The subsidiary would be responsible for FIFA’s commercial rights like broadcast, sponsorship, ticketing and licensing contracts for its competitions, including the World Cup.
UEFA’s 55 members met to discuss a response to FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s controversial plans.
“No UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership,” UEFA said in a statement.
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“The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product… No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale,” the statement added.
Shortly after, North America’s soccer body CONCACAF unanimously rejected the FIFA plan, though it stopped short of a boycott.
UEFA swiftly rejected FIFA’s proposal
UEFA had come out publicly in opposition to the plan within an hour of it first being reported by the Financial Times and Times on Tuesday.
Shortly after the newspaper reports, FIFA, the sport’s global governing body, issued a statement confirming the plan.
In a later statement, it gave FIFA’s 211 member associations until September 19 to express their written support for the scheme. The proposal requires a simple majority and approval from the FIFA Council to pass.
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Even before Thursday’s meeting, UEFA had doubled down on its criticism after learning of the deadline, saying: “Today we have learned of FIFA’s deadline to associations to support their proposals or have the one-off payout offer withdrawn. This says everything you need to know about this plan.
Aleksander Ceferin’s UEFA has been at loggerheads with FIFA for some timeImage: Mike Egerton/PA/picture alliance
It added that talks with many stakeholders showed that “there is significant and growing opposition to FIFA’s scheme. FIFA cannot to use our sport to enrich themselves and their friends.”
DFB: FIFA plan ‘problematic and unacceptable’
Germany’s mass-circulation Bild paper reported that key UEFA officials including German FA (DFB) President Bernd Neuendorf had already discussed the FIFA plans via a video call on Wednesday.
“We must not lose the fans’ support, but we are well on the way to squandering that,” he told public broadcaster ZDF. “I consider this to be extremely problematic and unacceptable.
“If UEFA rejects this request (for approval of the plan), then it is dead, because I believe that you won’t be able to find any investor who would be willing to go ahead with this project if UEFA is out,” he added.
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Bernd Neuendorf can’t see the FIFA plan going forward without UEFA on boardImage: Ulrich Wagner/picture alliance
Other critics have expressed fears that the deal could lead to more tournaments, teams and matches to increase revenue and boost the value of investors’ stakes.
UEFA hasn’t been the only confederation to criticize the report. CONCACAF, responsible for North and Central America, as well as the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have also expressed concerns that the proposal was made public without their consultation while the African confederation (CAF) have said they will discuss the plans next week.
Members of the FIFA Council, including Neuendorf, have said they were not consulted on the latest proposal.
FIFA: Subsidiary could raise billions ‘this year’
FIFA has said the new subsidiary, to be known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) would be valued at $20 billion and that it would aim to raise up to $4.2 billion “this year” by “carefully selecting long-term investors who will purchase minority, non-controlling interests” in the company.
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Under the plan, FIFA said it could make $10 billion available for development beginning in 2027. Each federation would be eligible for up to $20 million in one-time Fast Forward funding, in addition to $20 million through the regular FIFA Forward program during the 2027-30 cycle. Without approval, FIFA projects a development package of about $2.7 billion.
FIFA unveils controversial World Cup investor plan
Infantino: ‘A golden opportunity’
In the face of the opposition, FIFA President Gianni Infantino released a video on Wednesday evening, describing the project a “golden opportunity to turbocharge the development of the game globally.”
He added that the proposal was “part of a democratic process” and in comments directed to football fans, he stressed that “the sport they watch and love will not change.”
European football’s governing body UEFA said on Thursday it would boycott the World Cup if FIFA pressed ahead with its private investor plan. “No UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership,” UEFA said in a statement. FRANCE 24’s James Vasina reports.
Serie A giants AS Roma travel to Wales this weekend to face off with EFL Championship side Cardiff City in a pre-season friendly.
This will be Cardiff’s final pre-season game before their 2026-27 campaign officially begins next weekend, while Roma still have three more games following this one.
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So can Roma start their time in Wales with a win, or will Cardiff pick up a big scalp?
Cardiff City vs AS Roma Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
The last time Cardiff faced off with Roma in a friendly match was prior to the 1963-64 season, when they travelled to Italy and suffered a 1-4 loss, a tour that also saw them draw 3-3 with Juventus and lose to Lazio.
