The international rugby action continues this weekend with six fascinating Tests, and the betting markets have already started to move.

There has been support for France, Ireland and Argentina, while punters have backed Fiji and Scotland to keep things closer than originally expected.

Here are our picks for every game.

🇳🇿 New Zealand v Italy

Pick: Italy +32.0

New Zealand were outstanding against a top-class French side, playing with pace and accuracy throughout. With another Test to come, some rotation is expected.

Italy, meanwhile, simply couldn’t have played much worse against Japan. Errors, knock-ons and poor discipline plagued their performance, but they should improve significantly.

The handicap has edged out to 32 points, making Italy slightly more attractive.

Prediction: New Zealand by 24-30.

🇦🇺 Australia v France

Pick: France -8.0

Australia will still be wondering how they let victory slip against Ireland, while France proved they can compete with the world’s best despite travelling without several frontline stars.

The market has moved from France -7.5 to -8.0, and it’s easy to see why. France look the more complete side and should create enough opportunities to pull away.

Prediction: France by 8-14.

🇯🇵 Japan v Ireland

Pick: Ireland -20.0

Japan deserved plenty of praise for their victory over Italy, but Ireland showed real character to edge Australia in a high-quality contest.

The handicap has shortened slightly from 20.5 to 20 points, giving Ireland backers a little more value.

Ireland’s superior power and squad depth should prove decisive during the final quarter.

Prediction: Ireland by 24-28.

🇫🇯 Fiji v England

Pick: Over 63.5 Points

Neither side produced their best last weekend.

Fiji were disappointing against Wales, while England were completely outclassed by South Africa.

The handicap has dropped from England -20.5 to -19.0, suggesting support for Fiji, but the total points market is far more appealing. Both teams are capable of scoring from anywhere, making this one of the best games of the weekend for entertainment.

Prediction: A high-scoring encounter with plenty of tries.

🇿🇦 South Africa v Scotland

Pick: No Bet

South Africa looked every bit the world champions as they piled 45 points on England.

Scotland impressed against Argentina and have attracted enough support to see the handicap trimmed to 22 points.

The line now looks about right, making this a game to enjoy rather than force a bet.

Prediction: South Africa by 21-28.

🇦🇷 Argentina v Wales ⭐

Best Bet: Argentina -17.0

Argentina were surprisingly subdued against Scotland, managing just three line breaks all game. Expect a much sharper performance on home soil.

Wales were impressive in beating Fiji, but this is a far tougher assignment. The market has continued to back the Pumas, with the handicap moving from 16.5 to 17 points.

Argentina have too much quality to produce back-to-back below-par displays.

Prediction: Argentina by 18-24.

SportsNewsIRELAND’s Best Bets

⭐ Argentina -17.0
✅ France -8.0
✅ Ireland -20.0
🎯 Italy +32.0 (Value)
🔥 Over 63.5 Points – Fiji v England

LiveScores Now Available at IrishScores.com

Cristiano Ronaldo’s FIFA World Cup journey came to a painful end after Portugal suffered a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the Round of 16.

The defeat means the 41-year-old will retire from the World Cup without winning football’s biggest prize, while his long-time rival, Lionel Messi, remains in the tournament.

Despite the fierce rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi over the past two decades, a touching moment involving their partners has reminded football fans that respect exists beyond the pitch.

Antonela Roccuzzo, Messi’s wife, recently shared an Instagram Story thanking Georgina Rodríguez for sending her a thoughtful gift.

The package included workout clothing, a bag and what appeared to be a yoga mat from Mimoa, the fashion and fitness brand founded by Georgina.

Sharing a photo of the gifts, Antonela wrote in Spanish:

“Thank you very much, Georgina. Everything is beautiful. I wish you all the success in the world.”

Her message quickly attracted attention, with many football fans praising the friendship between the two women despite the intense rivalry between their famous partners.

For years, supporters of Ronaldo and Messi have argued over which player deserves to be called the greatest of all time. The debate has often divided football fans around the world.

However, the warm exchange between Antonela and Georgina showed that mutual respect can exist even when competition is at its highest.

The timing of the gesture also drew attention, coming shortly before Portugal’s World Cup exit at the hands of Spain.

While Ronaldo’s dream of lifting the World Cup trophy has now come to an end, the bond between his fiancée and Messi’s wife has offered fans a positive reminder that football rivalries do not have to become personal.

As Portugal leave the tournament, Messi continues his quest for another World Cup success, while the friendship between Antonela Roccuzzo and Georgina Rodríguez stands out as a symbol of respect beyond one of football’s greatest rivalries.

Nigerians are one of the most passionate football fanbases in the world.

Drums, trumpets, dancing, and of course, the famous “Walele” anthem are synonymous with the Super Eagles supporters. They are a spectacle to see and experience, which makes their absence at the 2026 World Cup (and the 2022 before it) all the more painful. 

