As the U.S. men’s national soccer team looks to build on its emphatic 4-1 victory over Paraguay when it faces Australia on Friday, the biggest question surrounding the Americans is whether “Captain America” will be on the pitch at Lumen Field in Seattle.

Christian Pulisic’s injury status has loomed large over this team despite their strong start on home soil for the tournament. Pulisic, who had an assist in the win over Paraguay, suffered a calf injury that led to him being subbed out after the first half last week.

USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino was asked once again about Christian Pulisic’s status ahead of Friday’s match, but he offered little insight into the condition of the star’s left calf.

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Christian Pulisic of the United States participates in a training session for the 2026 World Cup at Great Sports Park in Irvine, Calif., on June 17, 2026. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

“He’s evolving,” Pochettino responded, per the New York Post. “He’s much better from Friday. We’ll see.

“I think at the moment, we think if he’s not available for tomorrow, he’ll be available for the next game.”

Pochettino added that Pulisic was “doing a massive effort trying to be ready,” understanding that the U.S. star wants to be out on the pitch with the rest of his teammates. He will meet with the training staff on Thursday night to discuss Pulisic’s status.

“I think for every player that loves his country, it’s an amazing opportunity to enjoy and help the team win games,” he said. “When this type of thing happens, always it’s painful, but I think Christian is strong, with a great mentality, and doing a fantastic effort to try to be ready.”

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United States forward Christian Pulisic controls the ball past Paraguay midfielder Andrés Cubas in the first half of a FIFA World Cup 2026 match at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. (Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

During the team’s practice on Thursday, Pulisic did much of what he’s been seen doing this week – performing a modified training session and not participating with the rest of the team during the media portion.

Pochettino wouldn’t say who would replace Pulisic if he’s unable to play against Australia on Friday, although Malik Tillman shifted to the left wing after Pulisic exited against Paraguay, while Sebastian Berhalter moved into the midfield role in the second half.

“I will tell tomorrow if that is the situation,” Pochettino said. “At the moment, we are evaluating all the possibilities just in case. And then we will decide when we have the confirmation in one or another direction tonight.”

There’s no doubt Pulisic playing would give the Americans their best chance of defeating Australia, but fellow star Weston McKennie gave a glimpse at the team’s thought process.

Christian Pulisic had an assist in the first half of the USMNT World Cup opener against Paraguay. (Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images)

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“Either way, just trying to give good spirits and hopefully he can be there tomorrow,” McKennie said. “I know he really wants to be, and he’s doing everything that he can, and the staff is doing everything that they can as well. But that’s also another question that’s better to ask him rather than me. I’m in my own la-la land.” 

With Australia defeating Türkiye in its first World Cup match, this bout between these two teams will determine who takes sole possession of first place in Group D.

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Shakur Stevenson has named the most likely fighter to defeat Naoya Inoue, who remains unbeaten after having become a two-division undisputed champion.

‘The Monster’ unified all four major belts at 118lbs before moving up to super-bantamweight, where he has made seven straight defences of his undisputed crown.

His most recent outing, against three-weight world champion Junto Nakatani, resulted in a unanimous decision victory at a sold-out Tokyo Dome last month.

Many would therefore regard Inoue as the sport’s No.1 pound-for-pound fighter, with the Japanese star having also won world titles at flyweight and super-flyweight.

At 33 years old, though, it is difficult to predict how much longer he will remain at the elite level, especially if his next assignment happens to be against Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez.

The 26-year-old American became a three-division world champion last week, dethroning Antonio Vargas with a sixth-round stoppage at 118lbs.

As the newly-crowned WBA bantamweight champion, there is now talk of him either unifying the division – perhaps against WBO titlist Christian Medina – or moving up to 122lbs in preparation for the potential Inoue showdown next year.

Either way, Stevenson has told The Agnew Podcast that he believes Rodriguez stands the best chance at toppling Inoue.

“I think he’s the truth. If anybody can do it – with them type of skills, I think ‘Bam’ can do it.”

Stevenson went on to admit that, in the amateurs, he was introduced to the fight of his life against Rodriguez’s last opponent.

In the end, he edged a split decision against Vargas, who subsequently competed at the 2016 Olympics and showed, even against ‘Bam’, that he is capable of posing problems to elite fighters.

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark turned the pregame tunnel into a reveal moment Thursday, arriving at Gainbridge Fieldhouse all smiles while carrying her first signature shoe in her right hand. Her hoodie also featured the phrase “Shoot more threes.”

The Fever shared a photo and video from Clark’s tunnel walk on the team’s verified social media accounts ahead of tipoff against the Atlanta Dream. The post on X quickly drew tens of thousands of views Thursday.

Nike gave women’s basketball fans their first look at the Caitlin 1 sneakers Wednesday, ahead of their scheduled October release.