Cardiff have already played three pre-season friendlies, beginning with a bad 0-6 defeat at the hands of Midtjylland. Since then, though, the Welsh side have beaten both Forest Green Rovers and Cork City, scoring eleven goals in those two games while conceding just two.
Roma’s first pre-season friendly saw them travel to Cannes, and they ended up drawing 3-3 with the French third-tier side. They are set to follow this match against Cardiff with one against another Welsh side, Newport County, before they play Brighton and Borussia Dortmund.
Outside of France’s Manu Kone, who remains on an extended break following the World Cup, Roma have a full-strength squad to call upon for this match, with the likes of Paolo Dybala, Donyell Malen and Matias Soule all available.
Cardiff’s eleven-goal haul in their last two friendly matches was not a surprise to fans who followed them in their League One campaign last season. The Bluebirds were the competition’s top scorers with 90 goals, something that heavily contributed to their promotion.
Cardiff City vs AS Roma Prediction
There’s no doubt that on paper, Roma are a far superior outfit to Cardiff, even without arguably their best player in the form of Manu Kone.
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However, Cardiff are very dangerous going forward – as their recent friendly wins showed – and they do have the home advantage here. What’s more, they will be arguably better-prepared and sharper for this match after playing more games, while Roma looked rusty against Cannes.
With that in mind, then, the prediction here is a score draw,
Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has spoken for the first time since Nigeria’s shocking 3-2 defeat to Malawi at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), promising that the team will learn from the setback and return stronger.
The nine-time African champions suffered a surprise defeat in their Group C opener, leaving their title defence under immediate pressure.
Reacting in a post on social media on Thursday, July 30, Nnadozie admitted the result was painful but praised the fighting spirit of the team.
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“This one hurts really bad. Not the result we wanted, but the fight was real. Left it all on the field, but wasn’t enough to get the three points,” she wrote.
“We take full responsibility for our performance against a very tough opponent. It stings, but we grow. Falls hurt, but we do not stay down.”
The goalkeeper ended her message on a positive note, saying: “Head high, heart full. Proud of this team, always.”
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Her comments came after head coach Justin Madugu defended his players following the defeat, insisting the loss was a collective failure and not the fault of any individual.
“Chiamaka Nnadozie is a top-class goalkeeper. It wasn’t the fault of one player, we generally had a bad day as a team,” Madugu said.
The coach described the defeat as a wake-up call and expressed confidence that the Super Falcons have the quality and experience to recover.
“We have identified the areas we need to improve on, and we’ll go back to work immediately. I believe this team has the quality, character and experience to bounce back stronger,” he said.
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Nigeria will now shift focus to a crucial Group C clash against Zambia on August 1, knowing that victory is vital to keep alive their hopes of winning a record-extending 10th WAFCON title.
Senne Lammens cemented his place as United’s No.1 in his debut season at Old Trafford, while Andre Onana has already has already joined Trabzonspor on loan. Michael Carrick has added Karl Darlow on a free transfer from Leeds United to his array of shotstoppers, but could yet lose Altay Bayindir and Radek Vitek.
Gill’s agent has suggested that the goalkeeper will soon leave for San Lorenzo. He told DSports Radio: “We are in talks with English clubs as well as clubs in Germany.
“There were enquiries with Manchester United. We only received two concrete offers. We are currently in the negotiation phase.
“The sale is close, the time is right. We have to handle it very carefully because there are many things involved. It’s ideal for him to take a step up in quality. He’s prepared and capable of playing in any league, without a doubt.”
He added, “We’re trying to finalise it as quickly as possible for everyone’s benefit. It would be very important for San Lorenzo; hopefully, it will come to fruition.”
United glovesman Lammens returned to Carrington on Thursday following his post-World Cup break. Vitek has featured in each of the club’s friendlies so far against Wrexham and Rosenborg.
After the clash against the Westlsh side, the former Bristol City loanee confirmed that he is ready to find a new club.
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“I feel great and ready to go again somewhere to be, hopefully, number one, so we will see. We will see what is going to happen,” Vitek said.
“At the moment, I am still here, but we will see. I hope so. I hope there will be some interest. I think you will know when things are more concrete.
“I am ready for both, to be fair. [It] Depends what the club wants and also depends on the options. We will see.
“There have been a few interests on the table. But we hope to get the best one and hopefully it will happen soon.”
