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What Canada can expect from Bosnia in FIFA World Cup matchup
The final piece of the FIFA World Cup puzzle has fallen into place for Canada.
Bosnia and Herzegovina upset Italy on Tuesday in a European playoff to clinch a berth at this summer’s tournament, marking its return to the World Cup for the first time in 12 years.
Canada already knew it would be hosting Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24 at BC Place in Vancouver in Group B action at the World Cup. Bosnia’s victory over the Italians means Canada will face them in its group stage opener on June 12 at BMO Field in Toronto.
What kind of team is Bosnia? What should Canada expect from their Balkan nation?
Here’s a look at Canada’s first opponent at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Nickname: Zmajevi (The Dragons)
FIFA world ranking: No. 65
All-time caps leader: Edin Džeko (148)
All-time to scorer: Edin Džeko (73)
Current coach: Sergej Barbarez
How Bosnia qualified for the 2026 World Cup.
Bosnia posted a 5-2-1 record during the first round, finishing behind Group H winners Austria and beating out Romania for second place, and a spot in Path A of the European Playoffs.
Down 1-0 against Wales in Cardiff, Bosnia was on the verge of elimination when Edin Džeko scored a late equalizer. After a goalless extra time, Bosnia completed the comeback, winning 4-2 on penalties.
The Bosnians trailed 10-man Italy by a goal in the finale of the Path A playoffs before drawing level and then winning 4-1 on penalties to send the hometown fans at Zenica’s Bilino Polje Stadium into a state of delirium.
Bosnia’s World Cup history
Bosnia competed at the World Cup as part of Yugoslavia from 1930 to 1990. The breakup of the country saw Bosnia become an independent country that first took part in World Cup qualifying for the 1998 tournament in France.
After four failed attempts, the Bosnians qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 2014 in Brazil, where they bowed out in the group stage.
The Dragons will be back at the World Cup this summer for the first time in 12 years after failing to qualify in 2018 and 2022.
Scouting report on Bosnia
Canada’s opening match will be a tricky one, considering the form that Bosnia and Herzegovina have been on — seven wins, three draws and only two losses since March 2025. This is also a team that can score and is hard to break down, with 24 goals scored and three clean sheets in that same period.
Although Bosnia has deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation at times, coach Sergej Barbarez tends to rely on a traditional 4-4-2 setup with forward Ermedin Demirović forming an attacking partnership up top with Džeko.
Key to Bosnia’s attacking success are wingbacks Amar Memić and Esmir Bajraktarević, who prefer to deliver dangerous crosses into the penalty area, rather than cutting into the middle off the wing. Typically, Memić and Bajraktarević look to penetrate deep before crossing into the box, where one striker attacks the near post and the other goes towards the back post, thus making life difficult for opposing defenders.
Džeko provides a tall target man (he stands six-feet-four) and is renowned for winning his aerial battles against opposing centre backs. Most of Bosnia’s best scoring chances come off Džeko’s attempts on goal or from his headed passes. How Canadian centre backs Moïse Bombito and Derek Cornelius deal with the Bosnian dangerman will be one of the more important tactical questions that Jesse Marsch’s side will have to answer.
It’ll also be important for Canada to shut down Memić and Bajraktarević and prevent them from supplying crosses into the box. Bosnia is also dangerous from set pieces, so Canada would be well advised to limit the number of fouls they commit in and around the box.
Bosnia’s major weakness is its lack of experience. Džeko has 148 caps for his country, but only three other players on the squad who took part in this month’s pair of qualifying matches have played in 30 games for their country. The overwhelming majority of players on the roster have fewer than 20 caps. That lack of experience often leads to inconsistent performances across 90 minutes.
And while Džeko is an experienced campaigner who is capable of conjuring a magical moment, the team is far too reliant on him; it lacks variation in its attacking play and fails to provide consistent support for the veteran striker.
Most recognizable name on Bosnia’s team
At 40 years of age, Edin Džeko is still going strong for Bosnia.
The veteran striker was his country’s top scorer during European qualifying with six goals, accounting for over one-third of his country’s offence.
Džeko has a wealth of experience at international and club level, having previously turned out for some of Europe’s top outfits, including Manchester City and Inter Milan. He’s currently playing for FC Schalke 04 in Germany’s second division.
