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Atlético v Sobradinho: Crias do Galo are in action today!
Atlético vs. Sobradinho – September 8 (Tuesday) – 3:00 PM🏆 Tournament: 1st round (single match) – Copa do Brasil🏟️ Venue: Arena MRV📺 Broadcast: GaloTV H2bet🗺️ Match Guide: Atlé...
Wimbledon refusing to credential influencers after US Open drama
Like a Biblical plague that descended upon Egypt, influencers have crashed the US Open tennis tournament in Flushing Meadows this year. The final tennis major of the season has become mostly about everything but the tennis. The US Open invited 100 influencers and content creators, nearly doubling the number invited from last year. Videos are…
Golf Tournament to Raise Money for Front Porch Housing
Front Porch Housing will bring together approximately 100 golfers, sponsors, and community partners on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at Carolina Springs Golf Course for the 2026 Front Porch Housing Golf Classic, an annual fundraiser supporting the...
Swing FORE Women's Health tournament raises more than $16,000 for Hahne Cancer Center patients
DuBOIS — The Treasure Lake Women’s Golf Association’s annual Swing FORE Women’s Health golf tournament raised more than $16,000 to support local cancer patients and their families.
Naomi Osaka exits U.S. Open, but not before displaying one more 'swaggy' fashion ensemble
Naomi Osaka may not have gone out of the U.S. Open with much of a bang. The two-time U.S. Open champion lost a lopsided fourth-round match on Monday to Elena Rybakina. Osaka, already known for her walk-on fashion reveals at tournaments, has been upping her game at the year's final major with a series of dramatic ensembles — all with a basketball theme, as her sponsor, Nike, honors the New York Knicks' championship win.
US Open: Coco Gauff bests Iva Jovic in straight sets to return to quarterfinals
Gauff held off the surging American teenager to make her first appearance in the US Open quarterfinal since she won the tournament in 2023.
Prep sports recap for Sept. 6, 2026
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — It was another big weekend of high school sports with plenty of football, flag football, and volleyball action. In Saturday night football action LeRoy got back in the win column with a 34-6 win over Tremont. With the win the Panthers improved to 2-1. Bloomington hosted an intercity flag football tournament. […]
US Open news: Jessica Pegula calls out influencers
Jessica Pegula has spoken up about the rise of influencers at the US Open . She says there should be a clear line between promoting tennis and disrupting the matches . The world No. 3 talked with Front Office Sports about the bigger role influencers and content creators now play at the tournament. Pegula said they can help the sport. However, she […] The post US Open news: Jessica Pegula calls out influencers appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Iowa State goes 2-0 at Gaucho Invitational
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Iowa State volleyball team put on a resilient display during its road trip to the West Coast, fighting through back-to-back four-set battles at the Thunderdome to improve to 4-1 on the season. The Cyclones opened the invitational with a dramatic comeback victory over tournament host UC Santa Barbara on Thursday […]
Frances Tiafoe Rises to the Occasion Again in New York to Reach US Open Quarterfinals
Frances Tiafoe is a quarterfinalist at the US Open once again after overcoming 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev 7-6 6-4 7-6 in one of the best performances of the tournament so far. With the win, Tiafoe confirmed his place in the last eight in New York for the fourth time in the last five years. The …
Competitive Pokémon is on phones now, but you still need a Switch to become a champion
The mobile version of Pokémon Champions isn’t allowed at high-level tournaments. Maybe it should be.
Gianni Infantino: FIFA president confirms he will stand for re-election in March
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been under pressure to resign after trying to sell stakes in FIFA tournaments to private investors; however, he has confirmed he will stand for re-election in March 2027 as planned; opponents have until November 18 to declare their intention to stand
Old friends, fierce rivals play at 95th New York State horseshoe championship in Camden
Nestled beneath the trees in southern Camden, the game of horseshoes is alive and well at the Pine Grove Horseshoe Club on Route 13. The club hosted the 95th annual New York State Horseshoe Pitcher's State Championship Tournament this past weekend, where pitchers from all across the state gathered to find the best of the best.
Daniil Medvedev is Having Fun Again
Daniil Medvedev is once again through to the second week of the US Open, without dropping a set and getting broken just once. The Russian had a rather manageable draw to start the tournament. However, everything was on the line in his third-round match against Arthur Rinderknech. The Frenchman had beaten Medvedev the last time …
FA to canvass England players in World Cup review
The Football Association's review into England's World Cup campaign will canvass the opinions of players involved in the tournament.
Messi to get mid-game tribute by soccer teams across Argentina after international retirement
Soccer teams across Argentina will pay tribute to Lionel Messi with a mid-game minute of applause during their next match following his decision to retire from international duty. Referees will pause play at the 10-minute mark of every match in the upcoming round of the Clausura tournament, as well as in other men's and women's leagues in Argentina, in appreciation of Messi’s career with the national team, the Argentine Football Association said late Wednesday. The 39-year-old Messi, who wore the No. 10 jersey for Argentina, announced on Monday he will no longer play for the national team after 21 years of service.
Wanda Sykes and the 'Philly Sisters' bring women’s sports to Philadelphia
They brought the WNBA to Philadelphia, they launched the first women’s tennis tournament there in 20 years, and they’re just getting started. The “Philly Sisters” want to make Philadelphia the next hub for women’s sports. NBC News' Andrea Mitchell reports.
Naomi Osaka honors Allen Iverson with US Open outfit
Naomi Osaka went all-out in paying tribute to basketball great Allen Iverson with her look at the US Open tennis tournament.
Nebraska women's volleyball wins first Spike Under the Lights
The No. 1 Nebraska women's volleyball team defeated No. 17 Florida and No. 11 SMU to claim the championship in the inaugural Spikes Under the Lights exhibition tournament at AT&T Stadium on Thursday.
