When you head out to grab a fast food burger, you might not be thinking about how the employees look, but it’s highly important at this one chain.
Food Republic – Restaurants, Reviews, Recipes, Cooking Tips
Day: April 22, 2026
The reality TV world has said goodbye to an elusive figure.
Businessman Lee Najjar, better known as Real Housewives of Atlanta alum Kim Zolciak’s ex “Big Poppa,” has died, his daughter Katelin…
E! Online (US) – Top Stories
The coastal-cool aesthetic was a defining jewelry trend last summer. But this year, we’re swapping seashell motifs and fishermen core styles for something more bohemian inspired: bead…
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Rep. Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage, speaks in favor of the veto override for House Bill 69, the education formula funding increase, on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
The Alaska House of Representatives advanced a bill Wednesday to add a fifth superior court judge in the third judicial district in an effort to lower judge’s caseloads and provide justice to Alaskans in the state’s busiest court.
If the bill becomes law, the number of superior court judges statewide would increase from 45 to 46. It would bring the number of superior court judges in the third judicial district to 29. The third judicial district includes Anchorage, Cordova, Dillingham, Glennallen, Homer, Kenai, Kodiak, Naknek, Palmer, Sand Point, St. Paul Island, Seward, Unalaska and Valdez.
Alaska Court System General Counsel Nancy Meade wrote to legislators in January with the request from the Alaska Supreme Court for one new superior court judge to handle a mix of civil and criminal cases in Palmer.
Meade called the current workload of the four superior court judges in Palmer unsustainable, citing that each judge is assigned 225 cases more than the state average of 458 cases per superior court judge.
The population of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough has increased by 40% and the number of cases filed in the Palmer superior court has increased by 55% since the last time a judge was added in 2006, according to Meade.
Rep. Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage and Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, said Wednesday: “We need to fix this problem so that we can better provide basic justice to all Alaskans.”
According to a fiscal note, the additional judge will cost the state $268,000 annually.
The bill passed with 37 yes votes in the House of Representatives. Three legislators were absent. It has been transmitted to the Senate for consideration.
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David Wilcock’s time on Earth has ended in a tragic way.
The paranormal writer and YouTuber—who built a platform through his videos about science and spirituality—died on April 20 in Boulder…
E! Online (US) – Top Stories
Categories
Temu Is Selling Meat—Yes, Really
Where’s the beef? Apparently, it’s at Temu.
The online retailer known for selling heavily discounted goods shipped from China is now offering a selection of meats—including ribeye steaks, pork…
E! Online (US) – Top Stories
Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift? Costco offers some of the best (and most affordable) gift baskets and themed treats for the occasion.
Mashed – Fast Food, Celebrity Chefs, Grocery, Reviews
The Dodgers’ backup catcher moonlighted as their designated hitter for a game on Thursday, doing his best Shohei Ohtani impression by smashing a 412-foot grand slam to help sweep the Mets. Another time, he was their first baseman, filling in while Freddie Freeman was on the paternity list and launching two more home runs. Dalton Rushing has only played in nine of the Dodgers’ first 23 games this year, but he has turned those intermittent opportunities into a historic start to the season. Rushing went deep seven times through his first eight games of the year, a number that trailed only Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt (1976) for the most home runs through a player’s first eight games of a season. He’s one of many examples of the depth allowing the Dodgers to withstand the early-season obstacles that would otherwise overwhelm most clubs. Mookie Betts hasn’t played since April 4 due to an oblique injury. Blake Snell and Tommy Edman aren’t expected to make their 2026 debuts until next month. Edwin Diaz, seven appearances into a three-year, $69 million contract that gave him the largest annual salary ever for a