What Canada is saying about Bosnia
“Their players grew up in a war-torn country, and a lot of them were lucky to escape, found their ways to different countries. I coached Amar Dedić (at Red Bull Salzburg) — his family moved to Austria and had to find a new life there,” said head coach Jesse Marsch. “So, these players have been through a lot in life, and I think it really served them well in the (European playoffs) where they were in difficult situations.
“I have a lot of respect for what Bosnia has achieved, what those people have been through, what those players have been through, and I’m happy for them to be at the World Cup. I know we’re in for a really difficult first match.”
Midfielder Ismaël Koné added that “to be fair, Bosnia is a very good team. I didn’t know this was their level. I’m very surprised Italy didn’t go through. I thought with the experience they have, with the high-quality players they have, by now, after missing two World Cups, they would be here, but you know, it’s football.”
Winger Liam Miller noted that while watching the game against Italy, “you could tell Bosnia were a good team. They had more passes, obviously. I know Italy had a red card. But even before Italy got their red card, I felt like (Bosnia) were the better team in the game. So, they’re a good team. We can’t underestimate them. They’re going to come here with energy.”
Goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau echoed those sentiments, saying “Bosnia was pretty much the team that was most in form (in Path A) of the four that could have been a possibility (for Canada). It’s going to be a very tough opponent.”
Editor’s note
John Molinaro is one of the leading soccer journalists in Canada, having covered the game for over 27 years for several media outlets, including Sportsnet, CBC Sports and Sun Media. He is currently the editor-in-chief of TFC Republic, a website dedicated to in-depth coverage of Toronto FC and Canadian soccer.
Delhi Capitals suffered a heavy 47-run defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad in their IPL 2026 clash on Tuesday at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Batting first, SRH piled up a mammoth total of 242/2 in 20 overs, with opener Abhishek Sharma emerging as the chief architect of the innings. Facing just 68 deliveries, Abhishek remained unbeaten on a sensational 135, dismantling the DC bowling attack with ease. In reply, DC were restricted to 195/9 despite valiant efforts from Nitish Rana and Sameer Rizvi. Following the loss, DC opener and wicketkeeper KL Rahul has come under intense scrutiny for his sluggish knock of 37 off 23 balls.
Rahul’s innings, which included just one boundary and three sixes, failed to provide the momentum required in a steep chase, as DC managed only 59 runs in the powerplay. Former India opener Aakash Chopra was critical of Rahul’s approach, questioning his intent while chasing a daunting target of 243.
“I think the question needs to be asked. He faced 23 balls for the 37 runs he scored, but how many attacking shots did he actually play? In my humble opinion, when you’re chasing a 240-plus total and fail to capitalise on the powerplay, there’s a 99.5 percent chance you’re going to lose the match. It’s a mountain to climb anyway, but the intent felt missing. I didn’t feel they gave it everything they had while chasing such a massive total,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
“He may have been carrying a niggle; it did seem like that. But once again, this is the same mistake LSG made the other day. If you don’t go all out and instead adopt a conservative approach while chasing such totals, you’re going to lose anyway. The question then is-did you give your best? Not enough, in my opinion,” he added.
Chopra also raised concerns about Rahul’s wicketkeeping, pointing out a crucial error behind the stumps that handed Abhishek Sharma a vital lifeline during the match.
“KL Rahul does keep wickets for India in the ODI setup as well, but let’s be very honest-he is a batter who keeps wickets, not the other way around. Most wicketkeepers are keepers first and then contribute with the bat,” Chopra said.
“Mistakes can happen to anyone, but when it’s KL Rahul, you do start questioning the overall value. If, as a keeper, you miss chances, it sometimes nullifies whatever contribution you make with the bat,” he concluded.
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DENVER — Nicolas Roy scored on a rebound 7:44 into overtime and Scott Wedgewood made 24 saves, including a penalty shot, as the Colorado Avalanche beat the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 on Tuesday night to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round NHL playoff series.
Roy put the winner through the legs of defenceman Brandt Clarke and into the net to set off a wild celebration.
The game was halted for roughly 17 minutes in the second period when a pane of glass shattered behind the Kings bench, sending pieces raining on interim coach D.J. Smith. The incident occurred right after Quinton Byfield was stopped on a penalty shot by Wedgewood and fans began to celebrate by pounding on the glass. It gave way as Smith covered his head and then brushed the glass off his suit.
Colorado is 17-2 in playoff series when taking a 2-0 lead since relocating to Denver before the 1995-96 season. Los Angeles is 3-12 in post-season series when facing an 0-2 hole.