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Just as he did in Birmingham four years ago, Ball had got, well, the ball rolling,
He competes in tandem races as an athlete with a visual impairment and is a multiple world champion across the tandem sprint events, also winning a gold at the 2024 Paralympics in the tandem B kilo alongside his pilot Steffan Lloyd.
In 2022, he was Team Wales’ first Commonwealth medallist and first gold medallist This time Ball delivered the first cycling podium position in the men’s B tandem 1,000m time trial.
Ball and Rotherham matched the silver they won in Birmingham with great rival Neil Fachie from Scotland taking the gold.
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It was a third successive Commonwealth Games second place in this event for Ball.
“It is special to equal to what we did in Birmingham four years ago,” said Ball.
“We have to be proud of what we’ve done. We gave it everything on the track and I was on the floor for 20 minutes afterwards.”
Fachie effectively came out of retirement for this event and now has six Commonwealth Games golds and one silver to his name.
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The rivalry between Fachie and Ball is long-standing with Rotherham having been the pilot for both men.
Fachie won gold in this event four years ago, while the results were reversed in the tandem sprint.
So Ball and Rotherham will have a chance to defend their sprint title on Saturday.
Rotherham, who hails from Bolton, said: “I spent three days learning the Welsh national anthem and I’m gutted I didn’t get to sing it today.
The Webbed Fruit is a Secret Equipment introduced in the Release Update (0.0) of Anime Expeditions on July 17, 2026. It is a Unit-type Equipment designed exclusively for String Demon (Awakened), the evolved version of the String Demon unit. You can obtain it as a drop from the Mastery Act of the Rose Kingdom.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Webbed Fruit in Anime Expeditions.
An overview of the Webbed Fruit in Anime Expeditions
The Webbed Fruit info (Image via Roblox)
How to get
The Webbed Fruit is obtained by completing the Mastery mode of Rose Kingdom, the third Story stage in Anime Expeditions.
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Rose Kingdom features five Acts, an Infinite Act, and a Mastery Act. The Webbed Fruit can only drop from the last Act. The Equipment has the following drop rates:
5% drop chance after completing the Rose Kingdom Mastery Stage.
20-Run Pity, guaranteeing the Equipment if you don’t obtain it within 20 Mastery clears.
Although you can farm the Equipment at any time, it can only be equipped after evolving String Demon into String Demon (Awakened).
Stats and passive
The Webbed Fruit comes with two rollable substats:
Range: +1% to +10%
SPA: -1% to -5%
These values are randomized when the Equipment drops. You can improve them later by using Equipment Rerolls if you’re looking for better stat rolls. Webbed Fruit grants the Cocoon of Carnage passive, which completely overrides String Demon (Awakened)’s original passive ability.
The passive works as follows:
Every five regular attacks, the unit Cocoons all enemies hit.
Cocooned enemies remain trapped until they are either:
Hit 10 times, or
Held for five seconds.
If the Cocoon is broken after receiving 10 hits, it explodes and deals 125% of String Demon (Awakened)’s current damage. If the Cocoon survives the full five seconds without being broken, it simply disappears without dealing the bonus damage.
Thanks to its increased range, faster attack speed, and reliable crowd-control effects, the Webbed Fruit is considered the best Equipment for String Demon (Awakened) and significantly improves the unit’s overall performance.
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How to evolve String Demon into String Demon (Awakened)
To evolve String Demon into its Awakened form, you’ll need the following materials:
1x Joker of the Nonsensical Pirates (obtained from the Strings of Captivity Unit Trial)
20x Yellow Sprite
20x Pink Sprite
1x Rainbow Sprite
5,000 Gold
Once all the required materials have been collected, you can evolve the unit into String Demon (Awakened), allowing it to equip the Webbed Fruit.
FAQs on Anime Expeditions
How do you get the Webbed Fruit in Anime Expeditions?
It drops from the Rose Kingdom Mastery Stage with a 5% drop chance and features a 20-run pity system.
Which unit can use the Webbed Fruit?
Only String Demon (Awakened) can equip this Unit-type Equipment.
What stats does the Webbed Fruit provide?
It grants +1% to +10% Range and -1% to -5% SPA, with both stats being randomly rolled.
Day 2 of the MLBB Mid Season Cup (MSC) 2026 Knockout took place on July 30, 2026. Russia’s Team Spirit hammered Malaysia’s Team Vamos in the Quarterfinals and advanced to the Semifinals. Indonesia’s ONIC also reached the Semifinals by defeating Turkey’s Aurora Gaming. Vamos and Aurora were eliminated from the event.
