Mauricio Pochettino had spent the past few days summoning belief in what the USA might achieve in the face of scepticism. Can they win the World Cup, he was repeatedly asked, to which his stock response was: “Why not? We can dream.” After this hugely impressive 4-1 win over Paraguay in Los Angeles, perhaps Pochettino’s task now is to manage inflated expectations, to temper America’s wildest dreams.
The first half in particular was 45 minutes of perfection, broken only by three minutes of needless hydration. One of America’s nagging concerns in recent years has been the lack of a ruthless striker but Monaco forward Folarin Balogun scored three times, one of which was ruled out for offside, and the last of which was a brilliantly composed and precise finish into the top corner of Orlando Gill’s goal.
That strike wrapped a half full of endeavour and spirit, but also technical quality and intelligent movement. Pochettino has spent most of his two-year reign as manager testing and tweaking, trying to find the right balance between attack and defence, between left and right, and here his team worked in seamless sync.
Sergino Dest was a constant threat on the right wing with his direct dribbling, while Paraguay’s right-back Juan Jose Caceres must have contracted the twisties trying to fend off Christian Pulisic on the opposite side. Pulisic offered creative spark and set up Balogun’s first goal before being replaced at half-time.
“I just got a bit of a kick in the first half, so I’m really hoping that it’s nothing,” Pulisic said after the game. “Taking a little bit of precaution today, but I’m hoping I’ll be fine the next few days.”
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USA’s reliance on Pulisic has often weighed heavily on this generation’s star player. His face has been all over billboards and on TV adverts here. But the performance of Balogun up front and Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie stitching moves together in the No 10 role suggested that responsibility will be shared around.
“It’s a dream,” Balogun after his World Cup debut. “It’s a dreamy night.”
(Reuters)
This World Cup is not just a test of the USA’s place in the game but a test of the game’s place in the USA. It is now the fourth most popular sport in America, with more fans than ever watching Major League Soccer and more children than ever playing the game. With a World Cup on home soil, there will never be a better platform for America to climb closer to the sport’s summit.
To be in LA over the past few days was to meet two different types of America. The majority only vaguely know the World Cup is happening and have no idea the US are playing in their own city or which players are on the team. They assume “Pochettino” is a type of coffee. It can feel like the World Cup has barely registered in a city this vast, like a damselfly landing on a water buffalo’s back.
But there are thousands of football fans if you look in the right places. US shirts, Mexico shirts, Argentina shirts, people passionate about the game and giddy its greatest show has arrived on their doorstep.
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“What is success?” Pochettino keeps being asked. Perhaps it is not a specific knockout round but a feeling, a moment, a late winner that grips the entire country, even those oblivious to what is going on right now. USA’s task here is not so much to win the World Cup as to take the country on an unforgettable ride so that in years to come, the words “that summer of 2026” transport them back to a moment in time when they felt something.
The job of this squad, a diverse band of brothers, is to connect with the American public, and this was the perfect start. The evening began with an opening ceremony and organisers provided all the bombast you’d expect, with a series of musical acts headlined by Katy Perry and a parade of national flags reminiscent of an Olympic Games. Iran’s flag was among the 48, although it was somewhat comical that the event’s MC called for “a round of applause for peace” before kick-off.
Mauricio Pochettino, Head Coach of the United States, celebrates (Getty)
There appeared to be almost as many Paraguay fans as US supporters inside this extraordinary spaceship of a stadium, almost as many vertical red and white stripes as horizontal ones, like the world’s most devilish game of Where’s Wally. Like several other games so far there were some empty seats which undermined the wisdom of Fifa’s ticketing policy, although several fans entering the stadium told The Independent they had paid around $1,000 for tickets, so Fifa may not miss a few going unsold.
Donald Trump did not attend but Tom Cruise, David Beckham, Brad Pitt, Halle Berry, Hilary Duff and Vince Vaughn were among the famous faces posted on giant screens with their names captioned beneath them, as they do here. What they witnessed was the standout performance of the tournament so far.
