Sports
What we learned in NFL Week 17: Vikings alive for top seed, Colts ‘embarrassing’
One week to go, still plenty to be decided.
Start here, with the first regular-season game in NFL history featuring two teams with at least 13 wins. The Lions and Vikings will not only decide the NFC North title next Sunday night at Ford Field but also the conference’s top seed and lone first-round bye.
Then there’s Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, now the ninth rusher to eclipse 2,000 yards in a season. In Philly’s finale, he has the chance to break one of the league’s most vaunted records — one that’s stood for 40 years.
There’s one playoff spot in each conference still up for grabs — an AFC wild-card berth and the NFC South champ.
And, following the Giants’ upset of the Colts, there’s a new front-runner for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft.
GO DEEPER
NFL Week 17 takeaways: Are Vikings on the Lions’, Eagles’ level? Should Cowboys keep McCarthy?
As for Sunday and Week 17, Sam Darnold and the Vikings continued to script the most improbable story of the 2024 season. Thanks to another career day from Darnold — 377 passing yards and three touchdowns — the Vikings staved off a Packers rally for a 27-25 win to keep Minnesota’s hope for the NFC’s No. 1 seed alive. Consider: The over/under for the Vikings’ win total at the start of the season was a mere 6.5. Kevin O’Connell’s team is now 14-2 and one win away from the conference’s No. 1 seed.
Darnold’s revival continues to defy the odds. He’s on his fourth team in five years. He was written off by the Jets, then the Panthers, then spent last season backing up Brock Purdy with the 49ers. Now he’s the first quarterback in NFL history to win 14 games in his first season with a team. He’s thrown 35 touchdowns. On Sunday alone he hit eight receivers, proving again that this is more than just having one of the game’s elite weapons in Justin Jefferson. Darnold’s been flat-out terrific, and one of the main reasons the Vikings have won nine straight.
“Another big-time performance when his team needed him,” O’Connell gushed of his quarterback. “There’s so many things that lead into moments like this for Sam since he became a Minnesota Viking. … Our football team loves him for it, and I’ve had an absolute blast coaching him.”
On the other end, of the Packers’ five losses this season, four have come within the NFC North.
Jayden Daniels’ touchdown throw to Zach Ertz in overtime Sunday night clinched not just the Commanders’ return to the playoffs but also a division title for the Rams. (L.A. edged Seattle via the strength of victory tiebreaker.) That means just one division has yet to be decided. The Bucs, 48-14 winners over the Panthers on Sunday, are now 9-7 and a game in front of the Falcons, who fell to the Commanders in overtime. Atlanta is 8-8 but would win the division if both teams finish with the same record by virtue of a season sweep over Tampa Bay.
The Dolphins won with Tyler Huntley at quarterback to stay alive in the AFC playoff race. The Colts clinched another January at home after an embarrassing loss to the Giants. And the Bills routed the Jets 40-14 to inch New York one game closer to a merciful end for a miserable season. And possibly nudged Aaron Rodgers toward retirement.
Here’s what we learned in Week 17:
Broncos win, they’re in
In the AFC, all but one spot has been decided. Three teams — Denver, Miami and Cincinnati — still have a chance. But it remains the Broncos’ to lose.
AFC Playoff Picture
| Seed | Team | Record | Week 18 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
15-1 |
at Broncos |
|
|
2 |
13-3 |
at Patriots |
|
|
3 |
11-5 |
vs. Browns |
|
|
4 |
9-7 |
at Titans |
|
|
5 |
10-6 |
vs. Bengals |
|
|
6 |
10-6 |
at Raiders |
|
|
7 |
9-7 |
vs. Chiefs |
|
|
8 |
8-8 |
at Jets |
|
|
9 |
8-8 |
at Steelers |
The playoffs will run through Kansas City after the Chiefs clinched the No. 1 seed and first-round bye with their Christmas Day victory over the Steelers. Buffalo is locked into the No. 2 spot, and with a win next week over the lowly Browns the Ravens would claim a second straight AFC North title. The Steelers and Chargers have clinched playoff spots; the only way Pittsburgh wins the AFC North is if Baltimore loses and the Steelers beat the Bengals, who still have something to play for thanks to Saturday’s overtime win over the Broncos.
Here are the scenarios for the final AFC playoff spot:
- If the Broncos beat the Chiefs, Denver is in.
