The NFL is headed to another South American city for the first time, and they’re bringing the Dallas Cowboys along for the ride.

It was announced on Thursday that the NFL’s upcoming trip to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, will feature an appearance by the Dallas Cowboys. It will be just the second appearance by the team in the NFL International Series since it began in 2007, and their first trip outside the US for a regular season game in over a decade, when they defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 31-17 in London. Neither the date and time nor the opponent for the Cowboys was announced.

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“We are proud to welcome the Dallas Cowboys to Brazil for the first‑ever NFL game in Rio de Janeiro,” said NFL Brazil General Manager Luis Martinez. “Introducing one of the league’s most iconic teams to the Maracanã Stadium marks a powerful milestone in the continued growth of the sport worldwide. Bringing a regular-season game to Rio strengthens our connection to a vibrant and passionate football community and underscores our long‑term commitment to the market.”

The game is part of a nine-game international slate scheduled for the 2026 season, which will encompass trips to four continents, seven countries, and eight stadiums. Other cities seeing their first NFL game in 2026 include Melbourne, Australia, and Paris, France.

The NFL has played in Brazil twice, once in 2024 and once in 2025. Both games took place in São Paulo, the country’s capital. Brazil is reportedly one of the league’s largest international markets, with more than 36 million viewers. The 2026 game in Rio is part of the NFL’s commitment to bring at least three games to the city over the next five seasons.

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Dallas Cowboys to star in NFL’s first ever trip to South American city

Pep Guardiola has responded to criticism of his comments on global conflicts by asserting that he condemned anything “when innocent people are killed”.

The Manchester City boss used his press conference ahead of their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Newcastle to reveal his outrage at what he branded the indefensible killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis by ICE, as he compared the death of the latter to seeing a nurse in the NHS gunned down on the grass.

Guardiola said he has to carry on speaking up to try and produce a better society, as he talked of his anguish at seeing images of what he called genocide in the Gaza Strip and deaths in Ukraine and Sudan.

It sparked outrage from Jewish community leaders, who felt Manchester City were “being let down by him repeatedly straying into commentary on international affairs” and called for Guardiola to “focus on football”.

The Spaniard has hit back by insisting his comments were hardly contentious and doubled down on his beliefs, saying: “To be honest I didn’t say anything special. I don’t feel that.

“I think why should I not express how I feel just because I am a manager? So I do not agree but I respect absolutely all opinions.

“What I said basically is how many conflicts there are right now around the globe or around the world. How many? A lot, right? I condemn all of them. All of them.

“When innocent people are killed, I condemn all of them.”

Former Super Eagles and Marseille defender Taye Taiwo has welcomed Tochukwu Nnadi to the French Ligue 1 side following the Nigerian midfielder’s move to the club.

Taiwo sent a video message to Nnadi, which was shared on Marseille’s official social media platforms. In the message, the former left-back congratulated the 22-year-old and encouraged him as he begins a new chapter in his career.

“Hi Nnadi congratulation brother. Welcome to Marseille you know I just want to say I wish you all the best and I will see you soon. You know say Naija no dey carry last. All the best brother. See you soon. Ciao. Yeah,” Taiwo said.

Taiwo spent six successful years at Marseille between 2005 and 2011 and remains a respected figure at the club. His message was seen as a major show of support for Nnadi, who is joining one of France’s biggest teams.

Nnadi responded by thanking Taiwo for the kind words and said the message meant a lot to him.

“I’m just going to say thank you so much to Uncle Taiwo. This message means a lot to me and like he said Naija no dey carry last. So come on Naija,” the midfielder said.

Nnadi, who was born in Ihiagwa, Imo State, completed his transfer to Marseille from Belgian Pro League side Zulte Waregem. He impressed in Belgium with his strong work rate, defensive qualities and ability to play in different midfield roles.

Marseille confirmed the signing on Monday, February 2, just hours before the winter transfer window closed.

The move highlights the growing presence of Nigerian players in Europe and creates a strong link between Nnadi and Taiwo, whose time at Marseille is still fondly remembered by the club’s supporters.

Super Eagles forward Terem Moffi has been tipped to make a bigger impact at FC Porto than Viktor Gyökeres has done at Sporting, following his winter move to the Portuguese giants.

Moffi joined FC Porto on loan from French club Nice during the January transfer window. The deal includes an option to buy, valued at eight million euros, with an additional 250,000 euros in bonuses.

The move followed a difficult period for the Nigerian striker in France, where he struggled for form and was affected by off-field issues, including an incident involving a group of fans targeting players.

Speaking on Moffi’s character and development, former teammate Mindaugas Grigaravicius said the striker has the mindset and quality to succeed at the highest level. The two played together at Lithuanian club FK Riteriai, where Moffi joined at the age of 18 after leaving England.