reliever, has an ERA over 10.00 and is undergoing an elbow procedure that will keep him out until the second half. Kyle Tucker, fresh off signing the largest average annual deal in baseball history, has been a league-average hitter. Roki Sasaki’s command and control issues persist. And yet the Dodgers enter Wednesday with a 16-7 record, tied for the best in MLB. Of course, Ohtani’s two-way skills tend to mask some of the team’s deficiencies. But the supporting cast is also playing a vital role in the club’s success. The Dodgers’ No. 7-9 hitters in the lineup have a combined .943 OPS this year, a total higher than Mike Trout (.939), Aaron Judge (.932) and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (.927). Outfielder Andy Pages leads the majors with a .366 batting average and the Dodgers with a 1.009 OPS. Hyeseong Kim and Miguel Rojas, the shortstops with Betts out, are both hitting over .300. Justin Wrobleski, the Dodgers’ sixth starter, is 3-0 with a 0.90 ERA in three starts this month. In the bullpen, Tanner Scott is bouncing back from an abysmal first season in Los Angeles. He has allowed one run through his first 11 appearances in 2026, while Alex Vesia still hasn’t allowed a run through his first 10 appearances. Those two will be crucial now in high leverage with Díaz down. And then there’s Rushing, who has the same number of extra-base hits in 31 plate appearances this year (nine) that he had in 155 plate appearances last year. His seven home runs are tied for the 12th-most in MLB. Every other player with at least that many homers this year has at least 69 at-bats; Rushing has 29. “I think he’s kind of in a better spot mentally — actually, I know he’s in a better spot mentally — to kind of handle this role,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told me. After struggling in his first season to adjust to the sporadic playing time that exists as the backup catcher behind fellow University of Louisville product Will Smith, who’s under contract through the 2033 season, Rushing entered his follow-up campaign this year with a new perspective: Less is more. “Go back and look at last year.” Rushing told me last week, six days after a 4-for-4, two-homer performance in Toronto and three days before launching the first grand slam of his career. “I was over-swinging from the day I showed up. I felt like I had to show them who I was.” The result was suboptimal. Rushing, who excelled as a hitter at every level of the minors with a preternatural and atypical ability to both control the zone and slug, had a .582 OPS and just nine extra-base hits in 142 at-bats for the Dodgers last season. “I would say he didn’t get used to it last year,” Roberts said. “He’s getting used to it now. I think there’s a little bit of trying to mentally adjust to playing two times a week. There’s a physical, mechanical part to the swing, to make it more simple. Maybe even a little bit of expectation, to lower your expectations. And the player never wants to, which I respect, but it’s hard to play twice a week to get in any type of real rhythm.” Added Rushing: “When you’re a part-time player you try to get back in compete mode once every five days, it’s not easy to do.” Admittedly, he’s still in the process of figuring out how to handle that, though he’s clearly doing a better job. With a new mindset, Rushing is displaying the version of the player he knew he could be — and the one the Dodgers envisioned when they took Rushing with their first pick of the 2022 MLB Draft, despite already employing another star catcher from the same alma mater. Rushing has learned to challenge himself to be ready to play, even on the days he’s not in the starting lineup, spending time hitting on either the Trajekt machine or the regular pitching machine to be ready when called upon. And he has learned from the player he’s backing up, despite possessing a much different demeanor from the fellow Louisville product. Smith is stoic and reserved; Rushing is not. “It’s hard for me to play this game low heartbeat,” Rushing said. “I’ve played like my head’s on fire since I was 8 or 10 years old. I don’t think I’m ever going to lose that. I don’t want to lose that. I think that’s what kind of gets me up to play this game.” At the same time, while that feistiness can drive him while he’s riding hot streaks like the one he’s on right now, it can also be detrimental when the inevitable drop-off comes. He admires Smith’s levelheadedness and the belief that demeanor can foster in teammates. “I think the more