The MSC 2026 Knockout Stage kicked off on July 29 with eight teams. The Quarterfinal matches were played in the first two days of the stage. So far, four teams have been eliminated from the MLBB contest, while Team Spirit, ONIC, Falcons, and Yangon Galacticos are in the race for the trophy.
Day 2 summary of MSC 2026 Knockout
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On Day 2, Team Spirit played magnificently in their first match against Team Vamos and won the battle 3-0. The Russian squad looked impressive in all three rounds of the match. They will now face ONIC in the Semifinals for a spot in the Grand Finals.
Team Vamos was impressive in the Group Stage as the Malaysian side clinched two consecutive matches and entered the Playoffs. They had defeated Team Spirit there but failed to beat them in the Playoffs.
ONIC outplayed Aurora Gaming in a high-octane clash by a scoreline of 3-2. The Indonesian lineup had a disappointing start to the match, losing out in the opening round. They then made a quick comeback and defeated their opponent in the second round, but didn’t maintain their consistency and lost another round. The lineup managed to win the last two rounds.
Aurora Gaming made a nice start to the MSC 2026, as the squad outclassed defending champion Team Liquid in their first match of the Group Stage. The Turkish team also beat ONIC in the Group Stage to qualify for the Playoffs but were unable to win against them in the Playoffs, getting eliminated from the event.
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On Day 1, Team Falcons emerged victorious against TeamVitality 3-1 and qualified for the Semifinals. Yangon Galacticos came out victorious against Pro Esports and entered the Semifinals. Both the losing teams were knocked out of the competition.
On July 31, the first match of the Semifinals will be held between Team Falcons and Yangon Galacticos at 15:30 IST. The second match of the Semifinals will be played between Team Spirit and ONIC at 18:00 IST. The winners of both games will move to the Grand Finals, while the losers will be eliminated from the MSC 2026.
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Retired Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci is back in Montreal to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Summer Games, where she became the first gymnast to score a perfect 10 in Olympic competition.
Comaneci, who won five medals, including three gold, at the Games, says returning to Montreal is always emotional and describes the city as one of the defining parts of her life, alongside gymnastics and Romania.
Comaneci, then 14, recalls not realizing she had made history after scoring a perfect 10 on the uneven bars because the scoreboard displayed “1.00” since organizers had not expected anyone to achieve the feat.
Canadian Olympic Committee president Tricia Smith, who competed in rowing at the Montreal Games, says revisiting the 1976 Olympics reminds her how far Canadian sport has come over the past 50 years.
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Smith said the Montreal Games came at a time when opportunities for women in sport were much more limited than they are today.
The 64-year-old Comaneci will attend an event outside Montreal’s Olympic Stadium on Saturday and says she is looking forward to meeting women who were named Nadia in her honour after the 1976 Games.
Joe Pride commences each racing season in precisely the same manner – with a blank whiteboard, two ambitious objectives, and a significant dose of optimism.
Two uncomplicated headings are present in the trainer’s office: ‘metro wins’ and ‘feature wins’. Adjacent to each is a target number, goals that Pride admits are deliberately set high.
For the 2025/26 season, Pride had set himself the demanding target of 60 metropolitan victories, a figure that ultimately proved just out of reach.
“I never meet the targets because I set myself lofty targets for each one,” Pride said. “The target was sixty metro wins. I count the interstate ones as well, and we got forty-four or forty-five, which is a good season.”
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The second section of the whiteboard tracks stakes winners by name. Pride had established a goal of 18 black-type winners and believes he came closer to this than many acknowledge.
“I had (a goal of) eighteen stakes winners. There are sixteen on my board. Everyone tells me it’s fifteen, but the Alan Brown is a black type race. It wasn’t last year, but I’ve counted it,” Pride stated.
After training a winner at the final Sydney metropolitan meeting of the season on Wednesday, Pride updated the final numbers, captured a photograph for posterity, and, with some reluctance, erased the board.
It did not remain empty for long.
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Two fresh headings and two new targets are already in place as Pride aims to make a perfect start to the 2026/27 season at Rosehill this Saturday.
Fittingly, champion jockey James McDonald will partner the gelding in the race named in honour of his Sydney jockeys’ premiership success.
Zouripper is backing up after finishing a solid third behind Hawker Hall at Randwick last week, and Pride is confident the quick turnaround will suit.