Loudoun County plans more cricket fields as the sport's popularity surges
In 2008, Vinod Motwani and other AOL employees organized a cricket tournament.
Yadkin Valley 4-H Shooting Sports Club results from central regional tournament
The Yadkin Valley 4-H Shooting Sports Club had a banner day and brought home a good haul of medals from the 2026 NC 4-H Central Regional Shooting Sports Tournament held […]
Thomas A. Martin Youth Sports Complex undergoing renovations in hopes of bringing more tournaments to Lubbock
These renovations, which hope to wrap up in March 2027, look to bring more people to south Lubbock for baseball and softball events.
Stan Wawrinka Finally Gets His US Open Farewell
Swiss tennis legend Stan Wawrinka will get his final Grand Slam bow at Flushing Meadows after all. The three-time major champion and 2016 US Open winner has been awarded a men's singles main draw wild card for the 2026 US Open, the USTA confirmed, after Patrick Kypson withdrew from the tournament with an injury. It …
Krimmel to Join Centre County Sports Hall of Fame
Former Saint Francis University men's basketball head coach and alumnus Rob Krimmel recently learned that he will be inducted into the Centre County Sports Hall of Fame, adding another honor to an accomplished career as both a player and coach.
Business storylines to watch at the 2026 U.S. Open
From sponsors to ticket prices, here's what to watch on the business front at this year's U.S. Open tennis tournament.
AdventHealth uses championship tournament to launch brain health fair and wellness series
It was a perfect day to hit the golf course as AdventHealth concluded the final day of its championship tournament Sunday.
'Tired' start costs Ireland in World Cup defeat by Scots
Ireland coach Gareth Grundie describes the performance in the 2-1 defeat by Scotland as "not to the standard that we'd set ourselves". With an opportunity to take a big step towards a top ten finish in the World Cup with a win against a side ranked four places below them in the world rankings, Ireland produced their worst performance of the tournament. It was way below the level they’d shown when pushing the third best side in the world, Belgium, to the brink of elimination in the Pool stages. S
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) Announces Record Viewership on FOX Sports
The Basketball Tournament announced record TV numbers for its 2026 event, delivering significant growth in viewership for games broadcast on FOX, FS1, and FS2
'Halo' composer, GOP candidate says venue canceled his event for political reasons, he will host it elsewhere
Marty O'Donnell says HyperX Arena in Las Vegas canceled his "Halo" tournament over political affiliations, but the composer vows to host it anyway.
Sports Factory hosts NJCAA Volleyball Tournament
Rockford Park District’s Sports Factory plays host to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All in Volleyball Opening Weekend Tournament (OWT) August 20-23, 2026.
2026 Babe Ruth World Series underway in Jamestown
This is the 21st time Jamestown has hosted a Babe Ruth World Series tournament.
Atlanta teen with autism uses basketball tournament to raise money for youth mental health
According to America’s Health Rankings, Georgia ranks 47th in the country for the percentage of children who receive needed mental health treatment or counseling.
Medical business hosts pickleball tournament to promote healthy activity
A pickleball tournament was held this weekend as a way to bring a fun way to exercise the community.
The Business Behind a $1 Million College Volleyball Prize Tournament
Spikes Under the Lights brings together four of the nation’s top-ranked teams.
Lakers begin NBA Cup play at Warriors on Oct. 30
The in-season tournament feature six groups of five teams. The Lakers and Warriors are grouped with the Trail Blazers, Kings and Spurs.
Zverev, Fritz Lament Tight North American Tennis Calendar
Zverev suggested reverting to one-week tournaments.
Kentucky Little League team faces Indiana in regional elimination game
Kentucky faces Indiana in the Great Lakes Region Tournament of the Little League World Series on ESPN. North Oldham LL is coming off a loss to Ohio.
ESU volleyball carries unfinished business into new season
After coming four points shy of an MIAA championship and missing the NCAA Tournament, Emporia State volleyball enters the season with a chip on its shoulder.
Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, Lone Arranger
Read the release on Sen. Ernst's website HERE. Throughout this Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties. RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: Lone Arranger of Adams County. Throughout the 119th Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in each of Iowa's 99 counties. "Lone Arranger has been in full bloom in Adams County for more than 28 years,” said Chair Ernst. "One bouquet at a time, Jessica has created beautiful arrangements for countless occasions – from displays for Governors Chet Culver and Terry Branstad to serving as a longtime vendor at the Adams County Fair. Lone Arranger is beloved for its high-quality products and attentive customer service, all stemming from hard work that has not gone unnoticed." Lone Arranger got its start as the “Flower and Garden Center” founded by Dale and Caroline Jackson out of their home. Over the years, the business passed into the hands of Larry and Sherry Archer, followed by Ros and Darlene Peterson. In 1999, Jessica Wilson purchased the shop after completing two internships there and earning a degree in floriculture from Kirkwood Community College. Today, under Jessica’s leadership, Lone Arranger has continued to grow its presence both locally and beyond. The shop contributed to the award-winning Rain Bird float featured in the 2010 Tournament of Roses Parade and has provided decorations for community organizations and events, including the Adams County Chamber of Commerce. The florist is cherished by Iowans for its versatility to cater to all events, including proms, weddings, and baby showers. Jessica’s “Operation Dream Closet” helps high schoolers in need access free prom attire through donations and has made an exceptional difference in the local community. Stay tuned as Chair Ernst continues to recognize outstanding Iowa small businesses with her Small Business of the Week award. ###
World number one Sabalenka ousted in Toronto by Alexandrova
World number one Aryna Sabalenka was eliminated by Russian 16th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova on Saturday in a fourth-round match at the WTA Toronto Masters tournament.Sabalenka, who will seek her third consecutive US Open title next month, fell to 5-5 in her career WTA rivalry with Alexandrova, who will face either American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova or Ukraine's ninth-seeded Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals.