you can play at a median, low heartbeat, the more it shows to the older guys, ‘This guy looks like he’s been doing it for seven to 10 years, and there’s never a doubt he’s going to get it done,’” Rushing said. So, he’s still working on that. “That’s part of being an everyday guy,” Rushing explained. “You need the median heartbeat, man. Nothing brings you up, nothing brings you down. Throughout this year, that’s going to be my goal. I know if I keep that as my goal, then the hitting and everything else will take care of itself. It always has.” There are nine players with more at-bats than Rushing on the Dodgers roster, yet he ranks second on the team in homers and fourth in RBI. With more success, the Dodgers are finding creative ways to get him opportunities, even beyond giving Smith a breather behind the plate. After Ohtani was hit by a pitch in the back of the right shoulder in the first game of the Dodgers’ series against the Mets last week, the Dodgers elected to keep their two-way superstar out of the DH spot two days later. It was the first time since 2021 that Ohtani pitched but did not hit in a game. The DH role went to Rushing, who doubled and broke the game open with a grand slam. “There’s no more trying to show them,” Rushing said. “Just let your game play for itself.”Latest Sports News from FOX Sports
![<a href="https://countrynow.com/bailey-zimmerman-talks-stagecoach-plans-and-building-a-fanbase-that-feels-like-family-exclusive/" target="_blank">Bailey Zimmerman Talks Stagecoach Plans and Building A Fanbase That Feels Like Family [Exclusive]</a>](https://countrynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Bailey-Zimmerman-Photo-Provided-1.jpg)
Bailey Zimmerman is in the midst of a season where everything seems to be clicking, from sold-out shows to a rapidly growing fanbase that feels more like family than anything else. But even with all the success, he’s still holding tight to the things that made him who he is in the first place… including a longtime love for SONIC.
The country hitmaker, who is gearing up for a performance at Stagecoach this weekend, has officially teamed up with SONIC Drive-In in honor of the new Refreshers. For Zimmerman, who grew up in rural Illinois, this isn’t some random brand deal: it’s personal.
A Full-Circle Partnership With SONIC
“It’s a pretty full circle moment. I grew up going to SONIC and I grew up pulling my truck in the stall. I still do it to this day.” Zimmerman revealed while chatting with Country Now from his bus in between shows on his Different Night Same Rodeo Tour. “I love SONIC. That’s why it was so cool when they reached out because I was like, ‘Dude, I actually love SONIC!’ I love going to SONIC. I love hitting the button. I love their corn dogs. I love the ranch. Their Refreshers are insane….And then they actually hit me about doing a thing for their Refreshers. And I’m like, bro, I already drank those. So this is perfect. Let’s go!”
He didn’t hesitate when asked what his go-to order looks like either.
“If I pull up the SONIC right now, I’m pulling in the stall, I’m hitting the button. I’m going. ‘Give me two corn dogs, give me two packets of ranch and give me a strawberry passion fruit refresher.”
Zimmerman has long been open about his hunt for a wife and says SONIC might even make the perfect date night.
“Honestly, it’s the most country way to do a date night. Pull it in, drop the tailgate, get your refreshers, get your corn dogs, and have a nice night at SONIC. Who needs a fancy steakhouse when you got SONIC Corn Dogs? I mean, come on, let’s be real with each other here.”
Heading Into Stagecoach Weekend
SONIC will also be along for the ride as the “Holy Smokes” singer heads to Stagecoach this weekend, where he’s set to perform between fellow superstars Cody Johnson and Ella Langley. Calling it an “honor” to share that slot, he also revealed he’s planning to catch both of their sets while he’s there.
“Ella, I’ve got to see her set. She texted me the other day and we were talking about hanging out at Stagecoach. So yeah, it’s going to be sick though. Got to make it happen…I’ve been jamming that record,” he shared. “I feel like Ella’s really, really crushing and she’s just killing the game and her voice is on point every single time and she’s just crushing it.”
Winning Over Every Crowd, Every Time
Whether he’s taking the stage at Stagecoach or one of the many festivals on his summer schedule, Zimmerman has one goal every time he steps out: to turn every person in the crowd into a fan.
