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  • Adams & Robinson in US squad for World Cup

    Adams & Robinson in US squad for World Cup

    As the 2026 FIFA World Cup co-host United States moves closer to its opening group stage match, head coach Mauricio Pochettino has officially announced his final 26-player roster for the tournament, bringing together a mix of Europe-based stars and domestic Major League Soccer talent.

    Five players plying their trade in English top-flight and lower-tier clubs earned call-ups to the squad, headlined by Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams and Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson — two experienced campaigners who have each notched 52 international caps for the Stars and Stripes to date. They are joined on the roster by Leeds United midfielder Brenden Aaronson, Crystal Palace center-back Chris Richards, and Coventry City forward Haji Wright.

    Other high-profile European-based selections include Celtic defender Auston Trusty, AC Milan attacking star Christian Pulisic, Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie, and Borussia Mönchengladbach attacking midfielder Gio Reyna, the 23-year-old son of former US internationals Claudio Reyna and Danielle Reyna. Reyna’s inclusion comes nearly four years after a high-profile controversy that rocked the 2022 Qatar World Cup US camp. After the 2022 tournament, details emerged that then-head coach Gregg Berhalter had threatened to remove Reyna from the squad over alleged poor attitude in training. In response, Danielle Reyna shared details with US Soccer of a 1991 physical altercation between Berhalter and his then-girlfriend (now wife), triggering an independent investigation by the governing body. The investigation ultimately concluded Berhalter had not improperly hidden information about the incident and found no evidence of repeated similar misconduct. Notably, Pochettino also included Sebastian Berhalter — Gregg Berhalter’s son and current Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder — among the MLS-based players selected for the tournament.

    The full roster also features three goalkeepers: Chicago Fire’s Chris Brady, New York City’s Matt Freese, and New England Revolution’s Matt Turner. Alongside the named defenders, additional backline selections include PSV Eindhoven’s Sergino Dest, Villarreal’s Alex Freeman, Toulouse’s Mark McKenzie, Charlotte FC’s Tim Ream, FC Cincinnati’s Miles Robinson, Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Joe Scally, and Columbus Crew’s Max Arfsten. The midfield corps adds Bayer Leverkusen’s Malik Tillman, Marseille’s Timothy Weah, Seattle Sounders’ Cristian Roldan, and Club America’s Alejandro Zendejas, while the forward group is completed by Monaco’s Folarin Balogun and PSV Eindhoven’s Ricardo Pepi.

    As one of the three joint hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the United States will kick off its Group D campaign on June 13 against Paraguay, before facing subsequent group stage matches against Australia and Turkey.

  • PSG’s Hakimi in Morocco squad despite injury

    PSG’s Hakimi in Morocco squad despite injury

    As Morocco finalizes its preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the North African side has made a headline-grabbing selection call: star captain Achraf Hakimi will be part of the Atlas Lions’ tournament squad, despite being sidelined with an injury picked up months earlier in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

    The 27-year-old Paris Saint-Germain full-back, who boasts 95 senior international caps for Morocco, has not featured in competitive action since his side’s first-leg victory over Bayern Munich on 28 April. However, recent images of Hakimi taking part in full team training on Tuesday, ahead of PSG’s upcoming Champions League final against Arsenal, have given Moroccan football officials enough confidence to include the influential right-back in their 26-man roster.

    Hakimi is far from the only high-profile name to earn a spot in Walid Regragui’s squad. The call-up list features a host of top talent plying their trade across Europe’s biggest leagues: Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui, West Ham United centre-back Issa Diop, Crystal Palace defender Chadi Riad, Sunderland young winger Chemsdine Talbi, and Real Madrid attacking midfielder Brahim Diaz all secured places. Former Manchester United holding midfielder Sofyan Amrabat, now at Real Betis, Olympique de Marseille defender Nayef Aguerd, and VfB Stuttgart playmaker Bilal El Khannouss were also included in the final selection.

    In a surprising omission, former Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech did not make the cut for the Atlas Lions, ending his hopes of featuring in a third consecutive World Cup tournament.

    Currently ranked eighth in the official FIFA Men’s World Rankings, Morocco enters the 2026 tournament on a wave of historic momentum. The side made history as the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final at the 2022 edition in Qatar, where they fell to eventual champions France in a tightly contested match. More recently, Morocco secured a controversial Africa Cup of Nations title in 2025, when their final victory was reinstated after an initial walk-off declaration awarded the win to Senegal, which was later overturned by confederation officials.