The Kings took the lead on Artemi Panarin’s power-play goal with 6:56 remaining. Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog tied it with 3:35 left when he got loose in front of the net.
Game 3 is Thursday night in Los Angeles.
This was a showdown between Wedgewood and Anton Forsberg, who both turned in sensational saves. Forsberg stopped 34 shots.
It was a physical game, too, that featured 52 hits, 52 blocks, 11 penalties, plenty of skirmishes and lots of hard feelings.
Colorado thought it had a goal after a shot from Sam Malinski seconds into the third. The horn went off and the fans erupted, but it was quickly ruled that the puck stuck into the side of the net and never went in.
Forsberg and his defensive teammates did their part. Mikey Anderson broke up a 3-on-1 with a slide across the ice in the second when Martin Necas elected to pass, and Drew Doughty made a similar sliding play later in the period.
Apr 21, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers (23) hits a solo home run during the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: John Froschauer-Imagn Images Jeff McNeil and Shea Langeliers hit home runs as the Athletics defeated the host Seattle Mariners 5-2 Tuesday night, clinching a series victory against their American League West rivals.
The teams will wrap up the three-game set Wednesday afternoon at T-Mobile Park.
A’s left-hander Jacob Lopez (2-1) earned the victory by allowing two runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out one.
Right-hander Jack Perkins pitched the final two innings for his first save of the season.
Cal Raleigh homered for a second consecutive night for the Mariners, who have dropped six of their past eight games.
The A’s broke a 2-2 tie against reliever Eduard Bazardo (0-1) in the sixth. Tyler Soderstrom led off with a double off the wall in center field and Jacob Wilson followed by grounding a run-scoring double past diving third baseman Leo Rivas and into the left-field corner.
The loss was the first of Bazardo’s six-year career after eight consecutive victories.
Langeliers made it 4-2 with a solo shot to center with two outs in the seventh off Gabe Speier. It was Langeliers’ second homer in as many nights. The A’s added an insurance run in the ninth off Cole Wilcox. Nick Kurtz and Langeliers led off with singles and advanced on Carlos Cortes’ chopper down the first-base line. The Mariners intentionally walked Soderstrom to load the bases. Wilson lined a single to center to complete the scoring.
The A’s scored in the first inning as Kurtz drew a leadoff walk, stole second and came home on Soderstrom’s two-out double to right.
The Mariners tied it in the third as Rob Refsnyder lined a leadoff single to center and Raleigh grounded a single into left. Refsnyder took third on Julio Rodriguez’s lineout to left and scored on Josh Naylor’s sacrifice fly to center.
The A’s responded in the top of the fourth as McNeil went deep to right-center with two outs. Raleigh’s solo shot to left-center with one out in the fifth tied the score at 2-2.
Mariners starter Luis Castillo went five innings and allowed two runs on five hits. The right-hander walked two and struck out six.
–Field Level Media
Knicks drop Game 2, Danny drops Top 10 teams that MUST hit this NFL draft 🔥📉
Nick Wright, Kevin Wildes, Chris Broussard, and Danny Parkins react to the New York Knicks dropping Game 2 to even the series at 1-1, breaking down what went wrong and what it means moving forward. Danny then unveils his Top 10 teams that must hit in the upcoming NFL Draft, highlighting the franchises under the most pressure and why this draft could define their future. Willie Colon and Coach Eric Mangini join the debate in the Front Office segment, highlighting top prospects in the upcoming NFL Draft and where they could land.
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As rapper Drake rolls out the latest promotion for his upcoming “Iceman” album, it appears he’s also taking a jab at Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams in the process.
The Canadian artist posted a photo on Monday of himself rocking a Green Bay Packers jacket in front of blocks of ice that were set up in downtown Toronto with the release date of his highly anticipated album hidden inside. The promotion led to fans trying to speed up the melting process of the heavy blocks.
A streamer who goes by “Kishka” ended up finding the envelope, took it to Drake’s home in the area, and the May 15 release date was eventually revealed for all to see.
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Rapper Drake performs onstage during the Lil Baby & Friends Birthday Celebration Concert at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga., on Dec. 9, 2022. (Prince Williams/Wireimage)
The Packers even reposted the pictures of Drake, with a simple “Hi” in their caption while tagging the famous rapper.
So, where does Caleb Williams come into play here?