- If the Dolphins beat the Jets and the Broncos lose to the Chiefs, Miami is in.
- If the Bengals beat the Steelers and both the Broncos and Dolphins lose, Cincinnati is in.
- If all three teams lose, the Broncos earn the final playoff spot.
In all likelihood, Denver will take care of business against Kansas City’s backups. But at least for one more week, Miami and Cincinnati have life.
Assuming the Ravens claim the AFC North, that would set up wild-card matchups between the Bills and Broncos, Ravens and Chargers and Texans and Steelers.
NFC South still to be won
The NFC is a bit messier.
For starters, the top seed remains up for grabs heading into Week 18. The Lions-Vikings winner will not only earn the NFC North title but also the No. 1 seed and the first-round bye. The loser at Ford Field? They’ll slide to the No. 5 spot and open the playoffs on the road. (That is regardless of what happens between the Lions and 49ers Monday night — even with a loss, Detroit will still face Minnesota next week with the division title and No. 1 seed on the line.)
The Eagles are locked into the No. 2 spot.
NFC Playoff Picture
| Seed | Team | Record | Week 18 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
14-2 |
at Lions |
|
|
2 |
13-3 |
vs. Giants |
|
|
3 |
10-6 |
vs. Seahawks |
|
|
4 |
9-7 |
vs. Saints |
|
|
5 |
13-2 |
vs. Vikings |
|
|
6 |
11-5 |
vs. Bears |
|
|
7 |
11-5 |
at Cowboys |
|
|
8 |
8-8 |
vs. Panthers |
Thanks to the Commanders’ overtime victory over the Falcons Sunday night, Washington is in the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Dan Quinn’s team could also climb to the No. 6 seed with a win next week over the Cowboys. In that scenario, Green Bay would fall to No. 7.
Washington’s win also means the Rams have clinched the NFC West via the strength-of-victory tiebreaker. The Seahawks, holding out slim hopes of making the postseason in coach Mike Macdonald’s first year, were eliminated.
The NFC South, though, remains a question mark. If the Bucs beat the Saints next week, they clinch the division. If they lose and the Falcons beat the Panthers, Atlanta would win it based on the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Giants’ win comes at a cost
“We know where we’re going,” Shedeur Sanders said in the days leading up to his final collegiate game.
When Colorado’s quarterback took the field for the Alamo Bowl in custom cleats with the New York Giants logo on them, the message was clear: Sanders fully expected to go No. 1 to the Giants in the draft.
Then a funny thing happened: The Giants won a game, for the first time at home all season and for the first time anywhere since early October. And with its 45-33 victory over the Colts, New York forfeited its pole position in the race for the No. 1 pick.
Might that change where Sanders ends up?
It very well could. Because after Sunday’s results, the Giants are slated to pick fourth, behind the Patriots, Titans and Browns.
If New England loses next week to Buffalo — the Bills have already locked up the AFC’s No. 2 seed and will likely rest some starters ahead of the playoffs — the Patriots would clinch the franchise’s first No. 1 selection since 1993.
Four teams are 3-13, but the Patriots own the top seed, so to speak, by virtue of strength of schedule. The Titans host the Texans in Week 18, the Giants are on the road against the Eagles and the Browns are on the road against the Ravens.
Current NFL Draft Order
| Pick | Team | Record | SOS |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
3-13 |
0.469 |
|
|
2 |
3-13 |
0.511 |
|
|
3 |
3-13 |
0.539 |
|
|
4 |
3-13 |
0.549 |
|
|
5 |
4-12 |
0.472 |
|
|
6 |
4-12 |
0.498 |
|
|
7 |
4-12 |
0.500 |
|
|
8 |
4-12 |
0.546 |
|
|
9 |
4-12 |
0.553 |
|
|
10 |
5-11 |
0.511 |
If the current order holds, it makes for an interesting dilemma: The Patriots, following Drake Maye’s promising rookie season, won’t be in the market for a quarterback. Would they trade out of the top spot, like the Bears did two years ago? The price would be steep for a team such as the Titans, Browns, Giants, Jets, Raiders or someone else looking to trade up for a chance at grabbing their quarterback of the future, depending on where they’re coming from in the draft order. Carolina, remember, had to send Chicago two first-round picks, a second-rounder and wideout D.J. Moore to jump from No. 9 to the top of the 2023 draft to land Bryce Young.
