<rss xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0">
    	<channel>
		<title>Latest Sports News from FOX Sports</title>
		<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories</link>
		<description>Breaking sports news, articles, and stories from FOX Sports.</description>
		<image>
			<title>Latest Sports News from FOX Sports</title>
			<url>https://b.fssta.com/uploads/application/fscom/fox-sports-logo-black.png</url>
			<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories</link>
		</image>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 21:09:23 -0400</pubDate>
		<copyright>Copyright 2026 FOX Sports</copyright>
		<language>en-us</language>
		<atom:link href="https://api.foxsports.com/v2/content/optimized-rss?partnerKey=MB0Wehpmuj2lUhuRhQaafhBjAJqaPU244mlTDK1i&amp;aggregateId=7f83e8ca-6701-5ea0-96ee-072636b67336" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/>
		<atom:link rel="hub" href="https://foxsports.superfeedr.com"/>
					<item>
				<title>
					<![CDATA[NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship Game: Top Storylines]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/ncaa-mens-basketball-national-championship-game-top-storylines</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/ncaa-mens-basketball-national-championship-game-top-storylines</guid>
				<category>college-basketball</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Who will cut down the nets in Indy? Here are the top storylines to know ahead of Monday night's national championship game.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 19:15:08 -0400</pubDate>
								<media:content url="https://statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/04/dan-hurley-dusty-may.jpg" expression="full" type="image/jpg" width="1167" height="656">
										<media:thumbnail url="https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/04/128/72/dan-hurley-dusty-may.jpg" width="128" height="72"/>
														</media:content>
												<content:encoded>
				    <![CDATA[A spot in the college basketball history books is on the line Monday night in Indianapolis as Dan Hurley and the UConn Huskies will face the No. 1-seeded Michigan Wolverines in the NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship. The Wolverines – chasing their first national title since 1989 – have been a dominant force throughout the Big Dance, winning five games by an average of 22 points per game. They are led by senior standout Yaxel Lendeborg, who sprained his left MCL and left ankle in the first half against Arizona on Saturday night, but is expected to play.UConn is looking to capture its third national championship in four years under Hurley. The Huskies are led by the senior duo of Tarris Reed Jr. and Alex Karaban, but are also dealing with an injury of their own to Solo Ball. The junior guard was in a walking boot after the team's Final Four win over Illinois, but he appears good to go for Monday night's championship game. Here are the top storylines ahead of Monday night's title game: UConn Huskies 1. UConn's Alex Kabaran going for third title with Huskies Alex Karaban has been with the Huskies since he stepped foot into the college basketball world. A two-time national champion, Karaban has never once thought about leaving UConn. "I’ve never considered the portal," Karaban said. "You win and start on two national championship teams here, freshman and sophomore year, it’s going to be tough going into the office and being like, ‘Coach I want to leave.’" What Karaban has now is a chance to go for a third title to close out his time with the Huskies. Karaban has been a star for UConn for four straight seasons, something unheard of in today's transfer portal world. 2. Mullins' Michigan alliance shifting ahead of title game UConn freshman Braylon Mullins hit the shot heard around the world, a 30-foot 3-pointer to help the Huskies advance to the Final Four with a win over Duke. Now, the Mullins family, who were loyal to the Michigan Wolverines, have shifted their alliance to the Huskies ahead of the game. Mullins was born and raised in Greenfield, Indiana, and grew up in a Michigan athletics household. Now, the chance to go up against his childhood team has extra meaning for the true freshman. "In my household, growing up, it was Michigan football, Michigan basketball," Mullins said Sunday. "That's what my family and friends were watching. So having people around me who are probably going to be rooting for Michigan means a little more in this game, just to be fun. But at the end of the day, it's just another game." 3. Huskies going for third title in four seasons UConn's dominance as a basketball program has led to this moment, competing for a third national championship in four seasons. The previous two titles came consecutively, in 2023 when they defeated San Diego State, and in 2024, beating Purdue. Hurley has accumulated an 18-1 record in the NCAA Tournament and is 199-74 in eight seasons. If the Huskies clinch their third title in four years, it'll make them the first program to do so since the dominant UCLA run under John Wooden. Michigan Wolverines 1. Can Michigan stay dominant with Yaxel Lendeborg's injury? Yaxel Lendeborg is a pivotal piece when it comes to the Wolverines' starting lineup. The senior forward suffered a sprained MCL and rolled ankle that sidelined him for a large portion of the team's Final Four win over Arizona. While the Wolverines still took care of the Wildcats, 91-73, to advance to their first title game since 2018, the concern now turns to Lendeborg's health against the Huskies. Lendeborg averaged 15.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game this season. 2. Dusty May competing for first-ever national championship May, who led FAU to the Final Four in 2023, is set to make his first-ever appearance in a national title game. "What makes Dusty May special as a coach is obviously his eye for talent, his ability to construct a roster, the fact that he insulates himself with an excellent coaching staff, and his ability to build team and culture," Hurley said of May. "He’s got a special eye for how to put together a great team." The Wolverines' season-long dominance has caught the eyes of many, notably when they knocked a powerful Arizona team out of title contention, leading by 30 points at one point in the game. Michigan's title win would tie the B1G single-season win record. 3. Michigan's starting lineup shows the power of the transfer portal In the midst of the transfer portal era, the Wolverines have proven that, when done right, the perfect portal class can lead to success. The Wolverines boast Lendeborg from UAB, Elliot Cadeau from North Carolina, Morez Johnson Jr. from Illinois and Aday Mara from UCLA. Collectively, this lineup has produced five consecutive 90-point games leading up to the title game, the most since by any team in a single tournament. Michigan's strength is its interior size, as the trio of Lendeborg, Johnson and Mara have combined to average 13.5 points and seven rebounds per game this season. The Associated Press contributed to this report]]>
			    </content:encoded>
							</item>
					<item>
				<title>
					<![CDATA[2026 NFL Mock Draft: Nick Wright Predicts Jets Pick a QB; Eagles, Rams Get WR Help]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-mock-draft-nick-wright-projects-jets-pick-qb-eagles-rams-get-wr-help</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2026-nfl-mock-draft-nick-wright-projects-jets-pick-qb-eagles-rams-get-wr-help</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Ty Simpson to the Jets? Makai Lemon to the Rams? Here's how Nick Wright projects the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft will go.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 19:09:07 -0400</pubDate>
								<media:content url="https://statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/04/mock-draft_16x9-nfl.jpg" expression="full" type="image/jpg" width="1167" height="656">
										<media:thumbnail url="https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/04/128/72/mock-draft_16x9-nfl.jpg" width="128" height="72"/>
														</media:content>
												<content:encoded>
				    <![CDATA[Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson has seemed to pick up so much buzz in the weeks leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft that most mock drafts now have him going in the first round. "First Things First's" Nick Wright believes that'll be the case as well. However, does Wright agree with the idea that Simpson should be a first-round pick? In his first mock draft, Wright projects that the team that will select Simpson will massively overdraft him. But there's also a pick in the top 10 that Wright projects will happen that he said would be a move he couldn't support. Let's take a closer look at Wright's first mock draft. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. All odds via DraftKings Sportsbook. 1. Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana Wright's thoughts: "No shocker at all. We all know where [Mendoza] is going." Odds to be selected No. 1: -20000 2. New York Jets: Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State Wright's thoughts: "You'll see a lot of Ohio State kids in the top 10. [Reese] is maybe the best defensive player in this draft. I feel Aaron Glenn looks at him and says, ‘Is there a little Micah Parsons there?’" Odds to be No. 2 overall pick: -270 3. Arizona Cardinals: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State Wright's thoughts: "You guys like spider graphs and athleticism? His is 99 percentile everywhere. Maybe the sickest athlete in the draft." Odds to be No. 3 overall pick: +700 4. Tennessee Titans: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame Wright's thoughts: "The pick that everyone now seems to think is happening. … Is it smart to draft a running back that high before your offensive line has been fully built? Maybe ask the Raiders that." Odds to be No. 4 overall pick: +160 5. New York Giants: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State Wright's thoughts: "Malik Nabers is coming off the [ACL] injury. Even with Nabers, [the Giants] don't have a surefire No. 2 [wide receiver]." Odds to be No. 5 overall pick: +1200 6. Cleveland Browns: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (Fla.) Wright's thoughts: "A team that, on offense, needs. a bit of everything. Maybe they go get the No. 1 tackle in the draft?" Odds to be No. 6 overall pick: +500 7. Washington Commanders: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State Wright's thoughts: "He was, according to a lot of people, the best player in college football going into the year. The only reason he would be available at No. 7, and might be available outside of the top 10, is the positional [value]." Odds to be No. 7 overall pick: +750 8. New Orleans Saints: David Bailey, edge rusher, Texas Tech Wright's thoughts: "I think the best pure pass rusher in the draft is David Bailey. I don't know if he's a three-down player or if he'll be great against the run, but he's a monster against the pass." Odds to be No. 8 overall pick: +550 9. Kansas City Chiefs: Rueben Bain Jr., edge rusher, Miami (Fla.) Wright's thoughts: "If it were to fall like this, I think the Chiefs would run to the podium to draft Rueben Bain. They have not had a blue-chip edge rusher, you could argue, in [Patrick] Mahomes' whole career." Odds that Chiefs use first pick on edge rusher or defensive lineman: +275 10. Cincinnati Bengals: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon Wright's thoughts: "A move that I would not support, which is why I think the Bengals might do it. Most of the things they do, I don't support. You know what would be fun? More offense. The no. 1 tight end and a guy who has, in a good way, gotten some Kyle Pitts comps." Odds that Sadiq is drafted by the Bengals: +2500 11. Miami Dolphins: Spencer Fano, OT, Utah Wright's thoughts: "The Dolphins are in a full-on teardown. However, you did sign Malik Willis. You traded away his weapons. You at least want to give him a little bit of protection." Odds that Fano is a top-10 pick: +160 12. Dallas Cowboys: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU Wright's thoughts: "Cowboys, I think, would run to the board to hand this pick in. The top corner, whom I think a lot of people incorrectly believe the Chiefs will take at No. 9. Delane is everyone's top corner in this draft. The Cowboys need help in every aspect in the secondary." Odds that Delane is the first cornerback drafted: -320 13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons): Makai Lemon, WR, USC Wright's thoughts: "I like this fit a lot, not just because he would be able to stay home. … Lemon can play the slot or the outside [and] Davante Adams is, obviously, getting older and all of a sudden, Puka Nacua's availability is a question mark. They're an ultimate win-now team that might have short and longterm questions at wide receiver." Odds that Rams use first pick on a wide receiver: +120 14. Baltimore Ravens: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State Wright's thoughts: "I got the Ravens going with the best available interior offensive lineman. He hasn't played much center at all, I think 20 snaps total, but he's played both guard spots. They need help on the interior of the offensive line." Odds that Ravens use first pick on an offensive lineman: +140 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Keldric Faulk, edge rusher, Auburn Wright's thoughts: "The Bucs have been trying to address edge rusher in the draft for years. They have hit in some capacity, but no real stars." Odds that Buccaneers use first pick on an edge rusher or a defensive lineman: +125 16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts): Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama Wright's thoughts: "What I think would be a massive overdraft, but the Jets are kind of known to massively overdraft [players]. The Jets are one of the top picks for, ‘Team Most Likely To Have Their Owner Completely Reshuffle Their Board The Day Before The Draft.’" Odds that Simpson is drafted by the Jets: +145 17. Detroit Lions: Akheem Mesidor, edge rusher, Miami (Fla.) Wright's thoughts: "The Lions still need an edge rusher opposite of Aidan Hutchinson." Odds that Lions use first pick on an edge rusher or defensive lineman: +200 18. Minnesota Vikings: Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State Wright's thoughts: "I feel like Jordan Addison's star has dimmed over the last couple of years for lack of on-field production and off-field [stuff]. It feels like the defense has people everywhere already." Odds that Vikings