Simply put, the world stage was robbed of one of the best supporter sections in the world. Or maybe the other way around. Nigeria missed out on a golden opportunity to showcase itself to the world. 

That’s why we wanted to rank (in no specific order) which fans have made a name for themselves the most during the 2026 World Cup across the three hosting countries. Let’s get into some of the fun fans brought to the biggest stage in sports in 2026.

Mexico

Mexico fans were already among the most die-hard in the world despite the team not being the most successful (top-reviewed BetOnline says Mexico are distant World Cup favorites). Giving them tournament hosting duties in 2026 only amplified them. Big time. 

This was not just Mexicans showing up for El Tri games (that’s a given). What made Mexicans fans stand out is how they turned the whole tournament into a month-long national party (that’s still going).

Not just when the national team won — which they did three times in the group stage and once in the knockouts  — but for the tourney and other teams in general. For instance, social media was flooded with South Koreans partying among the Mexicans. So too were the Japanese. Colombians. All fans were embraced by the Mexicans.

Heck, we saw the same for the playing teams. Almost all of them received a mariachi and sombreros upon entering the country. Maybe we missed it, but greetings of this kind were non-existent in Canada and the USA, but hey, we digress! 

Japan’s football team received a warm welcome from Mexico fans and organizers, including free sombreros and mariachi entrance music. 

But going back to the actual Mexico national team, upon their four wins, the local fans occupied the local streets. In Mexico City, we saw over 100,000 flood the downtown area around El Angel statue. Words don’t do it justice, but the drone video that was posted online shows the magnitude of the celebration. 

Mexico already had a firm reputation among football fans, but it’s somehow been strengthened even more after 2026. 

Netherlands

The Netherlands may not have the loudest fan base in the world, but they might have the easiest one to spot from a distance. Of course, we’re talking about that orange wall. 

You best see this during the famed  Oranje Fanwalk. Thousands and thousands of Dutch fans marching together in orange, singing, dancing, bouncing — for miles toward the stadium. Mind you, they did this for one game in Houston despite humid, suffocating weather that Texas is famous for in the summer. Talk about commitment! 

That’s what separates the Dutch from a lot of other fan bases. Some countries bring noise. Some bring numbers. Some bring color. The Netherlands brings all three, and then some!

Scotland 

Scotland may not have had the longest tournament (they were eliminated in the group stage), but the Tartan Army took over the two cities it played in. 

The first was the city of Boston. To the shock (at first), Bostonians were overtaken by thousands of Scottish fans in kilts and playing the bagpipe. They too, like the Netherlands, march to the stadium. But while in Boston, they also went to the famed Fenway Park and turned a baseball game into a frenzy. 

That’s only the tip of the iceberg — or traffic cone, should we say. The Tartan Army is famous for jokingly putting street traffic cones on public monuments, and that they did in Boston. 

The Scots also reportedly drank the city dry of beer. Yes, really. Sam Adams said it’s Boston Lager went empty when the Tartan Army was in town. The company also said its beer was drunk four times as much as it usually is in bars where it’s stocked at. 

That was not its only contribution to the local people though. In their usual tradition, the Tartan Army also donated nearly $30,000 to local kids’ charities in the area.

Now the Tartan Army did similar things in Miami, but it just had a special connection with the city of Boston. So much so that the Tartan Army ran a full-page ad in the local newspaper thanking the city for hosting them. Talk about a romance. 

Argentina

Are Argentina fans the best traveling supporters in the world?

Just based on the eye test, it sure feels like it. Every single game they play, the Argentines take over the stadium. You can tell by not just the sea of blue and white jerseys, but their singing chants all game long. 

That was obvious during the group stage. Argentina opened in Kansas City, then played in Dallas, and fans still followed them city to city like they’re The Beatles (maybe bigger nowadays). Some supporters reportedly shelled out tens of thousands of dollars — a small fortune to the average Argentine worker — to follow the defending champions around the United States. 

To save money, one group of fans allegedly drove 20 hours to Kansas City for the opener against Algeria, living off sandwiches along the way just to save money. And that is before we even get to the cyclists. Three Argentina fans reportedly biked nearly 11,000 miles from Argentina to Kansas City just to watch their national team at the World Cup. Eleven thousand miles!

This is fandom on another level. Of course, it helps when your team is reigning champions and led by Leo Messi, in what might be his final World Cup. That has made every Argentina match feel like part soccer game, part farewell tour, part religious event.

After writing all this, we just hope we get to see the Super Eagles in 2030. The world deserves to see our fanbase in the same light as these four mentioned.

The Minnesota Vikings needed a quarterback to hedge the bet against J.J. McCarthy’s out-of-nowhere injury resume, landing on Kyler Murray, who was booted off the Arizona Cardinals‘ roster, in March for $1.3 million. Because of that value — it’s quite incredible — Bleacher Report has decided that Minnesota gets an ‘A’ offseason grade for the transaction.

