FIFA says fans will be allowed to display rainbow flags at Friday’s World Cup match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, despite objections from both countries, where homosexuality is criminalized.

The Group G match falls during Seattle’s annual Pride weekend and was designated a “Pride Match” by the city’s local World Cup organizing committee long before December’s tournament draw paired the two Muslim-majority nations.

Following the draw, both football federations objected to the designation. Egypt’s Football Association said Pride-related activities conflicted with the country’s cultural and religious values.

According to The Athletic, Iran’s federation requested that “no ceremonies or promotional activities associated with this movement should be present inside the stadium.” Iran’s federation did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.

FIFA confirmed Thursday that rainbow flags will be permitted inside Lumen Field, saying the World Cup is “an inclusive event that welcomes people from all backgrounds.”

“General statements of human rights, including rainbow flags and other flags representing sexual orientation and gender identity, are permitted … and may be displayed inside stadiums,” FIFA said.

At the same time, FIFA emphasized that the Pride celebrations are organized by Seattle’s local host committee rather than the governing body itself. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said earlier this year that while Pride events would coincide with the match, “that has nothing to do with the match itself.”

The issue has drawn attention because of the competing teams’ records on LGBTQ+ rights. In Iran, same-sex relations are illegal and men have faced execution on sodomy charges. Egypt has prosecuted LGBTQ+ people and cracked down on public displays of Pride, including the use of rainbow flags.

Seattle organizers say the match is an opportunity to showcase the city’s longstanding commitment to inclusion.

Patti Hearn, executive director of Seattle Pride, said the rainbow flag represents human rights and inclusivity.

“The rainbow flag or any of the Pride flags are just a symbol of inclusivity, of community, of love — and that really isn’t offensive,” Hearn told Reuters.

She acknowledged the objections from Egypt and Iran but said the event sends an important message.

“There are queer people everywhere,” she said. “If we can provide the opportunity for the world stage to see and experience what it feels like to be in a welcoming and inclusive place … I think that’s great.”

Bookda Gheisar, an Iranian American lesbian and diversity director at the Port of Seattle, said the moment carries deep personal significance.

“The challenge of that contradiction has been a struggle of my own personal life for 40 years,” Gheisar said. “I’m certainly not alone in that.”

Seattle officials stressed that Pride celebrations have been part of the city for decades and are not being created specifically for the tournament.

“The Pride celebration … has happened on this weekend for 50-plus years,” said Hedda McLendon of Seattle’s World Cup organizing committee. “It is going to happen this weekend, it is going to happen long after the World Cup.”

Ilona Lohrey, president and CEO of the Greater Seattle Business Association, called Seattle one of the country’s most inclusive cities.

“I think it gives us an opportunity to showcase who we are as a city, who we are as a people and how diversity makes us stronger,” she said.

Seattle Reign captain Jess Fishlock said the World Cup provides a unique opportunity to celebrate diversity.

“I don’t think there is a sport that has a global event that creates unity and diversity … quite like the World Cup,” she said.

Both teams have sought to keep attention on football rather than the Pride celebrations.

Before Iran’s pre-match news conference on Thursday, FIFA public relations executive Daniel Marin read a statement saying the Iranian delegation would answer only football-related questions. Coach Amir Ghalenoei later repeated that his team’s “entire focus” was on the match.

“We are here to play football. For nothing else,” he said.

Egypt took a similar approach, with team officials preventing players from answering Pride-related questions. Coach Hossam Hassan said, “We are all focused on football,” adding that his team respected “fair play and rules for everybody to abide by.”

Iran has also faced travel complications during the tournament due to U.S. restrictions tied to geopolitical tensions.

Several support staff members were initially unable to enter the United States, and the team had been required to fly in shortly before previous matches and return immediately afterward. Restrictions were eased ahead of the Seattle match, allowing Iran to arrive two days early.

With Egypt leading Group G and Iran chasing its first-ever knockout-stage appearance at a World Cup, Friday’s match is expected to draw global attention both for the action on the field and for the rainbow flags that FIFA says fans are free to display.

Elliot Anderson’s impending mega-money move to Manchester City will not impact the England midfielder’s focus on winning the World Cup, according to team-mate Jarell Quansah.

The 23-year-old has established himself as a key part of Thomas Tuchel’s side since making his debut last September and impressed on his major tournament bow as they overcame Croatia 4-2 in last week’s thriller.