use first pick on a wide receiver: +1800 19. Carolina Panthers: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia Wright's thoughts: "Get Bryce Young some offensive line help." Odds that Panthers use first pick on an offensive lineman: +400 20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers): CJ Allen, LB, Georgia Wright's thoughts: "The Cowboys, remember, they thought Logan Wilson was going to transform the defense. That didn't work out." Odds that Allen is a first-round pick: +110 21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kayden McDonald, DL, Ohio State Wright's thoughts: "Cameron Hayward's the oldest every-down defensive player in the league and T.J. Watt’s getting older. So I think Kayden McDonald is to try to add right now depth and then eventually heir apparent makes sense there." Odds that Steelers use first pick on an edge rusher or a defensive lineman: +600 22. Los Angeles Chargers: Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon Wright's thoughts: "Yeah, they got the tackles back, but the interior of that offensive line, no one could win with that. Those excuses, I already see them being brewed up in Danny's [Parkins] workshop. So they take one of the top interior offensive linemen." Odds that Chargers use first pick on an offensive lineman: +155 23. Philadelphia Eagles: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana Wright's thoughts: "The Eagles, I believe, anticipating an AJ Brown trade, end up drafting Omar Cooper." Odds that Eagles use first pick on a wide receiver: +400 24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars): Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee Wright's thoughts: "McCoy probably would have been a top 12 pick, but he totally blew out his knee prior to last year. Didn't play last year. Now, he might not be a first-round pick. Those are the types of guys, if you're Cleveland with your second first round pick, I think you should look at like the super high upside, even if he takes a minute to get acclimated." Over/under on number of cornerbacks drafted in first round: 4.5 25. Chicago Bears: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama Wright's thoughts: "He's the tackle from Alabama that we saw, catching the passes and rumbling and running down like the most athletic 380-pounder I've ever seen in my life. I feel like the Bears all of a sudden have to address left tackle because of that, and so we have him going there." Odds that Bears use first pick on an offensive lineman: +700 26. Buffalo Bills: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson Wright's thoughts: "The Bills have been trying to get corner correct in the draft for a couple of years. I know they just drafted Maxwell Hairston. They take another shot at it with Terrell out of Clemson." Odds that Bills use first pick on a cornerback: +275 27. San Francisco 49ers: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson Wright's thoughts: "I think the Niners need to start looking at a post-Trent Williams world, especially at his age." Odds that 49ers use first pick on an offensive lineman: +115 28. Houston Texans: Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State Wright's thoughts: "The Texans always need to address the offensive line." Odds that Texans use first pick on an offensive lineman: -140 29. Kansas City Chiefs (from Los Angeles Rams): Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon Wright's thoughts: "The Chiefs go with secondary help after losing Jaylen Watson, Trent McDuffie, and Bryan Cook this offseason with Thieneman out of Oregon." Odds that Thieneman is a first-round pick: -4000 30. Miami Dolphins (from Denver Broncos): Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo Wright's thoughts: "Dolphins also take a safety, McNeil-Warren, out of Toledo." Odds that McNeil-Warren is a first-round pick: -260 31. New England Patriots: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington Wright's thoughts: "Then the Patriots lost Stefon Diggs, having not necessarily traded for A.J. Brown. They take Denzel Boston out of Washington." Odds that Patriots use first pick on a wide receiver: +370 32. Seattle Seahawks: Cashius Howell, edge rusher, Texas A&amp;M Wright's thoughts: "The Seahawks, after losing a few of the defenders in free agency, add to their defensive depth with Cassius Howell, the edge rusher out of Texas A&amp;M." Odds that Seahawks use first pick on an edge rusher: +400]]>
			    </content:encoded>
							</item>
					<item>
				<title>
					<![CDATA[2026 MLB Power Rankings: What's Been The Early Surprises For All 30 Teams?]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/2026-mlb-power-rankings-what-early-surprises-all-30-teams</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/2026-mlb-power-rankings-what-early-surprises-all-30-teams</guid>
				<category>mlb</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[In this week's MLB Power Rankings, we call out an early season surprise for each team.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:54:28 -0400</pubDate>
								<media:content url="https://statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/04/mlbpowerranksmain.jpg" expression="full" type="image/jpg" width="1167" height="656">
										<media:thumbnail url="https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/04/128/72/mlbpowerranksmain.jpg" width="128" height="72"/>
														</media:content>
												<content:encoded>
				    <![CDATA[Would this be a good time to remind everyone that Toronto started last season 16-20 and still came two outs away from winning the World Series? Among the many early surprises this season? The Blue Jays just got swept by the White Sox, the Red Sox have the worst record in MLB, the Marlins are in first place, the Cubs are in last place, the Mariners are under .500 and the Yankees are the only team .500 or better in the AL East. Surely, this is mostly just the result of early-season small samples. But for this week’s edition of power rankings, we’ll look at more of the surprises around the league. We’re more than a week into the season, and the Rockies’ have the second-best run differential in the NL West…at minus-four. We knew the pitching would be bad, and, boy, has it been. The real surprise in Washington is the offense, which ranks third in MLB in scoring while getting a big boost from Joey Wiemer (10-for-21, 2 HR), who was acquired off waivers this offseason. Miguel Vargas was always expected to hit at the highest level when he was a Dodgers prospect, and it might finally be coming together for him. He ranks in the top 30 among qualified MLB hitters in OPS, and the White Sox are 3-0 at home for the first time since 2004. The Twins don’t have a single player hitting above .225. As a team, they have the worst batting average in baseball at .192. On the positive side, Taj Bradley has a 0.87 ERA through two starts. It’s not surprising that the A’s have the third-worst ERA in MLB; it is surprising that their high-powered offense ranks 17th in OPS…especially while Shea Langeliers is tied for the MLB lead in home runs with five. Jo Adell, who was tied with Nick Castellanos and Juan Soto for last among all qualified outfield defenders in outs above average last season, is saving games with his glove. What a display Adell put on Saturday to save a win against the Mariners. He assisted a pitching staff that ranks seventh in MLB in ERA. The Giants are one of only eight teams who have already played 10 games, and they’re still tied for the fewest runs scored in MLB with the lowest OPS in MLB (.561). They’re averaging 2.6 runs per game; their fewest in a full season since moving to San Francisco is 3.4 runs per game. They’re a top-10 team in runs scored, slugging and OPS, but their relievers have the worst ERA in MLB (7.96). Cardinals pitchers have a strikeout rate of 14.9%, which would be the lowest of any team in a full season since the 2009 Nationals (14.3%) and Orioles (14.7%). The could, however, be the Jordan Walker breakout year. The Diamondbacks have the third-worst on-base percentage in MLB. Among qualified hitters on the team, Corbin Carroll is the only one hitting above league average. The Red Sox offense has scored the fewest runs (30) in the American League, Caleb Durbin and Trevor Story each rank in the bottom three among all qualified MLB hitters in wRC+, and after trading for Sonny Gray and signing Ranger Suarez for $130 million, Boston starters currently have the fourth-highest ERA in MLB (5.19). Combine it all, and the Red Sox have lost seven of their last eight games. Xavier Edwards is tied for the MLB lead in hits (16), Liam Hicks is tied for the MLB lead in RBI (12), and the Marlins’ offense ranks fourth in MLB in OPS (.793) and fifth in runs per game (5.44). Last year, Bobby Witt Jr. never went more than six games without an extra-base hit. The Royals are nine games into their season and still haven’t gotten one from their superstar shortstop yet. Meanwhile, Vinnie Pasquantino only has one. The best pitcher in the rotation has been Randy Vásquez, who has allowed just one run in 12 innings over his first two starts. The Orioles have hit the third-fewest home runs in MLB and dropped five of six games to the Rangers and Pirates. Joc Pederson is 1-for-17 to start the year and has the same OPS as Wyatt Langford (.425). The two worst ERAs in the rotation belong to Nathan Eovaldi (11.42) and Jacob deGrom (5.79), but Jack Leiter and MacKenzie Gore each rank in the top 10 in MLB in strikeouts. The Cubs have the fewest hits in the National League and rank 25th in slugging percentage, despite four home runs already from Ian Happ. While the offense is trying to get going, last year’s Rookie of the Year runner-up Cade Horton just left his last start with forearm discomfort. It's not a surprise to see the top pitching duo of Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez thriving; it is a surprise that the team's two OPS leaders are Colt Keith and Dillon Dingler. The Reds are on the upswing after sweeping the Rangers despite an offense that ranks last in MLB in OPS with runners in scoring position and is tied for last in runs scored. It says a lot about what young starters Chase Burns (0.82 ERA) and Rhett Lowder (1.64) have done. The Pirates have won five straight games despite Paul Skenes sporting a 9.53 ERA. Their offense, which ranked last in OPS last season, ranks seventh this year and now has top prospect Konnor Griffin lifting the vibes. Top prospect Chase DeLauter is tied for the MLB lead in home runs — and has more than half of the team’s homers. His product has been vital with Kyle Manzardo starting the year 2-for-30, José Ramírez hitting .154 and Steven Kwan hitting .216 to start the year. The Blue Jays’ offense ranks 23rd in runs scored, most of their rotation is sidelined and their relievers are 1-for-6 in save opportunities. Add all that up, and they stunningly just lost five out of six games to the Rockies and White Sox before getting ready to host the Dodgers in a World Series rematch. Julio Rodriguez is 6-for-39 with 13 strikeouts and no extra-base hits. It has been just as bad for Cal Raleigh, who’s 5-for-38 with 20 strikeouts. As a team, the Mariners have the second-most strikeouts in MLB and are one of three teams hitting under .200. The Phillies rank 16th in starters’ ERA and 20th in relievers’ ERA, and offensively they're outside the top 10 in OPS. But Zack Wheeler’s return is on the horizon later this month, and Adolis García seems to be doing better with the change of scenery. His .835 OPS is the second-highest mark on the team. MLB’s OPS leaders? That would be the Houston Astros, who also rank first in hits and runs scored by a wide margin. What a difference a healthy Yordan Alvarez makes. Spencer Schwellenbach, Spencer Strider and Hurston Waldrep are all on the injured list, and yet the Braves have the lowest ERA in MLB (1.82). They’re first in relievers’ ERA (1.08) and second in starters’ ERA (2.26). Bryce Elder still hasn’t allowed a run after two starts. The team leader in OPS? That would be Mark Vientos, who slashed .233/.289/.413 last year. Most of the fresh faces on the offensive side have yet to get going — Bo Bichette (.473 OPS) did, however, show positive signs in San Francisco — but new relievers Devin Williams and Luke Weaver have yet to allow a run, and Tobias Myers has looked like a multi-inning weapon. Here we go again. The Brewers traded away Freddy Peralta, Caleb Durbin and Isaac Collins, and yet their offense ranks third in MLB in OPS and their pitching staff ranks eighth in ERA. Former Giants prospect Kyle Harrison appears to be the latest pitcher to find his optimized form in Milwaukee. With Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón still on the shelf, the Yankees’ rotation is 5-0 with an MLB-best 1.81 ERA. Cam Schlittler has 15 strikeouts and no walks through two scoreless starts and already looks like one of the most dominant arms in the game, building off last year’s rookie success. The Dodgers added Kyle Tucker to a lineup that included Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and Will Smith. But the best hitter on the team so far? That would be Andy Pages, who has bounced back from a forgettable postseason by starting 16-for-34 with three home runs.]]>
			    </content:encoded>
							</item>
					<item>
				<title>
					<![CDATA[2026 FIFA World Cup Ultimate Fanbase! Can Mexico, Brazil Advance In Our Poll?]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-fifa-world-cup-ultimate-fanbase</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-fifa-world-cup-ultimate-fanbase</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Which World Cup fanbase will be the loudest? The most fun? The most passionate? Vote in our 2026 FIFA World Cup Ultimate Fanbase.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:03:56 -0400</pubDate>
								<media:content url="https://statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/04/bracket.jpeg" expression="full" type="image/jpeg" width="1167" height="656">
										<media:thumbnail url="https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/04/128/72/bracket.jpeg" width="128" height="72"/>
														</media:content>
												<content:encoded>