    Drawn into Group C for the 2026 World Cup, Morocco will face tough competition from Scotland, five-time champions Brazil, and CONCACAF side Haiti. Their opening group match is scheduled for 19 June against Steve Clarke’s Scotland side, as both teams look to kick off their tournament campaigns with three crucial points.

    Below is the full roster selected by Morocco for the 2026 FIFA World Cup:
    **Goalkeepers**: Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal), Munir Mohamedi (RS Berkane), Ahmed Tagnaouti (Royal Armed Forces)
    **Defenders**: Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United), Anass Salah-Eddine (PSV Eindhoven), Youssef Belammari (Al Ahly), Nayef Aguerd (Marseille), Chadi Riad (Crystal Palace), Issa Diop (West Ham United), Redouane Halhal (KV Mechelen), Achraf Hakimi (Paris St-Germain), Zakaria El Ouahdi (Genk)
    **Midfielders**: Samir El Mourabet (Strasbourg), Ayyoub Bouaddi (Lille), Neil El Aynaoui (Roma), Sofyan Amrabat (Real Betis), Azzedine Ounahi (Girona), Bilal El Khannouss (Stuttgart), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven)
    **Forwards**: Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Real Betis), Chemsdine Talbi (Sunderland), Soufiane Rahimi (Al Ain), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiacos), Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid), Yassine Gessime (Strasbourg), Ayoub Amaimouni-Echghouyabe (Eintracht Frankfurt)

  • Morocco’s Hakimi among 9 picked for World Cup returning from historic 2022 squad

    Morocco’s Hakimi among 9 picked for World Cup returning from historic 2022 squad

    Fresh off their history-making run at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Morocco has announced its 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted across North America, with star Paris Saint-Germain right-back Achraf Hakimi headlining a roster that blends veteran experience from the 2022 breakout campaign and exciting newly eligible talent drawn from the nation’s European diaspora.

    Named to the squad just three months after newly appointed head coach Mohamed Ouahbi took charge of the national side, the majority of the selected players were born in Europe, a reflection of Morocco’s longstanding strategy of leveraging the deep pool of talent with Moroccan heritage playing across the continent’s top leagues. Ouahbi himself was born in Belgium, and a number of squad members share similar cross-continental roots: Hakimi and Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz are two of five players born in Spain who qualify to represent Morocco through their family lineage. Diaz, who previously earned caps for the Spanish men’s national team, switched his international allegiance to Morocco in 2024.

    Over the past nine months, FIFA has approved nationality changes for three players included in Ouahbi’s 26-man roster: Fulham center-back Issa Diop, PSV Eindhoven left-back Anass Salah-Eddine, and 18-year-old Lille promising midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, marking their first major senior international tournament with the North African nation.

    Veteran leadership remains a core pillar of the squad: 35-year-old goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who delivered a series of viral standout performances during Morocco’s 2022 Cinderella run, is set to make his third World Cup appearance when the tournament kicks off. Bounou is one of nine players returning from the 2022 squad that made global football history as the first African nation ever to reach the World Cup semifinals.

    Led by then-coach Walid Regragui in 2022, Morocco defied all pre-tournament projections to top a group containing 2018 runner-up Croatia and pre-tournament favorite Belgium, before knocking out Spain and Portugal in consecutive knockout round matches. Their fairy-tale run only ended against eventual champions France, where an injury-ravaged Moroccan side bowed out in a tight semi-final contest.

    Morocco enters the 2026 tournament holding the title of African Cup of Nations champions, though that status remains under dispute. The Atlas Lions currently hold the title via a legal ruling following their January 2025 final against Senegal, but Senegal has appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, seeking to have its on-field victory reinstated. A ruling is expected in the coming months that could strip Morocco of the continental title before the World Cup gets underway.

    The current set-up follows a period of transition for Morocco’s senior side: Regragui stepped down from his role four months ago following the AFCON final loss to Senegal, opening the door for Ouahbi’s appointment. The new head coach earned his new position after leading Morocco’s Under-20 national side to a surprise World Cup title in 2025, where his young squad defeated Argentina in the final. One of the standout players from that under-20 triumph, Strasbourg forward Gessime Yassine, has earned a call-up to the senior 2026 World Cup squad Tuesday.