Pulisic danced into the box before drawing the mistake from Bobadilla for America’s first goal, and Pulisic was involved again down the left when he raced into space before squaring for Balogun to convert a sharp first-time finish. Balogun’s second goal was even better, shrugging off a defender before pausing just a moment and then spearing a shot into the top corner.
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Paraguay pulled a goal back in the second half through substitute Mauricio, but the US showed off their firepower in reserve when Gio Reyna came off the bench to swerve an arcing finish past Gill to seal three points.
“Poch has said many times, why not us?” added Balogun. “We have to believe. You can’t do anything if you don’t believe in yourself.” By the full-time whistle, there were no more disbelievers.
Nick Taylor’s career highlight to this point came at the 2023 Canadian Open when he dropped a 72-foot eagle putt to beat Tommy Fleetwood and win his national open in a playoff. Barring a major championship win, that will likely be the top line of Taylor’s career obituary whenever he hangs up his golf spikes. Taylor understandably holds his national open in high regard, as Rory McIlroy does with the Irish Open, Adam Scott with the Australian Open and so on.
Last week at the Memorial in Dublin, Ohio, Rolapp spoke briefly with a group of reporters to discuss how the new schedule is shaping up and when it might be implemented. While the proposal is still being discussed, the plan is for the PGA Tour to adopt a two-track system, with the top players on one track and golfers on the lower track competing to move up. Details have not yet been made public, but Rolapp has said the system would see Track 1 host roughly 20 events, including the four majors, with a field size of around 120 players and purses of $20 million. While nothing is decided, players on Track 1 will likely be discouraged or prohibited from playing in Track 2 events.
“At the end of the day, sports is about how good the athletes are and what the competitive consequences are,” Rolapp told reporters at the Memorial, per ESPN’s Mark Schlabach. “I think we have lost a lot of that with the smaller fields, no-cut events. The competitive meritocracy that makes this sport great and unique is what we’ve gotten away from [and is what] we’re getting back to.”
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As Rolapp and the FCC work to remake the schedule, the Canadian Open and those who make it an annual stop are left wondering what the future holds for the event and others like it. Will it be a Track 1 or Track 2 event? Will it still be considered an “Open” if it’s a Track 1 event with a set field? And regardless of the track it’s on, how will players who make it a staple of their schedules deal with potentially being unable to tee it up because of the track they reside on?
“That would certainly suck,” Taylor said on Wednesday, bluntly, ahead of this year’s RBC Canadian Open. “I talked to a lot of guys that are on the PAC, a lot of people with the Tour, I think the goal in mind is to have the best product possible. That’s the scenario that I’ve asked and questioned, and what happens in that scenario or in that case. I guess time will tell. I wouldn’t love that certainly. I know there’s a lot of guys that maybe have their local events that that might be a possibility as well. So I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, but I think it would probably obviously lose the Open name because nobody can essentially earn their way into it or play into it. So it’s unique for us, being a National Open. If you can’t play in it, that’s going to be a big bummer. But again, I think the goal is to make the best product possible.”
Fellow Canadian Corey Conners is hopeful the PGA Tour’s new schedule will have a place for the Canadian Open where it can continue to grow as a popular and meaningful stop — one that he and other Canadians will be able to still play annually.
“I’m really passionate about this event,” Conners said. “I care a lot about this event. The Open factor, you know, it’s always been nice to have 21 Canadians, give some young Canadian players an opportunity to play at such an elite event. So definitely I think there’s going to be some changes. Nothing’s been quite decided, but I’m optimistic that the Canadian Open’s going to continue to thrive and hopefully it can continue to be a big part of the PGA Tour and I can continue trying to chase down the trophy.”
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The Canadian Open isn’t the only PGA Tour stop dealing with uncertainty, although that comes in different shapes and sizes depending on the event. In March, the Cognizant Classic, formerly called the Honda Classic, dealt with a wave of WDs prior to the tournament. With the event slotted behind the Genesis Invitational and in front of the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Players Championship, it has gone from a popular Tour stop that used to see Tiger Woods, Sergio Garcia, Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler and others attend, to one that gets just a handful of the top 50 players in the world. It was a hint at what might be around the corner for the event in The Palm Beaches.