Or New England could simply stay at No. 1 and take whichever player it prefers.
Sanders may very well end up with the Giants, but that became far less certain on Sunday.
Barkley joins 2K club
Saquon Barkley joined one of the most exclusive groups in NFL history Sunday, climbing past 2,000 rushing yards for the season in Philly’s 41-7 rout of the Cowboys. He’s just the ninth rusher in league history to do so, joining O.J. Simpson (1973), Eric Dickerson (1984), Barry Sanders (1997), Terrell Davis (1998), Jamal Lewis (2003), Chris Johnson (2009), Adrian Peterson (2012) and Derrick Henry (2020).
Barkley has 2,005 rushing yards, exactly 100 shy of Dickerson’s single-season record, set way back in 1984 (when Dickerson set the mark in 16 starts). But with the Eagles already locked into the NFC’s No. 2 seed, Barkley’s unlikely to see a lot of snaps in next week’s finale against the Giants.
Saquon Barkley could set an NFL single-season rushing record next week, but will he see enough action? (Mitchell Leff / Getty Images)
“I’m not overtly trying to get (the record),” he said after Sunday’s game. “I’m not scared of it, but we’ve got bigger things we’re focused on. Whether we play next week or rest, I’m fine with that. I didn’t sign here just to break a record. I want to do something special with the team.”
Colts’ hopes end with thud
If you can’t beat the team with the worst record in football, you don’t deserve a spot in the dance.
Sunday’s loss to the Giants was an utter embarrassment for the Colts, one of the worst in recent memory for a franchise that has underachieved for the better part of five seasons. This was an especially dark day for Gus Bradley’s defense, which allowed Drew Lock and the Giants to pile up 389 all-purpose yards. The Giants entered Sunday having scored 32 points all of December — that’s three games — then lit the Colts up for 45 in one afternoon. It’s the most the franchise has scored in a game in nine years.
“It’s embarrassing. It’s disappointing. We got just flat-out beat,” linebacker Zaire Franklin said. “The performance that we put out defensively, beyond unacceptable. And you can’t play like that if you plan on being a playoff team.”
That makes four straight seasons the Colts have missed the postseason, six since their last playoff victory and 10 without a division title.
Coach Shane Steichen, who led the Colts to within one win of an AFC South crown with backup Gardner Minshew under center for most of last season, couldn’t back up his impressive debut. His offense looked stale, and only late in the year did he find something of a groove with second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson, who was benched midseason and struggled to find consistency even after he returned. Richardson has started just 15 of a possible 33 games in two seasons and has yet to prove he’s a long-term answer at the position.
The Colts have some decisions to make.
Does Steichen return?
“I control what I can control,” he said after the loss in New York.
Does Bradley?
“I love Gus,” Steichen said Sunday. “Obviously (today) we’d all love to be better.”
What about general manager Chris Ballard, who is eight seasons into his tenure and has yet to produce a division winner? Owner Jim Irsay, who’s been uncharacteristically quiet of late, will have to decide what he wants the future of his franchise to look like.
(Photo of Joe Flacco and Shane Steichen: Luke Hales / Getty Images)
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The wait is over. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is coming to 16 different cities across Canada, Mexico and the United States this summer, and you’ll be able to catch all the action with FOX Sports, America’s English-language home for the 48-team soccer bonanza.
Here is the full broadcast schedule for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and how you can watch every game:
How to Watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX and FS1 with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports apps.