Well, as Williams helped lead the Bears to the playoffs, he claimed himself the “Iceman” after coming from behind for dramatic wins during a remarkable 2025 campaign.
Then, Williams took it to another level, trying to trademark the nickname in March, though he received scrutiny not from Drake, but Basketball Hall of Famer George Gervin. The four-time scoring champ and 12-time All-Star was called “Iceman” throughout his career.
But now, Drake is claiming himself the “Iceman.” And while it could just be a coincidence Drake was wearing the Packers bomber jacket, he is quite known for jabs at his “foes,” whether straight-forward or through subtle things like his attire.
Drake performs live on stage during day two of Wireless Festival 2025 at Finsbury Park in London on July 12, 2025. He is headlining all three nights of the festival. (Simone Joyner/Getty Images for ABA)
Drake has been hinting at this new album for some time now, slowly releasing promos since last summer. Considering his love for sports, he made sure to play that up to build anticipation for the album.
At Scotiabank Arena, the home of the Toronto Raptors, Drake had fake icicles placed on the two courtside seats that he usually sits in when he attends NBA games. They were spotted on April 12 — a 136-101 blowout win for the home team.
Meanwhile, Bears fans have learned to enjoy “Iceman” Williams, even if the games are rollercoasters at times. The 24-year-old threw for 3,942 yards with 27 touchdowns and just seven interceptions, while leading the team to the playoffs with an 11-6 record.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams warms up before the game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill., on Jan. 4, 2026. (David Banks/Imagn Images)
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The Bears eventually fell to the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round in an overtime thriller. It wasn’t Williams’ best game, throwing for two touchdowns, but three interceptions in the loss.
But feelings around the Bears are that the No. 1 overall pick is the right guy to continue leading the franchise, especially when it comes to defeating divisional opponents like the Packers.
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The Los Angeles Lakers expect to be without star guard Luka Dončić for the remainder of their first-round series with the Houston Rockets, but Austin Reaves has returned to on-court activity and could return late in the series, according to ESPN, if it reaches that point. The Lakers have a 2-0 lead after a 101-94 win in Game 2 on Tuesday night in L.A.
Dončić suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain during the Lakers’ loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 2 and has been ruled out indefinitely. Prior to the playoffs, Dončić went to Spain to undergo special treatment on his hamstring. He has since rejoined the team, but his timeline to return to play remains unclear.
Reaves went down with a Grade 2 oblique strain in the same game against the Thunder, but is closer to a return than his backcourt mate. Here’s more from Shams Charania:
“The sense around the Lakers is that Austin Reaves is actually the one that’s further along than Luka Doncic in their respective rehab processes. I am told Austin Reaves has started 1-on-1 on-court work. The next step for him is to continue to go through the progression of 3-on-3, 5-on-5. Remember, early April he had a four-to-six week timetable, so theoretically that puts him on track late in this series, potentially early in the next series.”
The Lakers caught a real break with the schedule for their first-round series, which is why there’s optimism that Reaves could play against the Rockets. There were two full days off between Games 1 and 2, and there will be another full two days off between Games 2 and 3 and Games 4 and 5. Here’s a look at the unique schedule, which will stretch into May if it gets to six games.
- Game 3: Lakers at Rockets, April 24
- Game 4: Lakers at Rockets, April 26
- Game 5*: Rockets at Lakers, April 29
- Game 6*: Lakers at Rockets, May 1
- Game 7*: Rockets at Lakers, May 3
*If necessary
The Lakers winning Games 1 and 2 could change the team’s thinking some here. The Rockets lost Game 2 even with Kevin Durant back in the lineup, but the series could certainly be lengthened as it shifts back to Houston. Again, Reaves got hurt on April 2, and the initial timeline was four to six weeks, so it certainly would be conceivable that he could play by Game 6 or Game 7.
Getting Reaves back would be a massive boost for the Lakers. He averaged 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game on 49/36/87.1 shooting splits and put up career highs in both scoring and rebounds. He was second on the team in scoring and would have been 18th in the league if he had played enough games to qualify for the official leaderboard.
While they got a huge night from Luke Kennard in Game 1 (27 points, four rebounds and three assists on 9 of 13 from the field, including 5 of 5 from 3-point range) and an outstanding performance from Marcus Smart in Game 2 (25 points, seven assists, five steals) they can’t count on that every night. Reaves, even at less than 100%, would give their offense another top-level creator who could get his own shots and take pressure off everyone else.