“It’s tough with any tournament on the PGA Tour schedule, outside of Signature Events, due to a multitude of reasons,” Florida native Billy Horschel, who is a regular at the Cognizant, said in March. “We had this issue before the Signature Events were around. We’ve always had this issue. A decade ago, this event was unbelievable with the field, but where it fell in the schedule was really good for a lot of the guys that lived here. … This field has sort of been up and down the last couple years. When you’ve got so many events on the PGA Tour schedule and you’ve got guys trying to figure out where they’re going to fit, it’s tough to fill a field.
“It’s not just Cognizant. A whole bunch of tournaments are struggling.”
The Cognizant will reportedly have a similar spot in the 2027 bridge-year schedule, sitting between the Genesis and Cadillac Championship and Players Championship as the Arnold Palmer Invitational shifts to later in March. But with the new Tour structure slated to arrive in 2028, Rolapp’s plan to highlight scarcity and up the competitive structure will leave many events grappling with a new reality, or, in the case of the Rocket Mortgage, perhaps see them fade away as the world of the PGA Tour haves and have-nots becomes more crystallized.
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The RBC Canadian Open has a long and rich history. It was Arnold Palmer’s first Tour win in 1955 and the site of one of Tiger Woods’ greatest shots. Its list of winners includes Woods, Palmer, McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Sam Snead, Jim Furyk, Lee Trevino, Jason Day and others.
When Taylor’s 72-foot eagle putt dropped to become the first Canadian in 69 years to win his national open, he etched his name into that history. It’s a history that will continue. But the PGA Tour’s grand restructuring has players and tournaments wondering what their new reality will look like when it finally comes to pass.
Real Madrid appointed Jose Mourinho as their coach on Thursday on a three-year deal, with the Portuguese veteran making a sensational return to the Spanish capital after 13 years away.
The 63-year-old replaces Alvaro Arbeloa after Madrid finished a second consecutive season without a major trophy, falling behind domestic rivals Barcelona.
“(Real Madrid have) agreed to appoint Jose Mourinho as the first team’s head coach for the next three seasons, until June 30, 2029,” said the 15-time European champions in a statement.
“Jose Mourinho will join Real Madrid on July 13, the day preseason begins.”
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One of football’s most successful yet divisive managers, Mourinho arrives from Benfica, where the Lisbon club completed an unbeaten league campaign but finished third.
Benfica said Wednesday Real Madrid were paying €15 million ($17.25m) for the Portuguese coach.
Mourinho managed Madrid between 2010 and 2013, winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup during an intense period of rivalry with Pep Guardiola’s golden era Barcelona side.
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Real Madrid became the first club to reach 100 points in a La Liga season under Mourinho in the 2011-12 campaign, although Barcelona did the same in the subsequent season before Mourinho departed.
Mourinho divided the Real Madrid dressing room, with some players – including predecessor Arbeloa – fiercely loyal to him, while others were at loggerheads with the coach.
Known to rule with an iron fist, Mourinho is charged with bringing Real Madrid’s dressing room egos in check, after multiple conflicts and problems marked a troubled season.
Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde was treated in hospital after a row with team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni in May, among other flashpoints.
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Coaches Carlo Ancelotti, Xabi Alonso and Arbeloa also could not find a way to successfully deploy star players Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham together without destabilising the balance of the team.
In an appearance on Spanish television earlier in May, Madrid president Florentino Perez credited Mourinho with laying the groundwork for Real Madrid’s last six Champions League titles, achieved in the years after the Portuguese departed.
The chief said he would bring back Mourinho if he was reelected president earlier in June, which he was.
Back on top
Mourinho’s return to Madrid also signifies a jump back to the European elite after several years away from the game’s peak.
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The coach burst into the limelight as he won the Champions League with Porto in 2004, before helping Chelsea claim back-to-back Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006.
Mourinho labelled himself a “special one” as his team dominated the English top flight, before guiding Inter Milan to Champions League glory in 2010 as part of a unique treble for an Italian side.