Seeds Rybakina, Pegula and Gauff advance at WTA Toronto event
Second seed Elena Rybakina, third seed Jessica Pegula and fourth-seeded Coco Gauff advanced to the third round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Toronto on Wednesday.Rybakina hit back-to-back double faults to drop the second set and three double faults while serving for the match before advancing to next face 28th-seeded American Ann Li, who eliminated Canadian wildcard Kayla Cross 7-6 (7/2), 6-3.
Exploring Ohio youth sports culture as Sandusky becomes tournament hotspot
With Sandusky, Ohio becoming a destination for youth sports tournaments, we look at the industry's benefits, costs and implications on athletic aspirations for student athletes.
Pickleball, anyone? It’s for a good cause
ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHILDREN’S HEALTH FOUNDATION Arvada News: Pickleball is still quite the rage, and to capitalize on its popularity, the Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation will host its first fundraising tournament on Aug. 23. It will be from 2-5 p.m. at Chicken & Pickle, 14225 Lincoln St., Thornton. Teams of two will compete in a full bracket-style tournament to determine the victor. Tickets […]
Through fútbol and friendship, local organization works to support Hispanic men’s mental health
Through a program called Acción, the Family and Intercultural Resource Center is looking to support men’s mental health within Summit County’s Hispanic community, using companionship, group outings and sports, including a recent micro fútbol tournament. ...
Bruins Could Lose Forward Who Hit Career Highs Last Season
The Boston Bruins managed to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs earlier this spring, marking a return to the annual tournament for the first time since 2024 after having failed to qualify last spring.However, their stay in the postseason was short, as they were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal by the divisional rival Buffalo […] The post Bruins Could Lose Forward Who Hit Career Highs Last Season appeared first on HEAVY.
UConn's Olivia Vukosa Showing Her Skills in International Play
The freshman center is leading the FIBA U18 EuroBasket tournament in scoring and rebounding.
Local golf tournament raises funds for mental health challenges
Webster golfers teed off in the 4th Hermano Cup in Rochester, raising funds for Compeer Rochester and promoting mental health and suicide prevention in honor of mentor Jason Drago.
Reload Test Cup (Diamond) in NA Central: Session 1
Battle your way to Diamond or above in Reload Ranked in this season or previous seasons to be eligible for Reload Test Cup (Diamond)! This is a test tournament and there will be no prizing associated with this event. Good luck and have fun!
UP CityServe Health Fair kicks off in Marquette
The event saw hundreds attend who partook in many events. Such as a cornhole tournament, health screening and more.
FIFA insists 'nobody is selling football' after UEFA threatens to boycott tournaments if plans to sell off stake in World Cup go ahead
FIFA: Nobody is selling football. This is not something FIFA would ever entertain; UEFA reacted furiously to FIFA plan to seek private investment in competitions including World Cup; FIFA president Gianni Infantino has publicly backed the plan
UEFA will boycott FIFA tournaments if Gianni Infantino continues with plans to sell off stake in World Cup
UEFA reacted furiously to FIFA plan to seek private investment in competitions including World Cup; FIFA insists it would retain sole control over governance and sporting decisions; PM Andy Burnham says: Football belongs to the fans
🚨 BREAKING: European nations agree to boycott World Cup
UEFA nations have reached an agreement to boycott FIFA competitions, notably including the World Cup, as a result of plans to sell stakes in the tournament to private investors.A virtual meeting betwe...
Arkansas soccer picked second in SEC coaches' poll
The Razorbacks won the SEC regular-season title last year and advanced to the NCAA Tournament second round.
"Mielle Organics" hosting pickleball tournament for mental health resources
$65 million for sporting events in North Carolina? State Senate signs off on plan
A bill passed by the state Senate on Tuesday would spend tens of millions on golf tournaments and military-themed competitions.
Kickball tournament in Baltimore supports youth sports and community connections
Forever Athletics and Bmore Collective are hosting a kickball tournament at Patterson Park to raise funds for youth sports and foster community engagement.
Boeheim's Army knocked out of The Basketball Tournament
The Syracuse alumni team lost to La Familia in Kentucky.
Gloucester armoured combat tournament in pictures
The women's teams came first and second in their category, while the men came third in theirs.
TV and streaming viewing picks for July 26, 2026: How to watch Yankees-Phillies
All Times Eastern Baseball Banana Ball World Tour Game 3, Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL Savannah Bananas vs. Firefighters — ESPN/ESPN Unlimited/Disney+, 4 p.m. Basketball Big3 Week 6, Toyota Center, Houston, TX DMV Trilogy vs. Miami 305/Houston Rig Hands vs. Dallas Power — CBS, 1 p.m. The Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals Alumni Semifinal, Memorial Coliseum, University of…
Outdoor sports continue as extreme heat hits KC; how athletes are preparing
The big story in late July, of course is the extreme heat. However, the heat didn't stop tennis players from competing in a regional tournament. KSHB 41's Braden Bates shares how they prepared.
Saturday Sports: Summertime wrestling, Watertown Tennis Tournament, and more
Here’s a recap of your North Country sports this Saturday.
Changes called for as Sinner and Djokovic withdraw
The tournament director of the Canadian Open says changes need to be made to the "demanding schedule" of players after Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic pull out of the Masters 1000 event.
Where to watch AVP beach volleyball today: TV schedule, channel, live stream for 2026 East Hampton tournament
Here's everything you need to know about AVP beach volleyball today, including TV channel and streaming options for the East Hampton tournament.