If the Lakers get Reaves back and pull off an upset in this series to advance to the second round, that would give Dončić time to get back on the floor.
The Premier League could boast six clubs in the Champions League for a second season running if all the right pieces fall into place.
The extra fifth place was sealed after Arsenal reached the Champions League quarter-finals. It is the second consecutive year that the Premier League has earned an additional spot, with the English top flight at the top of the European Performance Standings (EPS).
Last term saw an unprecedented six English clubs qualify for the Champions League; five by their league position, and with Tottenham earning their place in the league phase after winning the Europa League.
The same could happen again this term, with the Premier League appearing as one of the more prominent beneficiaries to the competition’s expansion to 36 teams that came into effect at the beginning of 2024/25.
Here’s what needs to happen:
Why six Premier League teams could qualify for the Champions League
As with every season, the top four clubs in the Premier League table are guaranteed a spot in the 2026/27 edition – but like last year, England have earned an additional place.
That fifth spot is earned by being one of the best-performing two nations in each season’s European club competitions. English teams performed particularly well in the Champions League league phase, which boosted their points tally in Uefa’s standings, and while last-16 exits of Chelsea, Manchester City, Newcastle and Tottenham threatened their ranking, Arsenal’s success has eased any fears of the Premier League being limited to four berths next term.
The Premier League will therefore definitely have a quintet of Champions League teams by the end of the campaign. But wait, there’s more! The winner of the Europa League is also awarded a place in the Champions League – and Aston Villa will be playing Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals, with Freiburg and Braga on the other side of the draw.
What happens if Aston Villa win the Europa League?
Aston Villa are the favourites to lift the title. Unai Emery is a serial winner of the competition and Villa stormed past Bologna 7-1 on aggregate to reach the semi-finals, where they will face a Nottingham Forest side that is also battling relegation this season.
Villa are currently fourth in the Premier League, way ahead of sixth-placed Chelsea. As it stands, they are looking on course to qualify for the Champions League anyway. If Villa win the Europa League and finish fourth, the Premier League will stay with five teams in the Champions League.
But if Villa win the Europa League and finish fifth the additional place in the Champions League awarded by the EPS will drop down to the team that finishes sixth in the Premier League.
This is of interest to several Premier League teams, with the race for sixth extremely competitive this season. There are just three points separating sixth-placed Chelsea to Fulham, in 12th.
What happens if Nottingham Forest win the Europa League?
Forest are embroiled in a relegation battle at the other end of the table so their requirements are more straightforward; if they win the Europa League, a sixth spot in the continent’s premier competition will be sealed, just like Tottenham last season.
The Premier League could have had an unprecedented seventh seat at Europe’s top table, which might have come if an English team won the Champions League but also finished outside of the top five.
However, after how things panned out in the quarter-finals, that is no longer possible. Liverpool, who are fifth in the Premier League, were knocked out by holders Paris Saint-Germain, while Arsenal – still in the competition and set for a semi-final tie with Atletico Madrid – cannot mathematically finish outside the Champions League qualification places, sat 22 points ahead of sixth at the top of the English top flight.
Vafaei beat Barry Hawkins in the first round at the Crucible last year before losing 13-10 to Mark Williams.
An injury wrecked the start of this season but an intensive physio programme got him back playing, although he then had a poor run of results following his return.
“With my injury, I took two or three months [out] and after that I lost my form,” he added. “It was a shoulder problem, it was hurting my fingers and all the nerves on my left side.
“It was tough to get back my form and to find something and the struggles started from there.
“I’m under lots of pressure. I’m not having a good season. A lot of people have been like ‘where is he? what’s he doing?’. They’re thinking I’ve stopped playing snooker.
“I’ve had a tough year mentally, personally, and everything.”
But there has been some encouragement on the table as before his success at qualifying, he beat Williams and Zhang Anda to reach the quarter-finals of last month’s World Open where he was beaten by Trump.
However, he said news from back home meant he was often not focused on snooker.
“You get a bad text in the day and you can’t focus on your job. How can I focus?” said Vafaei.
“No-one knows how tough it is but hopefully it will be over soon, then the safety comes back to my country.”
Mike Tomlin didn’t stay with the Minnesota Vikings for long (2006), but purple fans still claim him nevertheless. Now, a few months removed from the Pittsburgh Steelers, he’s heading into the booth as an analyst.