    Drawn into Group C, Morocco will base its pre-tournament training camp in New Jersey, kicking off its World Cup campaign against five-time champion Brazil on June 13 in East Rutherford. The team will then face Scotland in Massachusetts, before closing out group stage play against Haiti on June 24 in Atlanta. Like all teams in the expanded 48-team 2026 tournament, Morocco retains a path to the knockout stage even if it finishes third in its group: the top two sides from each group advance directly to the round of 16, while the four best third-place finishers also move on to the knockout round.

    Looking ahead beyond 2026, Morocco is already set to co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, with original 1930 host nations Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay also named as co-hosts that will each host one group stage match to mark the tournament’s centennial.

    The full 2026 Morocco World Cup squad is as follows:
    Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Al-Hilal), Munir El Kajoui (RS Berkane), Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti (AS FAR)
    Defenders: Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United), Anass Salah-Eddine (PSV Eindhoven), Youssef Belammari (Al Ahly), Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), Zakaria El Ouahdi (Genk), Nayef Aguerd (Marseille), Chadi Riad (Crystal Palace), Redouane Halhal (Mechelen), Issa Diop (Fulham)
    Midfielders: Samir El Mourabet (Strasbourg), Ayyoub Bouaddi (Lille), Neil El Aynaoui (Roma), Sofyan Amrabat (Real Betis), Azzedine Ounahi (Girona), Bilal El Khannouss (Stuttgart), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven)
    Forwards: Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Real Betis), Chemsdine Talbi (Sunderland), Soufiane Rahimi (Al Ain), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiakos), Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid), Gessime Yassine (Strasbourg), Ayoube Amaimouni-Echghouyabe (Eintracht Frankfurt)

  • Women’s soccer star Alexia Putellas leaves Barcelona after 14 seasons

    Women’s soccer star Alexia Putellas leaves Barcelona after 14 seasons

    After 14 seasons of transformative leadership and unprecedented success that reshaped women’s soccer on both domestic and global stages, two-time consecutive Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas is preparing to depart FC Barcelona, the Catalan giants confirmed this week. The club announced Tuesday that the 32-year-old icon will formally say goodbye to fans and teammates during a ceremonial event at Camp Nou on Wednesday, an occasion organized to honor the extraordinary legacy of a player who has become a global role model both on and off the pitch.
    Putellas’ exit comes just days after she helped Barcelona secure their fourth UEFA Women’s Champions League crown in just six seasons, capping her final campaign with the club with one more major trophy. Since joining Barcelona from Levante back in 2011 at the age of 18, Putellas has built an unmatched record with the club: she has featured in 507 senior matches, the second-highest total in the club’s all-time history, and netted 232 goals — a mark that stands as a new club record for any player, male or female. Over her 14 years in Barcelona’s blue and garnet stripes, Putellas lifted 38 major trophies, including 10 Spanish domestic league titles and the four continental crowns.
    In a heartfelt video message shared across her personal social media channels, Putellas reflected on her time with the club, saying, “The time has come to acknowledge that I’ve given everything for these colors. It’s been a perfect story.”
    Putellas’ legacy extends far beyond the trophy case and record books. She was the talismanic leader of Barcelona’s first-ever Champions League winning side in 2021, a breakthrough triumph that cemented Spanish women’s soccer as a global powerhouse. Her back-to-back Ballon d’Or wins in 2021 and 2022 brought unprecedented mainstream attention to the women’s game, with many analysts crediting her influence as a key factor behind Spain’s 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup victory.
    Off the pitch, Putellas has stood at the forefront of cultural change for women’s soccer in Spain. When the Spanish football federation was plunged into crisis following former president Luis Rubiales’ unwanted non-consensual kiss of player Jenni Hermoso during the 2023 World Cup trophy ceremony, Putellas stepped forward as one of the leading voices of the player rebellion that ultimately forced Rubiales to resign. Reflecting on the progress of the sport over her career, Putellas noted, “At the beginning, being a soccer player wasn’t even recognized as a profession. Now I feel privileged to have been part of this change.”
    Her career has not been without adversity: a serious leg injury sidelined her for months at the peak of her powers, casting doubt over her future at the top level. After her return, limited minutes sparked widespread rumors of an early exit, but Putellas ultimately committed to a contract extension to see out her final chapter with the club she called home for nearly 15 years.
    As of yet, Putellas has not confirmed her next professional move, but speculation across Spanish soccer circles has linked her to a potential move to the London City Lionesses, a rapidly rising club in England’s second tier. Putellas was spotted attending a Lionesses match in London back in January, fueling ongoing rumors about her next step.

