Potential structural changes: The stakeholders are exploring options to divest either part or all of their financial holdings in the club. While the talks originally began with individual members looking to sell their personal stakes, the scope has expanded to broader family discussions.
Two decades of friction:The Glazer family has controlled the English Premier League club for more than 20 years. However, their lengthy tenure has been frequently disrupted and heavily criticised due to persistent fan protests.
No Qatari revival: Despite renewed rumours of the Glazers considering an exit, the Qatari consortium led by Sheikh Jassim is highly unlikely to return with a new bid. The group currently has no desire to get involved with the club again.
Past rejections endure:Sheikh Jassim previously pulled out of a massive multi-billion-pound bidding war for the club after negotiations stalled. Because those previous proposals were rejected or collapsed, the group is not planning a comeback.
Lack of communication: Sources indicate that there has been absolutely no contact between the Qatari group and Manchester United officials, either formally or informally. The lines of communication regarding a potential takeover remain completely cold.
Club official denial: Senior executives within Manchester United have played down the drama surrounding the ownership updates. These high-ranking officials have actively dismissed claims that the Glazers are aggressively exploring a full sale of the team.
Current leadership stays: The club is currently operating under its existing leadership structure, which includes minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe managing football operations. There are no immediate signs that a massive state-backed buyout is on the horizon despite the internal family debates.
“Need: The losses of Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane left USC with a thin, inexperienced but talented receiver group entering 2026. Adding Anderson via NC State provides both talent and experience, giving the Trojans a reliable, highly skilled veteran presence to help stabilize the room and support quarterback Jayden Maiava in Lincoln Riley’s offense. His versatility this fall will be just as coveted as his NFL level physical tools.
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“Value: Anderson adds size to the receiver room at 6-2 and 200 pounds. At NC State, he earned early playing time as a freshman and steadily increased his production, eventually becoming the Wolfpack’s leading receiver last season. His game is smooth and refined, and he is a polished route runner with an understanding of how to attack a defensive back’s leverage. He does an excellent job selling routes and manipulating defenders with angles in coverage. Anderson is also effective in contested situations, using body control and timing to win 50-50 balls.”
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USC has been great at producing one star receiver on an annual basis, but depth has not been a feature of USC receivers in recent years. Terrell Anderson needs to be part of a receiver room in which several quality players emerge, giving Jayden Maiava options and presenting more challenges to opposing defenses.
GIO Stadium will play host to Friday’s
Round 14 NRL game between Canberra Raiders and
Sydney Roosters. The game kicks off at 8:00 pm with Sydney Roosters heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Canberra Raiders vs.
Sydney Roosters
game and give you our free tips and bets.
The Canberra Raiders have an opportunity to build momentum when they host a Sydney Roosters outfit searching for answers after consecutive defeats. Last season’s minor premiers have endured an inconsistent campaign but produced one of their better performances of the year in a convincing win over North Queensland. The Roosters, meanwhile, have gone from six straight victories to back-to-back losses, managing just 16 points across their last two outings. Sam Walker’s influence looms large after his impressive Origin debut, while young Raiders halfback Ethan Sanders continues to gain valuable experience in a difficult role. Recent history points towards another tight encounter, with ten of the last 14 meetings decided by six points or fewer. Canberra has also won four of the last five clashes between the sides, setting the stage for another fiercely contested battle in the capital.
Nov 27, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10), Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons (1) and Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Warren Brinson (91) eat turkey after defeating the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
When the schedule comes out in May, fans immediately look at their Week 1 matchup. The Vikings will face their bordering rivals, the Green Bay Packers. Both teams split the series last year, though the Week 18 contest carried no weight.
Week 1, meanwhile, is set to be a massive bout, as the two franchises want to get off to a good start. Green Bay will be without one of its top guys. Micah Parsons, who tore his ACL in December, said that he’ll open the season on the PUP list, the Physically Unable to Perform list.
Kevin Patra, NFL.com, wrote, “Micah Parsons confirmed on Wednesday he won’t be on the field to open the Green Bay Packers’ 2026 season. The star pass rusher spoke to reporters at the team facility, revealing that, in addition to ACL surgery last year, he also underwent a meniscus procedure. Parsons made it clear that there is a strict nine-month rule, starting from the date of surgery, for his rehab, and he’s targeting a mid-October return.”
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Dec 14, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons (1) walks off the field with help from medical personnel following an injury during the third quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
A mid-October return would certainly cost him games against the Vikings, Jets, Falcons, and Buccaneers. Matchups against the Bears (10/11), Cowboys (10/19), or Lions (10/25) could be realistic return dates for the star defender, who cost Green Bay a pair of first-rounders last year.