				    <![CDATA[The world's best sporting event – the 2026 FIFA World Cup — is coming this summer, and it's going to be bigger and better than ever. But which fans of the 48 teams will be the loudest? The most fun and the most passionate? Vote in our 2026 FIFA World Cup Ultimate Fanbase, sponsored by Lay's! How It Works? This bracket consists of all 48 qualified teams for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Those teams are separated into four quadrants consisting of three of the current World Cup groups in each. Here's the kicker! The teams are then seeded by each of their combined social media followings – including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube. And some of these times have some big-time followings. We've given the top four seeds (Brazil, USA, France, and Argentina) byes in the bracket. And after one round of voting, here's how things stand: How To Vote? Easy! All voting takes place across the @FOXSoccer social accounts. So if you don't already follow FOX Soccer, do so now! You'll be able to vote on: - Instagram- Facebook- YouTube - X Or check out the polls below.  Vote on your platform of choice and it will count! Voting will take place over the entire month of April with a winner announced on the last day of the month! The winners will get an official billboard touting your nation as the best FIFA 2026 World Cup fans in front of your team's training facility! Today's Matchups: Region 1, Groups A/B/C – Second Round Vote for the matchups in the polls below! Brazil Fans vs. Switzerland Fans: Who Ya Got? The bright yellow jerseys of Brazil with the drumbeats and sounds of samba in the stands. Can anyone put on a show quite like Brazilian supporters? Let's see if the always rowdy Swiss crew can match the energy in this match. Bosnia &amp; Herzegovina Fans vs. South Korea Fans: Who Ya Got? The Bosnian fans are already making their presence felt in this contest, buoyed by the wave of enthusiasm after seeing their team ousted Italy on the pitch to secure a World Cup spot. But they face a strong equally formidable opponent in this match. Few fans can put together a scene like the South Koreans – expect tons of support during the summer. Morocco Fans vs. Czechia Fans: Who Ya Got? What a time for Moroccan soccer. Whether it's the men's team, the women's team, whether it's youth teams, they bring it, they celebrate. They've become a fan favorite after reaching the 2022 World Cup semifinals. But don't count out the Czechs, who always know how to make an entrance at their games. South Africa Fans vs. Mexico Fans: Who Ya Got? This is an actual match of this summer's World Cup opener (!) as it was in the 2010 edition. Two of the best fan groups you'll ever encounter at any big soccer tournament. South Africa fans will sing and dance throughout the game, and you'll still hear that occasional vuvuzela. But guess what? Mexico fans show up and show out wherever and whenever, period. The wave of green jerseys and the singing of Cielito Lindo during games is an amazing sight. Previous First-Round Results In Region 1 (which includes Groups A/B/C): - Switzerland fans def. Canada fans;- Bosnia &amp; Herzegovina fans def. Scotland fans;- Czechia fans def. Qatar fans;- South Africa fans def. Haiti fans. Those four fanbases move onto the second round. Congrats! In Region 2 (which includes Groups D/E/F): - Japan fans def. Sweden fans;- Paraguay fans def. Tunisia fans;- Netherlands fans def. Ivory Coast fans;- Australia fans def. Curaçao fans. Those four fanbases move onto the second round. Congrats! In Region 3 (which includes Groups G/H/I): - Belgium fans def. Cape Verde fans;- Uruguay fans def. New Zealand fans;- Saudi Arabia fans def. Iraq fans;- Norway fans def. Iran fans. Those four fanbases move onto the second round. Congrats! In Region 4 (which includes Groups J/K/L): - Croatia fans def. Congo DR fans;- Algeria fans def. Uzbekistan fans; - Ghana fans def. Panama fans;- Jordan fans def. Austria fans. Those four fanbases move onto the second round. Congrats! 2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch 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 (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports apps. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in primetime across FOX (21) and FS1 (19).]]>
			    </content:encoded>
							</item>
					<item>
				<title>
					<![CDATA[Sound Smart: 6 Observations from the NFL Annual League Meeting]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/6-observations-nfl-annual-league-meeting</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/6-observations-nfl-annual-league-meeting</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Key insights from the NFL owners meeting on the development of Bears QB Caleb Williams, the value of DJ Moore to the Bills and more.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:48:44 -0400</pubDate>
								<media:content url="https://statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/04/artboard-1-2.33.19-pm.jpg" expression="full" type="image/jpg" width="1167" height="656">
										<media:thumbnail url="https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/04/128/72/artboard-1-2.33.19-pm.jpg" width="128" height="72"/>
														</media:content>
												<content:encoded>
				    <![CDATA[PHOENIX — We all know Sean McVay’s memory is sticky, with the Los Angeles Rams coach demonstrating an archival and categorical knowledge of football during his weekly press conferences. But it doesn’t stop there. At the Biltmore Hotel, site of the 2026 Annual NFL League Meeting, McVay and Eagles coach Nick Sirianni were talking about what Duke’s Cayden Boozer could’ve done differently in the team’s crushing loss to UConn. McVay wanted Boozer to hold the ball and take the foul in the final seconds, but the point guard instead tried to pass the ball and turned it over, leading to The Shot 2.0. Sirianni nodded along in approval, which led McVay to start referencing March Madness plays from last year. Yes, this is still college hoops time, but you probably need your NFL fix. That’s what I’ve got — six observations from my four days at the owners meeting in Arizona last week. This is "Sound Smart," where I try to spin forward, dive deeper and think outside the box. If I do my job, you’ll have a better understanding of what's happening this NFL offseason. 1. WHAT IF? Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson sets forth "the challenge" for Caleb Williams There is no more obvious statistic for Bears quarterback Caleb Williams to improve than his completion percentage, which landed at 58.1% in 2025. Speaking to multiple Bears staffers at the owners meeting — including a one-on-one with coach Ben Johnson — there is clear optimism that Williams can improve that number sizably in his third NFL season. That confidence comes from a self-scout that the Chicago coaching staff recently did. The coaches examined every play, and in the case of the passing plays, they saw opportunities for improvement. From that self-scout, Johnson is going to identify the top three items for Williams to focus on improving. And by now, you surely know one of the items on that list. "We need to get the completion percentage up," Johnson told me. "And so we'll look at that as we go through the cut-ups of where we can best do that. There were probably 80 or 90 throws on tape that we felt like could have been completions. "You're always going to have some drops by the route-runners. … We need to find a way to complete some of those other ones, though. That's really the challenge for Caleb. If we do that, then we'll be 65%, 70% completion, which is closer to where we want to be." Another Bears source picked the high end of that range: 70%. It speaks to how bullish the Bears are on Williams that they think he can get that number up almost 12 percentage points this year. In 2025, his completion percentage over expected was -6.9%, and his time to throw was a full 3.2 seconds, per Next Gen Stats. Those shortcomings are, in part, why his expected points per dropback landed at 14th in the NFL (.05). Williams should be able to get the ball out more quickly by trusting the system — and his receivers, who do a good job getting open. What makes Williams so impressive — and has the Bears trusting him so immensely — isn’t just that he can make big plays. It’s that he took just 24 sacks last season (after taking a league-high 68 as a rookie) and threw just seven interceptions. He kept the team on schedule, which played a major role in the Bears sticking around in (and winning) close games last year. A gulf stands between Williams’ 2025 season and his goal for the 2026 season. But given the way Williams improved from Year 1 to Year 2, in Year 3 the QB may just get the most out of his young core and achieve the high standard his coach is setting. 2. IF THERE’S ONE THING YOU SHOULD KNOW… An 18-game schedule may not be what’s best for the NFL in the long term. Adding one more game to the NFL schedule is much more complicated when measuring the value of the league’s product over the long haul instead of the clear short-term profit. It could be argued that the more games are added to the league's schedule, the less importance each week has. The beauty of the NFL schedule is how precious its games are. Since the NFL made the regular season 17 games in 2021, the quality of the game has been diluted. There are weeks when the stakes don’t feel high enough. The NFL schedule is already 27 weeks long, starting with the Hall of Fame Game and ending with the Super Bowl. That's already more than half the calendar year. The frequency is also increasing, as the NFL will have a game on every day of the week except Tuesday next season with the addition of a Wednesday game the day before Thanksgiving. It was interesting to hear what Cowboys owner Jerry Jones thought about the issue — given how much he has grown the league’s brand since buying the team in 1989. He was asked if this might be a case of pigs getting fat and hogs getting slaughtered. Jones countered with an animal-related pearl of wisdom of his own. "When the duck quacks, feed it," he said in Phoenix. "We have that demand for our games because of the hard work, great players that we have. … We should address it, respond to it and feed it." Feeding the beast has always worked for the NFL, but at what point is it overfeeding? 3. BEHIND THE SCENES Sights and sounds from the owners meeting The league encourages the highest level of competition, which is why any time you put two coaches in a room or on a field, they view each other as adversaries. Even joint practices — an opportunity for a brotherly rivalry — is still an open competition by nature. That’s what makes the owners meeting unique. It’s the friendliest NFL event of the year. Everyone is working — and often working together — but there’s time to play 18 holes, sit at the bar and chat and think aloud by the pool. So here are a few unfiltered moments that I found fun from my time at the Biltmore Hotel. 4. PEELING BACK THE CURTAIN Here’s why DJ Moore was so important to the Bills and Joe Brady. As new Bills coach Joe Brady worked to build a new identity for his team — a unique challenge, given how many of Sean McDermott’s staffers Brady will retain — the young coach looked to his past to find touchstone points for Buffalo’s culture. Brady, for example, told me his "biggest hire" was Pete Carmichael, the Bills' new offensive coordinator. Carmichael and Brady worked together under Sean Payton for two years in New Orleans. And the team’s biggest offseason move? That was Buffalo's trade for receiver DJ Moore, whom Brady worked with during their days with the Carolina Panthers. Interestingly enough, Brady once called that era of his career "my downfall." But he decided to draw from that time, because of what he and Moore went through together. "I wouldn't be talking to you right now if I didn't go through the Carolina days. I learned a lot from that," Brady told me. "DJ was a guy, through the ups and downs in the Carolina days, who was consistent — his work ethic, his approach, his ability to go out there and make plays, being able to move him around. "He has a skill set that I thought would be a great addition to us both in the locker room and on the field and, man, I'm excited to work with him again." That enthusiasm, in part, led Bills GM Brandon Beane to trade a second-round pick to Chicago for Moore and a fifth-rounder. Now, Moore is the WR1 that the Bills have so badly needed since Stefon Diggs’ departure. The goal isn’t just to build culture. It’s also to make star QB Josh Allen happy. 5. WHAT’S NEXT? Mike Vrabel’s comments about TreVeyon Henderson on Jaden Ivey were a good start, but I hope they’re just that — the start. New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson tweeted a Bible verse that aligned himself with NBA player Jaden Ivey, whom the Chicago Bulls waived last week following anti-LGBTQ comments. Ivey said that Pride Month is a celebration of "unrighteousness." When news of Ivey's release broke, Henderson responded on X with a Bible verse, Matthew 5:10. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven," Henderson wrote. The day after Henderson's post, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel fielded a question about it at the league meeting. "I think there is a fine line," Vrabel said. "I want to tell you — I love TreVeyon. I love the person. He cares deeply about our team. He cares deeply about his faith. He cares deeply about his family, his wife, the people in our building. And so I want them to be able to express what they believe in their heart and in their mind, but also want to make sure that they’re educated. And we want to be inclusive. Everything we want to do [is] to provide an environment for people to want to feel comfortable, but also to share their personal beliefs. And then also, we represent the team. And we represent the organization." It’s a nice place to start. I understand where Vrabel was coming from: Empathy and understanding might be the remedy to this situation. That’s Vrabel’s philosophy on how he coaches his players — by showing them love while also telling them the harsh truth. 6. OFFSEASON ODDITY The Lions are considering moving Penei Sewell from right tackle to left, according to coach Dan Campbell. You don’t often hear about an NFL team switching the position of its best player. That’s what Campbell is interested in doing with Sewell, whom the Lions might move from right tackle to left. "If you're asking me, I'd like to move him," Campbell said at the owners meeting. "We are ready to do that, if need be. I don't want to say right now I'm going to commit to that, but we are ready to do that." It reminds me of when the Chiefs moved Trent McDuffie — another one of the league’s elite players — from the slot cornerback spot to the perimeter in 2024. The moves are comparable, with different techniques and duties — and a heightened sense of competition. It went well for McDuffie. It should go just fine for Sewell, who played left tackle at Oregon before the Lions drafted him in 2021 and moved him to the right side. "All he wants is a couple of days to work his left-handed stance a little bit," Campbell said of Sewell. "It's a little bit like riding a bike for him. He'll be fine. He'll bank some reps and be able to do it. He gives us that flexibility." There are inherent risks, of course. Sewell could hit unforeseen adversity in the transition, simply because the two positions are more different than people realize. Every offensive lineman will tell you that. And then the position change for Sewell would open up the right tackle spot for an open competition — likely involving a rookie. The Lions pick at No. 17 in the first round, and while it appears to be a tough draft to find a left tackle, there should be a handful of right tackles who go in Round 1. We’ve seen teams have success with this type of move in the past. Buccaneers tackle Tristan Wirfs and Bengals tackle Orlando Brown made the move across the line to the blindside without a hitch. There’s basically no reason why Sewell won’t be dominant on the left. But the stakes will be extremely high — and there will be no margin for error. And if the Lions have a rookie at right tackle and Sewell at left, how long will it take for everyone to get acclimated? Given Detroit’s inconsistencies on offense last year (and their decision to make changes at offensive coordinator), the move would be one of the most scrutinized personnel decisions of the offseason. The Lions can’t waste any time in arguably the NFL’s best division, the NFC North.]]>
