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Don’t talk about the football! Nato leaders warned not to mention the World Cup to Donald Trump for fear of triggering a tantrum
European leaders at the Nato summit in Ankara were reportedly warned not to raise the subject of the football World Cup with Donald Trump, amid fears that mentioning it could provoke the US President into lashing out at the alliance. The caution follows the United States team’s exit from the tournament, said to have left…
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Masterful Cleary stars as NSW win Origin decider
New South Wales produced a commanding performance to beat favourites Queensland 30-12 in Brisbane and clinch the 2026 State of Origin series, with half-back Nathan Cleary the standout figure. Cleary, who had lost his three previous involvements in Origin deciders, scored two tries and kicked five goals in a display that vindicated under-pressure Blues coach…
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Dalic leaves as Croatia coach after nine years
Zlatko Dalic has stepped down as Croatia’s head coach after nearly nine years in charge, following the team’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup by Portugal. The 59-year-old was the country’s most successful manager, having led Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final and third place in 2022, making his departure a significant moment as…
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Geno Auriemma makes unfathomably stupid comments about Caitlin Clark, but the WNBA mean girls will love them
This OutKick opinion piece sharply criticises legendary UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma for remarks he made about Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark on the “Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch”. Auriemma argued that the hype around Clark was manufactured “about her” by fans he called delusional, and disputed the idea that a single player…
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Statesman, comedian and dealer of hard truths: how Kylian Mbappé became the king of this World Cup
The article argues that Kylian Mbappé has emerged as the defining figure of the 2026 World Cup, not only because of his performances for France but also because of his personality and public presence. It presents him as the tournament’s standout character: a decisive player on the pitch, a confident spokesman off it, and someone…
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‘All-court’ Janse van Rensburg backed to make Test impact
England’s senior assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth has backed centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg to make an impact on his expected Test debut against Fiji, praising the Bristol player’s “all-court game” and his appetite for both the physical and attacking sides of play. The 29-year-old is set to win his first cap after being ruled eligible…
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From Hart to Seedorf to Kewell: standout pundits of the 2026 World Cup
The Guardian has published a rundown of six football pundits who have stood out on television during the 2026 World Cup in North America, spanning broadcasters in the UK, US and Australia. The piece matters mainly as a snapshot of how retired players are shaping tournament coverage across three markets, praising analysts who offer genuine…
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‘Bake Off’ Back On The BBC? Bosses In Talks With “Subscale” Channel 4 To Host Its Content On iPlayer
BBC director general Matt Brittin has revealed that the corporation is in talks with Channel 4 about a streaming partnership that could see Channel 4’s programmes hosted on the BBC’s iPlayer. Giving evidence to Parliament’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Brittin said the BBC had received an approach from Channel 4 and argued that a…
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Meet the duo visiting all 16 World Cup venues in a London cab
Englishman Ollie Jenks and his Canadian friend Seth Scott are attempting to drive to all 16 stadiums used at the 2026 World Cup across the United States, Canada and Mexico, covering some 10,000 miles in 39 days. Their unusual twist is that they are doing it in a traditional London black cab, nicknamed “Abby the…
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David Beckham and U2 Team With Street Child United Charity for Short Film to Air During Final World Cup Games (EXCLUSIVE)
David Beckham has teamed up with the rock band U2 and the charity Street Child United for a short film called “Street of Dreams”, backed by Bank of America. The four-minute film follows a young girl who, after being made homeless, holds on to her dream of playing football; Beckham appears as a personification of…