Parsons said, “I think the goal has always just been not right now, but longevity with my career here. I think they want that approach. We have a pretty strong nine-month rule. It’s just all about, just through the research and the data, there’s no good outcomes with players coming back early from [an] ACL. Especially if you had other things that had to get fixed up, so it’s just all about completing the rehab to the best of our ability and then seeing where we’re at from there.”
T.J. Hockenson and Christian Darrisaw are two recent Vikings examples of players who couldn’t reach their past heights after ACL recoveries. Hockenson suffered his injury late in the 2023 season and played half of 2024 and the entire 2025 season, with limited success. Darrisaw’s injury occurred in October of 2024. After missing the first couple of games last year, he returned in Week 3 and was in and out of the lineup all year, while never appearing to be fully comfortable.
Nov 23, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons (1) during the third quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
It remains to be seen how quickly and how successful Parsons’ return is. Few players look as explosive as they did before the injury. Adrian Peterson remains an outlier in that department.
Parsons added, “Not only is it hard to accept that I’ma miss more time than what I want, but obviously hard to accept the injury. It constantly replays in my brain. … I haven’t accepted it yet, but I work hard as hell every day trying to make sure that I will be better when I come out of this.”
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He emphasized that his eyes are on the Super Bowl, not the beginning of the year: “The goal for me is to complete the season — not no relapse — and playoffs and pushing towards a championship. The goal isn’t for me to go out there and re-hurt myself trying to force myself to be back in the first few games. The goal has always been playoffs, and I think we’re all on the same page.”
Oct 31, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Micah Parsons (11) tackles Minnesota Vikings fullback C.J. Ham (30) at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports.
After the two-pick investment and the annual salary of $47 million, the Packers will undoubtedly be cautious with their franchise player, who’s one of the best the league has to offer. Minnesota has been on the wrong side of his talent a few times. Last year, he tabulated a couple of sacks against J.J. McCarthy. He collected four sacks in three wins over the Vikings in his career.
In his first campaign in Green Bay, the 26-year-old appeared in 14 games and registered 12.5 sacks, 41 tackles, and 12 tackles for loss. He possesses a premier combination of speed and power and has the versatility to line up all over the formation.
The Vikings’ rematch with the Packers is scheduled for Week 10, and the five-time Pro Bowler will presumably be back by then.
Mateus Fernandes is of transfer interest to Manchester United though West Ham are keen for him to stay for the 2026/27 season
11:10, 05 Jun 2026Updated 11:30, 05 Jun 2026
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West Ham want Manchester United transfer target Mateus Fernandes to stay for one more year as they aim to be promoted back to the Premier League at the first attempt. The 21-year-old is one of many midfield targets for Michael Carrick’s side as they prepare for Champions League football and life without Casemiro.
Atalanta star Ederson looks set to arrive at Old Trafford this month for roughly £38million while links to Fernandes, who could cost over double that, have ramped up recently. The Hammers do not look set to let him leave without a fight, however.
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According to The Athletic, West Ham are desperate to keep him at the London Stadium for at least one more year in the hopes of sealing an immediate return to the Premier League. The report adds that they want at least £80m to sell and have not yet received any approaches.
Alongside recruiting in midfield, signing a new left-winger is a possibility with United interested in Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye. Crysencio Summerville, who has been linked to Liverpool and Aston Villa, could become another option with West Ham expected to sell.
The east London club have, however, at least secured the future of one key staff member with Nuno Espirito Santo set to stay on as head coach next season.
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One potential Fernandes boost for United is that he departed Southampton after Premier League relegation 12 months ago which certainly suggests he has not intention of playing in the Championship.
His omission from Portugal’s World Cup squad is another positive as United would be able to wrap up a deal early into the summer window.
Tonali’s club team-mate Lewis Hall is also of interest to those Old Trafford but the Magpies’ need to raise funds through player sales has decreased following Anthony Gordon’s £69m switch to Barcelona.
El Hadji Malick Diouf, who spent the last nine months with Fernandes, is also a potential option at full-back with Patrick Dorgu now deemed a winger.
RALEIGH, N.C. — Before the puck dropped on the biggest series of Seth Jarvis’s life, the Carolina Hurricanes’ most threatening scorer thought back to the countless times he scored a Stanley Cup overtime winner on a Winnipeg driveway.
“I might be undefeated,” Jarvis smiled. “I might never have lost a Cup in my mind. But this is a little more real now — and way more exciting.”
Jarvis does the math. He was four years old, going to preschool and fluttering in Cup clinchers on his driveway net in 2006, the last time a Hurricane scored a winning goal in a final.