“I would say honestly, that’s my goal every show. Even the ones I sell the tickets to, I’m still trying to get them locked in on me and really supporting me and be here for the rest of my life because I want to do this for the rest of my life. So I would say I’m always trying to win them over, but when I go to a festival, I don’t act like everybody knows who I am,” he explained. “Because when I sell a ticket, they must know who I am because they bought my ticket. But if you’re just coming to this festival, maybe you don’t know who I am or maybe you’ve never seen me before. So I usually just try to explain more about who I am. Not that I don’t do it at my shows, but I explain more about who I am, where I come from, my morals, my values.”
While he tries to “treat every show the same,” Zimmerman recognizes that performing at a festival allows him to get in front of a whole new audience.
“[I’m] definitely trying to get just the festival goers to buy a hard ticket for me and come to the arena to see me on my tour. I feel like when you headline a festival or even direct support or whatever, it’s just a huge opportunity to get a new fan that wants to come to your show.”
Turning Fans Into Family
Once you’re a Bailey Zimmerman fan, you’re basically family. That’s always been the goal for him.
“Honestly, I look around these arenas and I see people that I’ve known for the last five years, people that were at my 10th show, my 11th show all the way to the Morgan [Wallen] dates and then to festivals, I’d see them. And then we’d hang out afterwards,” he said. “Me and Stella did a cartwheel a long time ago…you kind of just start building a family out here. And then after the show, you want to go see those people because you know them and you know their mom and you know their grandma. And so you want to go see them. And I think that’s one of the coolest parts about my shows and my community of people is that it is a real family. And I really do come out and see everybody…and sign everything and say what up to everybody and take the videos. I love it.”
“It’s my favorite part of all this stuff. Other than blowing stuff up,” he added with a laugh.
Still, for him, it goes beyond just putting on a show.
“I love the family aspect of it and feeling like I say this every show, I’m like, man, when you come to a Bailey show, I want you to walk through the doors and feel like, man, I can finally take this mask off. I can finally be myself. I can finally just let loose for the next four hours with me and whoever’s on the tour, we can just let loose. And that’s what I feel like we’ve built here is just, like I said, a family and a community of safety and positivity..and blowing stuff up.”
The post Bailey Zimmerman Talks Stagecoach Plans and Building A Fanbase That Feels Like Family [Exclusive] appeared first on Country Now.
Country Now
Ready for this summer’s soccer smorgasbord that will be the 2026 FIFA World Cup? You better be because you know I am. I’m ready for 48 teams from around the globe to take part in what will be an epic party spread across three nations, including the United States. But let’s be real. There are teams that are better than others. Some will have a legit shot at winning it all. And some will just enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience. So now it’s time to rank all 48 teams. And remember, these are my power rankings. If you don’t like them, you can get your own. Odds to win the World Cup: +250000 (48th)Key player: Winger Derrick Etienne Jr. (Toronto FC) Hey, when you’re at the bottom, there’s nowhere to go but up. This will be Haiti’s second World Cup and first since 1974. Group C opponents: Scotland (June 13), Brazil (June 19), Morocco (June 24) Odds to win the World Cup: +200000 (T-46th)Key player: Midfielder Leandro Bacuna (Iğdır FK) Curaçao is the smallest nation in the World Cup with a population of about 156,000. Size doesn’t matter … until it does. Group E opponents: Germany (June 14), Ecuador (June 20), Ivory Coast (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +100000 (T-39th)Key player: Midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla (Pumas UNAM) Panama returns to the World Cup after missing out on 2022. It gets a brutal group against England, Croatia and Ghana. The Panamanians will be lucky to score a goal. Group L opponents: Ghana (June 17), Croatia (June 23), England (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +80000 (38th)Key player: Striker Lyle Foster (Burnley) South Africa is going to need a bigger vuvuzela to make an impact at this World Cup. It will have a big chance to shake things up in the opening match of the tournament against Mexico. Group A opponents: Mexico (June 11), Czechia (June 18), South Korea (June 24) Odds to win the World Cup: +100000 (T-39th)Key player: Winger Ryan Mendes (Iğdır FK) Cape Verde is an incredible story, but this team will be happy just to be involved in the World Cup and collect the gift bag. Group H opponents: Spain (June 15), Uruguay (June 21), Saudi Arabia (June 26) Odds to win the World Cup: +100000 (T-39th)Key player: Striker Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest) The Kiwis qualified directly from the Oceania region, which is the weakest confederation in international soccer. I’ll leave it at that. Group G opponents: Iran (June 15), Egypt (June 21), Belgium (June 26) Odds to win the World Cup: +100000 (T-39th)Key player: Striker Ayman Hussein (Al-Karma) The good news for Iraq: It’s back in the World Cup for the first time in 40 years! The bad news: The Iraqis will face France, Senegal and Norway in their group games. Group I opponents: Norway (June 16), France (June 22), Senegal (June 26) Odds to win the World Cup: +100000 (T-39th)Key player: Forward Akram Afif (Al Sadd) Qatar is back after scoring one goal and losing all three of its games as the host nation in 2022. Group B opponents: Switzerland (June 13), Canada (June 18), Bosnia and Herzegovina (June 24) Odds to win the World Cup: +100000 (T-39th)Key player: Defender Abdukodir Khusanov (Manchester City) Almost the entire Uzbekistan team plays its club soccer in its home country, so I’m not expecting much from it this summer. Group K opponents: Colombia (June 17), Portugal (June 23), Congo DR (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +70000 (37th)Key player: Striker Cédric Bakambu (Real Betis) Congo DR is back in the World Cup after 52 years. Its reward: an opening match against Portugal. It will be hoping to channel Saudi Arabia’s 2022 team, which opened the tournament with a shocking win over Argentina. Group K opponents: Portugal (June 17), Colombia (June 23), Uzbekistan (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +50000 (T-34th)Key player: Midfielder Ellyes Skhiri (Eintracht Frankfurt) Tunisia has never advanced out of the group stage at a World Cup — although it won games at each of the last two tournaments. I’m still not expecting this team to make the knockout stage this summer. Group F schedule: Sweden (June 14), Japan (June 20), Netherlands (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +200000 (T-46th)Key player: Winger Musa Al-Taamari (Rennes) The only parting gift Jordan should expect to get from the World Cup this summer is an autograph from Lionel Messi in its final Group J game. Group J opponents: Austria (June 16), Algeria (June 22), Argentina (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +50000 (T-34th)Key player: Midfielder Jackson Irvine (St. Pauli) There are no stars to be found on this team, but the underdog role suits the Australians. They could be a spoiler in Group D against the United States, Türkiye and Paraguay. Group D opponents: Türkiye (June 13), USA (June 19), Paraguay (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +25000 (33rd)Key player: Winger Wilfried Zaha (Charlotte FC) The Ivorians didn’t qualify for either of the last two World Cups and have never made it out of the group stage. That will be a tough task this year in a group with Germany and Ecuador. Group E opponents: Ecuador (June 14), Germany (June 20), Curaçao (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +30000 (T-30th)Key player: Winger Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) Egypt has never won a World Cup game. That could change this summer with matches against Iran and New Zealand in the group stage. Group G opponents: Belgium (June 15), New Zealand (June 21), Iran (June 26) Odds to win the World Cup: +35000 (T-32nd)Key player: Winger Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahli) The Algerian attack is strong, led by winger Riyad Mahrez and a solid supporting cast. This team’s potential downfall: its defense. Group J opponents: Argentina (June 16), Jordan (June 22), Austria (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +25000 (28th)Key player: Striker Edin Džeko (Schalke 04) Did the Bosnians peak by beating Italy to qualify