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Anderson also started England’s 0-0 draw with Ghana and heads into Saturday’s Group L finale against Panama fresh from the life-changing news that City have struck a deal to sign him from Nottingham Forest.

The agreement is said to be worth £116m and a medical has reportedly been lined up for when the team arrives in the Tri-State Area, but Quansah does not expect his team-mate’s focus to waver.

“I see a player that’s fully focused on what he wants, and I think at the moment what he wants is to win a World Cup,” the England defender told talkSPORT. “That ultimately is the goal.

“Obviously I’m not in his head or whatnot, but I’m sure he is fully focused on winning the World Cup for England, and you can’t drift too far away from that and he knows that.

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“But he’s a proper focused young lad and he’ll go right to the top I think.”

Anderson has flourished since being moved to a deeper midfield role by England Under-21s boss Lee Carsley, who he played a starring role for in last summer’s European Championship triumph.

Quansah, another member of that victorious side, said: “I think he’s a very versatile player as well.

“This season he’s played a deeper role, played in a sort of a six and sometimes an eight, but he’s got probably everything you want as a midfielder, to be honest.

“I remember hearing about him at Bristol Rovers (when I went on loan there afterwards) and I think he was playing on the wing.

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“Knowing he can do that and what he does in training sessions as well, he’s got a lot of attributes that are really good for an England squad and exactly what the manager wants, which is good.”

Tuchel has some interesting decisions to make this weekend as he looks to balance protecting players with producing the performance needed to top Group L.

England are all but assured of a place in the round of 32 ahead of facing already-eliminated Panama but must equal or better Ghana’s result against Croatia to top the pool.

Star midfielder Declan Rice has been under assessment ahead of Saturday’s match having limped out of Gillette Stadium on Tuesday, while Reece James sounds a major doubt.

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A hamstring injury is said to have seen him miss training on Thursday and back-up Tino Livramento’s enforced departure opens the door to versatile Quansah stepping in at right-back.

“It will be cliche but it’s a dream come true, and there’s probably no better words to actually sum it up,” the Bayer Leverkusen defender said of his potential World Cup debut.

“Because when you’re younger, playing in the back garden, or whatever you’re doing, you always think about World Cups and the biggest stage of them all in my opinion.

“To be able to play with England it will be a massive, massive honour, and something I’m ready for, and something I’d look forward to.”

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The Minnesota Timberwolves have rattled things up ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season.

Following a hard-fought 4-2 second-round series loss in the Western Conference, many expected the Minnesota Timberwolves to make some major changes to the roster.

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Well, the Timberwolves did just that, but hardly anyone expected the franchise to trade away star center Naz Reid to the Charlotte Hornets.

Tim Walz reacts to Naz Reid’s trade to the Charlotte Hornets

Considering Reid has spent his entire NBA career in Minnesota, up until this point, it was shocking to see the T-Wolves trade him to Charlotte.

But how much Reid meant to the organization can be seen in Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s reaction to the trade.

“You’ll always have a home in Minnesota, Naz,” Walz wrote on X.

Reid averaged 11.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game for the Timberwolves across seven regular seasons.

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Naz Reid to Charlotte Hornets full trade

The main piece in the Timberwolves-Hornets trade wasn’t Reid, but none other than 1x NBA All-Star LaMelo Ball.

Yes, the Timberwolves gave up, Reid, 2033 first-round pick, a 2028, 2029, 2030 first-round pick swap, and 2029, 2032, 2033 second-round draft pick in exchange for Ball and Josh Green from the Hornets.

Now, that’s a massive move, and it indicates that the Timberwolves are entering win-now mode as they have already traded Julius Randle earlier in the offseason.

But can the dynamic duo of Ball and Anthony Edwards carry the T-Wolves farther than when Reid was on the roster? Only time will tell.

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CHASKA, Minn. — Nelly Korda wasted no time picking up her tee. Usually, that means two things: it’s really good, or it’s really bad.

This was the latter.

“I just overturned it,” Korda said of her tee shot on the par-4 16th hole at Hazeltine National, which hooked into the creek that runs up the left side of the course’s signature hole. “By now you just feel it when it’s bad. So the wind was off the right and I actually think I just made too fast of a swing and I was kind of in between clubs.

“It’s a pretty intimidating tee shot and I just didn’t really like the way I hit it off the start.”

Korda took a drop, wedged on and then three-putted from 35 feet for a messy double bogey. It was her only double of the day and came after she birdied three in a five-hole span.