Late Thursday, Jarvis — a key cog in the 2026 series’ most criticized power play and line — stopped the clock in Period 4, knotted the series, blew the roof off Lenovo Center, and realized a dream.
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“That was the best feeling in the world,” said Jarvis, following Carolina’s 4-3 comeback overtime win.
“I’ve imagined doing that a lot. To be able to do it in real life is awesome.”
The whole night was awesome.
A pair of strong finishes by scoring-hot Brett Howden jolted the Vegas Golden Knights to an early 2-0 lead, and the veteran group appeared set to grind away the clock and snatch a pair on the road.
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“We were looking for a spark,” Carolina captain Jordan Staal said.
Coach Rod Brind’Amour flipped Jarvis down to Staal’s line and bumped Jordan Martinook up with Sebastian Aho, who ripped a game-high four shots, his most since April.
Then they found their spark, from the smallest guy in the series, just plugging away.
A sturdy Logan Stankoven beat Rasmus Andersson for a puck behind the Vegas net, took it hard to the crease on his backhand and squeaked a puck past Carter Hart.
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The place erupted. Petey Pablo’s “Raise Up” rocked the barn.
“Unbelievable. That’s probably the loudest building I’ve ever played in,” Stankoven said. “We feed off that.”
Fourth-liner William Carrier fed off it, somehow staying onside, hoofing a loose puck to his blade and putting it on Mark Jankowski’s tape while wearing defender Jeremy Lauzon like a poncho. Jankowski tied it. Two remarkable solo-effort plays in less than three minutes.
“The average fan wouldn’t really realize how exceptional a play that was. That guy is so strong. And it’s just like you can’t take him down,” Staal said of Carrier. “He wasn’t giving up on that play.”
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The Canes refused to give up on this game, then they got a little help from John Tortorella.
Frederik Andersen made a sprawling paddle save on Ivan Barbashev but the puck did cross the line on a second attempt that got waved off due to goalie interference.
Vegas’s coach challenged a decision Brind’Amour suggested he would not, then Staal scored on the ensuing power play, as Tortorella got dinged for delay of game.
Dozens of grown men doffed their shirts, for better or worse, and waved them ’round their heads like a helicopter. One fan proudly held aloft a homemade sign: REAL HOCKEY PLAYERS DO NOT WEAR GLITTER.
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“That’s the best thing about them — they’re crazy. It’s an amazing atmosphere to play in, and to have people like that. It’s not warm in there, so to take your tarps off and kind of get the crowd going and get the energy going, that’s kind of what kick-started our whole little press there in the third,” Jarvis smiled.
“Yeah, I’ve not lived that a lot, to be honest with you, in my career,” Carrier marvelled. “The energy was unbelievable. Saw a couple T-shirts off too there, in the stands. May be a new thing, and the energy was incredible.”
So even though Mark Stone countered late and pushed the night into a fourth period, Carolina had its mojo back. The Lenny got lit.
Yet Brind’Amour sensed calm in the home room before Jarvis walked out into the chaos and played hero on the ultimate driveway.
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“That could easily have gone a different way of how we felt about it, because that emotion, the last 10 minutes, I mean, you can’t get much more exciting hockey than that, right?” Brind’Amour said. “Like, it’s up, down, up, down. So, it was good that we’re able to just kind of park everything and go play.”
With Jarvis bending the twine in the 64th minute, Carolina’s big guns and a previously slumping power play on the sheet, and a magical overtime record increasing to 6-0 this spring, we have ourselves a series, folks.
“What a crowd, what a night,” Staal said.
Best of five, and everyone’s alive.
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“A new shot of life is what it feels like,” Brind’Amour said.
The series is flying off for a weekend in Vegas, but it won’t stay there.
“This is exciting,” Jarvis said, riding his high past midnight. “This is what playoff hockey is all about. Tight games and momentum swings, and you never really know what’s going to happen next.
“I don’t think you can ask any more of a playoff series.”
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• Brayden McNabb took a vicious Nikolaj Ehlers slapshot square in the face and rushed off the ice midway through the first period, leaving Vegas with five defencemen.
“It’s terrifying,” Mitch Marner said. “Hopefully he’s all good. But he’s a warrior.”
Tortorella had no update on McNabb’s health post-game. Kaeden Korczak is the next man up.
• Howden, your playoff goal-scoring leader with 13, is proving to be this post-season’s greatest bargain.
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The winger is signed through 2029-30 at a paltry $2.5-million cap hit. Absolute steal.
• Andersen made the biggest save of the night, but the Canes’ presumptive Conn Smythe favourite’s numbers have slipped in the back half of this run.