Grigaravicius recalled that Moffi found life and football in Lithuania difficult at first but later proved his critics wrong.

“I lived with him for three weeks in a hotel, while the club looked for apartments for the players. I was the one who took him to training, we went for rides in the car and ate together,” he said.

“He was a shy and quiet boy who didn’t speak at first. He didn’t show his emotions; he seemed like a boy who had come from Africa just chasing his dream of playing football. His first training sessions were terrible.”

He added that many people doubted Moffi’s ability in the early weeks.

“We were discussing amongst ourselves what he had come here to do, he couldn’t fit in or play. He was strong and tall, but he seemed weak, he lost every ball,” Grigaravicius said.

“After a month, we said he had no chance of staying… But he showed us how wrong we were.”

According to Grigaravicius, Moffi’s improvement began when he accepted the physical and tactical demands of European football and put in extra work, especially in the gym and on the training ground.

“He had a complicated adaptation… He had to do extra work, and that’s where the progress began,” he said.

Once he settled, Moffi’s rise was rapid.

“He showed passion, power, a lot of strength… he crushed the defenders, he killed them! He started scoring a lot of goals,” Grigaravicius added.

Looking ahead to Moffi’s time at FC Porto, Grigaravicius said the striker has everything needed to succeed in Portugal.

“At a big club like FC Porto, there’s no time for adaptation… he will surely be successful,” he said.

“In good form, with everyone’s confidence, he has no limits. He could be better than Gyökeres at Sporting.”

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Photo by @BCCI on X)

NEW DELHI: Fourteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi delivered a stunning performance in the U-19 World Cup final on Friday, producing one of the most dominant innings ever seen at this level. Playing against England on the biggest stage, the young Indian opener showed remarkable composure and attacking intent from the very start.

Sooryavanshi reached his century in just 55 balls, making it the second-fastest hundred in U-19 World Cup history. Only Australia’s Will Malajczuk has scored a quicker ton in the tournament. He brought up his century with a single and then marked the moment with a calm and respectful celebration. After a brief roar, he removed his helmet and gloves, paused for a brief prayer, and applauded the dressing room.Watch:The Indian batter brought up his first fifty in 32 balls and then accelerated even further, scoring his next fifty in only 23 deliveries as England’s bowlers struggled to slow him down.He shared a rapid 142-run partnership with captain Ayush Mhatre, who contributed a steady half-century before getting out. Together, they completely took control of the final and pushed England onto the back foot.Sooryavanshi eventually fell for a breathtaking 175 off 80 balls, an innings filled with 15 fours and 15 sixes. His dismissal finally gave England a moment to regroup, as the scoring rate had made even an extremely high total seem possible.Despite missing out on a double century, the young prodigy walked off to a standing ovation. At the time of reporting, India have crossed 300 runs with over 15 overs left to play.

A wrestling veteran said that the former AEW World Champion, Chris Jericho could return to WWE in a non-wrestling role. The veteran believes that Y2J could join the Stamford-based promotion in an off-screen role.

Chris Jericho may not return to the WWE as a talent, according to the wrestling veteran, Dutch Mantell. Jericho last appeared on AEW TV back in April 2025. While he has been heavily rumored to be returning to the Sports Entertainment Juggernaut for months, Y2J is still listed on the official roster page of Tony Khan’s promotion.

Speaking on his Story Time podcast recently, Dutch Mantell assumed that Jericho may not return to the WWE as a talent, but could become a part of the promotion’s creative team instead:

“Well, he may be in shape, but when people hear he’s 55-56, to me, he is an old guy in a young man’s game; it’s what he is. I don’t care how good he is, he is great. I’ve seen him do a lot of great stuff and he hits all the points. But at 55, and he’s not going back till next year, I would say there is a possibility that he doesn’t even go now, as a talent, let me say that. He may not go as a talent; he could go as a part of the creative team, but I don’t think he wants to do that.”

Veteran believes Chris Jericho will end his wrestling career in WWE

The wrestling veteran, Jim Ross recently claimed that Chris Jericho wants to finish up his wrestling career in the WWE. Speaking on his Grilling JR podcast, Ross also recalled hiring Jericho to the Stamford-based promotion decades ago:

“I don’t think going to WWE is a matter over paychecks. I think he wants to end his career in wrestling in WWE. I hired Chris Jericho. Jerry Brisco and I had a couple of meetings as I recall to get him pointed in the right direction,” JR said.

Only time will tell what the future holds for Y2J.

If taking quotes from this article’s first half, H/T ‘Sportskeeda Wrestling’ for transcription and credit ‘Story Time with Dutch Mantell on YT.’