Rohit Sharma faces an audition for his ODI future, needing to prove his fitness and form ahead of the next World Cup.(Photo/PTI)

DHARAMSHALA: It’s not often Rohit Sharma cuts a quiet figure in a team setting. On Friday evening, he ambled around the centre square, casually joining fielding drills while others went through a far more intense routine before nets. Rohit has never been the most agile, but his presence has always carried weight. This time, even the familiar banter was missing.The ODI World Cup in South Africa is still 15 months away, but the three-match series against Afghanistan, starting Saturday, feels like the start of an audition. Rohit, now 39, sits on 282 ODIs, 33 centuries and 11,577 runs. Yet, he is having to justify his place again and, more importantly, convince the management he can physically endure the demands of elite cricket.Head coach Gautam Gambhir, meanwhile, spent a long time in captain Shubman Gill’s ear after the latter’s batting stint. Rohit quietly slipped into the nets for a second session. Even after the rest wrapped up, he stayed back, practising slip catches with fielding coach T Dilip before Ishan Kishan joined in for wicketkeeping drills.For Gill, this is hardly straightforward either. Ahead of the last World Cup, Rohit had backed Gill’s youthful promise over the experience of Shikhar Dhawan. Now, Gill must decide whether to persist with Rohit or look ahead, potentially pairing himself with Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top.On Friday, Gill did walk across for a brief chat with Rohit after inspecting the pitch before leaving for the team hotel.Team to rotate optionsWith Virat Kohli ruled out due to a hamstring injury, the series offers an opportunity to test combinations. The management is keen to rotate between KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan and Yashasvi Jaiswal.Harshit likely to join team before 3rd ODIThe Indian team management and selectors have asked Harshit Rana to join the team ahead of the third ODI against Afghanistan in Chennai. “The team management wanted Harshit to join the team earlier in the series but it was decided that he needed more practice at CoE. He has been bowling 9-10 overs every day and he has been able to hold his intensity. He is also working very hard on his batting. He will most likely be officially cleared by CoE on June 17 and he will travel to Chennai immediately,” BCCI sources told TOI.

Christian Pulisic has sparked concern over an injury problem for the USA after his superb first-half display in the Group D World Cup 2026 opener against Paraguay.

The Milan winger shone at SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, and played a major part in two goals as Mauricio Pochettino’s side stormed into a 3-0 lead.

But the USA coach removed his talisman at the break, with a lack of clarity as to why, with some suggesting Pochettino was keen to rest the No 10.

Fox co-commentator Stu Holden took a pessimistic view of the decision to remove ‘Captain America’ though, which saw Sebastian Berhalter step into the game at the interval.

“That’s not a tactical substitution,” remarked Holden during co-commentary duties. “For your star player, something has to be up.”

While Fox also reported that Pulisic had motioned to his family and friends in the crowd: “I’m good”.

USA confirmed that Pochettino will address the situation after the match in his post-match press conference.

While the 27-year-old was seen on his feet throughout the second half and appeared to show no signs of serious discomfort.

Pulisic was excellent during the first half, operating from the left and surging past Paraguay defenders with Pochettino’s attack impressing throughout.

The former Chelsea star’s run led to the first goal, a Damian Bobadilla own-goal, before another impressive run and cut-back saw Folarin Balogun double the USA’s lead.

Balogun would add a third before the break to complete a performance that Alexi Lalas suggested as one of the greatest first-half group stage performances in Fifa World Cup history.

More than a decorated shooter and coach, Jaspal Rana’s enduring legacy lay in his generosity and unwavering commitment to nurturing Indian shooting. (Photo/Agency)

NEW DELHI: Have you ever visited the Instagram profile of late shooting legend Jaspal Rana? If you do, the first thing that catches the eye is the line in his bio. Written in Devanagari, it reads: “Jab mrityu nishchit ho, swayam ko acche kaaran ke liye samarpit karna sarvottam hai.“