JUMP TO: Group Stage | Knockout Rounds | World Cup Final
2026 World Cup Group Stage Schedule:
June 11, 2026
June 12
June 13
June 14
June 15
June 16
June 17
June 18
June 19
June 20
June 21
June 22
June 23
June 24
- Group B: Watch Switzerland vs Canada — BC Place Vancouver (3 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)
- Group B: Watch Bosnia vs Qatar — Seattle Stadium (3 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One)
- Group C: Watch Brazil vs Scotland — Miami Stadium (6 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)
- Group C: Watch Morocco vs Haiti — Atlanta Stadium (6 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One)
- Group A: Watch Mexico vs Czechia — Mexico City Stadium (9 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)
- Group A: Watch South Korea vs South Africa — Monterrey Stadium (9 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One)
June 25
- Group E: Watch Ecuador vs Germany — New York New Jersey Stadium (4 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)
- Group E: Watch Curaçao vs Ivory Coastt — Philadelphia Stadium (4 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One)
- Group F: Watch Tunisia vs Netherlands — Kansas City Stadium (7 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)
- Group F: Watch Japan vs Sweden— Dallas Stadium (7 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One)
- Group D: USA vs Türkiye – Los Angeles Stadium (10 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)
- Group D: Watch Paraguay vs Australia — San Francisco Bay Stadium (10 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One)
June 26
- Group I: Watch Norway vs France — Boston Stadium (3 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)
- Group I: Watch Senegal vs Iraq — Toronto Stadium (3 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One)
- Group H: Watch Uruguay vs Spain — Guadalajara Stadium (8 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)
- Group H: Watch Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia — Houston Stadium (8 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One)
- Group G: Watch New Zealand vs Belgium — BC Place Vancouver (11 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)
- Group G: Watch Egypt vs Iran — Seattle Stadium (11 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One)
June 27
- Group L: Watch Panama vs England —New York New Jersey Stadium (5 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)
- Group L: Watch Croatia vs Ghana — Philadelphia Stadium (5 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One)
- Group K: Watch Colombia vs Portugal — Miami Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)
- Group K: Watch DR Congo vs Uzbekistan — Atlanta Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One)
- Group J: Watch Argentina vs Jordan — Dallas Stadium (10 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One)
- Group J: Watch Algeria vs Austria — Kansas City Stadium (10 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One)
2026 World Cup Schedule: Knockout Round
Round of 32
June 28
June 29
June 30
July 1
July 2
July 3
Round of 16
July 4
July 5
July 6
July 7
Quarterfinals
July 9
July 10
July 11
Semifinals
July 14
July 15
World Cup Final
July 19
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The World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX and FS1 with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports apps.
The U.S. men’s national team made its first World Cup game on home soil in 32 years one to remember, defeating Paraguay 4-1 in front of a sold-out crowd at Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium) in Inglewood on Friday night.
Here’s a look at some of the best moments before and during the game as captured by the Los Angeles Times photography staff:
U.S. fans march to Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium) before the start of the U.S.-Paraguay World Cup match Friday.
(Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
1
2
3
1. David Beckham, right, and Tom Cruise waves to fans before the World Cup group stage match. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 2. Katy Perry, right, and Tius Luka perform during the World Cup opening ceremony before the U.S.-Paraguay match. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 3. U.S. players, left, and Paraguay players enter the pitch before their World Cup group stage match. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
U.S. forward Christian Pulisic, right, controls the ball in front of Paraguay defender Juan Jose Caceres during the first half Friday.
(Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
U.S. defender Antonee Robinson, right, and Paraguay midfielder Diego Gomez battle for the ball during the first half. (Kelvin Kuo / Los Angeles Times)
U.S. midfielder Weston McKennie celebrates after a U.S. goal in the first half against Paraguay. (Kelvin Kuo / Los Angeles Times)
U.S. star Christian Pulisic celebrates after a goal in the first half of a 4-1 win over Paraguay at the World Cup on Friday at Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium).
(Kelvin Kuo / Los Angeles Times)
U.S. players and coach Mauricio Pochettino, center, celebrate after a 4-1 win over Paraguay in the World Cup at Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium) on Friday night.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
1
2
3
1. Paraguay midfielder Cristian Roldan heads the ball over U.S. striker Folarin Balogun during the second half. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 2. Paraguay forward Julio Enciso jumps over U.S. defender Chris Richards during the second half. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 3. A stage is placed for the opening ceremony before the start of the U.S. vs. Paraguay match at Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium) on Friday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Fans cheer during the United States’ 4-1 win over Paraguay at the World Cup on Friday.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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The wait is officially over. The FIFA World Cup has arrived.
For the first time ever, three nations—the United States, Mexico, and Canada are co-hosting the tournament. It is also the largest FIFA World Cup in history, expanding to a 48-team field. Squads from around the world have arrived in North America with one ultimate goal: capturing the iconic World Cup trophy.
Here’s the latest look at some of the most notable news surrounding the World Cup.