  • Osaka sparkles in golden French Open outfit

    Osaka sparkles in golden French Open outfit

    Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has once again blended high fashion and elite tennis, turning heads at the 2026 French Open with a dramatic two-layered outfit inspired by the sparkling night sky over Paris’ iconic Eiffel Tower — and backing up the viral entrance with a straight-set first-round win.

    The 28-year-old Japanese star, who has built a reputation for show-stopping custom looks at major tournaments, made her entrance onto Court Suzanne Lenglen in a dramatic outer ensemble: a structured black corset paired with a flowing pleated skirt that swept across the red clay. Beneath this moody, elegant outer layer, Osaka hid a showstopping custom gold tennis dress covered in light-catching sequins that glinted under the bright Parisian sun. In a post-match interview, Osaka shared that the outfit’s design was directly inspired by the twinkling evening light display that makes the Eiffel Tower one of the most visited landmarks in the world. “When I first saw it, I felt like I look like the Eiffel Tower at night time when it’s bright,” she explained.

    The layered look was a collaborative design: the sustainable black outer pieces came from London-based fashion designer Kevin Germanier, while the glittering gold base dress was custom-created by Osaka’s long-time apparel partner Nike. Osaka admitted that she had one major concern ahead of her opening match: the intense reflection from the sequins when hit by direct sunlight. She revealed she brought two plain backup dresses to the court, worried tournament umpires would ask her to change over distraction concerns. “I was a little scared the umpire was going to kick me off the court,” she joked. “Thankfully I didn’t have to wear them.”

    Osaka’s fashion-forward entrance won praise from across the tennis world, including from women’s top seed Aryna Sabalenka, who watched the entrance live on broadcast. “This is sparkling. I love it. I love that she is expressing herself and feels confident,” Sabalenka said. “That’s the beauty of the fashion world, there’s space for anything and I love that she’s bringing it on court.”

    Former British top-ranked player Annabel Croft noted that pulling off a high-profile custom outfit on a Grand Slam stage takes a unique level of confidence that few players can match. “If you out there in an extraordinary outfit, you’ve got to live up to that and have the confidence to play in it and give the crowd the tennis as well as the outfit,” Croft told BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra. “Naomi can handle it. She really loves it and she’s not fazed by it.”

    Osaka delivered on both fronts: after the viral entrance, she played solid, consistent tennis to defeat Germany’s Laura Siegemund 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) to secure her spot in the tournament’s second round. She will next face Croatia’s Donna Vekic for a place in the third round.

    This French Open look continues Osaka’s recent tradition of memorable Grand Slam entrance outfits. At the 2026 Australian Open earlier this year, she stepped onto court in a jellyfish-inspired look that she dedicated to her two-year-old daughter Shai, and previous majors have seen her debut bold designs ranging from bow-accented lime green ensembles to tie-dye statement pieces. Osaka says these pre-match entrances are the one part of her job where she gets to embrace the performative side of professional sports. “Sometimes people say athletes are in show business or entertainers or whatever,” she said. “For me, Grand Slam walk-ons are the only time that I possibly feel like I’m an entertainer.”

    Osaka is no stranger to pushing fashion boundaries in tennis, a trend that can be traced back decades through trailblazing players like Serena and Venus Williams. The image gallery accompanying this event highlights iconic boundary-pushing tennis fashion moments: Serena Williams’ all-black studded ensemble at the 2004 US Open, her 2018 French Open black catsuit (which she said made her feel like a “superhero”), Venus Williams’ black-and-red corset lace dress at the 2010 French Open, and Maria Sharapova’s tuxedo-inspired twist on Wimbledon’s all-white dress code in 2008, placing Osaka’s latest design firmly in a legacy of athletes using fashion to express creativity on court.