Translated into English, it reveals his core philosophy. “When death is inevitable, dedicating oneself to a good cause is the highest course of action.”In the early hours of Friday, Rana, the winner of multiple gold medals across the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Championships, breathed his last just a fortnight before his 50th birthday, leaving behind a world with one less person who truly lived by that creed.Becoming an Arjuna Awardee at 18, Rana would soon transition into a coach and hone world-beaters like Manu Bhaker, Saurabh Chaudhary, and Anish Bhanwala, among others. For his deeds, he was honoured with the Dronacharya Award in 2020, well before one of his proteges, in Bhaker, went on to make history by winning two medals in a single edition of the Olympics.Last year, he took charge as the Indian shooting team’s high-performance coach. And owing to that, he flew to Munich for the ISSF World Cup earlier this summer.Among the women’s 10m air pistol squad was 22-year-old Muskan from Bhiwani, Haryana. Surrounded by established names such as Manu Bhaker, Suruchi Singh, and Esha Singh, a rising shooter could easily have felt overwhelmed. But under Jaspal Rana’s watch, that was never the case.“Just recently, when our kids went to Germany, my daughter Muskan had gone, and Suruchi had gone too,” Suresh Singh, who runs the Guru Dronacharya Shooting Academy in Haryana and serves as Suruchi’s personal coach, told TimesofIndia. com. “So my daughter casually mentioned that, ‘Sir, I don’t have this.’ There was some item she needed, I can’t quite remember what it was. Jaspal sir immediately said, ‘What do you need, beta? I’ll bring it right now.‘ He himself went to a stall, bought it, and handed it to her. When she asked about the money, he said, ‘No, beta, no money. I brought it for you, take it.’ He was a very open-hearted person.”Despite his legendary status, Rana routinely went out of his way to validate and encourage grassroots coaches working outside the national setup.“Compared to him, I am a very small coach. Coming from the Army, I haven’t achieved anything close to what he did,” Suresh said. “But whenever we met somewhere, he’d say, ‘Brother, you’re a good coach. You’re preparing good kids. You’re producing talent for India. We’ll take these kids forward, you don’t worry at all.’ He was always very helpful. He would say, ‘If you ever need to ask anything for any child, you can always ask me.‘”To him, technical insight was not proprietary information meant only for his personal pupils. If a young shooter from a different academy asked for technical adjustments or a quick tip, he would stand behind them at the lane, patiently breaking down the mechanics of the shot.When the team landed back in India, Suresh was at the airport at 2:00 AM to receive the students returning from the Munich World Cup. It was there that he noticed Rana was in physical distress.“He had already been having some trouble since Germany itself,” Suresh recalled. “And when he got off the flight, he was sweating too much. He looked uncomfortable. It was 2 AM, but as soon as he left the airport, he went straight to the hospital.”When the news of his sudden passing shook the shooting fraternity, the national team was gathered for a camp in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, the mountain state where Rana was born. The entire ecosystem he helped shape was present in his birthplace, but he was nowhere to be seen.Few felt the void more acutely than Manu Bhaker.“Manu is extremely in tremendous pain today because he was her personal coach,” Suresh added. “The whole team is here. As soon as Manu got the news, she immediately left for Delhi.”Beyond winning the medals for the country and coaching some of its finest talents, perhaps his greatest legacy lay in the acts of generosity that made a young athlete feel seen, a fellow coach feel valued, and one of his students leave the national camp behind to pay her final tributes. We may never see Jaspal Rana pacing the shooting ranges again, but will he truly leave?By dedicating his life entirely to “acche kaaran” (good cause), Rana gave life to the closing lines of Rabindranath Tagore‘s famous poem, “Mrityunjay” (Conqueror of Death):“No matter how great you become, you are not greater than death. I will depart leaving behind these final words: I am greater than death.”

The United States officially launched its FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign on home soil as Mauricio Pochettino’s side faced Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium. The occasion represented a landmark moment for American soccer, with the World Cup returning to the country for the first time since the memorable 1994 tournament.

A packed stadium, elaborate entertainment and a vibrant atmosphere underlined the significance of the event as the United States completed the opening sequence of matches hosted across the three co-host nations.

Yet amid the celebrations, one notable figure was missing: U.S. President Donald Trump.

A Historic Night for American Football

The United States entered the tournament carrying the hopes of a nation eager to make an impact on football’s biggest stage.

Following opening ceremonies in Mexico City and Toronto earlier in the week, Los Angeles hosted its own pre-match spectacle before the Americans began their World Cup journey against Paraguay.

Fans packed the stadium hours before kickoff, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of the country’s previous experience as World Cup hosts more than three decades ago.

For many supporters, it was a symbolic moment marking the start of what organizers hope will be a transformative tournament for soccer in the United States.

Why Trump Was Not in Attendance?

Despite the significance of the occasion, President Trump did not travel to California for the opening fixture.

According to officials connected to the White House’s World Cup coordination efforts, the President’s schedule prevented him from attending the match.

Andrew Giuliani, who oversees the White House’s World Cup task force, indicated that multiple commitments in Washington made it difficult for the President to be present for the tournament opener.

Not the only host nation leader missing

Trump was not the only leader of a host nation absent from an opening World Cup fixture. Earlier in the tournament, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also chose not to attend Mexico’s opening match against South Africa at the iconic Azteca Stadium.

The star-studded show featured performances from K-pop sensation Lisa, Brazilian singer Anitta, South African artist Tyla and Nigerian star Rema, while rapper Future also took part in the festivities. The ceremony lasted approximately 13 minutes and served as a vibrant curtain-raiser before attention turned to the action on the pitch.

White House Commitments Take Priority

One of the primary reasons behind Trump’s absence is a major event scheduled in Washington over the coming days.

The President is expected to remain in the capital ahead of a large-scale UFC Freedom 250 celebration planned at the White House.