Andersen posted an eye-popping .950 save percentage through the sweeps of Ottawa and Philadelphia. Since then, he’s been an .869.
To a man, the Canes are backing their guy, of course.
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“The save percentage count is a tough one for our team. I know often we don’t give up a lot. There’s still quality chances; there’s just not a lot of fluff,” Brind’Amour said. “I’m not concerned about it.
“But we’re mindful of it. I mean, he knows what he needs. And if he starts feeling a little fatigued, he’s going to let us know. But I don’t think that’s going to be an issue.”
• Our favourite Stanley Cup stat: This is the 46th consecutive Final in which a former teammate of Jaromir Jágr has participated. Golden Knights defenceman Rasmus Andersson shared a dressing room with Jágr in Calgary (2017-18).
• Excellent viewership south of the border for Game 1, a nine-goal thriller that averaged 4.8 million viewers on ESPN. That makes it the most-watched Stanley Cup Final opener since the Blues and Bruins faced off in 2019.
The expanded 2026World Cup sees a record 48 teams compete to lift the biggest prize in football, but while there are plenty of new faces and potential fairytales in North America this summer, one thing remains the same – the usual suspects are favourites once again.
While 2018 winners and 2022 runners-up France will bid to make a third World Cup final in a row this summer, it’s European champions Spain who head into the tournament as favourites, with Luis de la Fuente’s side hoping to build on the success of Germany two years ago.
La Roja surprised plenty of fans and pundits in a superb run to the final at Euro 2024, and their World Cup campaign should provide a similarly comfortable route through to the knockout rounds.
Two-time winners Uruguay will provide a fairly stern test for Spain early on and will be confident of qualifying in second as they look for another surprise run to the latter stages, while third place is up for grabs – on paper anyway – between 61st ranked Saudi Arabia and 69th ranked Cape Verde, who are one of the feel-good stories of the summer after qualifying for a first World Cup in their history.
Group H fixtures
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(all times BST)
15 June, 5pm: Spain v Cape Verde – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
15 June, 11pm: Saudi Arabia v Uruguay – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
21 June, 5pm: Spain v Saudi Arabia – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
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21 June, 11pm: Uruguay v Cape Verde – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
27 June, 1am: Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia – NRG Stadium, Houston
Spain
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Luis de la Fuente’s side begin the tournament as favourites after a hugely successful last few years that started with a victorious Euro 2024 campaign two summers ago. La Roja have been in fine form since beating England in Berlin, losing just once – in the 2025 Nations League final, on penalties to Portugal.
Spain have not come close to winning football’s biggest prize since their famed campaign of 2010, but there is a feeling at home that this squad is the best equipped to do so since the days of Iniesta, Xavi and co. After exiting the tournament at the round of 16 stage to Morocco in Qatar, a semi-final berth would be the minimum expectation this time round, but in private there might be questions asked if this side doesn’t go all the way.
Many of the same names from the 2024 squad will be present in North America this summer. De la Fuente has already made a bold move in selecting a squad devoid of any Real Madrid players, with both Dani Carvajal and Dean Huijsen left at home as La Roja go for a blend of experience and youthful verve. Lamine Yamal will once again be the focal point of the squad, supported by the likes of Rodri, Pedri and Mikel Oyarzabal, who scored the winner in Berlin two years ago.
There are some questions over defensive options and the fit of some of the attackers in the squad, but if de la Fuente can successfully adapt the game plan used in 2024, Spain may well end this summer with another star over the famous crest.
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Lamine Yamal could miss some of Spain’s early matches due to a hamstring issue picked up in April (AFP/Getty)
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), David Raya (Arsenal), Joan Garcia (Barcelona).
Defenders: Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Marc Pubill (Atletico Madrid), Pedro Porro (Tottenham), Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao), Eric Garcia (Barcelona), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen).
Midfielders: Rodri (Manchester City), Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal), Mikel Merino (Arsenal), Pedri (Barcelona), Gavi (Barcelona), Fabian Ruiz (Paris St-Germain), Alex Baena (Atletico Madrid).
Forwards: Yeremy Pino (Crystal Palace), Victor Munoz (Osasuna), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Dani Olmo (Barcelona), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Borja Iglesias (Celta Vigo).
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Star player – Lamine Yamal, Barcelona: It’s difficult to pick a star man in a team that will include the likes of Pedri and 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, but teenage sensation Lamine Yamal stands out this summer as Spain’s main man. The 18-year-old was the breakout star of the tournament as Spain won Euro 2024 and he has only improved since two summers ago. He comes into his first World Cup off the back of another title-winning season at Barcelona, having scored 16 goals and registered 12 assists in just 28 games in La Liga. Yamal is at risk of missing the first two group games for La Roja after picking up a hamstring injury late into the season, but expect him to hit the ground running one he returns as he looks to add the biggest trophy of all to an already impressive cabinet.