    Since returning to the tour following the birth of her daughter in 2023, Osaka has mounted a remarkable career comeback, climbing back into the world’s top 20 rankings and reaching the semi-finals of the 2025 US Open.

  • Southampton pay tribute as Udoh dies aged 21

    Southampton pay tribute as Udoh dies aged 21

    The global football community is in mourning after the announcement of the sudden passing of 21-year-old rising talent Victor Udoh, who previously played for the academies of both Southampton FC and Royal Antwerp. The Nigerian left-winger, whose promising career was just getting off the ground, leaves behind shocked teammates, coaches and fans across three European countries where he played.

    Udoh began his European youth career with Belgian Pro League side Royal Antwerp, joining the club’s academy setup in 2023. He quickly made an impression with the club’s youth development squad, Young Reds, netting 12 goals in 27 appearances to force his way into first-team contention. By the end of his first season at the club, he had earned his senior debut, and went on to rack up 28 first-team appearances before moving on.

    In February 2025, Udoh made the move to England to join Southampton’s prestigious academy, where he spent six months developing his game. During his time on the south coast, he featured eight times for the club’s under-21 side in the competitive Premier League 2 competition, and scored two goals for the young Saints side.

    After leaving Southampton that September, Udoh continued his professional journey by signing with Ceske Budejovice, a club competing in the Czech second tier, where he had been playing up until his passing.

    Both former clubs have released official statements paying tribute to the young player, expressing their deep sorrow at his death. “We are devastated by the tragic passing of former player Victor Udoh at the age of 21,” Southampton FC shared in a post on X. “The thoughts of everyone at the club go out to Victor’s loved ones at this extremely difficult time.”

    Royal Antwerp echoed the sentiment, writing: “With great dismay, RAFC has learned of the passing of former player Victor Udoh. Our thoughts are with Victor’s family, friends, and loved ones. We wish them much strength, support, and warmth during this particularly difficult time.”

    No cause of death has been announced publicly by the clubs or Udoh’s family at the time of publishing.

  • Inglis to lead Australia in ODI series against Pakistan after Marsh ankle jury

    Inglis to lead Australia in ODI series against Pakistan after Marsh ankle jury

    A last-minute leadership shakeup has hit Australia’s men’s one-day international squad ahead of their highly anticipated three-match series against Pakistan, with wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis tapped to step into the captaincy role following an ankle injury to Mitchell Marsh, Cricket Australia announced Tuesday in Islamabad.

    Marsh picked up the injury during his recent participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL), forcing him to withdraw from the Lucknow Super Giants’ closing fixture of the tournament and return to his home country for further care. The all-rounder will undergo detailed medical assessment and targeted treatment in Perth once back in Australia, with no clear timeline yet released for his return to competitive play.

    This leadership vacancy comes as no small surprise, given Australia is already missing two of its top white-ball leaders for the Pakistan series. Regular 50-over captain Pat Cummins and vice-captain Travis Head have both skipped the tour to remain in India for the IPL playoffs, leaving the squad already short on experienced top-level leadership before Marsh’s injury.

    The ODI series is set to kick off this coming Saturday in Rawalpindi, with the two remaining matches scheduled to take place in Lahore on June 2 and June 4 respectively. For Inglis, this captaincy appointment is not uncharted territory. The wicketkeeper-batter already led the Australian side in a series against Pakistan back in November 2024, when a large number of the team’s first-choice players were also unavailable for selection.

    Following the conclusion of the Pakistan series, Australia’s men’s squad will travel directly to Bangladesh for a white-ball tour. A number of the team’s star fast bowlers, including Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, have already been confirmed as absentees for both the Pakistan and Bangladesh legs of the back-to-back tour.

  • PGA Tour heads to Colonial without Scheffler and Spieth while LIV resumes in South Korea

    PGA Tour heads to Colonial without Scheffler and Spieth while LIV resumes in South Korea

    Professional golf enters a busy week of tournament action across six major men’s tours and multiple women’s circuits, with elite players jockeying for form, ranking points, and coveted major championship exemptions ahead of next month’s U.S. Open.