June 12:
Official Injury Update On Neymar
Brazilian star Neymar Jr. will officially miss Brazil’s opening match against Morocco on Saturday. Neymar was named to Brazil’s 2026 FIFA World Cup squad despite a calf injury, and now won’t be available early on. Manager Carlo Ancelotti said that “Neymar is working very hard to recover as quickly as possible.
“The expectation is that he will recover and rejoin the group next week.”
Google Doodle Has World Cup Fever
In case fans didn’t already have World Cup fever, they can open their web browser.
Google is officially ready for USA’s opener against Paraguay, as the home page features a custom, USA-themed Google Doodle.
The Doodle features red text with a blue outline, as well as a soccer ball along with an interchanging USA crest replacing the “O’s” in Google.
James Cordon Stretches With Christian Pulisic
James Corden joined Christian Pulisic and the United States men’s national team for a training session ahead of their World Cup opener against Paraguay.
After meeting with head coach Mauricio Pochettino and going through a film session with the players, Corden and Co. hit the pitch for practice, where he helped serve as a water boy.
Corden tried to help Pulisic stretch out his legs after practice before he was stopped by a member of the coaching staff. As Corden walked off, Pulisic sprayed him with a water bottle.
DR Congo Arrives to the World Cup in Style
The DR Congo men’s national team isn’t set to play until Wednesday, June 17, against Portugal in Group K, but they’ve already made a statement upon arrival in Houston, Texas.
The squad arrived in style, stepping off the plane in striking black, jaguar-inspired outfits that quickly turned heads. The bold look fits their nickname, Les Léopards, and sets the tone for their World Cup presence before they even face Portugal.
DR Congo may be heavy underdogs, but they’re already winning where it counts off the pitch, taking the fashion battle before kickoff.
Canada’s Jesse Marsch Takes Dig At USA
The Canadian men’s national team is set to face Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday afternoon. Ahead of the match, head coach Jesse Marsch took a subtle jab at the United States men’s national team during his remarks on Thursday.
“In the U.S., we had to beg players to sing the national anthem,” Marsch said.
The United States conducted a months-long search for a new head coach in 2023, with Marsch emerging as the frontrunner and making it clear he wanted the job. Instead, they chose to rehire Gregg Berhalter, a decision that may have left Marsch with some lingering resentment.
Marsch’s subtle jab could take on added stakes if the United States and Canada meet during the FIFA World Cup. The two nations could potentially face off as early as the Round of 32 or the Round of 16.
June 11:
The pressure of competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is high, but that hasn’t stopped players from enjoying some downtime with their teammates. Norway star Erling Haaland was spotted at the Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes.
Haaland appeared to be enjoying himself as the Hurricanes secured a Game 5 victory, taking a 3-2 series lead over the Golden Knights. The Manchester City striker drew plenty of attention from fans in attendance as he took in the action from the stands.
The Norway star was seen celebrating in the stands before turning his attention back to international duty, with Norway set to face Iraq in Group 1 play on Tuesday, June 16.
Australia Coach Popovic Signs Extension
Australia coach Tony Popovic has signed a contract extension through early 2027 on the eve of his team’s World Cup opening match against Turkey on Saturday.
Football Australia said Friday that the 52-year-old Popovic’s deal now extends through the Asian Cup, which will take place in January and early February in Saudi Arabia.
The former Australia international was hired in September 2024 and led the Socceroos to qualification for the 48-team tournament.
“I’m proud to lead my country into a World Cup, but most importantly, I want to ensure that our team is fully prepared and focused on our group matches against Turkey, the United States, and Paraguay,” he said of Australia’s opponents in Group D.
Canada Captain Sidelined For Opening Match
Canada’s captain and star defender Alphonso Davies will miss Canada’s World Cup opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Davies’ status has been questionable due to an ACL tear and other injuries during the club season, which limited Davies to appearing in two of Canada’s last 21 games.
Davies is one of the co-host’s more valuable players in terms of talent and experience, including 58 appearances in nine years with the national team. However, Davies’ injury does not rule him out of the entire tournament. His injury update and restraint from the opening match serves as a caution to heal his injury as the group stage unfolds.
After playing for the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS, Davies transferred to Bayern Munich, where he’s played since 2019. Canada is set to play Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12, followed by Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24.