Madrid chief Perez appointed him to try and stop Guardiola’s powerful Barca team, which he achieved to an extent, in a fractious spell which also disrupted the harmony in the Spanish national team.
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Mourinho returned to Chelsea, winning the Premier League in 2015, before modest spells at Manchester United, Tottenham and Roma among other clubs.
He won the EFL Cup and Europa League with Manchester United in 2017 and since then has only lifted the Conference League trophy with Roma in 2022.
The coach was sacked by Turkish side Fenerbahce in August 2025 after failing to guide them past Benfica in a Champions League qualification play-off, before he was appointed by the Portuguese side the following month.
The hosts took the lead in the tournament’s first game on US soil within seven minutes thanks to an own goal, and by the end of an utterly dominant half the home fans were in dreamland, their side up by three.
Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio and Paris Hilton were among a sold-out 70,492 crowd as the US – co-hosting the tournament with Mexico and Canada – piled wave after wave of attacks on the South Americans, with Reyna polishing off the win late in stoppage time after Maurício had pulled one back.
The win and emphatic scoreline puts the US in a favourable position already to progress from Group D, which also contains Australia and Turkey.
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The night’s only potential sour note was the half-time withdrawal of Christian Pulisic, the US attacking talisman who is carrying the hopes of the nation as they attempt a deep run into the World Cup knockouts for the first time since their quarter-final appearance in 2002.
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Paraguay could not have been more obliging guests from kick-off. In the seventh minute, Weston McKennie picked up the ball in the centre circle and drove upfield, finding Pulisic.
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Pulisic darted between two defenders and returned the ball to McKennie, whose pass to striker Balogun was bundled into his own net by a hapless Damian Bobadilla.
The hosts oozed confidence. Both McKennie and Tillman played backheel through balls into the area, while captain Tim Ream sprayed out passes from the heart of defence.
Balogun had a goal ruled out in the 28th minute. He had strayed offside, as had Pulisic in the build-up.
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But the Monaco striker had the ball in the net again three minutes later, thanks to a superb ball down the left flank by Antonee Robinson to Pulisic, whose cross to Balogun took a slight fortuitous deflection.
The US added a third on the cusp of half-time. Tillman found Balogun down the right, who evaded Omar Alderete’s challenge, skipped inside Gustavo Gomez and curled his shot perfectly into the top left corner.
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It could have been four or five, with Chris Richards – returning from injury – flashing a header barely an inch wide. The US had 75 per cent possession in the first half.
Now without Pulisic, the hosts sat back slightly in the second half.
Paraguay finally offered a threat. Their dangerous forward Julio Enciso, who started despite a hamstring injury, picked up the ball on the edge of the area and fed in Brazil-born substitute Maurício, who pulled one back.
Reyna scored a superb fourth with the outside of his right foot that curled just inside the far post.
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The game had been preceded by a Tinseltown-style opening ceremony. Katy Perry delivered the headline performance, accompanied by singers Future, Tyla, Anitta and K-pop star Lisa.
Performers danced around a giant World Cup trophy beneath enormous “FIFA” letters in the gold favoured by US President Donald Trump – who did not attend, instead wishing the team luck via phone before kick-off.
NEW YORK — Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider will undergo imaging after he left Friday night against the New York Mets in the fourth inning because of right shoulder and elbow soreness.
“It’s never good when a guy walks off the field,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said after a late comeback bid by Atlanta fell short in a 7-5 loss. “We’ll get the images taken and we’ll see what they say. But it doesn’t look great as we stand here right now.”
Strider left one batter into the fourth and allowed six hits and a season-worst seven earned runs in three innings while taking the defeat. He struck out three. He allowed three homers, including a grand slam to Bo Bichette in the second inning.
Strider’s velocity was considerably lower as he issued a six-pitch walk to MJ Melendez. The three fastballs Strider threw during the at-bat were all at either 88 or 89 mph, down from the 92 to 96 mph pitches he threw in the first two innings.
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“The alarm bells went off when we started seeing the upper 80s with his fastball,” Weiss said.