			    </content:encoded>
							</item>
					<item>
				<title>
					<![CDATA[Inside The Garage: YouTube Star Cleetus McFarland Hits Rockingham]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nascar/cleetus-mcfarland-youtube-nascar-rockingham</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nascar/cleetus-mcfarland-youtube-nascar-rockingham</guid>
				<category>nascar</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[YouTube star Cleetus McFarland got his first taste of a NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race. Here's how it went.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:53:48 -0400</pubDate>
								<media:content url="https://statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/04/artboard-1-12.jpg" expression="full" type="image/jpg" width="1167" height="656">
										<media:thumbnail url="https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/04/128/72/artboard-1-12.jpg" width="128" height="72"/>
														</media:content>
												<content:encoded>
				    <![CDATA[Rockingham Speedway (Rockingham, N.C.) — Cleetus McFarland had finished his O’Reilly Series debut and had something to say. "All this internet talk got me thinking, maybe I shouldn't come back," McFarland told me and other reporters as he stood outside his car with a big smile. "Psyche. See you guys in two weeks. Talladega." There was a reason for the YouTube content creator to smile. He had done what was asked of him, as he completed 244 of the 250 laps. But most importantly, he didn’t ruin anyone’s day Saturday at Rockingham. He did have four spins — a couple of true spins and a couple of others where he just got sideways. He also avoided a spinning car. The 31-year-old McFarland likely did what he needed to do to be approved for Talladega, although NASCAR could require him to go from the 0.94-mile Rockingham to the 1.5-mile oval at Kansas before doing the high-banked 2.66-mile O’Reilly race at Talladega. He does have experience at Talladega, though, in an ARCA car. It has been an eventful couple of months for McFarland, who bought a racetrack (DeSoto Speedway) six years ago in Florida to produce content for his YouTube channel. He does some drag races and also produces content with a fleet of Crown Vics that he owns. With now 4.67 million subscribers, he reaches an audience that NASCAR desperately wants. McFarland has caught the NASCAR bug and ran a few ARCA events last year. He was able to race a truck in February at Daytona, which lasted a handful of laps before he crashed on his own. Embarrassed and frustrated, he didn’t know where his NASCAR journey would take him. But Richard Childress Racing reached out, with Ty Dillon — a grandson of Childress who races Cup for Kaulig Racing — being the one who felt RCR could give McFarland the support he needs. So they worked up a plan to get him to race Talladega, and the first step was Rockingham, a shorter but fast track just short of a mile in length. McFarland was able to test there a few weeks ago because all rookies get one test. "When I got this opportunity from RCR, I knew I was going in over my head — just like all these people who are scrutinizing me think," McFarland told me and other reporters on a virtual news conference four days before the race. "But I'm not going to shy away from a great opportunity such as racing for Richard Childress Racing." [NASCAR POWER RANKINGS: Chase Elliott Makes Move After Big Win] McFarland finished 32nd in his debut, one spot better than where he started. And he admitted he was over his head. "Oh yeah," he said afterward. "I had a ton of confidence. Then I spun out. Then about 50 laps into the race, ... I got my confidence back and I'm feeling good. "And then that carried on for a while. When I spun out on my own and killed my tires, and then had to go back on my first set of tires, I went out, and I'm thinking to myself, ‘All right, I cannot do anything stupid again.’ ... I am way in over my head, but I knew we just had to get to the end, and that's what we did." For McFarland, it was all about learning. So being at the rear of the field after a spin or after he sped on pit road, it was all a learning experience. He just didn’t want to ruin anyone’s day, and he did not. "I did avoid one crash, and that's probably because my sleeves were cut off," he quipped in referring to his signature fashion style. McFarland’s profession is social media, so he had heard all that was said about how he shouldn’t have been approved to race in O’Reilly (formerly Xfinity) until he had more truck events. "Closer to Daytona, when I had the big screwup in the truck, I was feeling a little down on myself," McFarland said. "At this point, the record is so broken of people still talking about it, I don't care as much. "At the end of the day, all these guys can say whatever they want about me. But if Richard Childress called them and said, ‘Hey, you want to come drive our car?’ All of them would have taken that opportunity, too." The veterans in the series recognize that. "I don't envy that position at all,"  said Justin Allgaier, the 2024 O’Reilly Series champion who leads the 2026 standings. "I know that today had to be really tough on him, and especially with kind of some of the social media stuff that he's had going against him in the last few weeks. "So I was proud of him putting the effort in and trying to make sure that he was where he needed to be out to go and have a solid day." Would Allgaier draft with him at Talladega later this month? "I can't answer that, because I think there's a couple that we race with weekly that I don't know that I want to draft with at Talladega," Allgaier said. Allgaier noted that McFarland did a good job in the earlier race Saturday when he finished fourth in the ARCA East event. At that level (think of it like rookie-league baseball and O’Reilly as AAA), he can be competitive. And he’s learning how much work it takes to be competitive at the higher levels. NASCAR keeps its approval process somewhat subjective because drivers have a variety of experiences. Or in McFarland’s case, not much traditional racing experience. Some will view his presence as awesome because of the notoriety – few drivers get the cheers he does when they get out of the car. And some view his presence with disdain because he hasn’t followed the traditional path of learning in either the sprint-car or late model ranks. "If NASCAR is letting me do it, I'm in," McFarland said. "I'm here. And no one can save me but myself at this point. ... It's up to me. "They can complain as much as they'd like, but it's happening, and so they better buckle up." To Waive Or Not NASCAR has a decision to make this week on whether to grant Kaulig Racing driver Corey LaJoie a waiver to make him eligible for the playoffs. LaJoie replaced the suspended-then-reinstated-then-resigned Daniel Dye in the Kaulig No. 10 truck. LaJoie, who had attempted to make the Daytona 500, had been registered as a Cup driver. A driver can change his primary series once during a year, but then his points get reset to zero in both his previous and new series. With only 11 races left in the regular season, it would be hard for LaJoie to make it into the top-10 in points to make the Chase. He is 84 points out of 10th. It would take at least a few wins, and the Kaulig equipment with the new Ram entries likely isn’t up to that level. But it still will set a precedent on whether NASCAR will grant a waiver — the rules remain that a driver must attempt to start every race to be Chase eligible — in a situation where a team and driver part ways. NASCAR granted one to Matt Kenseth after Kyle Larson’s suspension in 2020, but Larson was still under suspension when Kenseth was named the driver. In this situation, Dye has been reinstated after completing the sensitivity training that was required after his comments mocking gay men on a livestream. One area where NASCAR won’t grant a waiver is clear. Corey Heim, the defending truck series champion, leads the standings despite missing two races. NASCAR will not grant a waiver for a driver who doesn’t have sponsorship or a ride. It doesn’t want to encourage teams or drivers to take weekends off to focus on certain events. While that is much less likely in this new points system, where a win no longer gets a driver an automatic bid into the postseason, it’s still a possibility. In The News — Casey Mears will try to get to 500 career Cup starts by attempting to qualify for five races with Beard Motorsports: Both Talladega races, Indianapolis, Daytona and Homestead. — Carson Ferguson, who finished second in the RAM "Race for the Seat" driver tryout show/competition, will be in the Kaulig No. 25 truck this weekend at Bristol. He also will still do Martinsville later this year as planned. Under The Radar Rajah Caruth picked up his best finish in the O’Reilly Series as he placed fourth at Rockingham this weekend. Stat Of Note This is the first season in which Richard Childress Racing does not have a top-10 finish in the first seven Cup races. They Said It "It means everything." — William Sawalich after his first career O’Reilly Series win. In Inside The Garage, Bob Pockrass takes us behind the scenes of the motorsports world the way only he can.]]>
			    </content:encoded>
							</item>
					<item>
				<title>
					<![CDATA[USA Striker Patrick Agyemang Stretchered Off, World Cup Chances Take Hit]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/other/us-striker-patrick-agyemangs-world-cup-hopes-clouded-after-stretcher-exit-for-derby-fifa-soccer-futbol</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/other/us-striker-patrick-agyemangs-world-cup-hopes-clouded-after-stretcher-exit-for-derby-fifa-soccer-futbol</guid>
				<category>other</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[USA's Patrick Agyemang’s World Cup hopes are in doubt after he was helped off the field during a game for Derby County.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:26:59 -0400</pubDate>
								<media:content url="https://statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/04/agyemang1.jpg" expression="full" type="image/jpg" width="1167" height="656">
										<media:thumbnail url="https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/04/128/72/agyemang1.jpg" width="128" height="72"/>
														</media:content>
												<content:encoded>
				    <![CDATA[United States men's national team striker Patrick Agyemang’s World Cup hopes are in doubt after he was carried off on a stretcher while playing for Derby in the second-tier English Championship on Monday. Agyemang landed awkwardly while bringing the ball down on his chest and collapsed to the grass. He was visibly emotional as he was taken off, his right leg strapped. "He's gone for a scan so we'll just have to wait and see," Derby manager John Eustace said. "It's not good when a player comes off on a stretcher." In his absence, Derby beat Stoke City 2-0. Agyemang has helped Derby rise into contention for promotion from the Championship thanks to a team-leading 10 goals since arriving last summer from Charlotte in Major League Soccer. During the recent international break, he came off the bench for the United States and scored in a loss against Belgium and got minutes against Portugal. Reporting by The Associated Press.]]>
			    </content:encoded>
							</item>
					<item>
				<title>
					<![CDATA[4 Takeaways from Week 2 of the 2026 UFL Season]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/ufl/4-takeaways-from-week-2-2026-ufl-season</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/ufl/4-takeaways-from-week-2-2026-ufl-season</guid>
				<category>ufl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[FOX Sports' Eric Williams breaks down his biggest takeaways from Week 2 of the 2026 UFL season.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:41:59 -0400</pubDate>
								<media:content url="https://statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/04/ufl_16x9_720.jpg" expression="full" type="image/jpg" width="1167" height="656">
										<media:thumbnail url="https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/04/128/72/ufl_16x9_720.jpg" width="128" height="72"/>
														</media:content>
												<content:encoded>
