FIFA is enhancing offside calls for the 2026 World Cup with advanced semi-automated VAR technology, providing real-time audio alerts for quicker decisions.(photo/Agency)

Ahead of the FIFA 2026 World Cup, the governing body of the game has introduced a new, advanced semi-automated system for Video Assistant Referees (VARs) to make offside decisions faster. It will give assistant referees relief as they can raise the offside flag even before the move plays out.Under the new setup, assistant referees will receive a real-time audio alert in their earpiece the moment a player is more than 10 centimetres offside – an improvement from the previous threshold of 50 centimetres used during trials at the Club World Cup and the Intercontinental Cup.The linesman still decides when to raise the flag and stop the play. They may keep the flag down if they suspect there has been an error in the new system.The technology still cannot pick the closest offside calls, and there are limitations if players are in crowded situations. The VARs will still decide marginal calls, crowded situations and subjective offside cases.The technology will be helpful for the positional offside calls. “For positional offside, the information was via an audio alert directly sent to the assistant referee – and they could raise the flag. So we had not really any longer delay for positional offside.” FIFA’s Director of Innovation, Johannes Holzmueller, said during the trial of the system in the Club World Cup.FIFA hopes it will remove the frustration felt by supporters and players, and will reduce the chances of injuries due to needless passages of play when there is an offside play by a player.In May 2025, Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi was placed in an induced coma after colliding with the goalpost during a Premier League fixture against Leicester City, a horrifying incident that unfolded because the assistant held off raising the offside flag as protocol demanded under the VAR rules. The governing body of football does not want such incidents on the biggest stage.FIFA has confirmed it will create AI-powered, life-like 3D avatars of every single player at the tournament – all 1,248 of them across the 48 competing nations’ 26-man squads.Each player will step into a scanning chamber during their pre-tournament photo shoot for a one-second full-body scan that captures precise body dimensions. It will give more enhanced and clearer offside animations in the upcoming World Cup.

FIFA To Introduce New ‘Out of Bounds’ And ‘Line of Sight’ TechnologyFIFA has also approved technology that can determine whether the ball crossed a touchline or byline before a goal was scored, a call which was needed as Aston Villa had a goal disallowed in a Premier League fixture against Brentford in February this year, with the ball unclear if it had gone out of play. Japan’s goal against Germany in the group-stage match in the last World Cup edition also happened due to an unclear call.FIFA has also expanded ‘Real-time 3D Recreation’ to make ‘line-of-sight’ judgements for offsides faster and clearer, and to help on-field referees.There will be two virtual feeds, available to the VAR and TV viewers, which replicate the perspectives of both goalkeepers, another technological improvement for the game which can be seen by the fans in this year’s World Cup Edition.

As football continues to showcase stories that transcend borders and cultures, one of the most fascinating examples is that of Samuel Moutoussamy. The DR Congo international midfielder carries a unique heritage that connects Africa, Europe, and India through his family roots.

Born in France, Moutoussamy comes from a diverse family background. His mother is Congolese, while his father is an Indo-Guadeloupean of Tamil descent.

The Indo-Guadeloupean community traces its origins to South Indian indentured labourers who migrated to the Caribbean during the late 19th century. As a result, Moutoussamy’s family history reflects a remarkable journey spanning multiple continents and generations.

Why Samuel represents DR Congo?

Under FIFA eligibility regulations, players can represent a nation if a biological parent or grandparent was born in that country, provided they also hold the required nationality.

Establishing Himself With DR Congo

Moutoussamy made his senior debut for the DR Congo national team in 2019 and has since become a regular presence in midfield.

The 29-year-old has accumulated 57 international caps, establishing himself as one of the key figures in the Leopards’ setup. His composure on the ball, defensive work rate, and experience have made him an important asset for the national side.

Club Career Across Europe

At club level, Moutoussamy currently plays for Atromitos in the Greek Super League.