    ### PGA Tour: Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club
    Headlining the men’s schedule this week is the PGA Tour’s Charles Schwab Challenge, hosted for the first time in back-to-back weeks with the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, an unprecedented scheduling shift for the Texas-based stop. Held at Fort Worth’s Colonial Country Club, the par-70 7,289-yard course will host a $9.9 million total purse, with the winner taking home $1.782 million in prize money.

    Notable absences shake up this year’s field: current FedEx Cup leader Scottie Scheffler, who has notched seven top-5 finishes in 11 events this season with one win at The American Express, will miss the tournament for the first time since he became eligible to compete. Texas fan favorite Jordan Spieth also sits out this year, ending a consecutive start streak that dates back to his professional debut. With Scheffler and Spieth out, U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun, ranked world No. 9, enters as the highest-ranked competitor in the field. Former top-50 player Nico Echavarria will look to rebound after a surprise last-week win by Wyndham Clark at the Byron Nelson knocked him out of the top 50, costing him an automatic exemption into the 2025 British Open. Justin Thomas makes his first start at Colonial since 2022, while Texas native Ryan Palmer accepted a sponsor exemption for his sixth PGA Tour start of the year. In milestone news, Si Woo Kim has officially crossed $6 million in career PGA Tour earnings, coming off a runner-up finish at last week’s Byron Nelson. Ben Griffin returns as defending champion.

    Broadcast coverage is split across Golf Channel and CBS: preliminary rounds air Thursday and Friday from 4-7 p.m. ET on Golf Channel, with Saturday coverage running 1:30-3:30 p.m. on Golf Channel and 3:30-6:30 p.m. on CBS. Sunday coverage airs 1-3 p.m. on Golf Channel and 3-6 p.m. on CBS.

    ### LPGA Tour: ShopRite LPGA Classic in New Jersey
    On the women’s side, the LPGA Tour hosts the ShopRite LPGA Classic at Galloway, New Jersey’s Seaview Hotel and Golf Club Bay Course. The par-71 6,263-yard event carries a $2 million total purse, with a $300,000 winner’s share. Jennifer Kupcho returns to defend her 2024 title, while Nelly Korda enters the week as the top-ranked player in the Race to CME Globe standings. Last week, Lottie Woad claimed victory at the Kroger Queen City Championship.

    This week’s New Jersey event is one of only two remaining 54-hole tournaments on the LPGA schedule, held just seven days ahead of the high-profile U.S. Women’s Open at Los Angeles’ Riviera Country Club. World No. 7 Charley Hull is the only top-10 ranked player in the world competing this week, with most top contenders opting to prepare directly for next week’s major. Nelly Korda, who fell out of the final round top grouping in her most recent event for the first time this season, will not compete. First held in 1986, the tournament has only seen one repeat winner in its history: Anna Nordqvist, who won back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016. Nordqvist shares the 54-hole scoring record of 17-under 196 with legend Annika Sorenstam.

    Broadcast coverage runs exclusively on Golf Channel: Friday 12-3 p.m. ET, Saturday 3:30-6:30 p.m. ET, and Sunday 3-5 p.m. ET, with early Sunday coverage streaming on the Golf Channel app.

    ### DP World Tour: Austrian Alpine Open in Kitzbühel
    The European DP World Tour travels to the Austrian Alps for the Austrian Alpine Open, held at Kitzbühel’s Kitzbühel-Schwarzsee-Reith Golf Club. The par-70 6,822-yard course hosts a $2.75 million total purse, with a $458,333 winner’s share. Nicolai Von Dellingshausen returns as defending champion, with Patrick Reed leading the Race to Dubai standings entering the week. Last week, Richard Sterne claimed victory at the Soudal Open.

    Austrian native Sepp Straka makes a sentimental home start, competing in his national open 12 years after he played his first professional event at the same tournament as a 20-year-old collegiate golfer at the University of Georgia. Only two other top-100 world-ranked players join Straka in the field: Casey Jarvis of South Africa and Daniel Hillier of New Zealand, with the field slightly depleted by conflicting tournament play from LIV Golf. Kevin Na, who recently ended a four-year tenure with LIV Golf, makes his second DP World Tour start of the year at this event. First held in 1990 with Bernhard Langer as the inaugural champion, the tournament spent eight seasons as a Challenge Tour event before returning to the DP World Tour schedule in 2006. This week’s event marks the third stop of the DP World Tour’s European Swing.