				    <![CDATA[Now that’s more like it! DC Defenders head coach Shannon Harris sought some redemption in Week 2 after mustering just 10 points in a season-opening road loss, and the defending UFL champions received it in the form of an easy 44-26 victory over the Columbus Aviators at Historic Crew Stadium in Ohio on Friday. The Defenders leaned on the ground game, totaling 229 rushing yards. Standout running back Deon Jackson led the effort with 97 rushing yards on 11 carries and three touchdowns. Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu was efficient through the air, going 8-for-11 for 99 yards, a touchdown pass and an interception. The Defenders (1-1) scored on eight of their 11 possessions and forced four Aviators (0-2) turnovers. "We had to reestablish our D.C. brand of football," Harris told reporters after the game. "We did a good job up front blocking. We challenged our O-line up front in running the football, and those guys did a good job in rising up to the challenge." Elsewhere, the Orlando Storm improved to 2-0 with a 19-9 home victory over the winless Louisville Kings (0-2). The Houston Gamblers (1-1) earned their first victory of the season on a last-second, 50-yard field goal to seal a comeback win and defeat the Birmingham Stallions (1-1) by two, 22-20. There's one game remaining in Week 2, as the Dallas Renegades (1-0) host the St. Louis Battlehawks (1-1) on Tuesday night (8 p.m. ET on FS1). [2026 UFL Results: Gamblers, Storm, Defenders Victorious In Week 2] Here are my takeaways from Week 2 of the UFL: 1. Gamblers earn first victory, run over Stallions Houston, who finished with just 42 rushing yards in Week 1, rumbled for 174 yards on the ground this weekend. Still, they struggled to get into the end zone, going 1-for-6 in the red zone. However, trailing 19-14 with 7:25 left in the game, the Gamblers got a break. On a 24-yard field goal attempt by John Hoyland, Birmingham was called for an illegal formation for having too many men on one side of the line on a replay review, giving Houston a first down. The Gamblers scored their only touchdown two plays later on a 2-yard run by Jalen White, who finished with a game-high 82 yards. The Stallions answered with a score of their own, retaking the lead on an Anthony McFarland Jr. 1-yard run. Benched a week earlier, Houston quarterback Nolan Henderson marched his offense into field-goal position with 1:56 left, and Hoyland drilled the game-winning field goal from 50 yards out — one of his five field goals on the day. Henderson went 15-for-23 for 186 yards in relief of Hunter Dekkers, who had to leave the game because of a shoulder injury. Houston finished with 407 total yards of offense and held the Stallions to zero sacks. Birmingham quarterback Matt Corral went 21-for-27 for 226 yards and two scores, but he also had two costly interceptions. 2. Defenders get their groove back One of the most aggressive, blitz-heavy defenses in the league last season, the Defenders got back to their identity in a road win against the Aviators. DC held Columbus to 4.2 yards per play, forced four turnovers and recorded four sacks. Defensive back Sam Kidd led the Defenders with seven combined tackles, an interception and two pass breakups. The Defenders finished with 16 takeaways last season, tied for the third-most in the UFL. DC’s ability to dominate the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball helped propel them to a league title last season. The Defenders are tied for the league lead with seven sacks. Jackson leads the league in rushing yards (154) and rushing touchdowns (four). 3. QB Jack Plummer leads Storm to 2-0 start Head coach Anthony Becht is in a different location, but the results have been the same for the former New York Jets tight end. Becht has led Orland to a 2-0 record to start the year, with his team taking care of the Kings by double digits in a Week 2 road victory. One of the main reasons for Orlando’s success has been the play of the team’s starting quarterback in Plummer. The Louisville product went 18-for-23 for 182 yards, including a 41-yard touchdown pass to KJ Hamler and a 39-yard score by Elijhah Badger. Plummer’s lone blemish was an interception by Kings cornerback Deantre Prince in the fourth quarter. For the season, Plummer is tops in the league in completion percentage (77.8), second in passing yards (422) and second in passer rating (118.7). 4. Can Dorian Thompson-Robinson get some run? Speaking of Orlando quarterbacks, it’s surprising that a former starting back in the pros in Thompson-Robinson can’t find his way onto the field in the eight-team UFL. I understand that Plumber apparently beat out the UCLA product as the starter in Orlando, and the 26-year-old Thompson-Robinson must wait his turn. However, if he’s not going to see the field regularly, the Storm should trade him to another team for the good of the league. The UFL is starved for competent quarterback play, so it makes little sense for someone like Thompson-Robinson — who was selected in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns and appeared in 15 games for the franchise — to hold a clipboard in a developmental league struggling to put points on the board. Thompson-Robinson went 2-for-3 for 19 yards in relief of Plummer, who had to leave the game briefly after getting the wind knocked out of him. 4 ½: What’s Next One game will be played on Friday (Storm at Kings), one on Saturday (Gamblers at Defenders) and two on Sunday (Aviators at Renegades and Stallions at Battlehawks).]]>
			    </content:encoded>
							</item>
					<item>
				<title>
					<![CDATA[Top Questions as Dodgers, Blue Jays Face Off in First Meeting Since World Series]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/dodgers-blue-jays-shohei-ohtani-vladmir-guerrero</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/dodgers-blue-jays-shohei-ohtani-vladmir-guerrero</guid>
				<category>mlb</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[An early-season rematch of the World Series. Breaking down the Dodgers and the Blue Jays ahead of their three-game tilt.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 11:59:41 -0400</pubDate>
								<media:content url="https://statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/04/main.jpg" expression="full" type="image/jpg" width="1167" height="656">
										<media:thumbnail url="https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/04/128/72/main.jpg" width="128" height="72"/>
														</media:content>
												<content:encoded>
				    <![CDATA[Shohei Ohtani, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and the rest of the crew that gave us that epic 2025 World Series are back on the same diamond since that amazing Fall Classic. It's an early-season reunion between the two-time World Series champion Dodgers and the stout Blue Jays squad they took down in seven games, starting with Monday's matchup. Breaking down the teams and how they've looked so far ahead of their three-game series. 1. Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer is expected to take the mound for the Blue Jays on Monday, while the Dodgers have Shohei Ohtani set for Wednesday. How realistic will it be for Ohtani to win that award? Kavner: Ask Dave Roberts or any of Ohtani’s teammates, and it’s clear that winning a Cy Young is on the two-way player’s mind. "You can tell with the way he carries himself," Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing said this spring. "He’s the greatest, and he wants to be the greatest." Now that Ohtani’s a back-to-back champ, he has pretty much done everything else imaginable on a baseball field. The only year he didn’t win an MVP trophy the last five seasons is the season he finished fourth in American League Cy Young Award voting in 2022. He hit 34 home runs that year and had a 2.33 ERA in 166 innings. He would probably need to throw at least that many innings again if he wants a realistic shot at winning his first Cy Young in 2026, and he would need to be considerably better in the innings he pitches than the other contenders, who are almost certain to throw more innings than him. Ohtani is expected to go wire-to-wire on the mound this year after being slow-played in 2025, but the Dodgers will still be mindful of keeping him as fresh as possible by extending his rest between starts at times as the season moves forward. Over the last 30 years, only one starting pitcher — Corbin Burnes in 2021 — has thrown fewer than 170 innings and won a Cy Young. Perhaps Ohtani could make it a second. It has to be considered a longshot, given his two-way duties and the Dodgers’ desire to be as healthy as possible in October, but he tends to amaze and redefine the limits of what’s possible when he puts his mind to something. 2. Despite the pitching injuries the Blue Jays have, do these two teams have the best set of arms in baseball? Thosar: The Dodgers are in that conversation, but the Blue Jays’ pitching staff isn’t at the top of the heap, even though their arms are still very good. Toronto’s Dylan Cease has ace-level stuff while being frustratingly inconsistent. To demonstrate that point, Cease’s Blue Jays debut couldn’t have gone much better after the right-hander struck out 12 and held the Athletics to one run in 5 ⅓ innings. But he was less dominant in his second start as he struggled with control issues and gave up three runs over 4 ⅓ innings against the White Sox. Kevin Gausman has pitched like an ace so far this year, piling up 21 strikeouts in two starts, and he was impressive in the postseason last year, but he’s 35 now and projected to decline over the course of the season. Injured starters Trey Yesavage, Cody Ponce, Shane Bieber and Jose Berrios make up for an assortment of talented arms, but even if they were all healthy, the Blue Jays are still on the periphery of being considered a top-5 rotation in baseball. But the Dodgers? They have legitimate Cy Young award contenders in Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Ohtani leading the starting five. Roki Sasaki has Yamamoto’s durability last year (30 regular-season starts, followed by six postseason outings) was nothing short of incredible. Even though he’s an anomaly in the rotation, with Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell being elite-tier arms but injury-prone starters, the Dodgers are able to slow-play pitcher recoveries and overcome lengthy absences thanks to their excellent depth. Pitchers like Emmett Sheehan, River Ryan, Gavin Stone, and Justin Wrobleski are considered depth on the Dodgers. Anywhere else, those arms would be rotation regulars. Los Angeles’ star power, consistency, and ridiculously large quantity of high-quality arms put it at the top of any rankings. 3. Let's talk hitters: Who has started hot? Who needs to shake off the offseason rust? Kavner: On a team that features three former MVPs, it’s a player who went 4-for-51 last postseason who’s carrying the Dodgers’ offense. Andy Pages can be prone to volatility at the plate, but the Dodgers are riding the roller-coaster up right now. The 25-year-old outfielder entered Sunday leading all of MLB in hits (15), with nearly twice as many as the next closest hitter on the Dodgers. Pages started the season 15-for-30, also leading the team in home runs (3) and RBI (10). The Dodgers needed to find that production from somewhere, with their stars struggling through the first week of the season. Entering this weekend’s series in Washington, the batting averages of the top three hitters in the Dodgers’ lineup — Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Tucker and Mookie Betts — were all in the .100 range. The Nos. 4 and 5 hitters, Freddie Freeman (.208) and Will Smith (.200), weren’t much better. This weekend was a reminder that it’s still not worth overreacting to any numbers we see, good or bad. Each of the top four hitters in the Dodgers’ lineup homered on Friday, and Ohtani, Tucker, Freeman and Smith each had multiple hits Saturday. Already, the best hitters in the lineup are getting their averages up to more respectable numbers. The only worry now is the health of Betts, who was placed on the injured list with an oblique strain. The Blue Jays have had their own surprises, as the typically light-hitting Andres Gimenez, who was coming off his worst-hitting season as a big-leaguer, has been the best hitter on the team. He has knocked in more runs than anyone on the team, and after hitting just seven home runs all of last year, he already has two. That total is tied with Kazuma Okamato, who has struck out in nearly half of his at-bats as a big-leaguer but has otherwise performed well, and George Springer for the most on the team. Springer, however, has been unable to reproduce last year’s resurgent year to this point, and Addison Barger has started 1-for-16 at the plate following last year’s breakout. 4. Way-too-early take: Are these two teams the teams to beat in their respective leagues? Thosar: The Blue Jays aren’t the team to beat in the American League right now — that characterization belongs to the 8-1 Yankees after their red-hot start to the season — but Toronto is definitely in the mix to be a playoff threat. The Jays have a strong, balanced roster that’s hungry to finish what they started during last year’s captivating run to the World Series. As previously mentioned, their pitching is good but not dominant, and several injuries in the rotation are already cause for concern. The success of the offense, led by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Springer, is dependent on big steps forward from potential breakout hitters like Barger and Okamoto. Still, the Jays should be right behind New York and neck and neck with the Mariners to finish as a top-two team in the A.L. The Dodgers are the favorites to win the World Series and three-peat, making them the unequivocal team to beat in the National League. They addressed their two major weaknesses (the outfield and bullpen) in dramatic fashion this past offseason. They signed the consensus top free agent in outfielder Tucker and shocked everyone by acquiring the game’s top closer in Diaz. Los Angeles’ roster depth is unrivaled. The Dodgers’ phenomenal farm system will help them address any potential holes at the trade deadline. Finally, their postseason grit and back-to-back championship pedigree means they’ve proven they can get it done in October, and there’s no reason to doubt them now.]]>
			    </content:encoded>
							</item>
					<item>
				<title>
					<![CDATA[In a Surprising Move, UNC Will Reportedly Hire Michael Malone as Next Head Coach]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/unc-will-reportedly-hire-michael-malone-next-head-coach</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/unc-will-reportedly-hire-michael-malone-next-head-coach</guid>
				<category>college-basketball</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[UNC is turning to the NBA to find its successor to Hubert Davis.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:08:32 -0400</pubDate>
								<media:content url="https://statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/04/michael-malone.jpg" expression="full" type="image/jpg" width="1167" height="656">
										<media:thumbnail url="https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/04/128/72/michael-malone.jpg" width="128" height="72"/>
														</media:content>
												<content:encoded>