Tomlin’s move to NBC may look like a career detour, but it also keeps him relevant to any future Vikings coaching speculation.
The arrangement could be a one-year pit stop for the future Hall of Fame coach.
Yes, Tomlin Could Make Sense in MIN’s Long-Term Orbit
If you thought you’d miss Tomlin, well, he’s already back.
Tomlin the Announcer
It’s Sunday Night Football for Tomlin. ESPN’s Brooke Pryor wrote Tuesday, “For the first time in two decades, Mike Tomlin won’t be on an NFL sideline this fall. Tomlin, known for his one-of-a-kind oration, will be in the studio instead. The former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach is joining NBC’s Sunday night pregame show, ‘Football Night in America,’ as a studio analyst, sources confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday.”
“Talks between Tomlin and the network picked up steam in Augusta, Georgia, two weeks ago, sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Tomlin, 53, is the second former Steelers head coach to make a foray into broadcasting, joining his predecessor, Bill Cowher, who joined CBS as a studio analyst in 2007 after stepping down from the Steelers. Cowher never returned to coaching.”
It’s not a hot take to suggest Tomlin will be marvelous in the role.
The Athletic‘s Andrew Marchand also noted, “Fox showed some interest in Tomlin, but NBC had the biggest need for his services. The network is reimagining its pregame show, a move that has already led to Tony Dungy’s dismissal after 17 seasons.”
“The roles of Rodney Harrison, Jac Collinsworth and Chris Simms are also in question as the network seeks more current star power and fewer people on the show. NBC Sports declined to comment. Tomlin will join host Maria Taylor, ex-Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett and Devin McCourty on set.”
The Split from PIT
Over the last decade, the Steelers habitually did the same thing: post a winning record, exalt Tomlin to the high heavens for it late December and early January, get to the playoffs, and refuse to win a game. Wash, rinse, repeat.
The routine evidently grew stale, as Pittsburgh and Tomlin mutually parted ways after the Houston Texans crushed the Steelers in the playoffs in January. There was not much steam about Tomlin interviewing for head coaching jobs around the league thereafter, and in fact, many exactly predicted the eventual outcome — he’d join the booth somewhere.
And that’s what happened.
The Steelers later hired Mike McCarthy from Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys fame, which was funny because he’s basically Tomlin, in a nutshell, though he doesn’t have the same consistent success.
A Name to Keep an Eye on for the Vikings if Things Go Bad
Tomlin to Minnesota would not be weird. Let’s just get out there. His connection with Vikings ownership will forever position him as a candidate whenever the head coach role is considered.
The 2026 season will be the critical juncture for Kevin O’Connell’s tenure. If the Vikings make significant progress — securing a postseason berth and finally achieving a playoff win — speculation will cease. O’Connell’s job will be secure, and external chatter will stop.
However, O’Connell’s current record — four seasons, two playoff appearances, and zero playoff wins — remains a significant factor. While he has earned more patience than many NFL head coaches, such a track record typically shortens a coach’s leash. External pressure will intensify if results don’t improve, and by the 2026 training camp, you can already expect to see O’Connell on “hot seat” lists.
Should the 2026 season conclude without a substantial playoff push, the coaching door will swing wide open. A change at that point would surprise no one. Tomlin, with his stability, experience, and established connection to the Vikings’ owners, would become an obvious candidate.
The only hassle? The Vikings would have to trade for Tomlin. He has the Sean-Payton-Saints deal, where his next team might have to donate draft picks to get him. An annoyance.
Other Possible 2027 Destinations
Tomlin turned 54 last month. Assuming the Sunday Night Football relationship is a one-hit wonder — it may not be — he’ll obviously have a market during next year’s coaching carousel. In addition to the Vikings, if O’Connell doesn’t produce, here’s a list of possible teams that could pursue Tomlin:
- Carolina Panthers
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Dallas Cowboys
- Detroit Lions
- Green Bay Packers
- Indianapolis Colts
- Kansas City Chiefs
- New England Patriots
- New Orleans Saints
- New York Jets
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Washington Commanders
Of course, if any of those teams win and play well, their respective head coaches won’t be fired. The list assumes that things go poorly or a coach retires.
HOUSTON — Traditions take years, sometimes decades, to take hold but they’re a vital part of professional golf. They help tell the story of the game’s most important tournaments. Think the green jacket at the Masters, or U.S. Open Sunday on Father’s Day.