Sioux Falls Little League prepares for LLWS push
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – The Sioux Falls Little League team won the state tournament and has Williamsport on its mind this summer. “We got the first goal accomplished, which was winning state here,” said Head Coach Ryan Krome. “Then the next goal is getting to Indiana and winning that, and getting to Williamsport. Krome […]
Inspiration for film ‘Safety’ is tourney’s special guest
VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA COLORADO Denver News: Ray McElrathbey, a former Clemson University football player whose story of fighting to keep his brother out of foster care inspired the Disney+ movie “Safety,” will be the special guest when Volunteers of America Colorado hosts its 23rd Legends Golf Tournament. The Sept. 9 event will be held at Sanctuary, 7549 Daniels Park Road, […]
Boeheim's Army wins, advances in The Basketball Tournament
Cole Swider's double-double led the SU alumni team past Hall In and into the Alumni bracket semifinal round Sunday.
The Real Madrid Foundation's social sports school in Batangas celebrates its first end-of-course tournament
The social sports school run by the Real Madrid Foundation in collaboration with the NGO Share in the province of Batangas (Philippines) held its...
🚨 Mexico's women's league will have a new format
After many days of waiting, the new format and schedule for the Women’s League have officially been announced. It has been revealed that the tournament will now consist of 14 matchdays, and the tea...
World Cup betting in U.S. equivalent of '10 Super Bowls'
Sportsbooks and technology providers across the United States sports betting industry report that this year's World Cup produced record handle for a soccer tournament across the board and even rivaled other major prolonged sporting events.
Spain and Morocco are competing to host the 2030 World Cup final. Who will win?
The countries are two of the co-hosts for the tournament and both are pressing their case to stage the biggest game in world sport
2026 College Football Playoff Odds: Irish Heavily Favored To Make Field
College Football Playoff odds have hit the market. See which squads are favored to make the 12-team postseason tournament.
The 10 best goals of the 2026 World Cup
The World Cup has ended, but some of the tournament's best goals will live on forever.
Boeheim's Army returns to TBT bracket Tuesday
The Syracuse alumni team opens the $2 million, winner-take-all tournament with a best-of-three series against Hall In, a team of Seton Hall alumni.
Five Warriors players to follow after NBA Summer League championship run
Monte Poole identifies five Golden State Warriors players to keep an eye on after the 2026 NBA Summer League tournament.
Fox may have already lost its World Cup breakout star in Zlatan Ibrahimović
Zlatan Ibrahimović appeared to bid farewell to Fox Sports after the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, suggesting his time in the network’s studio was a one-tournament experiment. “You made it easy for me. I hope, America, you enjoyed it as much as I did, and this is also my farewell to the studio,” Ibrahimović said…
Sunday Sports: Finals of the Watertown City Golf Tournament and more
Here’s a recap of your North Country sports this Sunday.
Bangor businesses hope World Cup excitement scores big with local fans
As the world’s biggest soccer tournament comes to a close with its championship match, Bangor businesses are hoping the global excitement translates into packed dining rooms and a busy Sunday afternoo...
Spain's Pau Cubarsí Wins 2026 World Cup Young Player Award
Spain's Pau Cubarsí has won the 2026 FIFA World Cup Young Player Award, given to the tournament's top player under the age of 21.
What Do The World Cup Final Winners Get?
It's not just the winners of the World Cup getting paid at the end of the tournament, but the champions will get that and much, much more.
Arsenal's World Cup finalists
It's European versus world champions in Sunday's World Cup final and Arsenal have three players in Luis de la Fuente's Spain side who face Argentina live on the BBC from 19:00 BST. Mikel Merino has been dubbed the World Cup 'super sub' after scoring two last-minute winners in the knockout stages to eliminate Portugal and Belgium from the competition. At this tournament, he has become the first player in World Cup history to score the winning goal in two different knockout-stage matches as a substitute, and also the first Spanish player to score two winning goals after the 80th minute at the World Cup.
Where is the next World Cup? See hosts for 2030 and 2034
The 2026 World Cup ends today at MetLife. Here's where the next tournaments will be played in 2030 and 2034.
Washington Huskies Forward Leads Serbia to Championship of International Tournament
Huskies forward Nikola Dzepina will face another potential UW recruit, Urban Kroflic, in the championship game of the FIBA EuroBasket tournament.
Kings’ Darnell Credits Team for Ending Summer on High Note
Sacramento salvaged their tournament with a balanced offensive clinic, providing coach Chris Darnell vital evaluations of playmaking prospects and rookie shooters ahead of the regular season.
The beginning of the end
To start our final weekend of an incredible World Cup tournament: the third-place match in Miami.
Marco Bassetti on why global entertainment still depends on local culture
In an age when viewers can drift from TikTok to Netflix to YouTube within minutes, the World Cup remains a rare thing: a live event that can capture the attention of a huge, simultaneous worldwide audience. Banijay Live, part of Banijay Entertainment that is behind hit TV franchises including "MasterChef," "Big Brother," and "The Traitors," is producing the tournament's closing ceremony on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium. Marco Bassetti, its chief executive, says earning that kind of global attention is harder than ever — and keeping it depends on understanding local culture.
Where to watch AVP beach volleyball today: TV schedule, channel, live stream for New York Central Park tournament
Here's everything you need to know about AVP beach volleyball today, including TV channel and streaming options for the Central Park meet.
Bryson DeChambeau Update: Latest On His Controversial British Open Penalty
Bryson DeChambeau is once again at the top of the headlines when it comes to a major golfing tournament. The British Open was one of his best opening rounds he's had in a very long time, and he followed it up with a great Friday. He was originally just one back of the leader and […] The post Bryson DeChambeau Update: Latest On His Controversial British Open Penalty appeared first on Stadium Rant.
Preparation Spreads the Value of the World Cup Across the Entire Sports Marketing World
The soccer tournament showed how being ready leads to success.
