Sports

World Cup Round of 32 Opens June 28 With First 32-Team Knockout Bracket in History

The 2026 World Cup knockout stage opens June 28 with South Africa vs. Canada at SoFi Stadium, the first time a World Cup has staged a 32-team Round of 32, a product of the expanded 48-team field.

Sports

Croatia Beats Ghana 2-1 to Finish Second in World Cup Group L

Petar Sucic's first-half strike and Nikola Vlasic's 83rd-minute header off a Luka Modric corner gave Croatia a 2-1 win over Ghana in Philadelphia, settling Group L and sending both teams into the knockout round.

Sports

Jose Alvarado Returning to the Knicks on a New 3-Year Deal

Guard Jose Alvarado is returning to the New York Knicks on a new three-year deal, sources told ESPN, keeping the high-energy defender with the reigning NBA champions.

Intelligence Brief

The Intelligence Brief: Gemini's Benchmark Sweep, the Knicks' Title and Free-Agency Open, and Kobe's Draft Day — June 27, 2026

Gemini 2.5 Pro swept the science benchmarks while Claude held AI's best paid-conversion rate; the Knicks' first title in 53 years gives way to a June 30 free-agency open; and Nike's Kobe 'Draft Day' Pack turns a 1996 draft slight into a 14-shoe story.

Sports

Games to Watch — Saturday, June 27: World Cup group finales, plus Dodgers-Padres

Six World Cup group finales hit FOX and FS1 from 5 PM ET, with Argentina, Portugal, and England all closing out their groups, on top of Dodgers-Padres with Yamamoto at 8:40 PM and a full MLB and WNBA slate.

Sports

The USMNT's Path to the 2026 World Cup Final as the Bracket Takes Shape

After winning Group D, the USMNT faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 as the World Cup bracket clarifies the host nation's potential road to the MetLife Stadium final on July 19.

Sports

Ghana's Antoine Semenyo Urges Black Stars to Pressure World Cup Referees

Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo said the Black Stars need to be more aggressive around referees after a penalty appeal went unreviewed in their 0-0 draw with England, with coach Carlos Queiroz saying VAR 'went for a coffee break.'

Sports

Bulls' Caleb Wilson Says He Expects to Win Rookie of the Year

Bulls No. 4 pick Caleb Wilson said at his introductory press conference that he expects to win Rookie of the Year and pledged to get Chicago 'back where it was,' days after invoking Michael Jordan on draft night.

Sports

Belgium Beat New Zealand 5-1 to Win World Cup Group G

Belgium beat New Zealand 5-1 in Vancouver to win World Cup Group G after a slow start, with Leandro Trossard scoring twice and Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Alexis Saelemaekers also on the scoresheet.

Sports

Messi to Start Argentina's World Cup Group Finale vs. Jordan on the Bench

Coach Lionel Scaloni will start Lionel Messi on the bench for Argentina's World Cup group finale against Jordan in Dallas — a rotation call after Argentina already clinched Group J, with Messi likely on in the second half.

Sports

Thunder Re-Sign Isaiah Hartenstein to 3-Year, $75 Million Deal

The Oklahoma City Thunder are keeping center Isaiah Hartenstein on a new three-year, $75 million deal, bringing his guaranteed earnings in OKC to $134 million through 2028-29.

Sports

Kamilla Cardoso Sets WNBA Record With 13-for-13 Night in Sky Win

Chicago Sky center Kamilla Cardoso went a perfect 13-for-13 for 30 points in a 124-94 win over the Portland Fire, breaking Nneka Ogwumike's 2016 WNBA record for the most field goals without a miss.