When LPGA great Amy Alcott spontaneously jumped into a pond in a moment of post-win ecstasy at the 1988 Nabisco Dinah Shore (now the Chevron Championship), she didn’t expect the leap to become a tradition that lasted for 40 years and moved courses and states.
But it has. In 2023, when the Chevron moved from Mission Hills in California to The Club at Carlton Woods in Houston, the players told the tournament’s organizers that they wanted to keep the pond jump alive. So the organizers dredged a pond and ringed it with gator netting to give players peace of mind.
The tradition appeared in danger this year, with the tournament moving to Memorial Park, a Houston muni that doesn’t have water on the 18th hole. But the LPGA and tournament organizers heard from numerous players about the importance of the pond jump’s legacy and so made short- and long-term plans to keep it alive. For the 2026 edition, organizers constructed a temporary plunge pool off to the right of the 18th green, measuring 15 feet by 10 feet and 4 1/2 feet deep. If a ball goes into the pool during tournament play, players will get free relief in the same way they would if they hit an approach into a grandstand.
The LPGA knows the makeshift pool is not a perfect solution and has already drawn a few eyeball rolls on social media, but given the time constraints, it was the most feasible solution. After the 2026 tournament, course architect Tom Doak will redesign the finishing hole with a permanent pond.
;)
LPGA
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LPGA
“When a tradition matters, you find a way to honor it — and bring fans closer to it, too,” the LPGA said in a statement to GOLF. “The winner’s jump has become one of the most fun and distinctive traditions at The Chevron Championship, and what makes it especially meaningful is that it was created organically by the players themselves.
“It is a nod to the championship’s history, a bridge to the future and part of creating a more engaging fan experience by giving spectators a place to connect with and experience this tradition up close. And, as always, it is entirely up to the winning player whether she wants to take the plunge.”
Stacy Lewis made the jump into Poppie’s Pond after winning the 2011 Chevron at Mission Hills. Lewis said that plunge, not how she played at the Dinah Shore Tournament Course, is what most sticks with her about her first major win.
“There has been a lot of debate about the pond and the jump,” Lewis said Tuesday at Memorial Park. “I’ve told a lot of people that I don’t remember getting the trophy. A lot of things I don’t remember about that ceremony. But I remember the jump and what that felt like and how cold that water was in California.”
VANCOUVER — Tereza Vanisova scored and contributed a pair of assists, and the Vancouver Goldeneyes held on for a 4-3 win over the Montreal Victoire on Tuesday.
Sarah Nurse tallied her eighth goal of the season, Ashton Bell added a power-play marker midway through the second and Claire Thompson rounded out the scoring for the Goldeneyes (9-2-4-14).
Thompson’s goal at the 5:06 mark of the third period gave Vancouver a 4-0 lead, but Montreal (16-5-2-6) pulled goalie Sandra Abstreiter with more than seven minutes left on the game clock in favour of an extra attacker.
Hayley Scamurra responded with three goals over two minutes and 44 seconds to cut the Victoire’s deficit to a single goal with the first hat trick of her PWHL career. Nicole Gosling registered three assists and Erin Ambrose had two helpers.
Vancouver goalie Kristen Campbell stopped 25 of the 28 shots she faced and Abstreiter made 14 saves for Montreal.
The Victoire have locked up their playoff spot but are still looking to secure first place so they can pick their semifinal opponent. The Goldeneyes have been eliminated from post-season play, but are aiming to rack up draft order points with strong showings in their final games.
Goldeneyes: Earned their first-ever win against Montreal. The Victoire came out on top in the three previous meetings this season by a combined score of 8-2. … Defender Sophie Jaques contributed an assist on Thompson’s goal, marking her 50th PWHL point.
Victoire: Outshot Vancouver 10-4 across the first period but couldn’t get a puck past Campbell. … Ann-Renée Desbiens did not dress for the game. The Montreal goalie leads the league in save percentage (. 955) and goals-against average (1.12), and is tied with Aerin Frankel of the Boston Fleet for most wins (18).
Victoire star Laura Stacey picked off a puck in the defensive zone for a short-handed breakaway midway through the second period and steamed up the ice unimpeded, only to see Campbell make a solid save, sending the blistering shot off the knob of her stick.
The Goldeneyes have earned at least one point against every other PWHL team during their first season in the league.
Victoire: Visit the Seattle Torrent on Saturday.
Goldeneyes: Close out their inaugural season Saturday when they host the Minnesota Frost.
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