Breakout talent – Marc Pubill, Atletico Madrid: Such is the talent in the Spain squad that most of its members are already household names, though defender Marc Pubill could be the player who has the most to gain from his call-up this summer. The 22-year-old has already impressed at times for Atletico Madrid this season – with manager Diego Simeone saying he is “growing at an enormous rate” – and while he’s not been able to nail down a starting spot at the club, his versatility at the back means he could feature for La Roja this summer in what could be the first major steps of a successful international career.
La Celeste are famed as one of the World Cup’s biggest over-achievers, having won the competition in 1930 and 1950, and the 2026 crop of players will be hoping to emulate the likes of Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan as they look to advance to the latter rounds.
Manager Marcelo Bielsa is said to be stepping down after the tournament, with the former Leeds boss leading the side into a second major tournament after finishing a respectable third at the 2024 Copa America.
And while Bielsa’s squad doesn’t possess the same level of talent as the previous golden generation, that Copa run and the performance against England in March showed that they are capable of digging in and getting results against ‘better’ sides.
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With plenty of defensive steel, a bit of midfield nous – including Rodrigo Bentancur and Giorgian de Arrascaeta – and potential match-winners in the form of players such as Valverde and Darwin Nunez, Uruguay could be among the dark horses this summer. Having failed to get out of the group in 2022, a place in the quarter-finals this time around would likely be seen as a successful campaign – and a repeat of 2010 would be seen as a small miracle.
Fede Valverde will be key to Uruguay’s hopes as the South Americans look to punch above their weight once more (Getty)
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Sergio Rochet (Internacional), Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray), Santiago Mele (Junior FC)
Defenders: Guillermo Varela (Flamengo), Ronald Araujo (Barcelona), Jose Maria Gimenez (Atletico Madrid), Santiago Bueno (Wolves), Sebastian Caceres (Club America), Mathias Olivera (Napoli), Joaquin Piquerez (Palmeiras), Matias Vina (Flamengo)
Midfielders: Manuel Ugarte (Manchester United), Emiliano Martinez (Palmeiras), Rodrigo Bentancur (Tottenham), Federico Valverde (Real Madrid), Agustin Canobbio (Fluminense), Juan Manuel Sanabria (Atletico San Luis), Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Flamengo), Nicolas de la Cruz (Flamengo), Rodrigo Zalazar (Braga), Facundo Pellistri (Panathinaikos), Maximiliano Araujo (Sporting), Brian Rodriguez (Club America)
Star player: Federico Valverde: Real Madrid captain Fede Valverde is Uruguay’s talisman, and he’ll lead the Celeste as they look to make another surprise run to the latter stages of the World Cup. Valverde is coming off the back of a disappointing season at club level but his undoubted talent and versatility mean he remains one of the most useful players in world football. He might want to improve his record of goal contributions – having scored just nine times this season at club level – but as shown with his goal against England and a hat-trick against Manchester City, the 27-year-old remains a man for the big occasion. With the help of Nunez and Gimenez, can Valverde spur his nation into another surprise performance?
Breakout talent: Maxi Araujo: The battle to be Uruguay’s breakout star this summer may well be between ‘rival’ wingers in Club America’s Brian Rodríguez and Sporting’s Maxi Araujo. The former scored 13 goals in 34 games for the Mexican club and has become known for his pace, but 26-year-old Araujo has been a key man for Sporting for a couple of seasons now. He’s hardly a nobody after winning a Primeira Liga title last season – and putting in a great performance in Sporting’s 4-1 win over Man City in the Champions League – but this could be the tournament where more fans begin to notice him.
Fifa ranking: 17.
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Odds to win the World Cup: 100/1.
Saudi Arabia
2026 marks a seventh World Cup finals for Saudi Arabia, though the 2034 hosts have plenty to do if they want to equal their best-ever performance.
Saudi Arabia got to the round of 16 the last time the World Cup was held in the USA in 1994, though their previous six tournaments have all ended at the group stage. The fact that there will be some third-placed teams qualifying in this expanded tournament gives the side hope of making it out of Group H, though realistically a group-stage exit still feels the most likely outcome.
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Nevertheless, this is a team that will benefit from the experience of qualifying for the last two World Cups, while new manager Herve Renard brings great international expertise having won Afcon with Zambia and the Ivory Coast previously.
A 1-0 loss to Jordan in the semi-finals of the Arab Cup at the end of last year demonstrated the limitations of this Saudi side though, and it remains to be seen if they can build on their previous tournament experience – in any case, a place in the round of 32 would be seen as a huge success.