Weiss and a trainer visited Strider, who underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in 2019 and had the UCL in his right elbow repaired with an internal brace in April 2024.
Weiss said Strider let them know of the elbow and shoulder discomfort and that he wasn’t aware of the reduced velocity. Strider walked off the mound after a short consultation.
Strider was making his eighth start of the season for the MLB-leading Braves after missing the first 34 games recovering from a strained left oblique. He is 4-2 with a 5.31 ERA this season and 11-16 with a 4.66 ERA since returning from the elbow surgery last year.
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Strider was 32-10 with a 3.47 ERA in his first 67 big league appearances prior to the internal brace procedure. He became baseball’s most recent 20-game winner in 2023, when he went 20-5 while reaching 200 strikeouts in 130 innings — the fastest any pitcher has ever gotten to 200 whiffs in season.
“He’s been through a lot in the last few years, trying to work his way back,” Weiss said.
JR Ritchie replaced Strider on Friday and threw the final five innings.
The latest episode of WWE SmackDown was a heartbreaking show for LA Knight fans. The Megastar competed in a Fatal Four-Way first-round match for King of the Ring 2026.
Despite all attempts and fans’ support, the former United States Champion failed to win. Instead, Jey Uso pinned Knight and secured the victory. Many are surprised by this outcome, particularly when WWE teased LA Knight vs Roman Reigns multiple times on Monday Night RAW.
Thanks for the submission!
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In this article, we will discuss three reasons why the Megastar is out of the 2026 King of the Ring tournament.
#4. Triple H has given up on him
It’s over for LA Knight… Now I don’t see him winning world title in WWE. They just don’t value him… #SmackDown
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One of the major reasons why LA Knight lost the King of the Ring first-round match could be due to Triple H giving up on him. The Game is WWE’s present Chief Content Officer and makes all the significant decisions.
So, this makes sense to say that Triple H might have given up on the former US Champion. As a result, he lost the KOTR match and didn’t advance to the semi-finals.
LA Knight winning the King of the Ring tournament and facing Roman Reigns at SummerSlam 2026 for the World Heavyweight Championship was a perfect match. This is especially true when both stars had a heated history in the company, and the Megastar still has issues with the Bloodline.
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Despite all the efforts, Triple H decided not to give LA Knight a victory, which implies something serious is wrong with his booking. Also, Knight got pinned in the match by Jey Uso. With all these factors, it’s evident that the CCO has no interest in pushing the 43-year-old star.
#3. WWE is not running back LA Knight vs. Roman Reigns
LA Knight locked horns with Roman Reigns at Crown Jewel 2023 for the Universal Championship. The Megastar lost the match and failed to dethrone the Original Tribal Chief.
With Knight losing the King of the Ring tournament first-round match, it seems that the Triple H-led creative regime doesn’t want to run Knight vs Reigns again in the company.
This contributes to another possible explanation why LA Knight is out of the King of the Ring tournament.
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#2. To set up his heel turn
Over the past few months, LA Knight has failed to secure any big victories in WWE. It’s been a long time since the Megastar won any Championship in World Wrestling Entertainment.
His failure to advance in the King of the Ring tournament could be a strategic move by WWE to set up his heel turn. Knight could be frustrated with his losses and may decide to switch characters.
A villainous version of the beloved WWE star could be more ruthless and help him to emerge victorious in significant matches. So, turning LA Knight into a heel might be a probable reason why he failed to win the King of the Ring tournament first-round match on SmackDown.
#1. Triple H might have different plans for LA Knight at SummerSlam 2026
I HATE TRIPLE H AS MUCH AS TRIPLE H HATES LA KNIGHT
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There is also a chance that the company might be saving Roman Reigns vs LA Knight rematch for later and has different plans for this year’s Biggest Party of the Summer.
Though Knight got pinned on SmackDown, he is still likely to be part of SummerSlam 2026. If Knight had qualified for the semi-finals and won the tournament, he would have faced Roman Reigns.
However, Triple H might have intentionally booked him to lose on WWE SmackDown to execute the planned direction for the 43-year-old star.