Captain Wataru Endo Withdraws From World Cup
Just ahead of Japan’s opening match against the Netherlands on June 14, captain and midfielder Wataru Endo has withdrawn his name from Japan’s World Cup squad and paired it with his national team retirement, per his statement on X. Endo has been dealing with an ongoing ankle/foot injury since February.
Endo has played for the Japan national team for over a decade, where he made 73 appearances and scored four goals. As a veteran anchor in the midfield, Endo has also served as Japan’s captain since their previous World Cup in 2022, where they reached the Round of 16.
As for Endo’s professional career, he first played for Shanon Bellmare from 2010-15, followed by the Urawa Red Diamonds from 2016-19, VfB Stuttgart from 2019-23 and has played for Liverpool FC since 2023. With Liverpool, Endo played a prominent role in the team’s Carabao Cup victory in 2024.
With Endo out, Japan has officially called Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder Shuto Machino to join the 26-man roster. Machino is entering his second World Cup and his fifth year with the Japan national team.
Marco Senesi Called Up To 26-Man Roster
Following the injury of defender Leonardo Balerdi, Argentina has officially called up defender Marcos Senesi to the 26-man roster. Argentina is set to open their World Cup campaign on June 16 against Algeria.
Senesi has been training prior in case of a last-minute call-up, and was named to the roster after Balerdi’s muscle injury was ruled out. Senesi has played professionally since 2016, playing for clubs like San Lorenzo, Feyenoord, AFC Bournemouth and is currently with Tottenham Hotspur.
Joining Senesi in the back are defenders Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Otamendi and Cristian Romero.
In what’s likely to be Lionel Messi’s last World Cup, Argentina will look to repeat their historic 2022 World Cup win this tournament.
Tyler Adams, USA Celebrate Shocking Knicks’ W
Tyler Adams, United States’ midfielder, is a fan of the National Basketball Association’s New York Knicks. The Knicks are in the NBA Finals, on the eve of the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, so members of the United States’ squad gathered together to watch what turned out to be the largest NBA Finals comeback in history, with the Knicks coming out on top.
When New York won, the room erupted, with Adams especially going wild. And we know this because the reaction was caught on camera in the moment.
That couch is destroyed, but at least no one watching the game ended up as damaged as it did after Adams went climbing and kicking all over it! If the United States ends up having a major comeback or win in the World Cup, maybe keep the players away from any obstacles like that, though. Just to be safe.
Morocco Loses 2 Players To Injury Before World Cup
Morocco replaced two injured players in its World Cup squad ahead of an opening game against Brazil, including star winger Abde Ezzalzouli.
FIFA confirmed late Wednesday that former Barcelona player Ezzalzouli and Marseille defender Nayef Aguerd were withdrawn from the Morocco squad for the tournament.
Ezzalzouli helped Real Betis qualify for next season’s Champions League and was a potential breakout star at the World Cup. Aguerd was a cornerstone of Morocco’s historic semifinals team at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
They were replaced by Amine Sbai of French club Angers and Marwane Saadane, who plays in Saudi Arabia for Al Fateh.
Morocco opens against Brazil on Saturday at MetLife Stadium near New York, then plays Scotland on June 19 near Boston and finishes Group C against Haiti on June 24 in Atlanta.
Ezzalzouli injured his right knee in a warmup game against Norway last weekend, though initial tests suggested he could be retained in coach Mohamed Ouahbi’s squad to play in the knockout rounds.
Surprise World Cup Comeback For Austrian Midfielder
The last time Dejan Ljubicic played for Austria was nearly three years ago. Now a teammate’s injury has given him a surprise comeback at the World Cup.
Austria coach Ralf Rangnick called up Ljubicic late Wednesday to replace key midfielder Christoph Baumgartner, who injured his right thigh while warming up for a pre-World Cup friendly against Tunisia last week and needed surgery.
Ljubicic is set to join Austria at the team camp in Santa Barbara on Thursday, ahead of the team’s first game on Tuesday against Jordan. Austria also plays Argentina and Algeria in Group J.
He’s more of a defensive midfield option than Baumgartner, who scored 17 goals in all competitions for Leipzig in Germany last season and has remained in camp to support the team.
Ljubicic also plays in Germany on the Schalke team which secured promotion from the second division last month.
Ljubicic has nine games for Austria but none at a major tournament. His last appearance was in a friendly against Moldova in September 2023, and he wasn’t in the squad for any World Cup qualifiers.
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