				    <![CDATA[North Carolina is hiring a coach with an NBA background to be its next men's basketball head coach. However, it isn't the NBA coach that many had speculated could become the next head man of the Tar Heels. Former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone is expected to be hired as UNC's next head coach, ESPN reported Monday. Malone, who helped coach the Nuggets to an NBA title in 2023, has never been a head coach at the college level, and hasn't coached in the college game since 2001. Malone's reported hire is a bit of a surprise. He wasn't even speculated by most insiders as a potential candidate for the job, and there hadn't been any credible reports indicating that UNC was interested in hiring him. Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan had been rumored as the top candidate for the job after Michigan's Dusty May and Arizona's Tommy Lloyd reportedly withdrew their names from consideration. Malone does have a connection to UNC's athletic department, though. His daughter, Bridget, plays for the university's women's volleyball team. The reported hiring of Malone came nearly two weeks after UNC opted to fire head coach Hubert Davis after five seasons. Davis, who also played college basketball at UNC, went 125-54 over his tenure with the program, helping the Tar Heels play in the national championship game in his first season at the helm. But UNC opted to fire Davis after it blew a large lead to VCU in its upset loss in the first round of this year's NCAA Tournament. It marked the second straight year that UNC failed to advance past the first round. Malone, 54, was widely regarded as one of the top head coaches in the NBA over his 10-year stint with the Nuggets. He's gone 510-394 in his NBA head coaching career, helping Denver become a playoff mainstay by the end of his tenure before he was abruptly fired just days before the start of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Malone was also previously the head coach of the Sacramento Kings, but was fired not long into his second season with the team in 2014. Prior to becoming an NBA assistant head coach in 2001, Malone was an assistant coach at Oakland, Providence and Manhattan.]]>
			    </content:encoded>
							</item>
					<item>
				<title>
					<![CDATA[Giants Star DT Dexter Lawrence Reportedly Asks for Trade Amid Team's Busy Offseason]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/giants-star-dt-dexter-lawrence-reportedly-asks-trade-amid-teams-busy-offseason</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/giants-star-dt-dexter-lawrence-reportedly-asks-trade-amid-teams-busy-offseason</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[One of the league's top defensive tackles since the turn of the decade has requested a trade.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 15:15:16 -0400</pubDate>
								<media:content url="https://statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/04/dexter-lawrence.jpg" expression="full" type="image/jpg" width="1167" height="656">
										<media:thumbnail url="https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/04/128/72/dexter-lawrence.jpg" width="128" height="72"/>
														</media:content>
												<content:encoded>
				    <![CDATA[Monday morning brought another major development in the New York Giants’ offseason overhaul. All-Pro nose tackle Dexter Lawrence has officially requested a trade, per ESPN, adding to the potential changes following John Harbaugh’s hiring. Lawrence will reportedly participate in the organization’s offseason workout program beginning Tuesday. Contract talks between Lawrence and the organization have stalled over the past two offseasons regarding a long-term deal. Many teams would presumably be interested in making a trade for Lawrence. The 28-year-old is a two-time All-Pro and made the Pro Bowl in three straight seasons from 2022-24. However, Lawrence is coming off one of the least productive seasons in his seven-year career. He finished with half a sack, 31 total tackles, and an interception. That marks a significant drop from his 2024 season, when he recorded a career-high nine sacks. Still, Lawrence has been a strong presence in New York's defensive interior as a pass rusher in the not-so-distant past. During his run of three straight Pro Bowls, Lawrence recorded 21 sacks and had two seasons in which he ranked in the top five among defensive tackles in pass rush win rate. But he hasn't recorded a full sack in his last 22 games with the organization, which is coming off back-to-back four-win seasons. The drop in production has come alongside stalled contract talks, leaving questions about Lawrence’s long-term future with the organization. Lawrence is under contract through the end of the 2027 season, as he has two seasons remaining on a four-year, $87.5 million deal. That contract currently makes Lawrence the 11th-highest-paid defensive tackle on an annual basis at $22.5 million. While the Giants were one of the more active teams in free agency, they didn't make any notable moves along the defensive line this offseason. Of course, they also have the likes of Abdul Carter, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux at edge rusher.]]>
			    </content:encoded>
							</item>
					<item>
				<title>
					<![CDATA[Mets Will Retire Carlos Beltran's No. 15 Jersey, and He Will Enter Team Hall of Fame]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/mets-retire-carlos-beltran-number</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/mets-retire-carlos-beltran-number</guid>
				<category>mlb</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The New York Mets will retire Carlos Beltrán’s No. 15 and he will enter the team’s hall of fame before their home game against the Philadelphia Phillies on September 19.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 16:38:36 -0400</pubDate>
								<media:content url="https://statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/04/carlos_beltran_horizontal.jpg" expression="full" type="image/jpg" width="1167" height="656">
										<media:thumbnail url="https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/04/128/72/carlos_beltran_horizontal.jpg" width="128" height="72"/>
														</media:content>
												<content:encoded>
				    <![CDATA[The New York Mets will retire Carlos Beltran's No. 15, and he will enter the team's hall of fame before their home game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sept. 19. Beltrán will become the ninth player in franchise history to have his number retired. Previously, Tom Seaver (41), Mike Piazza (31), Jerry Koosman (36), Keith Hernandez (17), Willie Mays (24), Dwight Gooden (16), Darryl Strawberry (18) and David Wright (5) had their numbers retired. The Mets also have retired the numbers of former managers Gil Hodges (14) and Casey Stengel (37) and all major league teams have retired No. 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson. Mets outfielder Tyrone Taylor, who currently wears No. 15, will change his number to 28. Beltrán was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame earlier this year. He announced he would wear a Mets cap on his plaque. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be on July 26. Beltrán was hired as the New York Mets’ manager on Nov. 1, 2019, then fired on Jan. 16, 2020, without having managed a game. New York announced its decision three days after he was the only Astros player mentioned by name in a report by Major League Baseball regarding the team’s illicit use of electronics to steal signs during Houston’s run to the 2017 World Series championship — his final season. He was hired by the Mets as a special assistant to the general manager in February 2023. He continues to work as a special assistant to president of baseball operations David Stearns. Mets owners Steve and Alex Cohen released a statement on Monday praising Beltrán as "one of the greatest offensive players in team history, combining power and speed with elite defense." Beltrán said having his number retired and entering the team's hall of fame is "the highest possible tribute, and I truly feel blessed. The Mets hold a special place in my heart. This summer will be incredibly meaningful, from my induction into the baseball Hall of Fame to this Mets hall of fame honor, with the cherry on top being my number retirement. I’m deeply grateful." Reporting by The Associated Press.]]>
			    </content:encoded>
							</item>
					<item>
				<title>
					<![CDATA[National Championship Game: Latest on Michgan's Yaxel Lendeborg, UConn's Solo Ball]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/national-championship-game-latest-michgans-yaxel-lendeborg-uconns-solo-ball</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/national-championship-game-latest-michgans-yaxel-lendeborg-uconns-solo-ball</guid>
				<category>college-basketball</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Here's the latest on the statuses of Yaxel Lendeborg and Solo Ball ahead of Monday's national championship game.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 15:06:37 -0400</pubDate>
								<media:content url="https://statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/04/lendeborg-ball.jpg" expression="full" type="image/jpg" width="1167" height="656">
										<media:thumbnail url="https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/04/128/72/lendeborg-ball.jpg" width="128" height="72"/>
														</media:content>
												<content:encoded>
				    <![CDATA[UConn and Michigan are dealing with some injury concerns to key players ahead of Monday night's national championship game, but Wolverines star Yaxel Lendeborg seems more likely to play than Huskies guard Solo Ball. Ball missed Sunday's practice because of a sprained foot. He said he expects to play, but UConn head coach Dan Hurley said Ball's status is uncertain as his foot remains in a walking boot. "Just doing everything I can to prepare for tomorrow," said Ball, who hurt his left foot when he got tangled with teammate Tarris Reed Jr. in the first half of UConn's semifinal win over Illinois. "So, it's a bump in the road, but I'm still going to play." Lendeborg, meanwhile, hurt his left ankle and wore a protective brace covering his left knee in the second half of Saturday's 91-73 rout of Arizona. But the All-American has quickly stated that he'll play in Monday's game. "Absolutely not," Lendeborg said when asked whether he would miss Monday night's game. "Unless I wake up and I get up and fall off my feet, I’m going to be in that game." Ball was wearing a boot on his left foot less than 24 hours after playing 28 minutes and scoring 13 points in the 71-62 victory over the Illini. The Huskies advanced to their third national championship game in four years. Ball said adrenaline helped him get through the rest of the game and "I'm doing everything I can to prepare" for the game against the Wolverines on Monday night. Ball started all 38 games he's played, averaging 12.9 points. Coach Dan Hurley was noncommittal to whether his junior guard would play Monday night, saying he would know more about Ball's status after an MRI. As for Lendeborg, he played five minutes in the first half before reinjuring his left ankle. Team officials later announced he had hurt his knee as well. But Lendeborg returned in the second half and made two key 3-pointers to propel the Wolverines to their first title game since 2018. Michigan head coach Dusty May said that he's "sure" Lendeborg will give it a go and play against UConn on Monday. "He played the second half like a 38-year-old at the YMCA," May told reporters of Lendeborg. "And a really good 38-year-old at the YMCA." The Wolverines have lost four consecutive championship games since beating Seton Hall in overtime in 1989 for the school's only national title. The Associated Press contributed to this report.]]>
			    </content:encoded>
							</item>
					<item>
				<title>
					<![CDATA[World Cup Title Favorites, Sleepers, Debut Teams? All 48 Teams By Tiers]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/world-cup-tiers-48-teams-favorites-sleeper-picks-usmnt-mexico-canada-argentina-england</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/world-cup-tiers-48-teams-favorites-sleeper-picks-usmnt-mexico-canada-argentina-england</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Let's dive into the World Cup field by placing all the teams into distinct tiers and who to keep an eye on.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 21:50:09 -0400</pubDate>
								<media:content url="https://statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/04/artboard-1t.jpg" expression="full" type="image/jpg" width="1167" height="656">
										<media:thumbnail url="https://a57.foxsports.com/statics.foxsports.com/www.foxsports.com/content/uploads/2026/04/128/72/artboard-1t.jpg" width="128" height="72"/>
														</media:content>
												<content:encoded>