World Cup winners to be presented with championship rings in tournament first
FIFA described it as "bringing one of the most recognisable American sporting traditions to the global game".
Sports without politics is a fantasy and the World Cup proves it
From ancient Greece to Nazi Germany, sport and politics have long been intertwined. Nevertheless, we still imagine that international sport can be kept above the fray and serve as a neutral arena where nations compete on merit alone. In this article, diplomacy scholar Geoffrey Allen Pigman argues the 2026 FIFA World Cup shows this is a dangerous illusion. When international sport is left entirely to revenue-maximizing private bodies like FIFA, it doesn't escape politics, but rather surrenders to its worst expressions. With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics fast approaching, the IOC must decide whether to learn that lesson or repeat the same mistakes. The largest and most lucrative FIFA World Cup ever draws toward its climactic conclusion amidst a swirl of controversy. Team members, staff, fans, and spectators have been denied their right to enter the United States to participate, and US President Donald Trump intervened with FIFA boss Gianni Infantino to overturn a referee’s call that Trump believed disadvantaged the US national team. It is a moment to step back and reflect on what the purposes of international sport mega-events like the World Cup, and international sport more broadly, are, and what they should be. Does international sport serve public purposes? Is there a public interest? Or is it primarily a private endeavor organized by commercial enterprises to entertain the global public (and generate profit in the process), which is occasionally used by governments and leaders for raisons d’etat? Central to the idea of sport is the principle of fair play, which in the international context demands that games be free from political interference. However, it is impossible to separate sport from politics, all claims to the contrary notwithstanding. The most positive political use of international sport through the millennia has been to facilitate diplomacy. The use of international sport for diplomatic objectives has existed since at least the time of the ancient Olympic Games, around which was instituted the custom of the Ekecheiria, or Olympic Truce, between participating states to facilitate fair competition and diplomatic achievements by ensuring that participants could travel safely to the Olympiad. In his seminal work On Diplomacy (1987), diplomacy scholar James Der Derian characterized the objectives of diplomacy as overcoming alienation and mediating estrangement between governments and between peoples. One increasingly important diplomatic tool in the technology-infused media environment over the past century has been public diplomacy, under which governments and non-state diplomatic actors (e.g. transnational corporations) communicate to global publics about their international policy objectives and to shape their global brand image. Political scientist Michał Kobierecki, in his important book Sports Diplomacy (2020), views sports diplomacy as falling broadly within the ambit of public diplomacy, as international sport intimately involves the participation of global publics as spectators and consumers of global media. Diplomacy scholar Stuart Murray and this author, in a 2013 article, distinguish between international sport used for diplomatic purposes and international sport-as-diplomacy, which encompasses the range of diplomacy that occurs as teams and competitors, spectators and fans, and government officials all converge for international sporting events like the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup. Diplomacy scholar H.E. Chehabi, in a 2001 article on US-Iran sports diplomacy, describes the interaction between spectators and fans at international sporting events as “people-to-people diplomacy,” in which relationships develop independently of governments and their objectives. Diplomacy by the aforementioned definitions is often unsuccessful. Moreover, all too often the tools of diplomacy may be employed by governments and other actors to thwart or oppose the objectives of diplomacy as characterized by Der Derian. Governments routinely use the tools of public diplomacy to disseminate propaganda, spreading misinformation in the attempt to deceive global publics about their objectives and to create misleading impressions about their brand identity. Within sports diplomacy, the term “sportswashing” has been coined recently to describe how governments invest in and promote international sport to create positive global public impressions of their nations and, in doing so, to distract the global public from their deficient records in areas such as human rights and democratic governance. Murray, in his 2018 book Sports Diplomacy: Origins, Theory and Practice, introduces the concept of sports anti-diplomacy, wherein governments intentionally use international sport to advance aggressive and nationalistic objectives. Obvious historical examples include Hitler’s use of the 1936 Berlin Olympics to glorify his Third Reich and the 1969 El Salvador-Honduras football “war.” SUGGESTED READING The beautiful game made ugly By Emily Ryall FIFA argues that it is and seeks to be apolitical in its stewardship of international Association Football (soccer). FIFA policies governing bids to host the World Cup require uninhibited and non-discriminatory access for players, team staff, and spectators of all participating countries to host nations and venues. It became clear soon after Trump returned to power in the United States in January 2025 that Trump’s political intentions and objectives to limit non-US citizens from living and working in the United States and, in numerous cases, even visiting the country, would collide with FIFA’s host nation policies. Beginning soon after the start of the second Trump administration, US federal authorities imposed restrictions on entry to the United States of citizens of between 20 and 40 countries for any purpose, with only limited exceptions. Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began arresting non-US citizens in the United States, including persons with and without legal status, holding them in jails, concentration camps, and other detention facilities until they were deported to their home or third countries, where they faced substantive risks to their personal safety. FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, in an effort to ensure the most successful and lucrative World Cup in history, engaged diplomatically with President Trump in an attempt to facilitate entry to the US for World Cup participants. Infantino did all in his power to ingratiate himself with Trump, to the extent of creating a FIFA “Peace Prize,” which he awarded to Trump in December 2025 at a ceremony in the then Trump-controlled John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, on the occasion of the World Cup draw. The prize was an ersatz consolation for someone who aspired in vain to win the rather more prestigious and well-known Nobel Peace Prize. And in the run-up to the World Cup, conditions became worse. In February 2026, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a