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A nation’s football shirt is a chance for the world’s nations to loudly and proudly showcase their heritage, traditions and and culture
Mexico’s winning start, numerous water breaks and three red cards. It was a colorful start to the 2026 World Cup. Over 80,000 fans packed out the Estadio Azteca, as the first of 104 games spanning 16 cities across three countries got underway.
Despite the violent clashes outside the stadium, most of the focus was on the beautiful game as Mexico kicked off their campaign with a 2-0 win over South Africa. Global superstar Shakira also got a look in, along with J Balvin, Burna Boy and Danny Ocean.
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Over the next five weeks, Mexico, along with the United States and Canada will be on hosting duties as 48 teams battle for global bragging rights, a sense of national pride and some shiny new silverware.
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But there’s actually a competition to be won that doesn’t require the teams to lace up their boots or kick a ball at all. A team’s kit is cultural artifact, a series of garments that can unify and elevate.
Beyond of course the millions of pounds – or perhaps dollars in this case – to be made in global revenues when selling football shirts and the like – it’s a chance for the world’s nations to loudly and proudly showcase their heritage, traditions and and culture.
By modern standards, the crossover between elite sports and high fashion has never been so topical. But above all else, when done right, it’s a wearable symbol of where you come from and what you represent.
Someone who understands the importance of the jersey and the story it tells is Gary Bierton. For several years he’s worked for Classic Football Shirts, the Manchester-born retailer founded by his brother Doug and his university course mate Matthew Dale.
Now twenty years on, Classic Football Shirts (CFS) is the leading seller when it comes to vintage shirts, official reissues and the latest season’s kits, selling to customers in 130 countries. As well as shops in Manchester and London, the brand has even cracked America, which is where Gary finds himself at this very moment.
Based out of New York for the foreseeable, we caught up with Gary earlier in the week as he helps CFS prep the the tournament and all those football shirt sale. The Empire State Building Observation Deck – the number one attraction in the United States – is also currently hosting an exhibition of the world’s most famous shirts from Classic Football Shirts’ vault, so that’s keeping him busy.
In terms of the kits, Gary and the team have noticed an uptick in interest over the last few weeks, with certain country’s shirts becoming particularly covetable.
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“England is obviously a big one because of the club season ending and the World Cup starting,” he noted.
“But Scotland too, and interestingly we’re selling a lot of Haiti shirts too. We’re really in the golden age of kit design, and adidas kits have been very popular.
“Football shirts have taken on a life of their own at this point. They’re culturally significant and a statement piece for people.”
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We couldn’t agree more, which is why we asked Gary about which team’s shirts have been most popular for 2026. And while many people are seeking out vintage shirts from tournaments past – especially in the case of England – here we take a look at some of the one’s grabbing people’s attention right now.
Scotland
The Scots have been waiting 28 years to see their team back in the World Cup so it’s only right that their kit gets its moment in the floodlights too.
The Tartan Army have descended on North America under the tutelage of Steve Clarke. They take on Brazil, Morocco and Haiti in the group stages as they look to reach knockouts for the first time in their history.
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They also have fresh kits to rally behind. The home kit, unveiled by adidas and Scottish FA in November leans heavily into their sense of national pride with a deep blue base and Saltire motifs – a nod to their famed flag.
Their away kit meanwhile is wonderfully retro and uses a scarlet red last used in the 1980s. It draws on the rich history of Scotland’s past away kits and is elevated by vertical pinstripes. See if you can spot the national flower of Scotland on there too.
Brazil
The demand for retro Brazil shirts continues to boom with shops like Classic Football Shirts noting the status of the legendary football brand as a major driver. Global football royalty, to be seen in the yellow, green and blue kit has become a major fashion statement.
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Football’s most iconic colours have been blended by Nike for the home kit with the canary yellow base paired with green accents and blue shorts. Look a bit closer and a Brazilian flag runs through the fabric and the specific colour palette is said to draw inspiration from the team’s 1970 side.