Vikings fans are excited to see Murray’s debut in September, and in the meantime, the move is drawing stellar reviews.

Murray Move Gives Vikings Offseason a National Dub

BR: Murray to Vikings Gets an ‘A’

Moe Moton of Bleacher Report handed out a few ‘A’ grades this week, and Murray was among the recipients.

He wrote, “Murray is a two-time Pro Bowler and former No. 1 overall pick with respectable passing numbers. He’s thrown for 20,460 yards, 121 touchdowns and 60 interceptions with a 67.1 percent completion rate in seven seasons.”

“The 28-year-old could be a Comeback Player of the Year candidate. Despite inconsistent quarterback play, the Vikings barely missed the 2025 postseason, finishing 9-8 behind the 9-7-1 Green Bay Packers. Murray doesn’t need a Sam Darnold rebirth-type season to lead Minnesota to the playoffs. If he stays healthy and gets the ball to wide receivers Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings, the Vikings’ passing attack should be far better than last year’s 29th-ranked unit.”

Other passers like Malik Willis and Mac Jones frequented the Vikings’ February and March rumor mill, but Murray ultimately took the plunge.

“Furthermore, the Vikings’ low-risk, high-reward signing at quarterback gives them a chance to re-evaluate their plan for J.J. McCarthy after he struggled mightily last season, throwing for 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions with a 57.6 percent completion rate, Moton added.”

“Keep in mind, they fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who drafted McCarthy, and hired Nolan Tinsley to replace him. Murray could revitalize his career in a new chapter with the Vikings. Grade: A.”

Every Team Should’ve Signed Murray at That Price

Not only is Murray a wonderful value for the Vikings, every team in the league, including squads with elite passers like Josh Allen and Joe Burrow, should’ve called Murray in March. To find a starting quarterback — who produces 3,900+ passing yards, 30 total TDS, and 600+ rushing yards every 17 starts — for $1.3 million is just absurd and mind-boggling.

How’d it happen? Simple — the Cardinals cut ties, only to turn around and pay Murray’s tab for 2026. You can’t offload a big NFL contract before its expiration without consequences. So, the price of a fresh start for Arizona was indeed paying Murray to play for the Vikings.

Even if Murray completely flops — plays terribly or blows out a knee, for example — he was worth the price to find out at $1.3 million.

Extreme QB Depth

The Vikings’ intense focus on quarterback depth this offseason is a logical response to recent history.

Minnesota has experienced two seasons derailed by quarterback injuries. The 2023 campaign took a nosedive the moment Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles. Then the 2025 season became chaotic as J.J. McCarthy sustained repeated injuries. By the end of it, the Vikings had learned their lesson twice over. Their message was clear: “Enough is enough.”

So, the 2026 offseason prompted them to aggressively acquire multiple viable quarterback options. The roster now features Murray and McCarthy. Carson Wentz is on hand as backup, and Max Brosmer can develop without intense pressure.

Murray, naturally, is the showstopper. If he remains healthy for all 17 games, Minnesota can realistically harbor playoff aspirations, as Kevin O’Connell typically thrives with an experienced quarterback. The primary concern, however, is Murray’s history of missing games. His availability has been an ongoing issue for years, and it would be imprudent to ignore that trend.

And if Murray is sidelined in 2026, Minnesota will not be caught off guard or forced to scramble for a last-minute replacement (see: Joshua Dobbs in 2023). McCarthy is poised to step in as a formidable Plan B, a role for which he has every incentive to excel, given his high potential.

Other Offseason Additions and Subtractions

The Jonathan Greenard trade was pivotal — and not entirely ideal. In April, Minnesota sent Greenard and a 7th-round pick to Philadelphia in exchange for two 3rd-rounders. The move not only acquired additional draft capital but also created space for Jauan Jennings, securing a legitimate WR3 for the Vikings and providing crucial salary cap relief in 2027 and 2028.

Given the Vikings’ need to reconstruct much of their roster on a tighter budget, they still faced numerous remaining needs.

Their free-agent acquisitions included:

• Johnny Hekker (P)
• Jauan Jennings (WR)
• Eric Johnson (DT)
• Isaiahh Loudermilk (DT)
• Kyler Murray (QB)
• James Pierre (CB)
• Ryan Van Demark (OT)

And from the draft, they grabbed:

Here’s the wild part about this offseason: it really seemed like Minnesota was strapped for cash, and in some ways, they were. But somehow, they still managed to bring in a starting quarterback, a new WR3, and a ton of young help for the defensive line.

