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Rays' Taylor Walls performs Trump-inspired celebration after double vs Yankees

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Rays' Taylor Walls performs Trump-inspired celebration after double vs Yankees

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On any other day, Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls’ double against the New York Yankees would not have gotten any attention.

On Sunday, Walls drew the eyes of a lot of Americans in the fifth inning of the game when he appeared to pay homage to former President Trump, who survived an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania only eight days prior.

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Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls, #6, looks on before a game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees on July 20, 2024 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. (Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Walls waltzed onto second base, turned to his dugout and held up a fist. He was seen mouthing the words, “Fight, fight.”

He was 1-for-3 in the game as Tampa Bay won 6-4. He did not post anything about the action on his Instagram immediately afterward. His wife, Hallie, shared the highlight on her Instagram Stories with three first emojis.

Walls entered the game batting well below the Mendoza Line through 29 games. Before Sunday’s game against the Yankees, he was hitting .154 with a .477 OPS and four RBI. He had one double, and Sunday’s hit was his second.

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TRUMP PITCHES YANKEES GAME OUTING WITH KIM JONG UN AT MICHIGAN RALLY

Taylor Walls, #6 of the Tampa Bay Rays, and Richie Palacios, #1 of the Tampa Bay Rays, celebrate after defeating the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on July 21, 2024 in New York City. (Adam Hunger/Getty Images)

He was in his fourth season with the Rays. Tampa Bay selected the Georgia native in the third round of the 2017 MLB Draft.

Elsewhere, St. Louis Cardinals players initially appeared to do something similar when designated hitter Alec Burleson hit a home run against the Atlanta Braves.

However, veteran player Matt Carpenter told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that was not the case.

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Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Taylor Walls reacts after turning a double play during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, July 21, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

“Definitely not a political statement, that is off base,” Carpenter said.

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Second Lady Usha Vance joins celebrity-filled crowd for Team USA’s group-stage finale in LA

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Second Lady Usha Vance joins celebrity-filled crowd for Team USA’s group-stage finale in LA

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Team USA’s final group stage match in the 2026 FIFA World Cup may not have had any implications for either team, but patriotism was in full force for the home country as Second Lady Usha Vance was among the many prominent figures at Los Angeles Stadium on Thursday night.

As the U.S. national anthem rang across the stadium, with players and fans singing in unison, the FOX Sports broadcast showed Vance in a suite with a huge smile on her face as “The Star-Spangled Banner” ended.

Vance was present at the match just two days after FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that President Donald Trump would present the World Cup trophy to the winning team at the final in New Jersey on July 19.

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U.S. Second Lady Usha Vance attends the 2026 World Cup Group D match between Turkey and the United States at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 25, 2026. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

Vance was just the beginning of the stars that showed out in Inglewood, as Paris Hilton was seen presenting the match ball before kick-off.  Then, cameras started to pick up the many high-profile faces throughout the crowd.

Among them were Edward Norton and Brad Pitt, a pair that many movie lovers know from their hit classic “Fight Club.” Some social media users even hoped that the discussion they were seen having was about a sequel.

TOM CRUISE, DAVID BECKHAM, KATY PERRY AND MORE CELEBRITIES SPOTTED AT 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP MATCHES

Also, movie star Ashton Kutcher was seen speaking with Los Angeles Rams standout wide receiver Puka Nacua, who knows the confines of SoFi Stadium (what it is called outside of FIFA play) very well.

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Then, Colin Farrell, though Irish born, was rocking a replica Team USA jersey alongside his son in the stands to support the Stars and Stripes. Leonardo DiCaprio, Scottie Pippen and more were also seen in the seats.

U.S. Second Lady Usha Vance sings the anthem during the 2026 World Cup Group D match between Turkey and the U.S. at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 25, 2026. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

There has been a tremendous outpouring of support for the USMNT from everywhere, celebrity or not, throughout this tournament. The 4-2 win over Paraguay at the same Los Angeles stadium caused a frenzy in the stands, as the U.S. made a statement to begin the tournament on home soil for the first time since 1999.