				    <![CDATA[Ready for the biggest edition of soccer's marquee event? With 48 teams spread across three countries, this summer's 2026 FIFA World Cup is going to be epic. [2026 FIFA WORLD CUP: Full Game-by-Game Schedule] The field is set, and all 12 four-team groups are locked in. But which teams will be the serious tournament contenders? Who'll punch above their weight? The first-timers? And what about co-hosts USA, Mexico and Canada? We're diving into the World Cup field by placing all the teams into distinct tiers and breaking down why you should keep an eye on them. JUMP TO: Co-Hosts | Sleeper Picks | Capable of Deep Run | Get Into Knockouts | Could Make It Interesting | Early Exit? | Debut Teams! ARGENTINA World Cup Odds: +850World Cup Group Stage Opponents: The defending World Cup champs want to become the first country to win consecutive titles since Brazil did it in 1958 and 1962. Can La Albiceleste do it? Well, they have the same manager in Lionel Scaloni, and you can never count out a team that’s led by legendary forward Lionel Messi (who will turn 39 during the tournament). This is a deep, experienced group brimming with talent that knows how to win major tournaments (and also won back-to-back Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024). BRAZIL World Cup Odds: +850World Cup Group Stage Opponents: The last two times Brazil went to a World Cup held in North America, it left with the trophy in hand. Yet the most successful country in World Cup history has now gone almost a quarter-century without adding a sixth star to its iconic yellow jerseys; the Seleção last sat at the summit of the planet’s most popular sport way back in 2022. This current 24-year drought matches the longest Brazil has ever gone without hoisting a World Cup. In other words, it's due. Brazil always has enough talent to win it all. Now it also has legendary Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti at the helm; the former Real Madrid boss is expected to provide a structure for 25-year-old forward Vinícius Jr. &amp; Co. that helps their gifts shine bright on the biggest stage. If that happens, Brazil will be a tough out for any opponent this summer. ENGLAND World Cup Odds: +600World Cup Group Stage Opponents: England is still looking for its first World Cup title since 1966. It seems to have the right kind of talent, depth and experience to make a run this summer. And now the Three Lions also have a Champions League-winning manager in Thomas Tuchel to guide them. The stars will be out with players like captain striker Harry Kane, the attacking Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and his versatility, and the well-rounded Cole Palmer on the pitch, all of whom are tired of always coming up short in major tournaments. England was drawn into a tricky Group L with Croatia, Ghana and Panama, so we’ll get an early look at what this squad is made of. FRANCE World Cup Odds: +600World Cup Group Stage Opponents: Les Bleus won the World Cup in 2018 and lost the 2022 final – on penalties – to Lionel Messi and Argentina. What can France do for an encore this summer? With Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé and fellow star forward Kylian Mbappé (who was a breakout star in the 2018 title run) leading manager Didier Deschamps’ attack, no wonder France is among the bookies’ favorites to win the tournament outright this summer, alongside European rivals England and Spain. PORTUGAL World Cup Odds: +1100World Cup Group Stage Opponents: Portugal has never won a World Cup, much less reached a World Cup final. Could this be the year? There was so much drama around the team four years ago when former manager Fernando Santos benched superstar Cristiano Ronaldo in Qatar. Now the team is coached by Spaniard Roberto Martinez, who led it to the 2024 Euro quarterfinal and 2025 Nations League championship, where his side defeated Spain in a penalty shootout. His relationship with the 41-year-old Ronaldo could dictate how things go for Portugal this summer. SPAIN World Cup Odds: +450World Cup Group Stage Opponents: The reigning European champions are striving to win their first World Cup since 2010 and just second overall in the nation’s history. Four years ago, La Roja were knocked out in the round of 16 by Cinderella squad Morocco. This time they’ll be a tougher out with all the young attacking talent that litters this roster from wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams to Pedri (midfielder) and more. This is a group that will keep getting better as these players get older, but they want to win now.  CANADA World Cup Odds: +20000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: Four years ago, the Reds snapped a three decade-plus World Cup drought by topping Concacaf’s qualifying tournament and returning to the Greatest Show on Earth for the first time since 1986. And Canada played well in Qatar despite losing all three of its games, including defeats against eventual 2022 semifinalists Croatia and Morocco. Now, it's hosting World Cup games on the men’s side for the first time, and the pressure to perform is different. Led by American coach Jesse Marsch, Canada will be looking not just to win a World Cup game for the first time but to advance to the knockout stage. And it has the players to do it, too, with captain Alphonso Davies and Juventus striker Jonathan David leading the way. MEXICO World Cup Odds: +7000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: Four years ago, Mexico failed to make it out of its group. To have the same result this time around on home soil would be disastrous, especially given their favorable draw. The reigning Concacaf Nations League and Gold Cup champions have had a recent rash of injuries that has allowed even keeper Guillermo Ochoa to return to the squad for recent friendlies – but could he make an unprecedented sixth World Cup? Plenty of buzz around young midfielders Gilerto Mora and Obed Vargas, but this squad will rely on veterans such as star striker Raul Jimenez and captain Edson Alvarez (who is also battling an injury). USA World Cup Odds: +6500World Cup Group Stage Opponents: Playing at a World Cup on home soil for the first time since 1994, the United States is hoping for a deep run this summer under highly regarded Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino. The Americans’ best World Cup showing since the inaugural 1930 event – where the U.S. finished fourth – was a quarterfinal trip in 2002. With the 2026 edition expanded to 48 nations, just equaling that feat would require winning an extra knockout stage match. That’s no easy feat. Still, this U.S. squad is widely considered the most talented ever, with legitimate European club stars such as AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic and Juventus’ Weston McKennie. The core that gained invaluable experience at Qatar 2022 is just now hitting its prime. But losses in March to Belgium and Portugal have tempered expectations, and Pulisic has been caught in a scoring drought for both club and country. His last goal for AC Milan came on Dec. 28, 2025, while his last goal for the Stars and Stripes was in November 2024.  COLOMBIA World Cup Odds: +4000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: So what if Los Cafeteros didn’t even go to the last World Cup in Qatar? Four years later, Colombia could be one of the biggest sleepers to make some serious noise this summer. Behind Bayern Munich playmaker Luis Diaz, the Colombians finished South America’s World Cup qualifying tournament in third place, behind only Ecuador and defending world champions Argentina and ahead of five-time winner Brazil. Los Cafeteros should get solid support for their first two group games, which take place in Mexico. Meantime, the first round finale in Miami, where they’ll meet Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal, could feel like a home game given the huge ex-pat community in South Florida and Colombian fans’ willingness to travel in droves. ECUADOR World Cup Odds: +8000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: Despite beating host Qatar and tying the two-time runner-up Netherlands in its first two games in 2022, Ecuador failed to advance when it dropped its decisive group phase contest to Senegal. La Tri could be poised for a deep run this summer, though, having finished second in South America’s qualifying tournament ahead of Brazil and behind only defending World Cup champs Argentina. Moises Caicedo, who plays at Chelsea, is one of the world's best defensive midfielders. The game against Germany in the group finale is likely for who'll finish on top. MOROCCO World Cup Odds: +6000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: The Cinderella team of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Morocco was nearly everyone’s favorite story from four years ago, when it became the first African and Arab nation to reach a World Cup semifinal before losing to France. The Atlas Lions lost to Senegal in a chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final in January (only to be subsequently rewarded the title) and will be motivated to prove themselves this summer that the semifinals run in 2022 was no fluke. They have a new manager after Walid Regragui abruptly left the team but were able to promote Mohamed Ouahbi, who led Morocco’s U-20 team to a Youth World Cup title in 2025, as the successor. Morocco was drawn into Group C alongside Brazil, Haiti and Scotland, which will make for some early intrigue. PSG's superstar right-back Achraf Hakimi should once again shine in the summer. NORWAY World Cup Odds: +2800World Cup Stage Opponents: Norway’s World Cup return was a long time coming. It was also inevitable. Led by Premier League standouts Erling Haaland of Manchester City and captain Martin Ødegaard of Arsenal, it's headed back to the planet’s biggest sporting event for the first time since 1998. Haaland is only 25, and already has 55 goals in 48 games for his country. No player in international soccer history surpassed the half-century mark in fewer matches it took the 6-foot-5 striker. In what could be the toughest group at the tournament, Norway has the talent to make some noise.  BELGIUM World Cup Odds: +3500World Cup Group Stage Opponents: The Red Devils’ golden generation hasn’t quite lived up to the hype, having failed to advance from group play in 2022 following deep runs in both 2014 and 2018, when they finished third after narrowly losing their semifinal to eventual champ France. Now in their 30s, midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and striker Romelu Lukaku have one more chance on the biggest stage this summer, with a capable supporting cast led by electric Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku. CROATIA World Cup Odds: +9000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: It’s quite magical what Croatia, with a population fewer than four million people, has been able to do in the World Cup. In recent history, this nation was the runner-up at the 2018 World Cup and finished in third place at the 2022 World Cup. You can never count this side out of a major tournament, especially given the squad’s experience level and the fact that it's led by superstar Luka Modrić. Plus, it has arguably the most magnificent kits in all of football. GERMANY World Cup Odds: +1400World Cup Group Stage Opponents: The four-time World Cup champions are always capable of making a deep run, if not winning it all. But Die Mannschaft has plenty to prove this summer under coach Julian Nagelsmann; since hoisting the trophy in Brazil in 2014, Germany has not advanced out of group play. Florian Wirtz (midfielder) helped Bayer Leverkusen go undefeated en route to winning the German title two seasons ago before being named Bundesliga Player of the Year in 2025 and then making a big move to Liverpool. In March, the 22-year-old Wirtz scored his 10th goal in just 39 games for his country. NETHERLANDS World Cup Odds: +2000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: Probably the best soccer-loving nation never to have won a World Cup and the fans are hungry for a trophy. Just look at recent major tournaments like the men’s and women’s Euros and how the fans litter the streets in bright orange. The Dutch have plenty of individual talent to make some noise, from former Lyon star Memphis Depay (striker) to Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong to Liverpool duo Cody Gakpo (winger) and defender Virgil van Dijk. Four years ago, the Oranje took eventual champion Argentina to a thrilling penalty shootout in the 2022 World Cup quarterfinal. The game itself was dramatic, with 18 yellow cards and one yellow. How far can this group go in 2026? Manager Ronald Koeman has a physical squad, fast wingers and a ton of players with big-game experience. The Dutch will need to get off on the right foot as its first game is against a capable Japan squad. TÜRKIYE World Cup Odds: +6500World Cup Group Stage Opponents: The last time the Turks qualified for a World Cup, they went all the way to the semifinals in Korea/Japan in 2002 before losing to eventual champ Brazil by a single goal. With players littered across Europe’s top leagues (including Juventus' attacking midfielder Kenan Yıldız and Real Madrid's Arda Güler), they’re more than capable of making another deep run this summer and are now probably the favorites to win a group that includes Australia, Paraguay and the tournament co-hosts United States. URUGUAY World Cup Odds: +6500World Cup Group Stage Opponents: Who won the first World Cup in 1930? It’s a solid trivia question. And the answer, which often stumps people, is Uruguay. And not only did it win that inaugural tournament, but it hosted as well. This is a country with a rich footballing tradition, though it hasn’t been back to the top since winning a second time in 1950. It didn’t make it out of the group in 2022 – facing Portugal, South Korea and Ghana – and is anxious to make a push this summer. It will be tough, though, as it will face tournament favorite Spain and Saudi Arabia in the group. Luckily, it has players like Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo and Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde.  AUSTRIA World Cup Odds: +10000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: This will be Austria’s first World Cup appearance since 1998. It's a team that likes to attack and has a strong core of veterans on the team, like Real Madrid defender David Alaba and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Marcel Sabitzer. It's coached by Ralf Rangnick, who has had an extensive coaching career in Germany. Before taking over the Austrian national team, though, he was the interim manager of Manchester United from 2021-22. In the Euros two years ago, Austria shocked the Netherlands in the group stage to advance to the knockout round (where it ultimately lost to Türkiye). Does it have another upset brewing for this summer? EGYPT World Cup Odds: +30000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: Africa’s oldest and most successful national team went 28 years between World Cups before returning in 2018, only to miss out again four years later. Now they’re back again, and the goal is clear: Get out of group play for the first time in their long and decorated history. It may be the last time we see Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah on this big of a stage as well. SOUTH KOREA World Cup Odds: +35000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: South Korea has qualified for 11 straight World Cups, not missing one since 1986. Its best finish came in 2002 when, as tournament co-hosts, the Tigers of Asia reached the semifinals but lost to Germany, 1-0. Four years ago, the squad advanced to the round of 16 where it was ousted by Brazil. How far can South Korea go this summer? It's fair to expect to make it out of Group A, where it'll play co-host Mexico, South Africa and a European playoff team. Plus, it has a talented squad which features captain winger Son Heung-min, who stars for LAFC, as well as European-based stars like midfielder Lee Kang-in (PSG), defender Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) and winger Lee Jae-sung (Mainz 05). JAPAN World Cup Odds: +5000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: Japan has played in every World Cup since its debut in 1998, but it has never made it past the round of 16. Could this be the year? It was close four years ago, beating Germany and Spain in the Group of Death and taking Croatia to a penalty shootout in the round of 16. This is a team that historically plays quickly, likes to press and is dangerous in transition. The best