Salem Al-Dawsari – who scored the famous winner in 2022 against Argentina – remains Saudi Arabia’s key man (PA Wire)
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Mohammed Al Owais (Al Ula) Nawaf Al Aqidi (Al Nassr), Ahmed Al Kassar (Al Qadsiah), Abdulqudus Attiah (Al Taawoun)
Defenders: Abdulelah Al Amri (Al Nassr), Hassan Tambakti (Al Hilal), Jehad Thikri (Al Qadsiah), Ali Lajami (Al Hilal), Hassan Kadesh (Al Ittihad), Saud Abdulhamid (RC Lens), Mohammed Abu Al Shamat (Al Qadsiah), Ali Majrashi (Al Ahli), Moteb Al Harbi (Al Hilal), Nawaf Boushal (Al Nassr), Zakaria Hawsawi (Al Ahli).
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Midfielders: Mohammed Kanno (Al Hilal), Abdullah Al Khaibari (Al Nassr), Ziyad Al Johani (Al Ahli), Nasser Al Dawsari (Al Hilal), Musab Al Juwayr (Al Qadsiah), Alaa Al Hajji (NEOM SC), Salem Al Dawsari (Al Hilal), Khalid Al Ghannam (Al Ettifaq), Ayman Yahya (Al Nassr), Sultan Mandash (Al Hilal), Saleh Abu Al Shamat (Al Ahli).
Forwards: Feras Al Buraikan (Al Ahli), Abdullah Al Salem (Al Qadsiah), Saleh Al Shehri (Al Ittihad), Abdullah Al Hamdan (Al Nassr).
Star player: Salem Al-Dawsari: Midfielder Al-Dawsari had perhaps the best moment of his career so far when he scored the goal that beat Argentina in Qatar in 2022, and in 2026 the 34-year-old once again leads his team at a World Cup, hoping to go one better than last time in making it out of the group. He scored eight goals in just 26 games from left wing at club level this season, and he’ll need to replicate that sort of form if Herve Renard’s side are to make the round of 32.
Breakout talent – Saud Abdulhamid: Lens defender Abdulhamid – who is on loan at the club from Roma – is the only player in the squad who plays his club football outside of Saudi Arabia, and he was part of the squad that just won the French Cup to secure the first trophy in Lens’ history. It was also an immensely successful season in the league as they finished second in Ligue 1, just six points behind PSG. While Abdulhamid often featured for Lens at right wing-back, he has been used as a traditional right-back in defence at international level too. At 26 years old, this could be the stage where he takes the next step in his career ahead of potentially playing in the Champions League next season.
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Fifa ranking: 61.
Odds to win the World Cup: 1000/1.
Cape Verde
2026 marks a first appearance at a World Cup for Cape Verde, with manager – and former player – Bubista leading his nation to the world’s biggest tournament with a qualifying campaign that produced seven wins from 10 games against the likes of Cameroon and Angola.
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On the pitch they will be led by former Lille and Nottingham Forest forward Ryan Mendes, with a supporting cast including Omonoia’s Willy Semedo, Benfica’s Sidny Lopes Cabral and the qualification campaign’s top scorer in Dailon Livramento.
The minnows head into the tournament with nothing to prove but everything to gain, with their best previous tournament performances coming as they reached the quarter-finals of Afcon in 2013 and 2023.
The celebrations seen when Cape Verde secured qualification show that hopes are not exactly high for their performance in North America this summer, and that will not have changed when they were drawn in a group against Spain and Uruguay. However, with the expanded tournament leaving room for third-placed sides to qualify, there can always be dreams of making it to the round of 32 at the first time of asking.
Daylon Livramento was Cape Verde’s top scorer in qualifying and will likely lead the line in North Amercia (Getty)
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Vozinha (Chaves), Marcio Rosa (Montana), CJ dos Santos (San Diego).
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Defenders: Stopira (Torreense), Roberto Lopes (Shamrock Rovers), Joao Paulo (FCSB), Diney (Al Bataeh), Logan Costa (Villarreal), Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew), Wagner Pina (Trabzonspor), Sidny Lopes Cabral (Benfica), Kelvin Pires (SJK).
Forwards: Ryan Mendes (Igdir), Garry Rodrigues (Apollon Limassol), Willy Semedo (Omonia), Jovane Cabral (Estrela Amadora), Gilson Tavares (Akron Tolyatti), Dailon Livramento (Casa Pia), Helio Varela (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Nuno da Costa (Istanbul Basaksehir).