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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark dribbles the ball during a game against the Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, on June 18, 2026. (A.J. Mast/NBAE)

The first colorway will be available in an all-blue silhouette that also features Clark’s new signature logo. The Nike Caitlin 1s are scheduled to launch Oct. 1 through the Nike SNKRS app and select retailers.

The shoes will be priced at $140 in North America, while international customers should expect to pay the equivalent of $135.

Caitlin Clark’s sneakers are shown before the Indiana Fever game against the Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, on June 18, 2026. (A.J. Mast/NBAE via Getty Images)

With the official Caitlin 1 reveal, Clark joins four other active WNBA players with signature shoes from major brands. Angel Reese with Reebok, Breanna Stewart with Puma, Sabrina Ionescu with Nike and A’ja Wilson with Nike are the other active WNBA stars with signature sneakers.

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Clark and Indiana entered Thursday’s contest riding a five-game winning streak, but the Dream ended it with a 108-101 win in Indianapolis. Clark posted a team-high 26 points and seven assists, while Reese led Atlanta with 21 points and 10 rebounds to secure a double-double.

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As Americans remain divided on the memorandum of understanding to end the war in Iran, star athletes who represent two of the countries most impacted by the deal have shared their thoughts.

The memorandum establishes a 60-day negotiating period during which the United States and Iran will attempt to reach a more comprehensive deal.

The agreement also includes provisions aimed at restoring commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and provides limited sanctions waivers tied to continued negotiations. Several of the most contentious issues, including the long-term future of Iran’s nuclear program, are expected to be addressed in subsequent talks.

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Fans of Iran pose with a pre-revolutionary Iranian flag joined with an Israel flag during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match between Iran and New Zealand at Los Angeles Stadium on June 15, 2026. (Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)

But the current regime in Iran will remain in power, for the time being.

Former Iranian youth wrestling champion Sardar Pashei, who won the Asian Youth Wrestling Championship in 1998 for Iran, expressed disappointment with the current regime’s survival.

“Many believed that under President Trump, the Islamic Republic would become history. Instead, it was handed one of the greatest opportunities in its history to survive. The regime gained financial lifelines and political breathing room while millions of Iranians sank deeper into poverty, unemployment, and uncertainty,” Pashei told Fox News Digital.

“This agreement gives the regime room to rebuild its machinery of repression—new centers for arrest, torture, and intimidation. When an agreement offers nothing to the Iranian people, why would the regime hesitate to intensify its crackdown?

“Some claim that regime change has already occurred in Iran. What change? Has power been transferred to the people? Have executions ended? Have women been freed from the regime’s chains? Until then—not because commanders were killed or ships were sunk—we cannot speak of a new Iran. And what did this agreement bring the Iranian people?

IRANIAN REGIME CRITIC WARNS TRUMP DEAL COULD BE ‘LIFELINE’ FOR REGIME, CLAIMS PEOPLE ARE ‘NERVOUS’

“Despair, abandonment, and the feeling of being left alone with a regime that knows no moral limits. A regime not weakened, but emboldened—one that can now use billions to build more prisons, raise more gallows, and silence more voices.”

Meanwhile, Israelis have been among the harshest critics of the deal, warning the agreement does not do enough to safeguard Israel’s security.

Team Israel skeleton and bobsled Olympian AJ Edelman, who is American-born but represented Israel in the 2026 and 2022 Winter Olympics, called the deal “a disgrace.”

“We emboldened the regime,” Edelman told Fox News Digital.

“If Democrats needed to own Obama’s ‘red line,’ Republicans and Trump have to own ‘help is on the way.’ Arguably, the latter was far worse, because we actually engaged and all but won. It was the cost of gas and Summer AC bills that stranded the Iranian people.

“How did you lose the Iran War? Literally a Tomahawk missile at Kharg Island would have toppled the regime. Trump’s been talking tough on it for 40 years! Gas prices rose, summer was about to get brutal. Midterms. America. It’s hard to believe.

“It was an act of extraordinary political courage to engage. It is a shame and stain on the image of America First exceptionalism to pull defeat from the jaws of victory because of gas prices.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment.

President Donald Trump has described the arrangement as a means of avoiding a wider conflict while pursuing what he called a “great settlement” with Tehran.

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He has also argued that the agreement could help stabilize energy markets by reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, while creating an opportunity to negotiate additional restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities.

The president added that he agreed to a settlement to avoid “economic catastrophe.” 

“I didn’t want to see economic catastrophe. If you kept this going, that could have happened,” he told reporters at the G7 Summit in France. 

Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance scrapped plans to travel to Switzerland on Friday for the next round of U.S.-Iran talks, the White House confirmed Thursday night, highlighting ongoing uncertainty over the timing and logistics of the negotiations with Tehran.

“As the vice president said at his press conference, the plans for the upcoming technical talks have not been finalized, and the U.S. delegation has been prepared to depart at the first available opportunity,” the spokesperson said.