USA WORLD CUP TEAM CLINCHES SPOT IN KNOCKOUT STAGE AFTER ANOTHER HISTORIC PERFORMANCE VS AUSTRALIA

Then, it was on to Seattle, where a 2-0 victory over Australia not only led to a spot in the knockout round, but led to a bellowing of the John Denver classic, “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” from everyone in the stands. The USMNT saluted their fans after yet another successful match.

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It was a much different look for the USMNT entering Thursday night’s matchup against Türkiye, with nine changes to the starting XI after the team had already secured its place in the knockout stage. The Americans will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 on July 1.

Paris Hilton is seen with children before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Türkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on June 25, 2026. (Sarah Stier/FIFA)

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No matter who’s on the pitch, some of the biggest names in the country are showing support for the team that has inspired tremendous national pride to kick off this tournament.

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Shohei Ohtani is the first Dodger to be named 2026 All-Star

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Shohei Ohtani is the first Dodger to be named 2026 All-Star

Shohei Ohtani was the first Dodger to be named a 2026 All-Star, after leading the majors in Phase 1 voting for the All-Star game on July 14 in Philadelphia. Six other Dodgers were finalists through the fan ballot, giving them a chance to claim starting spots in Phase 2 of voting.

Ohtani locked down the starting DH spot for the National League squad, with 3,341,257 votes. The top vote-getters in each league bypass Phase 2. Second baseman Ernie Clement of the Toronto Blue Jays was the top vote-getter in the American League, with 3,232,932 votes.

Ohtani was the expected choice, despite a slow offensive start. His red-hot June boosted him up the leaderboards. He entered Thursday with the second-highest OPS in the National League (.963), barely trailing Mets outfielder Juan Soto (.965).

Pitchers aren’t chosen through the fan vote — hurlers and reserves have to wait for the player ballot (which includes votes from players, coaches and managers) and commissioners picks. But Ohtani has been just as impressive on the mound this year.

He has a 1.58 ERA, the fourth-best mark among NL pitchers who have thrown at least 50 innings this season.

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Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (2,666,008 votes), third baseman Max Muncy (2,890,181) and outfielder Andy Pages (2,158,664) also led their respective NL position groups in voting. Other Dodgers finalists, who advance to voting Phase 2, include catcher Will Smith (1,871,805), shortstop Mookie Betts (1,762,343 ) and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez (1,569,932).

The vote totals reset for Phase 2, which runs from next Monday through Thursday. The remainder of the All-Star starters are set to be announced on July 4 on Fox Sports.

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How to watch USA vs Turkey: Live stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup

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How to watch USA vs Turkey: Live stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup

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The United States men’s national team opened its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a commanding 4-1 rout of Paraguay behind two goals from Folarin Balogun, and after taking care of Australia, the team has one match left in the group stage against Turkey on Thursday night.

The Americans took care of Australia last week 2-0 to keep their strong start rolling. The victory clinched a knockout-round berth for Team USA. The USMNT will look to carry its momentum into their match against Turkey as the Stars and Stripes return to Los Angeles Stadium.

Players of the United States celebrate their first goal, an own goal by Cameron Burgess of Australia, during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match at Seattle Stadium in Seattle, Washington, on June 19, 2026. (Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

WATCH USA VS TURKEY ON FOX ONE

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Australia began its World Cup run with a win over Turkey before suffering a setback against the U.S. The Australians will meet Paraguay on Thursday in a match featuring two teams already beaten by the Americans during the group stage.

Late last month, the Americans defeated Senegal, 3-2, in a World Cup tuneup match.

Under head coach Mauricio Pochettino, the USMNT entered the tournament as the No. 17 team in the FIFA World Rankings. FIFA determines its world rankings using the Elo rating system, which rewards teams for wins and penalizes them for losses while also factoring in the strength of the competition.

Alex Freeman of the United States celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between the U.S. and Australia at Seattle Stadium on June 19, 2026. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

FOX ONE’S NEW WORLD CUP VIEWING EXPERIENCE

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This year’s World Cup features an expanded field of 48 teams.

Here’s how to watch the game, including start time, TV information and streaming options.

The FIFA World Cup Trophy is displayed on stage at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw on Dec. 3, 2025. (Michael Regan – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

 

How to Watch United States vs Turkey

When: Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 10 p.m. ET

Where: Los Angeles Stadium, Inglewood, California.

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TV: FOX

Stream: Watch on FOX One and FOX Sports.

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