And per Bleacher Report, the Murray addition takes the grand prize.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

Kylian Mbappe, and Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla (AP Photos)

Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla has escalated her bitter feud with France captain Kylian Mbappe, launching a fresh verbal attack on the World Cup winner and refusing to apologise for the racist remarks that have sparked widespread international condemnation.The Paraguay opposition lawmaker, who earlier described Mbappe as a “colonised Cameroonian,” has now branded the Real Madrid forward a “son of a b***,” accusing him of disrespecting Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill after France’s 1-0 victory in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16.The controversy has become one of the biggest off-field talking points of the tournament, with Mbappe, French authorities, FIFA officials and the United Nations all weighing in as the war of words intensified ahead of France’s quarter-final clash against Morocco.

Amarilla doubles down on explosive accusations

Speaking on the Senate floor, Amarilla showed no signs of retreating from her earlier remarks, insisting that Mbappe deserved criticism for allegedly refusing to shake Gill’s hand after the final whistle.“When Orlando Gill, a boy who was surely setting foot in a World Cup for the first time, in Europe for the first time, was playing before the world and extends his hand with all the humility of a Paraguayan, and this son of a b*** refuses to shake his hand and yells in his face, that is not French. A Frenchman would never have done that,” Amarilla was quoted as saying by Marca.The senator then contrasted Mbappe’s alleged behaviour with what she described as France’s cultural legacy.“France is Rousseau, Descartes, Montesquieu, Victor Hugo, Simone de Beauvoir, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. I refuse to reduce all that great France and that enormous cultural, artistic and democratic legacy to Mbappe,” she said.Amarilla also mocked the French superstar while referring to an open letter she had written in both French and Spanish.“What would I say to Mbappe now? That he should read my letter. I wrote it in French and in Spanish. Let him read my letter, if he knows how to read.”She further warned the striker not to “mess with Paraguayans,” invoking the 2020 detention of Brazilian great Ronaldinho in Paraguay before threatening legal action against Mbappe over what she described as gender and political violence.Meanwhile, Paraguayan President Santiago Pena distanced himself from the senator’s comments, reiterating that his government opposes “all kinds of discrimination” and remains committed to defending human rights and free expression.

How the Mbappe-Amarilla feud spiralled

The public clash began after France eliminated Paraguay 1-0 in the Round of 16.Soon after the match, Amarilla sparked outrage by calling Mbappe a “colonised Cameroonian” who was “pretending to be French,” while also describing him as “embittered, nouveau riche, arrogant and ugly.” She further claimed France had won “by a fluke” and alleged that Mbappe and his teammates looked nervous throughout the contest.Mbappe hit back on social media, branding Amarilla “a despicable woman” who was “not worthy of her position,” prompting the senator to intensify her rhetoric rather than apologise.The French Football Federation, French President Emmanuel Macron and FIFA President Gianni Infantino all condemned Amarilla’s original remarks, while the United Nations Human Rights Office described them as “racist and dehumanising,” urging governments, sports bodies and public officials to take stronger action against racism and hate speech in sport.

‘Kylian is in a good place mentally’

Despite the growing controversy, France coach Didier Deschamps insisted the issue has not affected his captain ahead of the quarter-finals.“Kylian is in a good place mentally. He’s ready for tomorrow,” Deschamps said, making it clear that Mbappe remains focused on France’s quest for another World Cup title despite the storm raging away from the pitch.

A popular yet controversial AEW star put an end to a huge ongoing speculation by confirming that he has re-signed with the promotion.

The aforementioned star is the former National Champion, Jungle Boy Jack Perry. He has been part of the Jacksonville-based promotion since the very beginning and has been considered one of the four pillars of All Elite Wrestling. Furthermore, Perry has achieved tag team success with his partner, Luchasaurus, and even had major singles success, winning the TNT and National titles. At the same time, he had been involved in multiple controversial incidents, most famously his real-life brawl with CM Punk in 2023.

On the other hand, there has been significant speculation over the last few weeks about his current contract, which was reported to be set to expire soon. Moreover, the latest update had stated that Perry had still not signed a new deal, and his existing one was set to expire very shortly.

Jack Perry has re-signed with AEW

However, the former TNT Champion appeared in a vignette on the July 8 episode of Dynamite: Beach Break to put all rumors to rest. He was seen traveling in a car while reflecting on his entire run with the company. Luchasaurus also appeared and spoke highly of his partner, while Jack Perry made it clear that he wanted to be the World Champion and that the company is where the future of professional wrestling belongs.

As the vignette approached the end, Perry reached his destination and met Tony Khan, following which he put pen to paper and announced that he had re-signed with All Elite Wrestling.

I want to be the best, I want AEW World Champion. It’s not enough to be here, I want to be the very best. AEW is where the future of professional wrestling is going to be decided. This is the place where I want to be the champion cuz there is where the very Best in the World belong and that’s why I am re-signing with AEW.

With Jack Perry deciding to stay with All Elite Wrestling, it will be interesting to see this fresh chapter of his career unfold.