Glenn Phillips (49*), who is one run away from a half-century, and Kyle Jamieson (6*). If the pair can negotiate the opening session and frustrate England’s bowlers, New Zealand will fancy their chances of posting a first-innings total in excess of 350.
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England, meanwhile, are fielding a significantly reshaped side following the suspensions of regular captain Ben Stokes and pace spearhead Gus Atkinson. The hosts handed debuts to three players, including seamer Sonny Baker, who impressed with figures of 2/63 on the opening day, and wicketkeeper James Rew.
With the moisture expected to disappear as the match progresses, The Oval surface is likely to become increasingly batting-friendly. That could encourage England’s revamped top order, featuring debutant Emilio Gay alongside the attacking Ben Duckett, to adopt a positive approach when their turn with the bat arrives.
Campbelltown Sports Stadium will play host to Saturday’s
Round 16 NRL game between Wests Tigers and
Dolphins. The game kicks off at 3:00 pm with Dolphins heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Wests Tigers vs.
Dolphins
game and give you our free tips and bets.
The Dolphins will look to continue their surge up the ladder when they travel to Campbelltown to face a Wests Tigers side still searching for defensive consistency. After a slow start to the season, Kristian Woolf’s side has emerged as a genuine finals contender, with halfback Isaiya Katoa directing an attack that has become one of the competition’s most dangerous. The Dolphins have scored freely in recent weeks, while the Tigers have struggled to contain opposition attacks, conceding heavily during a difficult stretch of form. Whether or not Queensland representatives back up from Origin, the Dolphins appear well equipped to cover any absences thanks to the depth of their squad. For the Tigers, improving their defence will be crucial if they are to cause an upset on home soil.
The 2026 U.S. Open tees off on Thursday at 6:35 a.m. ET at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y. Rory McIlroy (Masters) and Aaron Rai (PGA Championship) were the year’s first two major winners, and they’re both in the 2026 U.S. Open field. J.J. Spaun is the defending U.S. Open champion, while Brooks Koepka won this event at 1 over the last time it was at Shinnecock Hills in 2018. Scottie Scheffler is the favorite in the 2026 U.S. Open odds via FanDuel Sportsbook at +550 as he attempts to complete the Career Grand Slam.
McIlroy is at +1200 to win his first U.S. Open in 15 years, following closely by Jon Rahm at +1300. Xander Schauffele is +1600, Tommy Fleetwood is +1800, Matt Fitzpatrick is +2000 and Cameron Young is +2200. Koepka (+4500), Spaun (+6000) and Rai (+6500) are longer shots. Before locking in any 2026 U.S. Open picks, be sure to see the 2026 U.S. Open predictions and projected leaderboard from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
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SportsLine’s proprietary model, built by DFS pro Mike McClure, simulated every PGA Tour event 10,000 times and reveals golf betting picks that have a history of being extremely profitable.
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This same model has also nailed a whopping 17 majors entering the weekend, including the 2026 Masters — its fifth Masters in a row — as well as last year’s PGA Championship and Open Championship. Anyone who has followed its sports betting picks could have seen massive returns on betting sites.
One major surprise the model is calling for at the U.S. Open 2026: Rahm, the third favorite at +1300, stumbles and finishes outside the top 5. He’s a golfer to fade in U.S. Open best bets. Rahm won the U.S. Open in 2021, but hasn’t finished better than T-7 at this event since that point. He finished T-2 at last month’s PGA Championship, but that’s the first top-five in a major he’s had since 2023, so the model doesn’t love him as a win contender this week. See who else to fade here.
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Another surprise: Cameron Young is a top-5 contender on the projected leaderboard despite never having won a major and having slightly longer odds at +2200. Young has two wins and six top-10 finishes this year, including a T-3 performance at the Masters. His strong driving metrics bode well for success at Shinnecock Hills, making him a golfer to back in 2026 U.S. Open win, top-5 bets and DFS lineups. See who else to pick here.
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Scottie Scheffler +550 Rory McIlroy +1200 Jon Rahm +1300 Xander Schauffele +1600 Tommy Fleetwood +1800 Matt Fitzpatrick +2000 Cameron Young +2200 Ludvig Åberg +2500 Russell Henley +3300 Si Woo Kim +3500 Bryson DeChambeau +3500 Collin Morikawa +4000 Chris Gotterup +4000 Patrick Reed +4000 Sam Burns +4000 Tyrrell Hatton +4000 Brooks Koepka +4500 Patrick Cantlay +5000 Viktor Hovland +5000 Justin Rose +5000 Justin Thomas +5000 Wyndham Clark +5000 Maverick McNealy +6000 Min Woo Lee +6000 Kurt Kitayama +6000 J.J. Spaun +6000 Aaron Rai +6500 Jordan Spieth +7000 Harris English +7000 Hideki Matsuyama +7000 Joaquin Niemann +7000 Shane Lowry +7000 Alex Fitzpatrick +8000 Robert MacIntyre +8000 Cameron Smith +8000 Ryan Gerard +8000 Adam Scott +8000 Kristoffer Reitan +8000 Ben Griffin +8000 Jake Knapp +10000 Jacob Bridgeman +10000 David Puig +10000 Gary Woodland +10000 Nicolai Højgaard +10000 Keegan Bradley +10000 Sepp Straka +10000 Alex Noren +10000 Bud Cauley +10000
England made a winning start to their World Cup campaign as they overpowered Croatia in a thriller in Dallas (4-2). Harry Kane scored twice, bringing him level with Gary Lineker on 10 World Cup goals.
Portugal were held to a disappointing draw by an impressive DR Congo side in their opening game of the World Cup (1-1). Ghana scored a 95th-minute winner to deny Panama their first World Cup point.
Elsewhere, for his return to competition, Tadej Pogacar grabbed the Tour de Suisse’s first stage with a 69km solo.
Tulane compiled the clearly #1 G6 resume last year en route to the Playoff. 
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