    Golf Channel will carry all four rounds of coverage, airing 6:30-11:30 a.m. ET Thursday and Friday, 7-11:30 a.m. ET Saturday, and 6-11 a.m. ET Sunday.

    ### LIV Golf League: LIV Golf Korea in Busan
    The breakaway LIV Golf League travels to Busan, South Korea for LIV Golf Korea, the eighth event of the 2025 season held in the eighth different host country, with four of this year’s stops hosted in Asia. The event is held at Busan’s Asiad Country Club, a 7,024-yard par-70 originally built for the 2002 Asian Games that underwent a major redesign by Rees Jones in 2019. The 54-hole event carries a $20 million total purse, with the winner taking home a $4 million payout. Bryson DeChambeau, who won the 2024 event at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea, returns to defend his title, while Jon Rahm enters the week as the circuit’s points leader. Last week, Lucas Herbert won LIV Golf Virginia, earning himself a spot in the upcoming U.S. Open.

    This week’s event is the first of two consecutive LIV stops ahead of the U.S. Open, and the circuit continues its streak of strong major performances: at least one LIV player has finished in the top 10 of the last 10 major championships. Three LIV players qualified for the upcoming U.S. Open via sectional qualifying last week in Dallas: Peter Uihlein, 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell, and amateur Caleb Surratt. The season-ending points leader after next week’s stop in Andalucia will earn an automatic exemption into the British Open at Royal Birkdale.

    Broadcast coverage airs on Fox Sports networks: FS1 carries round one and two coverage Thursday and Saturday from 12-5 a.m. ET, with final round coverage Sunday on Fox from 12-5 a.m. ET.

    ### Other Global Tour Events This Week
    The Korn Ferry Tour hosts the UNC Health Championship in Raleigh, North Carolina this week, held at Raleigh Country Club with a $1 million total purse and an $180,000 winner’s share. Trace Crowe returns as defending champion, with Ian Holt leading the tour’s points standings. No television coverage is scheduled for the event.

    Additional global events this week include the Mizuno Open on the Japan Golf Tour, the Jabra Ladies French Open on the Ladies European Tour, the Spanish Challenge on the European Challenge Tour, the Resort Trust Ladies on the Japan LPGA, and the Suhyup Bank MBN Ladies Open on the Korea LPGA. Next week, top tours will shift to major championship preparation, with the PGA Tour hosting the Memorial Tournament, LIV Golf heading to Andalucia, the DP World Tour hosting the KLM Open, and the LPGA Tour teeing off the U.S. Women’s Open.

  • Partey in preliminary Ghana squad for World Cup

    Partey in preliminary Ghana squad for World Cup

    One of Ghana’s most high-profile football stars, former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey, has been selected for the West African nation’s preliminary squad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a decision that comes as the 32-year-old prepares to stand trial on multiple sexual offense charges next year.

    Partey, who currently plies his trade for Spanish La Liga club Villarreal after leaving Arsenal this past summer when his contract at the North London side expired, has formally pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one additional count of sexual assault. The charges stem from allegations made by four separate women dating back to incidents between 2020 and 2022. His trial is scheduled to get underway in 2026.

    Across his five-year tenure with Arsenal between 2020 and 2025, Partey earned 167 appearances across all domestic and European competitions for the Gunners. Capped 58 times for Ghana to date, the midfielder currently serves as vice-captain of the national team, a status the Ghana Football Association has reaffirmed in the wake of the charges.

    “Thomas is our vice-captain. He is one of the top midfielders in the world and we stand by him shoulder to shoulder,” GFA President Kurt Okraku told BBC Sport in a public statement confirming the association’s support for the player.

    Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz named Partey as part of his 28-man preliminary group for a pre-World Cup training camp, which will be capped off with a friendly fixture against Wales in Cardiff on June 2. Queiroz is required to cut his final roster down to the 26-player limit mandated by FIFA before the tournament kicks off.

    Alongside Partey, other notable call-ups include Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo, Coventry City striker Brandon Thomas-Asante, and Leicester City pair Jordan Ayew and Abdul Fatawu. Five goalkeepers were included in the preliminary squad, among them Joseph Anang, who currently plays for League of Ireland Premier Division side St Patrick’s Athletic. The only major absentee from the group is Tottenham Hotspur winger Mohammed Kudus, who has not featured since January due to a persistent quad injury.