The event is set to coincide with Trump’s 80th birthday celebrations and has become a key commitment on his schedule, making a cross-country trip to Los Angeles impractical.

Still Expected to Play a Role During the Tournament

Although he missed the opening match, sources close to the World Cup organizing effort suggest Trump is expected to remain engaged with the tournament as it progresses.

With matches taking place across the United States over the next several weeks, there are likely to be future opportunities for presidential involvement, particularly if the host nation advances deep into the competition.

For now, however, the spotlight remains firmly on the players as the United States begins its quest to make history on home soil.

The USMNT and Paraguay kicked off at 9 p.m. ET from Los Angeles Stadium. The USMNT, coached by Mauricio Pochettino, enters Friday at the No. 17 spot in the FIFA World Rankings.

The United States’ World Cup bid got off to a dream start when Paraguay’s Damián Bobadilla scored an own goal in the sixth minute, giving the Americans an early lead in the highly anticipated group stage matchup.

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Christian Pulisic of the United State celebrates with teammates their first goal, an own goal scored by Paraguay’s Damian Bobadilla on June 12, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (:Kiyoshi Mio/Imagn Images)

Fans inside the packed stadium in Inglewood, California, roared as the USMNT seized an early advantage.

Folarin Balogun doubled the United States’ lead in the 30th minute. The New York native celebrated enthusiastically with his teammates after scoring his first World Cup goal, a milestone moment in his international career.

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Balogun’s strike gave the U.S. a two-goal cushion in the 30th minute, the third-fastest the Americans have reached that mark in a World Cup match. The only time Team USA managed to put the ball in the net sooner was in 2002 against Portugal (29th minute) and in a 1930 meeting with Paraguay (15th minute).

Folarin Balogun of USA and Gustavo Gomez of Paraguay compete for the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.  (Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Balogun struck again just before halftime, extending the United States’ lead and sending the crowd in Inglewood into a frenzy. Balogun raced onto a pinpoint pass from teammate Malik Tillman before curling a shot into the top-left corner for a standout goal.

Team USA headed into halftime with a commanding 3-0 lead.

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This story is developing. Check back for updates.

England were victims of a theft of their training equipment before their arrival in Kansas City on Saturday.

The Football Association is trying to ascertain what was stolen, with balls and boots among the items feared to have been taken, after vehicles transferring equipment to their Swope Soccer Village base in Kansas City were broken into.

Thomas Tuchel and his squad will arrive in Kansas City on Saturday afternoon and the equipment was due to be in place beforehand.

Police officers, who are in touch with the FA, were on site on Friday night dealing with the matter.

It is understood two arrests have been made in connection with the episode.

The theft could potentially disrupt some of Tuchel’s preparations for their World Cup opener against Croatia on Wednesday (21:00 BST).

The England players will undertake their first full training day on Sunday.

The future of New Orleans Saints star running back Alvin Kamara continues to be one of the most intriguing NFL storylines this offseason. With a hefty salary cap hit and the team bringing in Travis Etienne Jr., the Saints are weighing options around Kamara ahead of next season.

A social media post from the veteran on Friday added more fuel to the speculation. Kamara shared a post that centered on the importance of building new relationships and connections on X, and it immediately caught the attention of Saints fans, who are monitoring his situation.

“Haven’t had time for anybody outside of my circle lately. Building…,” Kamara wrote.

While the message was vague and didn’t make a direct reference to football and his uncertain future with the Saints, many interpreted it as potentially significant. This is given the ongoing questions about whether Alvin Kamara will remain in New Orleans in the upcoming season.

Although the veteran running back remains under contract with the Saints, the franchise has openly acknowledged that his long-term fit with the organization is still being evaluated. It is noteworthy that the team is navigating salary cap challenges and potential roster transition.

The timing of Alvin Kamara’s post has, however, left many guessing what could be going on behind the scenes regarding his future. His absence from the Saints’ OTAs this week has further ignited the rumors around him, but he’s expected to show up for the mandatory minicamp.

Analyst explores how Alvin Kamara’s return will impact the Saints’ depth chart

With the Saints yet to make a move on the future of Alvin Kamara, it looks like the running back will be on the team’s 53-man roster for the 2026 season. Saints Wire’s John Sigler explores how the veteran’s return will impact the team’s running back depth chart this fall.

“We know that Etienne and Kamara are safe (barring a hiccup in contract talks that leads to Kamara being traded),” Sigler wrote. “That leaves two spots for five players, with the likeliest candidates looking like Miller, Neal, and Estime.

“That’s not to say Chandler and Donaldson don’t have a chance, but there’s less invested in those guys than their competition, or at least not enough to give them an edge. They have a steeper hill to climb.”

It remains to be seen how much Kamara will be involved in the Saints’ run game next season with the presence of Travis Etienne. He appeared in just 11 games last season, recording a career-low 471 rushing yards and a touchdown. Nonetheless, his legacy at the franchise speaks for itself.