Before moving to Greece, he spent several seasons with FC Nantes, where he gained valuable experience in French football. He also enjoyed a stint in Turkey with Sivasspor, adding another chapter to his European journey.

A Unique Connection to Indian Heritage

While Moutoussamy represents DR Congo internationally, his Tamil ancestry gives him a unique connection to India. His story highlights the global footprint of the Indian diaspora and serves as another example of how football continues to unite cultures and identities across the world.

From French upbringing to Congolese international football and Tamil roots stretching back generations, Samuel Moutoussamy’s journey is one of the most distinctive stories in modern football.

Ollie Watkins described his omission from England’s March training camp as a “blessing in disguise”, and a setback that ignited a remarkable run of form for the Aston Villa striker.

His initial hopes of securing a spot for the World Cup 2026 appeared to be fading after he was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s squad for friendlies against Uruguay and Japan however, Watkins responded emphatically, netting 11 goals in the next 12 games.

That prolific spell was instrumental in guiding Villa to the Europa League title as well as securing a coveted top-four finish in the Premier League.

Reflecting on the period, Watkins stated: “To be fair, before the March camp, I had started to pick up my form. I scored an important goal and had some big performances against Lille in the round of 16.

“So my form was starting to pick up, I think it was a blessing in disguise. Sometimes, when something gets taken away from you, you realise how important it is, and it gives you that fire in your belly to come back and show people what you can do.”

He added: “The manager always had faith in me. So, it is nice I could repay him with the performances and goals and to show I deserved to be here. I felt in the big moments, when the team needed me, I stepped up and came up with some big goals and some big performances.”

The season concluded on a high note for the 30-year-old, who hopes Villa’s European success can serve as a springboard for further achievements this summer.

“It’s been a long time since the club had brought back a trophy, and we did that,” he said. “You know, 44 years, fans have been waiting for that a long time, and obviously we succeeded, and it’s an amazing feeling to do that. To come into the England camp off the back of a strong end of the season, and winning a trophy, there’s nothing better.”

Watkins also acknowledged his role for the upcoming tournament and is ready for the challenges the World Cup will bring.

“I think everything that I had pictured, really, and imagined is coming to play,” he said. “Physically I’m the best I’ve ever been, and obviously my form as well in front of goal is really good at the moment, so I’m feeling really strong.

“Everyone’s got a part to play in this competition, whether it’s early stages, later stages, we just have to be ready, and we’re all working together as a team to achieve something special.”

Watkins will be competing with Ivan Toney, as an alternative to Harry Kane, with both players having made an impact off the bench at Euro 2024.

“I think it’s good, me and Ivan are different players, and you need that, you need to have versatility,” Watkins commented.

“At the end of the day, Ivan’s a proven goalscorer, he’s shown it throughout all his career. Even in the last Euros, there were times where he came on when the team needed him, and then I had my moment, obviously, in the semi-final as well. I think it’s amazing that we’ve got Ive here as he’s a clinical goalscorer.”

Man Utd youngster Kobbie Mainoo was included in England’s squad for the World Cup after a red hot run of form.

Kobbie Mainoo has admitted that he suffered “difficult times” during Ruben Amorim’s tenure at Manchester United. Amorim could not find a way to fit Mainoo into his system, experimenting with him in different positions.

Amorim once attempted to play Mainoo up front in a home defeat to Crystal Palace. The 41-year-old eventually decided that Mainoo would be pitted against Bruno Fernandes for minutes in a deeper midfield position.

Mainoo did not start a Premier League game this season until Amorim was sacked in January. Michael Carrick immediately reinstated him to the starting team, and his sparkling form in the second half of the campaign earned him a place in England’s squad for this summer’s World Cup.

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United have rewarded Mainoo with a new five-year contract to safeguard his future at Old Trafford, but he would have been forced to leave his boyhood club if Amorim had remained in charge.

Reflecting on the first half of his season, Mainoo told England reporters in the USA: “I mean, obviously there were difficult times.