war of aggression against Iran, illegal under international law, under the false pretence that Iran’s government was preparing to attack the United States and Israel. During the US aerial bombardment of Iran, US planes bombed Azadi Stadium, the facility where Iran’s national football team trained. As the 2026 FIFA World Cup began, it was clear that Infantino’s efforts had been for naught: the Trump administration would not adhere to FIFA policies governing access to World Cup host nations. World Cup referee Omar Artan, a citizen of Somalia, was denied a US visa to enter the United States to participate in the World Cup. Trump’s government only granted US visas to Iran’s football team ten days before they were scheduled to arrive for the tournament. Numerous members of the support staff for Iran’s team were denied US visas. Iran’s team, which had been scheduled to train in Arizona, was directed to shift its training site to Tijuana, Mexico, notwithstanding that all three of their group stage matches took place at US venues. The US Department of Homeland Security only permitted the Iranian team to enter the US on the day before each scheduled match and then to return to Mexico immediately after playing. Members of Iraq’s and Switzerland’s football teams were delayed for hours by US officials at the US border, and an Iraqi team photographer was refused entry. Spectators and fans from Haïti and Iran were denied entry to the United States altogether. A large number of fans from a range of countries had their applications for US visas rejected. There were multiple off-ramps through which participants could have avoided the negative consequences of Trump’s decisions for the 2026 World Cup. Once it was clear that the Trump government intended to violate the established expectations for World Cup hosts, FIFA could have shifted the matches scheduled to take place in the United States to Mexico and Canada. The three nations were already designated as co-hosts, and host cities and venues had been selected. Once it was clear that FIFA, governed by FIFA boss Gianni Infantino’s dependent and dysfunctional relationship with Trump, would never consider this option on its own, it fell to the national football federations to act. The national federations, particularly some combination of federations of the leading contenders (France, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Morocco, England, Germany, etc.), could have refused to participate under the US-imposed conditions or, at the least, demanded an ironclad agreement with the Trump government that FIFA policies on access would be respected. ___ International sport is inextricably entangled with diplomacy of different sorts, for good or ill, it cannot be considered to be in the purely private realm and left to revenue-maximizing private actors. ___ Why did neither FIFA nor the national football federations act to protect the interests of players, team staff, referees, fans, and spectators? In essence, the relentless engines of capitalism prevailed over norm observance, ethics, and fair play. The revenue interests of FIFA, sponsors, global media, and host cities won out. FIFA’s managers viewed hosting another World Cup principally in the United States as a veritable pot of gold for FIFA and its collaborators. FIFA has estimated its own revenue over the 2023-26 budget cycle, which includes the 2026 World Cup, at $13 billion, revised up from an initial projection of $11 billion, and 72% higher than the previous revenue cycle. Of that total, FIFA is estimated to have generated $8.9 billion from the Cup itself in revenue from TV rights ($3.92 billion), sponsorships ($2.69 billion), ticket sales ($3.1 billion), licensing rights, and other sources. A joint study by FIFA and the World Trade Organization estimates that the World Cup will contribute over $40 billion to global GDP, including nearly $14 billion in direct visitor spending in the three host countries (but principally in the United States, which hosted the lion’s share of the matches). The FIFA World Cup is now reportedly “the single most lucrative recurring commercial property in global sport.” And yet, notwithstanding the Trump government’s uses of the World Cup for sports anti-diplomacy, and the climate of anxiety that this created for participants and spectators, diplomacy that did not depend upon governments was able to thrive at the World Cup. Examples of successful people-to-people diplomacy were legion, as citizens of towns and cities across the States, as well as in Mexico and Canada, welcomed team members, their families and supporters, to training sites across North America. Fans of different teams joined together in person in stadiums for matches, at watch parties and bars, and at welcome events sponsored by host cities. The joy and camaraderie shared between the citizenry of Boston and Scotland’s “Tartan Army” of fans is but one example of how the “Beautiful Game” brings people together. Friendships forged across continents are likely to endure well beyond the Cup final. Even those achievements cannot be seen as unalloyed, however. As South African football fan Byron Pillay commented to Al Jazeera, “Football is called the Beautiful Game for a reason, for its ability to unite people. But it’s hard to believe in that magic with the politics and war rhetoric off the field of play, especially when one of the tournament hosts is central to that.” Ultimately, the experience of the 2026 FIFA World Cup illustrates that, as international sport is inextricably entangled with diplomacy of different sorts, for good or ill, it cannot be considered to be in the purely private realm and left to revenue-maximizing private actors. As long as there is the possibility of diplomatic progress in mediating estrangement between governments or between peoples, there is a broad and overarching public interest in international sport. Likewise, as it would be difficult to put on an international sport mega-event without international sporting organizations like FIFA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), global media firms, and companies purchasing sponsorships, public and private interests in international sport must coexist, most likely somewhere on a shifting spectrum between partnership and rivalry or cross purposes. As the World Cup wraps up, the IOC needs to consider its lessons before the scheduled 2028 Los Angeles Olympics if they want to avoid a media-hyped Trump version of the 1936 Berlin Olympiad. The IOC and the National Olympic Committees need to set conditions on and make demands of Trump’s government with clearly articulated consequences for non-compliance, up to and including cancellation of the Games. Time is running out for the IOC, as unlike with the FIFA World Cup, there is no at-the-ready alternate venue for Los Angeles.
England players stunned by Tuchel tactics
England players were shocked by Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup retreat that resulted in his team being dumped out of the tournament by Argentina.
Ex-MLB star returning to baseball after being found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor
Former Tampa Bay Rays star Wander Franco will play for the Dominican Republic in an upcoming baseball tournament.