“But the logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable. As of now, the vice president is not departing tonight,” they added.

“We will let you know as soon as we have a concrete update about next steps. We look forward to beginning technical talks as soon as possible.”

The remarks came in the wake of a newly signed memorandum of understanding, with negotiators originally planning to finalize a deal between the U.S. and Iran within 60 days.

File photo of Virat Kohli© AFP

John Symons and Sheila Laxon, the training duo, are requiring a bit more patience as they monitor Nihancan’s development towards longer racing distances.

The ultimate objective for Nihancan is the Mahogany Challenge Series Final (2500m) at Flemington on July 4. However, Nihancan must first earn his spot in that race through the Ken Cox Handicap (2000m) at Flemington this Saturday.

Nihancan’s pedigree is well-suited for staying contests.

He is a son of the 2007 VRC Oaks winner, Arapaho Miss, a mare who has produced high-quality stayers including De Little Engine, the 2019 Oaks winner Miami Bound, Roaring Engine, and Kadavar.

Thus far, Nihancan has competed in five races, achieving a maiden win over 2040m at Seymour on May 21. He then finished sixth over 2000m at Flemington on June 6, behind Rockette.

However, Symons indicated that the colt is showing strong signs of being ready for the 2500m distance of the Mahogany Challenge Series Final.

“Hopefully we will pick up some points on the weekend to get to that race, as that’s what we’ve got him set for,” Symons said.

“I thought he ran really well the other day. He was jammed up behind other horses for quite a while and when he got some clean air, his last 100 (metres) was really good.”

“But the draw (barrier 16) makes it tricky.”

Nihancan commenced his racing career over 1600m, finishing last at Ballarat in March. He then contested a 2000m race at Kilmore in April, finishing seventh.

Following that, Symons stated that the stable decided to adopt a more assertive racing approach.

“Early on he wasn’t switched on and then we rode him forward at Pakenham,” he commented.

“Before that we had been teaching him to settle, and we saw improvement and then he really improved at Seymour.”

“The horse that he beat ran third in the Victoria Derby and I thought he took another huge step forward at Flemington the other day.”

“I know he only ran sixth, but I like the way he hit the line and he’s screaming out for the 2500 metres.”

“If he can get into the final of that series, I think he will be thereabouts.”

Having previously trained Knight’s Choice to victory in the Melbourne Cup, Symons hopes Nihancan might one day participate in Australia’s most prestigious race, following in the footsteps of his half-sister Miami Bound who ran in the race twice.

“We’ll look and see where he ends up this spring and how he develops,” Symons remarked.

“It will all depend on each run and where he’s at, but he is a nice horse.”

Consider the racing betting markets for the Ken Cox Handicap at Australian betting sites.

The United States men’s national team made a statement to open its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, routing Paraguay 4-1 last week behind two goals from Folarin Balogun.

The U.S. struck less than seven minutes in, taking a 1-0 lead when Paraguay’s Damian Bobadilla redirected the ball into his own net. Fans inside the packed stadium in Inglewood, California, roared as the USMNT seized an early advantage.

The result gave the United States its largest World Cup victory margin since 1930, when the Americans won twice by 3–0 scores in the tournament’s inaugural edition.

After opening the tournament in Southern California, the USMNT will stay on the West Coast, shifting north to Seattle for their next group-stage match against Australia at 3 p.m. ET.

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A view of the ball in the back of the net after the USMNT scores a goal in a FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay in group stage action at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California, on June 12, 2026. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Australia opened its World Cup campaign last week with a 2-0 win over Türkiye.

Under head coach Mauricio Pochettino, the USMNT entered the tournament as the No. 17 team in the FIFA World Rankings. FIFA determines its world rankings using the Elo rating system, which rewards teams for wins and penalizes them for losses while also factoring in the strength of the competition.

Team USA’s star midfielder Christian Pulisic’s availability remains a question after he was substituted out of last week’s win over Paraguay with a left calf issue. Pulisic said the move was precautionary after he took a kick to the calf, adding that he was “really hoping that it’s nothing.”

Fans of the U.S. men’s national team celebrate outside Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Friday, June 12, 2026. (Photo by ETIENNE LAURENT / AFP via Getty Images)

Pochettino said he will consult the medical staff before deciding whether Pulisic can play in a pivotal Group D matchup. The result of the match could go a long way toward determining which team sits atop the group next week.

“Tonight – the day before the game – we have a meeting with our medical area, and we will assess the whole group, the players and tomorrow we will communicate on the things that we cannot agree [on] tonight,” Pochettino told reporters on Thursday. “He’s involv[ed], he’s much better from Friday. We’ll see.”

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Here’s how to watch the game, including start time, TV information and streaming options.