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“I ran him ten days after his first run and he ran well again, so hopefully he can do it,” Pride commented. “He’s racing really honestly and with a lot of determination.”
He expects Aberlour to improve with more racing and over longer distances, while believing Gatsby’s can bounce back after struggling in heavy conditions at his latest start.
“Gatsby’s was unlucky the other day because he was trapped wide, but I also wouldn’t run him in those (heavy) conditions again,” Pride advised. “He’s back on reasonable ground with his blinkers back on.”
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With another blank whiteboard ready to be filled, Pride embarks on a new campaign, aiming to convert ambitious targets into another successful season.
Find the latest racing markets for the Congratulations James McDonald Handicap.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) is brought down by Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Jalen Redmond (61) during first-half action at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Redmond applied pressure and finished the play with a tackle during the contest played on Dec 14, 2025, as the Vikings defense worked to contain Dallas. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images.
Vikings training camp is underway. Minnesota’s defense and special teams will have many new additions but the expectation is that these areas of the team will continue to perform at a high enough level and with the aid of a better performing quarterback lead the team to the playoffs..
The defense comes off a fine season in which the Vikings ranked third in yards per game, second in pass defense, 21st in run D, and seventh in points allowed (which is extra impressive considering the offense led the league with 30 giveaways, often giving the opposing teams good field position).
DC Brian Flores will be looking for his unit to improve against the run and produce more takeaways this season. The Vikings led the NFL with 33 takeaways in the 14-win season of 2024 but dropped to 21 last season (still ranked 10th). There was a big drop-off in interceptions from a league-leading 24 in 2024 to eight in 2025.
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It appears the defense could have five new starters this season—two on the defensive line, one at edge rusher after the trade of Jonathan Greenard, one at safety if Harrison Smith retires, and one at the third corner spot (a virtual starter who usually plays more than 50% of the defensive snaps).
The special teams will break in a new punter/holder in Johnny Hekker who replaces the departed Ryan Wright. Kicker Will Reichard comes off a First-team All-Pro season.
Let’s further break down the defense and special teams by position.
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Vikings Training Camp Preview
Defensive Line:
Gone are vets Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave who were starters in 2025. Newcomers include a pair of heavyweight high draftees—first rounder Caleb Banks and third rounder Domonique Orange.
Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks is selected by the Minnesota Vikings as the number 18 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
I’m excited to watch these two rookies go against the Vikings interior O-line in camp and in the preseason games and joint practices with Baltimore. But will Banks be able to get on the field in team drills immediately or be phased in after his foot surgery and can he stay healthy? And how quickly will Orange earn Flores’ trust?
Jalen Redmond comes off an excellent second season (six sacks, 62 tackles, 12 tackles-for-loss and eight QB hits). Redmond will be highly motivated to have a big season to set himself up for a possible big payday next offseason when he’ll be a restricted free agent. Levi Drake Rodriguez and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins are later round picks from recent years who have shown promise and could push for starting roles.
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The young players on the D-line must come through to keep the defense as a top-five unit.
Edge/Outside Linebackers:
The starters are fine with the terrific, instinctual Andrew Van Ginkel and the super-athletic Dallas Turner. Van Ginkel has to stay healthy after missing five games with a concussion and neck injury last season yet he still managed to produce seven sacks, 54 tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss, and 13 QB hits. The 2024 Pro Bowler is being counted on to be a great playmaker again.
Turner had a breakout second season in which he started 10 games due to Greenard’s shoulder injury. Turner led the Vikings with eight sacks and had four forced fumbles, 66 tackles, 11 TFLs and 15 QB hits. He should become a double-digit sacker in his third season as a former first-round pick and he needs to produce at that level with Greenard traded to the Eagles (which I didn’t agree with).
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Jun 10, 2025; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (43), linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) and linebacker Dallas Turner (15) talk during minicamp at the Minnesota Vikings Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
The big question at this position is the depth as top defenses usually have waves of edge rushers. I think second-rounder Jake Golday is a key player who played both inside backer and edge in college. Unless we see a big improvement from the likes of Bo Richter, Chaz Chambliss, and/or Tyler Batty, it seems that Golday is going to have to make an impact as an outside rusher from Day One.
If there is doubt in the coaches’ minds about the quality depth on the edge, the wise extension of Brian O’Neill could free up some cap room for the Vikings to take a necessary run at signing a veteran from the list of available free agents that includes Jadeveon Clowney, Haason Reddick and Kyle Van Noy.