part about the Samurai Blue, though, is probably their fans, who went viral and were admired around the world at the last World Cup for cleaning up stadiums after matches. SCOTLAND World Cup Odds: +20000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: Once a regular World Cup qualifier, the Tartan Army will soon be back on the big stage for the first time since 1998. The Scots didn’t even need a playoff to get there. In November, Scott McTominay (striker) &amp; Co. beat former European champs Denmark in Glasgow to win a group that also included Euro 2004 winners Greece. The 6-foot-3 McTominay, a former Manchester United alum, led Napoli to the Italian title last season, earning a Ballon d’Or nomination along the way. It was his spectacular bicycle kick that opened the scoring in Scotland’s World Cup qualifying clincher over Denmark. SENEGAL World Cup Odds: +10000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: Participating in their third World Cup in a row this summer, the former quarterfinalists and 2021 Africa Cup of Nations winners were eliminated by England in the round of 16 in Qatar. Known as the Lions of Teranga, Senegal famously upset then-World Cup holders France in its debut appearance in 2002. Can history repeat itself this summer, when it once again faces Les Bleus in its opening match? Sadio Mané (winger) is one of this generation's best attackers, and the ex-Liverpool and Bayern Munich star could make some magic. PARAGUAY World Cup Odds: +20000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: There’s no question that La Albirroja’s golden age was between 1998 and 2010, when they reached four consecutive tournaments, culminating in a quarterfinal appearance in South Africa. Now Paraguay is back at the World Cup for the first time since, having failed to make the last three editions. MIdfielder Miguel Almirón is familiar to fans on three continents, having moved from Cerro Porteño in Asunción to Argentine club Lanús to MLS side Atlanta United to Premier League mainstay Newcastle before a return back to Atlanta. This team is the USA's opening match, so expect the South Americans to try and spoil the co-hosts' party. SWITZERLAND World Cup Odds: +10000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: Switzerland is as dependable as the watches produced in the country – this team is headed to its sixth consecutive World Cup. It has reached the round of 16 in each of the last three editions. Led by Premier League veterans Manuel Akanji (defender) and captain Granit Xhaka (midfielder), the Swiss will try to make at least the quarterfinals this summer – something they haven’t managed since 1954.  ALGERIA World Cup Odds: +35000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: This is Algeria’s first trip to the World Cup since 2014, when they historically reached the round of 16. They were able to book their ticket to this summer’s tournament by finishing atop their group in African qualifying. At the World Cup, they were alongside defending World Cup champion Argentina, as well as Austria and Jordan. While Argentina will certainly win the group – Algeria will face La Albiceleste in its first match on June 16 in Kansas City – the second spot could be up for grabs. Former Manchester City and Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez will be a catalyst for this squad. AUSTRALIA World Cup Odds: +45000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: The Socceroos gave Lionel Messi and eventual champs Argentina a scare in the round of 16 in Qatar before losing, 2-1, and the 2026 event marks their sixth straight World Cup trip. Organized and physical under coach Tony Popovic, they’ll be a tough out for the co-host United States, which they’ll face in Seattle in their second group stage match. BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA World Cup Odds: +25000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: What's the biggest story of Bosnia and Herzegovina's incredible run into the World Cup? Defeating Italy in the World Cup playoff final to ensure the four-time champions would miss a third straight tournament? Seeing talisman striker Edin Džeko, now 41, help his country reach the biggest stage? Or witnessing American-born Esmir Bajraktarević (aka, the "Milwaukee Messi") coolly take the decisive penalty in the win over Italy? Prepare for this squad to capture neutrals' hearts and attention – especially in the opening match against co-hosts Canada. CZECHIA World Cup Odds: +15000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: It's a return to the World Cup for the first time since 2006 for Czechia, when the country was known as the Czech Republic. Czechia booked its ticket to the 2026 World Cup after outlasting Denmark, 3-1, on penalty kicks in the UEFA following a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes. The squad will be led by towering Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick, but it will need plenty more help in a group that includes co-hosts Mexico. DR CONGO World Cup Odds: +70000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: Simply put, this team wasn’t supposed to make it. With traditional African powers Nigeria and Cameroon standing between the Democratic Republic of Congo and its first World Cup appearance since 1974 (when known as Zaire), next to nobody gave it a chance. But that message didn't get to the Leopards, who promptly shocked both to reach the intercontinental playoffs and then beat Jamaica to book their spot in the main event. Veteran Premier League right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka (now at West Ham after a stint at Manchester United) headlines a list of players with plenty of European experience. GHANA World Cup Odds: +35000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: Ghana has qualified for four of the last five World Cups, with its best finish coming in 2010 when it reached the quarterfinals. The Black Stars booked their spot for 2026 by finishing at the top of their qualifying group with eight wins, one draw and one loss. Unfortunately, they were drawn into a tougher group with favorites England and Croatia, and Panama always good for an upset. Getting out of this group is going to be a challenge, but they can lean on veteran experience from the attacking Mohammed Kudus. IVORY COAST World Cup Odds: +25000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: The days of Didier Drogba (the all-time Ivory Coast top scorer who retired in 2018) are long gone, but that won't deter the new generation of these Elephants. The team debuted on the world stage in 2006 and then qualified for each of the next two tournaments before missing the last two editions. Now, it's back with realistic ambitions of advancing for the first time in their history, despite occupying a group with Ecuador and four-time winners Germany: In March, it thumped World Cup-bound South Korea 4-0, which should give the team momentum in the summer. SWEDEN World Cup Odds: +8000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: How about getting to the World Cup without actually winning a game during the initial qualifying campaign? Sweden finished last in its qualifying group but made the playoff round because of its UEFA Nations League performance. Leading the way is a pair of top strikers in Liverpool’s Alexander Isak and Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres, with the latter scoring four goals in March's playoff games. The Swedes have turned the corner under Graham Potter, the former Chelsea and Brighton manager who previously spent seven years coaching in Sweden.  HAITI World Cup Odds: +150000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: One of the great stories of World Cup qualifying, the Haitians will return to the global stage this summer for the second time ever and first since 1974. Les Grenadiers punched their ticket to the competition despite not playing a single match at home because of security worries. Defensively stout, they still won a qualifying group that contained recent World Cup participants Costa Rica and Honduras. But the task will be way bigger this summer with those group-stage teams. IRAN World Cup Odds: +30000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: Team Melli won’t be a pushover as this team has participated in five of the last seven World Cups. While it's never yet made it to the knockout rounds, it beat Gareth Bale-led Wales in Qatar before narrowly losing to the U.S. in both teams' first round finale. Star striker and captain Mehdi Taremi will be the focal point for the team. IRAQ World Cup Odds: +100000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: The final team to actually book a spot for the World Cup by winning the second intercontinental playoff. It's the second World Cup appearance for the squad (after its 1986 debut), but with a group that includes three very stout sides, it may be a short tournament for the Lions of Mesopotamia. NEW ZEALAND World Cup Odds: +100000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: The team is back on the big stage for the first time since 2010, when it had the interesting distinction of going undefeated with three ties, including one against then-defending champions Italy. New Zealand clinched its spot more than a year ago by topping New Caledonia, 3-0, in Auckland. But things could get ugly at the main event; it went on an 0-7-1 run before finally beating Chile in March. TUNISIA World Cup Odds: +50000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: This will be Tunisia’s seventh World Cup appearance, and one it hopes will be its best. You see, the Eagles of Carthage have never made it out of the group in all those tournaments. That’s probably going to be a tough assignment this summer in Group F, given they’re joined by the Netherlands and Japan, who are expected to advance. Even so, Tunisia has some fun World Cup history, like the fact that it was the first African nation ever to win a World Cup match in 1978 when it beat Mexico, 3-1. PANAMA World Cup Odds: +100000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: This will only be Panama’s second trip to the World Cup. The squad had a strong qualifying campaign, which was aided by the fact that it didn’t have to play the United States, Canada or Mexico, all of whom automatically qualified for the tournament as co-hosts. This will be a tough group, but the Panamanians can stun their opponents when everything is clicking. Just ask the U.S. men's national team, which lost to Panama at the 2024 Copa América and in the 2025 Concacaf Nations League semifinals. SAUDI ARABIA World Cup Odds: +100000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: Saudi Arabia has qualified for the last seven of nine World Cups. Perhaps its most notable tournament was four years ago in Qatar, when the squad shocked eventual champion Argentina in the group stage with a 2-1 victory. The Arabian Falcons then proceeded to lose to both Poland and Mexico and finished at the bottom of their group. They’re led by French manager Herve Renard, who has plenty of international experience, including coaching the squad in 2022 before taking the French women’s national team to the 2023 World Cup. He no doubt will want to help the team go further than it did last time, and maybe that’s possible in a group with Spain, Uruguay and Cape Verde. SOUTH AFRICA World Cup Odds: +80000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: South Africa gets the honor of opening the World Cup when it faces co-host Mexico in the first match of the tournament on June 11 at Mexico City Stadium. Known as Bafana Bafana, South Africa has only played in four World Cups but hasn’t competed in one since hosting in 2010. It's never made it out of the group stage, and that might be tough this time around with Mexico and South Korea in its group. QATAR World Cup Odds: +100000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: The 2022 World Cup was the tiny gulf state’s first World Cup, which they qualified for automatically as hosts. This time, the Maroons did it on the field. After losing all three games on home soil, Qatar – now led by former West Ham, Spain and Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui – is aiming for its first point on the biggest stage.  CURAÇAO World Cup Odds: +150000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: How can neutrals not love the Blue Wave’s Cinderella story? In November, the Dutch territory became the smallest nation by both population (155,000) and geographic area to ever qualify for a World Cup. Just being there is a triumph for Curaçao, though the games could get ugly: Ecuador and four-time world champs Germany loom in the first round, and Dick Advocaat (who managed the Netherlands at USA ’94) resigned as coach in March to care for his ill daughter. CAPE VERDE World Cup Odds: +100000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: We love a World Cup first timer! Cabo Verde will make its very first World Cup appearance this summer, and what better way to welcome it to the global stage than by playing tournament favorite Spain in the first match? While that game on June 15 at Atlanta Stadium might end up being quite lopsided, it’s remarkable that this nation of just more than 500,000 people qualified for the World Cup in the first place. While it may not make it out of the group, it has the kind of resilience, spirit and passion that we love to see in this tournament. JORDAN World Cup Odds: +150000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: Jordan will be making its World Cup debut. While it's never been to the big dance before, it nearly qualified for the 2014 tournament by making it to the intercontinental playoffs. It didn’t work out then, but the team was rewarded for making the expanded 48-team field this time around by being drawn into a group with Argentina. UZBEKISTAN World Cup Odds: +150000World Cup Group Stage Opponents: Another World Cup debutant! Uzbekistan may be a team largely unknown to the world at this point, but it's coached by Favio Cannavaro, who is known to be one of the greatest defenders of all time. Cannavaro captained Italy to the World Cup in 2006, so he knows what this team is getting itself into this summer. He’s had a vast coaching career up to this point and only took over the national team in October, so we’ll see how the squad gels under him with less than a year together. 2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch 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 (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports apps. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19).]]>
			    </content:encoded>
							</item>
			</channel>
</rss>