Sebastian Berhalter and Giovanni Reyna of the United States celebrate after their victory in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match against Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California, on June 12, 2026. (Jared C. Tilton/FIFA via Getty Images)

How to Watch United States vs Australia

When: Friday, June 19, 2026, at 3 p.m. ET

Where: Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington

TV: FOX

Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One, Watch free on Tubi, FOX Sports.

Former England goalkeeper Mary Earps has joined London City Lionesses on a two-year deal after leaving Paris St-Germain.

The 33-year-old left France after two seasons upon the expiry of her contract, having made 22 appearances in the Premiere Ligue this season.

She kept 12 clean sheets as PSG finished third in the table, 13 points behind champions Lyon.

“I feel the club aligns with what I stand for. I can’t wait to get started and to get down to business,” said Earps

“The club’s values represent what I want to represent and they are passionate about what I want to achieve. All the conversations have been really positive and every time I spoke with the club I wanted to hear more.

“The vision and ambition, including the new training facility, is incredible and I’m looking forward to seeing that develop. It shows what our owner Michele [Kang] and everyone at the club want to do in terms of really going for it.

“It’s about putting a marker down and saying we want to be competitive in a short space of time.”

Two-time Fifa Best Goalkeeper of the Year award-winner Earps played a crucial role in England’s victory at Euro 2022 and their route to the 2023 World Cup final.

She spent five years at Manchester United, making more than 100 appearances, and helped them win their first major trophy in 2024 as they lifted the Women’s FA Cup.

The goalkeeper earned many individual accolades during her successful international career before she announced her retirement in 2025.

She became one of the country’s most recognised and influential players, though her book – released in November – caused controversy and dominated headlines in the media for several weeks.

However, on her return to Old Trafford earlier this season in the Women’s Champions League, Earps was given a warm applause at full-time by home fans.

There is a mural of Earps painted outside Old Trafford celebrating her spell at the club.

London City Lionesses are demonstrating their summer ambition in the Women’s Super League transfer window as they pursue several high-profile players.

As well as Earps’ return to England, they are set to sign Spain defender Mapi Leon and are in ongoing talks with two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas following her exit from Barcelona.

London City Lionesses, who are backed by wealthy American businesswoman Michele Kang, finished sixth in their first season in the WSL in 2025-26.

“I feel I still have so much left to give to the game and that’s exactly why I chose London City,” said Earps.

“It won’t be easy – the WSL is extremely competitive. The team had a brilliant 2025-26 season finishing mid-table in their first season, now it’s about climbing the table and working towards finishing as high as possible.”

The deliberations on India’s roadmap for the 2027 World Cup are “not meant for public consumption”, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said in an interview to PTI, refusing to be drawn into any discussion on individual players and their much-speculated future in the team. Veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli dominate the chatter whenever there is any talk around the Indian team’s 2027 global campaign but Saikia is categorical that “strategic discussions in the board room” are best left inside.

While both former skippers are determined to play the mega-event, chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir have been non-committal on whether the squad will have space for the white-ball legends. Asked if the BCCI has had any internal conversations on the matter, Saikia said all stakeholders are aligned in their views in what is essentially an ongoing process.

“We have a very well-knit team and a lot of experts. All stakeholders are taken on board,” Saikia told PTI during an exclusive interaction.

“Whatever decisions that are made involve the cricket committee, the selectors and all other stakeholders, including the support staff, the head coach and the players concerned.

“There are regular conversations taking place. For that reason, we do not need any special session of interaction. This is an ongoing process,” the secretary said, keeping all his cards close to his chest.

He maintained that he would not divulge any board room information.

“I do not think I should disclose anything before the media or the public because these are strategic discussions. I am not authorised to speak about them before the media.” “Secondly, these are matters that should remain within the boardroom.”

BCCI to follow government diktat on Bangladesh

The Indian cricket team had postponed its white-ball tour of Bangladesh last year due to unrest in the neighbouring nation.

India’s eastern neighbours now have an elected government in place.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board too has a new president in former skipper Tamim Iqbal, who is keen on resumption of bilateral cricketing ties with India.

Asked if the BCCI’s stance would now change, Saikia replied: “The BCCI is a cricketing controlling board, and we have nothing to do with what is going on politically in other countries.” “As the BCCI, we follow whatever policy the Government of India has in place regarding participation in bilateral and multinational sporting events. Whatever regulations and policies the central government frames, we follow them, just like any other sports federation, whether it is football, athletics or any other sport,” he explained.

Saikia made it clear that it doesn’t concern the BCCI as to which party is running the government in Bangladesh.

“We are not concerned with who is running the government in a particular country, whether it is democratically elected, undemocratically elected or an autocratic government. That is none of our business.” “Our job is to run cricket. Whenever there is a scheduled tour to a foreign country for bilateral matches, we will proceed according to our plans and schedules,” Saikia said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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