She still shot a two-under 70 in the first round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, which was good enough to stay in the top 10 of Thursday’s morning wave, although she’s seven back of early leader Ina Yoon, who shot 63.

There’s no shortage of pressure on Korda this week, where she’s attempting to become just the third player in LPGA history to win the first three majors of the season. A win this week would also send Korda, still just 27 years old, into the LPGA Hall of Fame.

She started early Thursday morning — with a large contingent of fans following along — and turned in one under. She added birdies on 11, 13 and 15 before she reached the 378-yard par-4 16th hole, a short par-4 played along Hazeltine Lake that has a tight driving window — the lake right, creek left — and most of the green guarded by water. During the 2016 Ryder Cup, the 16th was changed to the 5th hole to guarantee it played a role in the matches. Korda hit driver on Thursday.

“It’s between a 3-wood and driver,” Korda said. “You can’t lay it too far back because then you’re blocked out by the trees and you have a long shot into a pretty difficult green that is pretty undulated, so you got to risk it.”

Korda begins her second round at 2:42 p.m. ET on Friday.

“Honestly just made one bad swing, which ended up in a double,” Korda said. “But overall, pretty happy with my day.”

By the time Ellie-Rose Griffiths was nine, she had left school to train full-time. That was when tennis stopped being just a game and became her life.

The former top-ranked junior player would go on to compete alongside some of the top names in British tennis including Katie Boulter, Emma Raducanu and Harriet Dart before stopping playing at 19 because she was burned out and not enjoying it any more.

When the 27-year-old looks back now, it is not just the tennis she remembers. It is the pressure around it, and in particular one group of people she believes could deal with it better.

Parents.

Pushy parents are nothing new in a sport offering the potential of millions of pounds in prize money at the very top – at elite level there are well-documented incidents involving the dads of Jelena Dokic, Mary Pierce and Bernard Tomic to name a few.

It all starts at junior level.

“You see parents shouting at children all the time in tennis,” Griffiths tells BBC Sport. “There’s a lack of understanding on how they should behave… on how they could help their child to blossom into the athlete that they should become.”

And it can get out of hand.

“We’ve had situations here before where unfortunately we’ve had to call the police because the parents’ behaviour is getting that far out of control,” says Chris Johnson, head coach at Sutton Coldfield Tennis Club, where he has worked for 36 years.

“They won’t listen, they think they can get away with anything, they don’t respect the referees, it can get a bit ugly.”

Both are clear that behaviour like that does not happen in isolation and that it is the environment tennis creates that makes parents behave this way.

So, why is that and what needs to change?

Tennis can be intense for parents.

There is transport to arrange, coaching to fund, and a complicated player pathway to navigate. In some cases there’s even private tutoring to arrange if their child has left mainstream school to focus on the sport.

“You do get on a bit of a hamster wheel”, says John from Derbyshire, whose 11-year-old son Harrison is a promising player. “It’s 12 months of the year, indoor courts and outdoor courts.”

Children can start a form of tennis from the age of four on a modified court. The Lawn Tennis Association’s (LTA) performance pathway for the most promising juniors supports players from the age of seven on their journey to potentially becoming a Grand Slam champion.

Competitions are grouped according to age and start aged eight and under.

And the ratings and rankings you get from doing them are one way to get noticed.

So when does it start to get serious?

“The minute they start playing their first competition,” according to Johnson.

Does he think that is right?

“Absolutely not.

“A lot of adults can’t cope with the pressures of playing an individual sport and then they’re expecting young children to be able to do so.”

Steve Whelan, a coach working in St Albans with nearly three decades of experience, agrees that the system places too much emphasis on winning at a young age.

“It just creates this race to the bottom because parents are chasing ratings and rankings,” he says.

He tells parents: “These are not tennis players. They are kids who play tennis and there’s a big difference.”

The LTA says it undertook a “comprehensive review” of its rating and ranking system in 2018 “specifically to address the issue of putting too much pressure on children at too young an age.”

Now players can’t be ranked nationally against their peers until they reach the under-11 age group, with younger children from eight and up organised into competition based on recent form – a rating.

When it comes to parental behaviour the LTA says like any sport “there are occasions when a small minority of parents do not uphold the standards of behaviour expected”. The governing body will soon be launching a new initiative called Fair Play, to promote positive parent behaviour and support coaches.