Star player – Dailon Livramento: Veteran midfielder Ryan Mendes may be the anchor of the team but forward Dailon Livramento was the key man in qualification, scoring five times in a historic campaign. The 25-year-old failed to find the net for his new side Casa Pia since joining in September, though he found opportunities hard to come by. Conversely, he scored and assisted in the 4-2 loss to Chile in March, showing that he remains a focal point of the team at international level.
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Breakout talent – Sidny Lopes Cabral: Versatile Benfica defender Sidny Lopes Cabral looks certain to be Cape Verde’s breakout star this summer, helped in part by his €6m move to Benfica in January. Jose Mourinho is said to have personally approved the signing of the 23-year-old, who impressed for Portuguese side Estrela Amadora in the first half of the season. Lopes Cabral can play at both full-back and on the wing, though he may be used as a more attacking option at times this summer – something he can do to great affect, as shown with a hat-trick against Casa Pia in November and a goal and assist against Chile in March.
Fifa ranking: 69.
Odds to win the World Cup: 2000/1.
Group H prediction
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Spain should face little opposition in their bid to finish first in Group H, though their match against Uruguay should be an interesting one (and perhaps a good early yardstick for how the favourites are performing early on). La Celeste should have more than enough to qualify in second, while Saudi Arabia will hope to sneak into the last 32 via a third-placed finish. It looks like it will be difficult for Cape Verde to earn any points in their maiden World Cup journey, but – as Saudi Arabia proved against Argentina in 2022 – anything is possible with enough morale and belief.
Nov 10, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) passes against the New York Jets during the first half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
The big news of this offseason in Minnesota was the free agent signing of Kyler Murray. After a season of QB misery in 2025, something had to be done, and Murray heads to Minnesota after an injury-plagued final year in Arizona, hoping to revive his career. For those reasons, Murray has been predicted as a candidate for the 2026 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, which would be a first for the franchise.
A Healthy Murray Could Enter the Awards Conversation
The Comeback Player of the Year was first voted for back in the 1960s, when it had a four-year run, before returning in 1998 and becoming a permanent fixture of the league’s end-of-season awards. During its run, no Minnesota Viking has ever won the award.
So what makes Murray a candidate to possibly end that drought? Simply put, it is coming into what could be an explosive offense on the back of an injury-hampered season, which makes him qualify as a comeback player.
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Nov 27, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) against the Los Angeles Chargers at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Bleacher Report recently published a list of surprise predictions for 2026 compiled by Gary Davenport. One of his predictions was both Pro Bowl honors and Comeback Player of the Year for the Vikings’ new quarterback. Here is what Davenport had to say about what Murray had to do to make that prediction come true.
To do so, he’ll first have to beat out J.J. McCarthy to start in the Twin Cities. Then he’ll have to try to recapture the form that saw him win Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2019 and make the Pro Bowl in 2020 and 2021. Beating out McCarthy shouldn’t be especially difficult—Murray has shown exponentially more upside in the pros than McCarthy has over two injury-marred years.
The tools are there for Murray in Minnesota—the Vikes have a decent offensive line and run game and Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings are one of the better wide receiver trios in the league,
Murray is already a two-time (2020 & 2021) champion and has proven he can play at a high level in the league. At 29 years old when the season starts, there is no reason he shouldn’t be able to recapture that form. If he stays healthy, I don’t think there is much doubt he will win the starting job over JJ McCarthy, with people now even suggesting that McCarthy wants out of Minnesota.
The Kevin O’Connell Effect
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Another reason to believe Murray is returning to form is his new head coach. Outsiders are asking whether O’Connell can have the same effect on Murray as he had on Sam Darnold a couple of years ago – if he does, hopefully Murray won’t be hoisting the Lombardi trophy with another team in 2027!
Mar 30, 2026; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell during the 2026 NFL Annual League Meeting at the Arizona Biltmore. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
There is plenty in favor of Murray succeeding in Minnesota, not least of all, having Justin Jefferson on the receiving end of his passes. Jefferson has proven himself QB-proof, managing to put up a 1,000-yard receiving season while playing with a trio of struggling QBs last year. He will be eager to get back to putting up the really big numbers we became accustomed to, and he can do that with Murray.
Jefferson has shown that if you throw him a catchable ball, he will come down with it more often than not. In Murray, the Vikings have the QB with the fifth-best all-time completion percentage – 67.1%.
The stars could be aligning for Murray and Minnesota, and it may well produce the Vikings’ first-ever Comeback Player of the Year recipient.
Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.
The Golden Quillflower is a Transcended-rarity species in Build a Ring Farm that is exclusive to the game’s Plant Contracts system. Being a Transcended-rarity plant, the Golden Quillflower is naturally one of the most valuable species in the game. It produces high-value crops that generate hundreds of thousands of Cash per harvest with minimal investment cost.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Golden Quillflower in Build a Ring Farm.