“But I tried to keep my focus on what was in front of me, take things day by day and just keep working my craft, keep working hard for the team, and I hoped the rest would come. Thankfully it has.”

When asked if he had Carrick to partly thank for his World Cup call-up, he said: “Definitely, and I told him that I was very grateful. Because if he hadn’t put me on the pitch, then I wouldn’t have been here so, I’m always grateful to him for that.”

Mainoo shared his delight at Crrick’s appointment, adding: “We were very happy with it, obviously, I love the way he coaches and manages me personally in the team as well. I think everyone in the squad can agree with that. When he officially got the job, we were all so happy.”

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The youngster believes England can win the World Cup. “One hundred per cent,” he said. “I feel like everyone in the squad, staff, everyone believes we can win it.

“But that doesn’t come easy. It’s very special, something I’ve dreamed of, and I’m sure all the players have dreamed of since they were really young.

“So to be here and say that I’m playing in a World Cup is unbelievable. I’ve always wanted to play in a World Cup for all my life. It’s the biggest tournament in the world, so it’s definitely different from the Euros, but we will try and approach it in the same way with the goal that we want to win.”

Mainoo started in the Euro 2024 final against Spain, and former England manager Gareth Southgate heaped praise on him during that tournament, suggesting the Three Lions had not had a talent like Mainoo in midfield.

The Stockport-born lad submitted a request to leave United on loan in the final week of last summer’s transfer window. However, the request was denied, and Mainoo continued to struggle for game time until Amorim was sacked amid rising tensions with the board in January.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

File photo of Sourav Ganguly

The 2026 NBA Finals is a rematch 27 years in the making, as it will feature the same teams who squared off in the championship series in 1999. The San Antonio Spurs won that series over the New York Knicks, in what was the Spurs’ first trip to the Finals and remains the Knicks’ last NBA Finals appearance. Game 1 of the NBA Finals 2026 will take place on Wednesday with San Antonio (62-20), the 2-seed in the West, hosting the East’s 3-seed in the Knicks (53-29). Mitchell Robinson (finger) is questionable for the Knicks.

Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. ET from Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. The home team has won each of the last nine regular-season meetings. San Antonio is favored by 4.5 points in the latest Spurs vs. Knicks odds from FanDuel Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 218.5. Before making any Knicks vs. Spurs picks, check out the Spurs vs. Knicks predictions from SportsLine’s Larry Hartstein. 

A former lead writer for Covers and The Linemakers, Hartstein combines a vast network of Vegas sources with an analytical approach he honed working for Pro Football Focus. He tied for 52nd place (out of 1,598 entries) in the 2022 Westgate Las Vegas SuperContest, going 53-34-3 ATS (61 percent). Hartstein is also 100-69 over his last 169 NBA picks (+1751) and is 90-60 (+1762) over his last 150 NBA player props. Anyone following his NBA betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.

Now, Hartstein has studied Spurs vs. Knicks from every angle and just revealed his coveted NBA picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several NBA odds and NBA betting lines for Knicks vs. Spurs:

Top Knicks vs. Spurs predictions

After studying Spurs vs. Knicks from every angle, Hartstein is leaning Over 218.5 total points.  Just about all of the NBA betting trends favor the Over, especially in regard to recent games. The Over is 4-1 across the Knicks’ last five games, while the Over is a staggering 10-2 over San Antonio’s last dozen contests. New York having a rest advantage also favors the total being eclipsed. The Over sports a 6-2 record over the Knicks’ last eight games following four-plus days of rest, while the Over has hit in 63% of Spurs games in which they were at a rest disadvantage.

The matchup history between these two also indicates Game 1 should be a high-scoring affair. The Over was 2-1 across their three meetings this season, averaging 235.3 combined points. Additionally, over the last nine Spurs vs. Knicks matchups, the total has been surpassed seven times, as Hartstein sees these Over trends continuing in Game 1. See his Knicks vs. Spurs spread pick at SportsLine, and you can bet the Over in Knicks vs. Spurs at FanDuel here:

How to make Spurs vs. Knicks picks

Hartstein has also found a critical x-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread, and he’s also locked in a Game 1 NBA prop bet as well. You can head to SportsLine to see Hartstein’s NBA picks. 