United are reportedly prepared to accept a financial hit on Manuel Ugarte as they seek to move him on. The Uruguayan midfielder has failed to justify his £42.3million transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024, with United unlikely to recoup their investment, highlighting the player’s precarious position.

It’s reported that the club’s bosses are willing to accept a financial hit on Ugarte this summer. It is suggested that his departure would encourage Carrick’s team to pursue a third midfielder, following Ederson’s arrival and the club’s chase for West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes.

INEOS, which handles football matters at United, would require Ugarte to be sold for £25.38m for United to prevent a loss under profitability and sustainability regulations after the midfielder penned a deal until 2029. Nevertheless, the 25-year-old’s salary could present a stumbling block for prospective buyers and keep him at Old Trafford this summer.

For the third time in WNBA history, a player has scored 53 points.

Toronto Tempo star Marina Mabrey tied the single-game scoring record with 53 points in a dominant 125-94 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday night. Only A’ja Wilson and Liz Cambage have reached that 53-point mark before Mabrey.

Mabrey, who poured in nine three-pointers in the win, helped the Tempo set the highest point total scored in a regulation game in WNBA history. The Phoenix Mercury scored 127 points in a 2010 game, though it was double overtime.

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Marina Mabrey of the Toronto Tempo gestures during the second half of a WNBA game against the Los Angeles Sparks at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto on June 25, 2026. Mabrey tied the WNBA single-game scoring record with 53 points. (Tara Walton/Getty Images)

Mabrey was clearly feeling it in this game, scoring 27 points by halftime. Then, she poured in 12 more by the end of the third quarter, giving herself an incredible 39 points.

With the game seemingly out of reach, it was clear that the Tempo were feeding Mabrey in hopes that she could set a new WNBA record. Mabrey was launching three-pointers and drilling them, and she ultimately reached the 53-point mark as the crowd cheered her on throughout the flurry of points.

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Mabrey had time to get the record all to herself, as there were about two minutes left on the clock to get the job done. However, her last two three-point attempts didn’t go through the hoop, and she checked out of the game with just over a minute left to play.

The crowd gave her a loud roar of approval and a standing ovation, while Mabrey’s Tempo teammates congratulated the veteran on a historic night.

Marina Mabrey of the Toronto Tempo celebrates after tying the all-time WNBA scoring record with 53 points in a game against the Los Angeles Sparks at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto on June 25, 2026. (Mark Blinch/NBAE)

It was also a special night thanks to Mabrey’s sister, Michaela, who starred alongside her at Notre Dame after the two rose through the New Jersey girls basketball ranks, being in attendance.

Michaela ran right onto the floor after the final horn blew and hugged her sister in a heartfelt moment that will surely be remembered by the Mabrey family.

Mabrey stated in a post-game interview that her sister doesn’t get to see her play too often, making this one that much more special.

“None of this happens without my teammates. They really found me,” Marina said. “For a three-point shooter, you need your teammates to set screens and deliver the pass, and that’s what they did.”

Marina Mabrey of the Toronto Tempo reacts during the second half of a WNBA game against the Los Angeles Sparks at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto on June 25, 2026. Mabrey tied the WNBA single-game scoring record with 53 points. (Tara Walton/Getty Images)

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It’s the inaugural season for the Tempo, an expansion team that put together this squad through an expansion draft. Mabrey has been a key cog in their early season, totaling 37 points last week to set the franchise’s highest point total for a game. That’s obviously going to be much harder to break now.

Mabrey’s final line read 17-of-28 and 9-of-18 from three-point territory for her 53-point total. She also tallied six rebounds and two assists in the victory.

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The Netherlands secured top spot in Group F after a comfortable 3-1 victory over Tunisia, while Sweden booked their place in the Round of 32 with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Japan.

The Dutch made a flying start against Tunisia in Kansas City, taking the lead after just three minutes when Tunisia captain Ellyes Skhiri turned a cross from Denzel Dumfries into his own net.

Brian Brobbey doubled the advantage four minutes later, scoring his third goal of the tournament after a header from captain Virgil van Dijk was played across goal.

The Netherlands controlled the match and created numerous chances, finishing with 20 shots.

Tunisia pulled a goal back in the second half through Hazem Mastouri, who headed home from a corner after a defensive error by the Dutch.

However, the Netherlands restored their two-goal lead when defender Jan Paul van Hecke nodded in from a corner, with the ball taking a slight deflection on its way into the net.