Inside Linebackers:
This is a strength on defense with a pair of excellent playmakers inside—Blake Cashman and Eric Wilson who were the top two tacklers last season (144 tackles for Cashman with two sacks in 13 games and Wilson had 115 tackles plus 6.5 sacks and a team-leading 17 tackles-for-loss).
Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson (55) tackles Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
Ivan Pace is a former starter who was beat out by Wilson but Pace along with Golday and possibly newly signed Jamal Adams provide good depth inside. Adams is a former three-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro early in his career as a safety before battling injuries for several seasons. He played in every game for the Raiders last season with four starts and had 45 tackles. Perhaps he can play a Josh Metellus type linebacker-safety combo role for the creative Flores.
Cornerbacks:
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The top three appear set with two solid starters in 2024 Pro Bowler Byron Murphy and Isaiah Rodgers plus the third corner role will go to free agent signee James Pierre unless speedy fifth-round rookie Charles Demmings makes a big move in camp. But it may take Demmings some time as he comes from smaller school Stephen F. Austin. The third corner is a critical position with so many teams having three quality wide receivers so the third corner often is picked on.
I’ll be watching how Pierre and Demmings perform in camp against the Vikings excellent WR corps as a precursor to how they can help or hurt the team in the regular season.
The Vikings may again only keep four corners as they did on their initial 53-man roster last season. So players such as Dwight McGlothern, Tavierre Thomas, and Kahlef Hailassie will have to make a big impression in camp and in preseason games in the secondary and on special teams to earn a roster spot.
Safeties:
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If Harrison Smith returns, I think the defense is in good enough shape at safety with Smith and Metellus as starters and third-rounder Jakobe Thomas as a young up-and-comer at the position who should supplant a shaky Theo Jackson as the third safety (and I like Jay Ward’s play better than Jackson).
Minnesota Vikings safety Jay Ward (20) intercepts a deflected pass during fourth-quarter action against the Philadelphia Eagles, with the play unfolding on Aug 24, 2024 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, as Ward tracks the tipped ball and secures the turnover late in the game. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-USA TODAY Sports.
I think Smith will return. He loves playing in Flores’ defense and has a great relationship with Kevin O’Connell. I think Smith should return after playing well down the stretch last season. If he decides to retire, then safety is a trouble spot where Thomas will have to develop quickly into a quality starter.
Metellus is a good tackler and blitzer but he’s limited in his coverage skills and has to be protected against getting caught in a situation as was the case when A.J. Brown beat him for a TD last season in the loss to the Eagles. Perhaps Adams can fill in if needed but he probably can’t run like he used to which is why he was a linebacker in Vegas last season.
Special Teams:
I was surprised Wright left in free agency after a good 2025 season. He had great chemistry with Reichard and snapper Andrew DePaola. But Wright obviously loves the New Orleans area after playing at Tulane so he signed with the Saints.
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The Vikings saved cap room with the Hekker signing compared to Wright’s new deal but Wright is 10 years younger. Hekker had a solid 2025 season in Tennessee (46.8 yard average; Wright averaged a career-best 49 yards per punt).We’ll have to see how this plays out with the change to Hekker.
Nov 23, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Minnesota Vikings place kicker Will Reichard (16) reacts with punter Ryan Wright (17) after kicking a field goal against the Green Bay Packers during the first half at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-Imagn Images
Myles Price, Tai Felton, and Demond Claiborne will compete for the kickoff and punt returner roles. I thought Price was okay last season and should be better in his second season.
As for the coverage units, the Vikings will miss the retired C.J. Ham. There are a lot of good young athletes who have been added and I like the potential of players from the 2026 draft class such as fifth-rounder Max Bredeson along with Golday, Thomas, Demmings, and Claiborne to be impact special teamers. But whoever is on the coverage units can’t get out of their lanes as happened on the costly kickoff return by the Bears’ Devin Duvernay in the second meeting last season that set up the winning field goal.
Bottom line: a lot of young players are being counted on and must perform well for the defense and special teams to be playoff caliber. I believe overall that will be the case.
It will be fascinating to watch as all three phases come together in training camp in preparation for a massive season opener against the Packers.
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Jeff Diamond is a former Vikings GM, former Tennessee Titans President and was selected NFL Executive of the Year … More about Jeff Diamond
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