for this tournament? That will be the big question for this team entering the tournament. Bosnia and Herzegovina will face Canada on its home soil and a tough matchup against Switzerland in Group B. Group B opponents: Canada (June 12), Switzerland (June 18), Qatar (June 24) Odds to win the World Cup: +100000 (T-39th)Key player: Winger Salem Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal) Just 56 days before its first game of the tournament, Saudi Arabia moved on from manager Herve Renard. It’s a bold move for a team that faces Uruguay and Spain in its first two games of the tournament. Group H opponents: Uruguay (June 15), Spain (June 21), Cape Verde (June 26) Odds to win the World Cup: +50000 (T-34th)Key player: Winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Dender EH) Iran enters the tournament with a lot of uncertainty, but it can make some noise in a group that is pretty tame after Belgium with Egypt and New Zealand. Group G opponents: New Zealand (June 15), Belgium (June 21), Egypt (June 26) Odds to win the World Cup: +15000 (24th)Key player: Midfielder Tomas Soucek (West Ham United) Czechia thrives through set pieces, physicality and its size. Those tools will only get you so far against the best teams in the world. Group A opponents: South Korea (June 11), South Africa (June 18), Mexico (June 24) Odds to win the World Cup: +30000 (T-30th)Key player: Midfielder Mohammed Kudus (Tottenham) Ghana will have a young and inexperienced squad this summer. It’s more of a project capable of making more noise in four years instead of now. Group L opponents: Panama (June 17), England (June 23), Croatia (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +20000 (T-25th)Key player: Midfielder Scott McTominay (Napoli) After a horrible showing at Euro 2024, Scotland is back at its first World Cup since 1998. Scottish supporters are great, but their team will need to win its first game against Haiti to have any success this summer. Group C opponents: Haiti (June 13), Morocco (June 19), Brazil (June 24) Odds to win the World Cup: +15000 (T-23rd)Key player: Midfielder Miguel Almiron (Atlanta United) If Paraguay is going to have any success this summer, it’s not going to be pretty. The goal for this team will be to muck it up and grind it out in a competitive Group D with the United States, Türkiye and Australia. Group D opponents: USA (June 12), Türkiye (June 19), Australia (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +10000 (T-20th)Key player: Striker Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal) Sweden didn’t win a single game in UEFA qualifying but made it to the playoff round thanks to its success in the UEFA Nations League. The Swedes enter the summer coming off impressive wins in March over Ukraine and Poland to qualify. Group F opponents: Tunisia (June 14), Netherlands (June 20), Japan (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +15000 (T-23rd)Key player: Midfielder Marcel Sabitzer (Borussia Dortmund) The Austrians are back at the World Cup for the first time since 1998, and they’re sneaky good. Powered by a strong midfield, Austria could give Argentina problems in Group J. Group J opponents: Jordan (June 16), Argentina (June 22), Algeria (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +11000 (22nd)Key player: Winger Sadio Mané (Al Nassr) The African champions (allegedly) come into this tournament as a popular dark-horse pick. Unfortunately, Senegal was paired with France and Norway, so it faces an uphill battle. Group I opponents: France (June 16), Norway (June 22), Iraq (June 26) Odds to win the World Cup: +20000 (T-25th)Key player: Defender Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) Canada avoided Italy after Bosnia and Herzegovina’s upset in qualifying in late March, but be careful what you wish for. The Canadians have more talent than ever, but it won’t be smooth sailing for them this summer. Group B opponents: Bosnia and Herzegovina (June 12), Qatar (June 18), Switzerland (June 24) Odds to win the World Cup: +10000 (T-20th)Key player: Midfielder Arda Güler (Real Madrid) A new sense of pragmatism may enable the Turks to live up to the hype around their young team. This team will be the Americans’ biggest competition in Group D. Group D opponents: Australia (June 13), Paraguay (June 19), USA (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +45000 (33rd)Key player: Winger Son Heung-min (LAFC) The Koreans have a good team, but