World Cup reader Q&A: post your questions for Guardian sports reporter Nick Ames now
After 102 games we know that 2026 World Cup final will be between Spain and Argentina in New Jersey on Sunday. Our football correspondant Nick Ames has been in the US and Mexico all tournament – post your questions for him now
The World Cup used to let us micro-dose politics. Now it is engulfed by it
Whether it is our ‘identity maths’, naked nostalgia or diaspora experience. All seem scarred by the political contexts bearing down on this tournament
Shane Ryan defends Rory McIlroy ‘legacy’ question after internet blowback
The final of golf’s four major championships begins later this week at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England, and players are fulfilling their pre-tournament media obligations. As one would expect before an Open Championship, golf fans were hanging on every word six-time major winner Rory McIlroy gave to the press. But it was one…
47 revelatory hours with Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced
To review this month’s supposed remake of 2013’s Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, I must first correct the record. Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced isn’t a game about pirates (and assassins) in the 18th century Caribbean. Sure, sure, that’s what the trailers would have you believe. They’ve go their clips of Edward Kenway swinging his swords and steering his pirate ship into cannon-blasting combat against British frigates. Is Resynced truly a pirate game? Of the 47 hours I spent playing Resynced over the past few weeks, I will admit I spent maybe 44 (?) of them collecting plunder with Blackbeard, drinking rum with Anne Bonny and debating the pros and cons of the lawless pirate-run settlement Nassau with Benjamin Hornigold. I may in fact have spent dozens of hours sailing to remote islands, reading treasure maps, opening messages left in bottles, sinking the odd Man o’ War with a well-timed broadside, collecting sea shanties for my crew, befriending a pet monkey, and hunting whales. I am nevertheless neither so Gullible nor so Narrow-Minded as to call the magnificent Resynced a “pirate remake.” Oh no. Forget any reviews of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced you may have read. Forget what you yourself may have played, if you’ve spent any time with the game since its launch. What Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is really about I’m here to give you the scoop (spoilers for Resynced’s Animus menu lore, which many players are probably not going to see): Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, the new game whose development was led by Ubisoft Singapore, is set in the year 2096. It’s about a societal split, about revolution, about an old Assassin’s Creed adventure repurposed in the series’ distant future as propaganda or samizdat. It’s about the overheated future of 2096, essentially conquered by the series’ well-established nefarious Templar-run company Abstergo. (In this future, Abstergo is, among other things, remaking a 2013 pirate movie called Devils of the Caribbean, but this time in VR. The VR version will be backed by a marketing plan that involves AI influencers, a 10,000-avatar “metaverse premiere event” and that manufacturing of memes aimed at “50 million VR nodes.” See what I mean about Abstergo being evil?) Resynced is about a late 21st-century population mollified by the widespread use of Abstergo’s Animus devices which let people experience the lives of historical figures culled from “genetic memories.” It’s about an insurgent faction of Assassins. And it’s about a plan to wake the population into revolutionary fervor by showing them the memories of 18th century pirate Edward Kenway, who—as depicted in the original Black Flag and again in Resynced—gradually comes to an understanding about the Assassins of his day and their centuries old fight for freedom. Resynced is also about an AI developed within the late 21st-century Animus, called Ego. It has found a way to alter genetic memories, to create and show Animus users false ones. The game is about Ego’s efforts to tell the people experiencing Edward Kenway’s memories that Kenway was wrong, that fighting against order is folly, that we should crave a world where “compliance is rewarded with power.” Who are we in this game? We’re an unnamed Animus user in 2096 who experiences Kenway’s journey virtually. At four moments during Kenway’s exploits in the Caribbean our virtual jaunt can be interrupted for 10-15 minutes, as we explore Animus “rifts” where Ego explicitly tries to tell us how wrong Kenway was. None of this is what 2013’s Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag was about, of course. That was a different game, even if you also spent dozens of hours pirating as Kenway in that game, across missions and a map that’s been faithfully reintroduced and rebuilt for Resynced. The 2013 Black Flag was about you playing as an unnamed researcher newly hired in 2013 by Abstergo Entertainment, the video game development wing of the Templars’ evil-corp. In that game, you were assigned to use the Animus to dive into the genetic memories of Desmond Miles, a man who died in Assassin’s Creed III and who was descended from a long line of Assassins (and at least one Templar) whose adventures were featured across the prior AC games. In 2013’s Black Flag, your mission was to plumb the Edward Kenway experience for material that Abstergo could use in productions such as the motion picture Devils of the Caribbean, though the Templars had some ulterior motives for the assignment. Resynced is therefore not a remake of 2013’s Black Flag. It’s a sequel. It is a new game about a new exploration of Edward Kenway’s pirate/assassin journey, set 83 years after the framing sequences of the original game. Resynced provides a new narrative framework that, thanks to the concept of an AI that wants to alter historical memories, arrives with creative justification to tweak a now-classic 13-year old game. That makes Resynced, already a hot seller, a tantalizing hint of where Ubisoft could go with a line of Assassin’s Creed remakes. They could remake the first game, the Ezio games, even the recent ones set in ancient Egypt and Greece. And for each, they could not just modernize the graphics and controls but expand and alter their sequences of events to use them as reference points for a conflict set in the late 21st century, as rival factions try to weaponize historical memories. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, even when that work consists of ravings about Assassin’s Creed’s modern day plot, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe A story most players will probably miss If you didn’t know any of this, I’m not surprised. If you played the game and still didn’t catch it, I’m not a bit shocked. If Ubisoft has no plans to do more of this, I won’t fall down. Almost all of what I’ve described is optional and missable in Black Flag Resynced. I nearly missed it myself, as I planned for a breezy playthrough of an old Assassin’s Creed favorite. Instead, I found myself in a 40+ hour hunt for the “real” story, buried deeper in Resynced than any gold-filled chest. The story of 2096 is Resynced’s meta-story, told in two remote pockets of the game: 1) four optional playable “rifts” that players may find as they proceed through Resynced’s pirate fantasy , 2) in dozens of text files tucked three menus deep in the game’s barely-interactive Animus hub. Assassin’s Creed games have almost always had a meta-story about people in the 21st century (usually matching the game’s release year) and their connections to the main history portions you play. Those meta-stories have always been squeezed into the margins, though seldom as severely and as, uh, graphiaclly simple, as in recent games. Back in 2013, the modern-day exploits of you as an Abstergo Entertainment employee were prominent. They were portrayed via first-person portions that occasionally interrupted the third-person Kenway experience and could be explored for hours, complete with their own missions, side quests and puzzles. Resynced’s 2096 story—of Assassin “Watchers” vs. Abstergo/Tempar goons, of rogue AIs, of panicking scientists, of a woman wondering why her Animus-addicted husband is muttering about Mary Read (“What does he mean by Assassins?”), of a fight for the population’s hearts and minds via varying interpretations of Edward Kenway’s life choices—is mostly told through unlockable text files. The files are interesting. Offered via diary entries, intercepted chats and news reports, they present varied perspectives of a world in crisis. One set works as a narrative puzzle as it reveals the Rashomonic interpretations of a massacre, or was that a successful Assassin hit? Another favorite reveals the rising bitterness of a person who, through Edward Kenway’s journey, now shakes at the ignored evil around him. One surmises that Ubisoft is averse to putting the Assassin’s Creed’s meta-story in the way of more marketable pirate playgrounds and ninja/samurai epics. Instead, we get a better-than-nothing text-in-menus approach introduced in 2025’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows. In Shadows, players unlocked the meta-story text files largely via time-gated missions that called on the user to kill X number of enemy type Y, clear three enemy castles, re-win a three-phase fighting tournament, and other grinds. Time restrictions on accessing these missions and unlocking the files meant it could take players months to access the full story in-game. But even in the most hardcore Assassin’s Creed hangouts, the fanbase instead seemed to throw up their hands rather than grind to keep up. In Resynced, Ubisoft has shown some mercy, diminishing the amount of new text files that are tied to timed grinds. Now, most of the text-based 2096 lore are associated with “data file” collectibles that players can find in the world. That includes a batch of written entries that explain a historical link between the feudal Japan era in Shadows and the piracy adventures in Black Flag. Players who explore a lot will find dozens of data files, though the game does not appear to offer any in-game tracker for finding each one. You just need to keep looking for them. As of this writing, I have most of them, but not all. I can’t find any full guide for them online. And even Ubisoft’s optional $5 microtransaction that reveals lots of items in-game does not appear to reveal the locations of the text files (at least the official description omits them from its collectibles list). That’s not a huge bother, because tracking the data files down compelled me to re-explore the waves and islands of Black Flag. That was a thoroughly pleasant task to do for the first time in a dozen years. I expect many players, though, will be content to wait for the files to be reproduced in an online AC wiki somewhere, the easier to read on a web page. It may not seem enticing to play a video game in order to gradually unlock pages of text to read. Why not, you may ask, just read a book, where they put the pages in order? For one, they’ve not tucked this latest installment of Assassin’s Creed’s meta saga in a book. I also enjoy the unordered delivery, the dawning comprehension of a story about 2096’s desperate people and questionable tech, which I glimpsed first at its middle, then the end, then the front, then other moments in between1. I am also enamored with the idea of the Assassin’s Creed games I’ve previously played, including Black Flag, being repurposed for an information war. The ideas in Resynced’s meta-story, which builds off characters and ideas in Shadows’ chunks of text, are strong. The potential of where they could go with it is exciting. As for the pirate stuff? Looks great, controls pretty well, is fun to play and oh so speedy in terms of how much of a good time you can have with each sit-down. It never gets old to chase a new shanty page across a rooftop, bombard a fort with upgraded mortars or use a diving bell to explore sunken wrecks (hats off to the team at Ubisoft Barcelona that worked on the underwater portions in Resynced; that team is now facing layoffs, such is the misery of modern gaming and oft-troubled Ubisoft). New pirate missions in Resynced involving new ally characters are brief, dramatic and add more to Edward’s story, even if the gameplay perks they provide barely enhance the gameplay. A new denouement for high-class pirate Stede Bonnet is affecting; a new hunt for Blackbeard’s treasure is a welcome extra moment. A new epilogue to hunt down a pirate killer, on the other hand, over-complicates Kenway’s character. The ending credits remain my favorite of any game I’ve ever played. Black Flag provides great source material. The revisit is well-made and a great sign of what could be. It is offered in a different wrapper that hints at an opportunity for more interesting remakes to come, should Ubisoft choose to pursue such treasures—and as we brace to resist or comply with an Abstergo future. 1 The messages that Edward Kenway finds in bottles tell another out-of-order story, one about a man reckoning with the strange memories and voices he’s heard in his head since he was a boy. That tale was also in the 2013 game and develops into one of Black Flag’s most compelling character arcs. In Resynced, it has lost its climax, because the bottle story previously paid off in the halls of the first-person Abstergo Entertainment, which is exclusive to the older game. An altered resolution, written by the 2013 game’s lead writer is fine, doesn’t invalidate the 2013 version, but makes for an inferior final note.
From The Sports Desk: Spain, France meet in star-studded World Cup semifinal
Spain’s teenage phenom Lamine Yamal has only scored once during this tournament. Will he rise to the occasion today against Kylian Mbappé and France?
OpenAI Is Showing Kalshi’s World Cup Odds in ChatGPT
The partnership, a first of its kind for the artificial intelligence company, will use the prediction market’s data to power some search results about the soccer tournament.
The World Cup semifinals are set
The World Cup semifinals are set, with Spain, England, Argentina and France making up the chalkiest final four in tournament history.
⚽️ Y! Sports AM: The final four
The World Cup semifinals are set, with Spain, England, Argentina and France making up the chalkiest final four in tournament history.