In a historic link up, The Brazilian National Team and Jordan Brand have been brought together for the away kit, and features the Jumpman for the first time on a national team uniform. Blue base, jagged graphics and tonal striping make it rather appealing and there’s also nods to nature and Brazil’s “dangerous” attacking identity.
Curaçao
Asked if there’s a shirt that has captured people’s imagination for this World Cup, and Gary doesn’t pause – Curacao. The tiny island nation has made global football history by becoming the smallest country ever to qualify for the World Cup finals.
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Arriving in immaculate style for their first-ever tournament, The Adidas Curacao 2026 home shirt takes inspiration from the waves surrounding the Caribbean island. The sleeves of the shirt feature a distinct graphic pattern consisting of lighter blue, wavy circular lines in a nod to the sea and it’s central part in the life of Curaçaoans.
Meanwhile, their highly-desirable away kit, which Gary says is one of the most requested in store, features a pastel-yellow base punctuated with bold and vibrant pink, turquoise, and orange stripes. It was designed as visual tribute to the sunlit architecture of the Caribbean island’s capital Willemstad and colourful painted buildings along waterways in the Punda and Otrobanda districts.
Haiti
Saturday night, or Sunday morning (2am) if we’re being precise will see Haiti take on Scotland in Group C at Boston Stadium, Foxborough. The Caribbean country will then face five-time winners Brazil and Morocco in the group stage.
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It’s been 52 years since Haiti were in the World Cup – let that just sink in. Interestingly, their kit hit the headlines in the days leading up the the tournament with the team forced to change their design after their shirt, depicting a war scene did not comply with FIFA rules.
An illustration of the Battle of Vertieres in 1803, which secured Haiti’s independence, with the country’s flag had been embedded onto the shirts. However, regulations set out by the governing body prohibits the use of any “political, religious, or personal messages or slogans” on kit.
In a statement, Colombian manufacturer Saeta said its original design “was a tribute to the men and women who contribute every day to Haiti’s future” and “was not intended as a political statement”.
England
And last, but not least, England. Thomas Tuchel’s squad selection might have caused a few raised eyebrows and plenty of online remarks, but it’s testament to doing whatever the hell you like and not feeling the need to explain yourself.
While the players withstanding the heat this time round might be ‘sweaty and frustrated’, the inside collar of the home kit – manufactured by Nike – bears the words ‘happy and glorious’, which shows the power of a positive mental attitude – and can be called upon if they forget the words to the national anthem.
I don’t know about you but I prefer the away kit. Bold, retro and just a lovely shade of ‘Speed Red”, it’s like a statement of intent. Unlike the home shirt it features a centralised badge – the first time England has employed this on an away shirt since 2008 – and sits beneath a metallic gold star honouring the 1996 World Cup Victory.
When I visited The Foundry, Mizuno Golf’s R&D and Fitting headquarters just outside of Atlanta, I picked up one of their new Pro Fli-Hi utility irons.
It was already built in the fitting bay with a Ventus Black HB shaft. I essentially fell (back) in love with the club.
There’s just something about the Fli-Hi that makes it one of my favorite utility irons on the market, if not my No. 1 favorite. I spent some time on the course with the Mizuno team hitting it into a tricky par-5, and it certainly showed off its abilities.
Let’s talk about why I think this one’s special.
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The Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi has been at the top of the list for me for quite a while. Even four or five years ago, when I was working at a national club fitter, the Fli-Hi was very popular in the bays; but it’s always been for a more specific customer.
The Fli-Hi is probably the best option for the better player who wants more heat out of a driving iron but doesn’t want to sacrifice the look. There are a lot of really good driving irons in the market, but not all of them handle the visual very well.
The newest iteration of the Fli-Hi has gone even further to make sure that it looks good behind the ball. Not only have they given the shape some very nice nips and tucks around the edges, along with a very nice transition from the hosel into the leading edge that protects the visual offset, but they’ve also changed the finish.
They’ve typically had darker finishes on the Fli-Hi in hopes of creating a more compact-looking visual, but this latest iteration just looks… cleaner. The new Black Ion finish reminds you of the Mizuno Pro irons lineup; Nice and clean, with a little bit of sheen for a more premium player’s look, and by going dark over silver or chrome, it appears even smaller.