Breaking down the Golden Quillflower in Build a Ring Farm
How to get
The Golden Quillflower is exclusive to the Plant Contracts system (Image via Roblox)
The Golden Quillflower seed is a random reward available through the Plant Contracts system. Every once in a while, upon completing a Contract, you will see a quest pop up on the board that has it as a reward. This is more likely to occur if you are at Master or higher Contract Rank, with the highest possible likelihood being assigned to the Transcendent Contracts.
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Upon completing the associated mission, the Golden Quillflower seed will be added to your inventory. You can sow it in your farm to produce crops, and use any relevant boosts to improve the yield.
This guide explores the Aurora Lotus in Build a Ring Farm, the most valuable plant species in the game as of Update 4.
Crop yield value
Gameplay still (Image via Roblox)
The Golden Quillflower produces crops with a base sale value of 425,000 Cashper crop unit. While its value is below the likes of the Admin Rose or the Aurora Lotus, it is still quite valuable, and it doesn’t require much investment on your part. Meaning, its produce will turn a profit right away instead of having to recoup a hefty purchase price first.
We recommend sowing the plant seed at the highest floor and the outermost ring in your farm. This position is where your farm will apply the maximum value bonus, generating plenty of Cash within seconds. You may also use the Starfall Griffin and the Cosmic Mutation Spray to elevate its selling value even further.
Brock Lesnar defeated Oba Femi at Clash in Italy to make it 1-1 between them in singles matches. It took the former Universal Champion seven F5s to be able to put away The Ruler, but he seemingly teased retirement once again after the match.
The veteran took off his gloves after he beat Oba Femi and raised his hands in victory. However, unlike at WrestleMania 42, where he left both his gloves and boots in the ring, he kept them with him this time, hinting that he might not be done with wrestling just yet.
Thanks for the submission!
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That being said, Lesnar has been referring to himself as ‘retired’ despite making his return on RAW to reignite his feud with Oba Femi. It might be part of the storyline, but there have been rumors that Lesnar might be planning to bid farewell to the squared circle soon.
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WWE’s Real Plan for Bloodline Leaked? – Click Here
If that is indeed the case, then we might see the last of him at SummerSlam, in his hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota. However, it hasn’t quite been confirmed just yet, and we will have to wait and see how things shape up for The Beast Incarnate over the next few months.
Former WWE RAW General Manager explains why Brock Lesnar returned despite retiring at WrestleMania 42
In a recent edition of his 83 Weeks podcast, Eric Bischoff claimed he was left confused after Lesnar’s return on WWE RAW. He claimed that the emotions Brock Lesnar displayed at WrestleMania 42 were real and honest, but contractual agreements seemingly prevented him from retiring on his own terms at The Show of Shows.
“Brock got emotional and made a decision in the ring. Found out shortly thereafter there’s language in that agreement that makes what you did a problem. We can figure it out creatively. But we’re not ready for a retirement yet or something to that effect. Something happened,” he added.
The creative team has since played into the retirement angle, with both Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar confirming that The Beast had retired at The Show of Shows, only to make a shocking return and take down his rival shortly after. It now remains to be seen when the trilogy will be completed.
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Jun 4, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb (3) reacts to a puck to the face during the first period against the Carolina Hurricanes in game two of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb, struck by the puck in the face in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday, was transported to a hospital for observation, ESPN reported.
Carolina Hurricanes forward Nikolaj Ehlers sent an 87 mph shot toward the net in the first period at Raleigh, N.C. McNabb, standing in front of goalie Carter Hart, absorbed the puck off the visor of his helmet. He went down briefly, then held his face as he swiftly skated off the ice and directly to the locker room.
McNabb, 35, exited with 9:08 to go in the opening period and didn’t return to action, leaving the Golden Knights down a defenseman.
Vegas led 2-0 entering the third period but wound up losing 4-3 in overtime, leveling the best-of-seven series at one win apiece.
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McNabb, 35, has one goal and six assists through 17 games in Vegas’ current postseason run. He was averaging 20:53 of ice time in the playoffs prior to Thursday.
After joining the Golden Knights in the 2017 expansion draft, McNabb was part of the team’s trek to the Stanley Cup Final in 2018 and their run to capturing the Cup in 2023.
Over 14 NHL seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings and Vegas, McNabb has 38 goals, 153 assists and a plus-160 rating in 885 regular-season games.
In the 2025-26 regular season, he had five goals (tying his career high) and seven assists in 63 games.
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Right after the game ended, Golden Knights coach John Tortorella had no update on McNabb’s condition.
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