The victory ensured that coach Ronald Koeman’s side finished top of Group F and set up a last-32 clash with Morocco.

Tunisia ended their disappointing campaign at the bottom of the group, having lost all three matches and conceded 12 goals.

In the other Group F fixture, Sweden came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw against Japan and secure their place in the knockout rounds.

After a quiet first half, Japan took the lead in the 56th minute when Daizen Maeda finished off a fine move involving Ayase Ueda and Ritsu Doan.

Sweden responded just six minutes later through Anthony Elanga, who scored a stunning long-range effort on his first start of the tournament.

The Newcastle United winger cut inside from the left before firing a powerful shot beyond goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.

Sweden pushed for a winner late on, with Elanga and Alexander Isak both testing Suzuki, but Japan held on to secure second place in the group.

The result means Japan will face Brazil in the Round of 32, while Sweden, under coach Graham Potter, have also progressed and will discover their opponents later.

Group F Final Standings

Qualified: Netherlands, Japan

Qualified as one of the best third-placed teams: Sweden

Eliminated: Tunisia

Mason Greenwood has dropped a major hint over his Olympique de Marseille future, and Manchester United will be watching developments very closely

Mason Greenwood has dealt Manchester United a fresh blow by agreeing personal terms with Fenerbahce. Greenwood had been vocal in his desire to remain at Marseille, especially given that his contract at the club runs until June 2029.

But his time in France looks to be ending, as L’Equipe reports that Fenerbahce has successfully negotiated a lucrative contract package with his representatives.

However, even though Marseille want €50m for Greenwood this summer, the Super Lig club won’t pay more than €30m plus add-ons.

This is bad news for United, who are entitled to 40 percent of any agreed fee because they inserted a 40 percent sell-on clause into the deal when they sold Greenwood to the Ligue 1 outfit.

The more money Marseille get, the better for United, and there is still hope that AS Roma could enter the bidding.

Reports from Italy claim that Gian Piero Gasperini is convinced that Greenwood represents the ideal wide player to fit into his 3-4-3 formation, but the Serie A side are having to focus on sales in order to balance their books before June 30.

Greenwood, who has not played for United since January 2022, scored 26 times in 44 appearances for Marseille last season, but that didn’t stop him from receiving criticism for some of his performances.

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Following his side’s 3-0 defeat to Nantes last month, France World Cup winner Christophe Dugarry branded Greenwood a ‘disgrace’.

The Marseille legend fumed: “You are the leader of this team, everyone depends on you. When you’re not there, everyone feels your absence. And what do you give back after all those sacrifices? This? You’re a disgrace, get out.

“That’s the money you’ll make for the club, but no one will cry for you. What he did against Nantes is shameful. I saw him walking around. At times I just looked at him and he was pretending. He doesn’t care.”

South Africa secured a historic place in the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over South Korea on Wednesday.

Bafana Bafana completed a remarkable turnaround after suffering a heavy defeat and two red cards against hosts Mexico in their opening match. They bounced back with a dramatic late win before sealing qualification with another crucial victory.

The decisive moment came in the 63rd minute when Thapelo Maseko fired a superb left-footed shot into the bottom corner after being picked out by Moremi. The goal lifted South Africa above South Korea into second place in the group.

The achievement is particularly significant as South Africa had failed to progress beyond the group stage in their previous World Cup appearances in 1998, 2002 and 2010.

Captain Ronwen Williams revealed that criticism before the tournament helped motivate the team.

“Everybody was against us. We used that as energy to fight today. It’s amazing what we achieved,” Williams said.

South Korea started brightly and almost took the lead inside two minutes, but Kim Min-jae’s header was cleared off the line by Aubrey Modiba. Lee Kang-in also went close shortly afterwards as the Koreans dominated the early exchanges.

South Africa gradually settled into the contest and nearly broke the deadlock in the 19th minute when Maseko raced through on goal, only for Lee Gi-hyuk to make a crucial last-ditch tackle.

South Korea goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu then produced an excellent double save to deny Thalente Mbatha and Evidence Makgopa before the break.

Despite creating few chances in the second half, South Africa found the breakthrough through Maseko’s clinical finish, a goal that ultimately secured a famous victory.

The result sends Bafana Bafana into the knockout phase for the first time in their history. They will now face Canada with another piece of history on the line and a place in the last 16 up for grabs.

South Korea, meanwhile, remain in contention to qualify as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams, but they will be left wondering what might have been after failing to take their chances.