    Ghana will kick off their Group L campaign at the 2026 World Cup against Panama in Toronto on June 17, before subsequent group stage matches against England in Foxborough and Croatia in Philadelphia respectively.

  • Sabalenka thrives in French Open heat, Sinner waits in wings

    Sabalenka thrives in French Open heat, Sinner waits in wings

    The opening day of main draw action at the 2025 French Open delivered a mix of dominant wins, shocking upsets and highly anticipated upcoming matches on Tuesday, as top seeds navigated soaring Paris temperatures and tricky first-round hurdles to kick off their fortnight at Roland Garros.

    Women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka got her tournament campaign off to a flying start, wrapping up a straight-sets 6-4, 6-2 victory over Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, the world No. 50, in just 75 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier. The Belarusian 28-year-old, a four-time Grand Slam singles champion, only faced one minor scare when she failed to close out the match on her own serve, but responded immediately with a break in the next game to seal her spot in the second round.

    The result marked a strong bounce-back for Sabalenka, who suffered a surprise early exit at the Italian Open earlier this month. Speaking after her win, the top seed acknowledged that first-round matches at major tournaments always carry extra pressure. “I’m super happy to be through. I feel like it was a tricky first-round opponent,” she said. “I’d say that for me the first rounds are always not easy. And then, as I get further in the tournament, as I get more comfortable, my level becomes better.”

    Sabalenka will next face the winner of the opening-round match between French wildcard Elsa Jacquemot and Czech qualifier Linda Fruhvirtova in the round of 64. She also noted that the unseasonably hot conditions at this year’s tournament actually worked in her favor, a stark contrast to the cold, wet weather she faced in Rome and during her first week of practice in Paris. “I’d say that it was a bit warm,” she joked. “Especially compared to the first days when I first got here, it was like 14C, freezing. Now it’s boiling hot and balls are flying, everything is much faster. But physically I feel strong, so I feel like it can benefit me.”

    As Sabalenka wraps up her opening match, all attention turned to the evening’s night session, where men’s world number one Jannik Sinner was set to make his 2025 French Open debut. The Italian 24-year-old is one win away from completing a career Grand Slam, with the Paris title the only major still missing from his trophy cabinet. With double defending champion Carlos Alcaraz sidelined through injury and Sinner bringing a 29-match winning streak into the tournament, he enters as the overwhelming favorite to lift the trophy. Still, six matches stand between him and the men’s final on June 8, and he will open against French wildcard Clement Tabur, who is expected to receive a rapturous welcome from the home crowd on Chatrier. Tuesday’s match marks almost exactly one year since Sinner’s heartbreaking five-set loss to Alcaraz in the 2024 final, where he held three championship points before being overturned.

    Before Sinner takes the court, women’s defending champion Coco Gauff will face off against compatriot Taylor Townsend in the preceding match on Chatrier.

    The opening day also brought a major upset when Russia’s sixth seed Daniil Medvedev suffered a five-set first-round exit at the hands of Australian wildcard Adam Walton. The result extends Medvedev’s poor run of form at Roland Garros: it is now the seventh time he has been knocked out in the opening round in 10 tournament appearances. Despite the disappointing loss, the former world number one insisted he remains committed to competing in Paris. “I know that I am in good shape and I can play well in Roland Garros. I can,” Medvedev said. “It’s just tougher for me, and first rounds are usually tougher for me, but I will always come here.”

    Elsewhere in the draw, 18-year-old American rising star Iva Jovic continued to turn heads with a dominant 6-4, 6-2 win over Philippines’ Alexandra Eala, booking a second-round clash with compatriot Emma Navarro, the former world No. 8 who eased past Indonesia’s Janice Tjen in straight sets. 2021 French Open runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas also advanced after his opponent Alexandre Muller was forced to retire through injury early in the match. The Greek 27-year-old, who has plummeted to No. 79 in the ATP rankings after a poor run of results, could reach the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time in seven appearances when he faces Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi next. The day ended with a fairy-tale win for home crowd favorite Moise Kouame: the 17-year-old French wildcard notched his first ever Grand Slam match win with an impressive 7-6(4), 6-2, 6-1 victory over 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic of Croatia.