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They’ve also done a really cool internal design trick with the top line of the club to reduce its size. They are using what’s called an ‘Offset Face Weld’ that allows them to put the weld on the inside of the upper face-gauge. On the bottom side, the weld is back away from the face, which allows for the face to flex more and create more ball speed.
Make no mistake, the iron is still a big utility-style design, but Mizuno’s time and care in carving the shape into something that any player can put in the bag is noticeable.
The Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi in-hand
Jack Hirsh / GOLF
The thing I love most about the Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi is how workable and versatile the club is. It’s also very hot. I remember when I got the stock build in for testing early on, I was hitting the 4-iron marked loft close to 240 yards. I actually sent my friend at Mizuno a text that said “What am I supposed to do with a 240-yard 4-iron?” to which he laughed and replied, “I’ve never heard anybody complain a driving iron goes too far.” Fair point.
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That ball speed and the forgiveness of the larger C.O.R. area make for a fantastic tee option, particularly if you can handle the 2-iron lofted version of the Fli-Hi. It’s not just a stinger toy, either, which is my beef with other utility irons on the market. The Fli-Hi off of a tee can be hit high, it can be hit low, and it’s very easy to produce a big swinging draw with the club that helps promote roll-out when you need it to.
My favorite part, though, is how good it is off the ground. I like to hit hybrids and irons; I’m not a big fairway wood player, so having something that I trust off the ground is massive. If a driving or utility iron is going to end up in the bag, it has to prove that it’s not a one-trick pony.
You can see in the video that the Fli-Hi does everything I want it to do. I was able to hit a low stinger into the same hole that I hit a towering draw over a very tall tree. Both shots were on command, back-to-back. If that doesn’t showcase the usability of the Fli-Hi, I’m just not quite sure what would.
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Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi 2026 Custom Utility Iron
The Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi has become a fixture with the majority of Mizuno’s tour players. An easy launching, powerful long iron replacement that flows seamlessly into either the Mizuno Pro M13, M15 or full iron set. With a chassis now fully upgraded to 4335+ Nickel Chromoly for elevated ball speeds.
INTERNAL TUNGSTEN WEIGHTING: 26 grams of weight low in the head for elevated launch compared to traditional long irons.
HARMONIC IMPACT TECHNOLOGY: Applied to best match the vibration patterns Mizuno’s tour players identified with a soft muscle-back feel.
INCREASED BOUNCE ANGLE: Increased by a degree for improved turf interaction.
The World Cup officially kicked off this week – but alongside the football, there are questions around heat, cost, the environmental impact and travel restrictions.
The BBC Analysis Editor Ros Atkins takes a look at the challenges facing this year’s tournament.
Despite Tszyu pushing for a super-welterweight contest, his opponent clearly felt an extra 4lbs was appropriate following his three-year layoff.
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This lengthy hiatus came after Spence suffered a ninth-round stoppage defeat to Terence Crawford, who became the undisputed king at 147lbs in surprisingly one-sided fashion.
Prior to that, Spence had claimed his WBC, IBF and WBA titles with respective victories over Shawn Porter, Kell Brook and Yordenis Ugas, though a move up in weight has always seemed inevitable.
Now, the 36-year-old looks to reignite his career against Tszyu, who comes off two points victories following his stoppage defeat to Sebastian Fundora last July.
While their rematch ended in round seven, Tszyu had shown tremendous grit against Fundora in 2024, only to lose his WBO title by split decision.
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The Australian would then suffer a third-round stoppage defeat to Bakhram Murtazaliev later that year, with four-division world champion Stevenson telling All The Smoke Fight that he feels Spence is a level above.
“I think [Spence] gonna do good. I wish Errol the best; I hope Errol goes in there and beats Tim Tszyu up.
“I’m an Errol Spence fan; I was cool with Errol Spence before that [Crawford] fight. I know Errol is mentally tough – Errol is a dog when it comes to fighting, so I don’t think Tim Tszyu can beat him.”
;)
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