So who wins Knicks vs. Spurs, and what critical x-factor makes one side of the spread hit hard? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Spurs vs. Knicks spread and which NBA prop to back, all from the expert who is on a 100-69 roll on NBA picks, and find out.

The Republic of Ireland are third in their group, but their fate remains in their own hands as they face the two teams above them – taking on the Netherlands in Cork on Friday (19:30) before travelling to France for their final fixture on Tuesday (20:00).

Win both and the Republic of Ireland will seal a place at the World Cup – for only the second time in their history – regardless of results elsewhere.

As Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are in League B, however, the picture is slightly different.

The best they can achieve is a play-off place by finishing in the top three – a position both have already secured with two games to spare.

Scotland are in top spot before back-to-back fixtures with Israel on Friday (17:00) and Tuesday (18:00).

Meanwhile, Wales are second in their group on goal difference behind Czech Republic whom they host on Tuesday (18:00), after travelling to Montenegro on Friday (17:00).

Finally, Northern Ireland need a point from their final games in Turkey (Friday, 18:00) and at home to Switzerland (Tuesday, 18:00) to secure a play-off berth.

Reaching the play-offs extends hope of making the World Cup, but teams will still have to navigate two rounds in the autumn to get to Brazil.

Victor Wembanyama endured an emotional night after securing the Western Conference title, even shedding tears postgame. However, NBA legend Kevin Garnett criticized the Spurs star for showing emotion before winning the Finals, questioning the timing of his reaction despite the magnitude of the achievement.

The former NBA champion offered a scathing review of Wemby’s emotional reaction during an episode of the Ticket & the Truth podcast on Tuesday.

“He’s got to go through some bull s*it. He’s crying in the motherf*cking Western Conference finals,” KG remarked. “That was too emotional for me … You got four more games to get. You’ve got to go through the Finals now.”

Garnett’s reaction to Wemby’s emotional outpour was later highlighted by Joebuddenclips on X (formerly Twitter).

“Kevin Garnett says Victor Wembanyama crying in the Western Conference finals was too emotional for me the job isn’t done yet,” joebuddenclips wrote. “He also says the Knicks need to be ready cause the Spurs ain’t the sixers they got people to guard Jalen Brunson.”

The post quickly earned the reactions of fans who blasted KG for picking on Wemby.

While a few fans extended Garnett an olive branch and understood what he meant, they still felt Wemby was young and had the right to show his emotions.

Although Garnett’s argument centered on unfinished business, Wembanyama continues to stand out as a transcendent figure on and off the court. Beyond his unique skill set as a three-point shooting big man, his emotional maturity and willingness to express himself have become defining traits of his personality.

Despite Garnett’s criticism, the Spurs star remains a breath of fresh air in a sporting landscape where showing emotion is often viewed as a weakness. Wembanyama, however, has leaned into being unapologetically authentic, embracing his individuality rather than conforming to traditional expectations.

An emotional Victor Wembanyama reflects on winning the WCF title

Victor Wembanyama helped secure the San Antonio Spurs’ first Western Conference Finals title since 2014 on Saturday, following a grueling seven-game series against the OKC Thunder. After the game, the center was visibly emotional as he picked up the Western Conference Finals MVP award.

During the postgame interview, Wemby reflected on the WCF title while looking back on his journey.

“Winning the Larry O’Brien is a childhood dream,” Wemby said. “Having a real, tangible chance at it, at realizing that dream, you know, it’s a lifetime opportunity. You never know when it’s going to happen again … It’s hard to put into words. It’s almost like the meaning of my life.”

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The center is now four wins away from lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy as he looks to fulfill his childhood dream.