they did not get any luck from the draw. South Korea will play all of its games in the group stage in Mexico. Group A opponents: Czechia (June 11), Mexico (June 18), South Africa (June 24) Odds to win the World Cup: +20000 (T-17th)Key player: Midfielder Granit Xhaka (Sunderland) The Swiss national team is like the country’s banking system: safe, boring and effective. Switzerland is not going to dominate in attack, but it will be efficient and be a tough out for any opposition. Group B opponents: Qatar (June 13), Bosnia and Herzegovina (June 18), Canada (June 24) Odds to win the World Cup: +5000 (T-12th)Key player: Midfielder Wataru Endo (Liverpool) Japan beat England at Wembley Stadium in London in late March. It was an impressive victory that saw the Japanese clean up on — and off — the field. Group F opponents: Netherlands (June 14), Tunisia (June 20), Sweden (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +9000 (19th)Key player: Midfielder Moises Caicedo (Chelsea) Ecuador has a golden generation of players here, featuring Caicedo and defenders Piero Hincape and Willian Pacho. Believing in this team, though, is fool’s gold. Group E opponents: Ivory Coast (June 14), Curaçao (June 20), Germany (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +3000 (9th)Key player: Striker Erling Haaland (Manchester City) Norway will be a sexy dark-horse pick after dominating qualifying, which includes two wins over Italy. The Norwegians will need more than just Haaland if they want to really compete this summer, though. Group I opponents: Iraq (June 16), Senegal (June 22), France (June 26) Odds to win the World Cup: +6500 (T-12th)Key player: Midfielder Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) Uruguay’s golden generation, which was led by strikers Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani, has given way to a bronze-ish generation. That doesn’t mean this team will be a pushover, though. Group H opponents: Saudia Arabia (June 15), Cape Verde (June 21), Spain (June 26) Odds to win the World Cup: +7500 (16th)Key player: Striker Raúl Jiménez (Fulham) Mexico gets all of its group-stage games on home soil. That’s a positive on paper, but if results don’t go their way, the Mexicans will be in trouble. Group A opponents: South Africa (June 11), South Korea (June 18), Czechia (June 24) Odds to win the World Cup: +5000 (T-12th)Key player: Defender Achraf Hakimi (PSG) Everyone’s darling from 2022 is no longer a surprise. Morocco is not going to sneak up on opposition this summer. Group C opponents: Brazil (June 13), Scotland (June 19), Haiti (June 24) Odds to win the World Cup: +6500 (14th)Key player: Winger Christian Pulisic (AC Milan) Nothing beats home cooking, but the United States might need a double helping of it this summer if it wants to contend. The Americans will enter the summer coming off convincing losses to Belgium and Portugal in late March. Group D opponents: Paraguay (June 12), Australia (June 19), Türkiye (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +3500 (10th)Key player: Midfielder Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli) Belgium was drawn into an easy group (Egypt, Iran and New Zealand), so advancing from there won’t be a problem. The sum of the Belgians’ parts will dictate whether they’re a contender in the knockout rounds, though. Group G opponents: Egypt (June 15), Iran (June 21), New Zealand (June 26) Odds to win the World Cup: +8000 (T-17th)Key player: Midfielder Luka Modrić (AC Milan) Croatia is the favorite of dads and old guys everywhere. Modrić is in the final chapter of his international career and leads a Croatian team that has shown it’s more than capable of beating any team in this tournament. Group L opponents: England (June 17), Panama (June 23), Ghana (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +1400 (7th)Key player: Midfielder Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich) Even a mediocre German team is still German. While manager Julian Nagelsmann’s squad lacks truly elite players, it will still be a force to be reckoned with this summer. Group E opponents: Curaçao (June 14), Ivory Coast (June 20), Ecuador (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +2000 (8th)Key player: Defender Virgil Van Djik (Liverpool) While the Dutch have a strong team, it is not quite ready for prime time to truly compete with the top-tiered teams. There is quality around the field in this team, but the Netherlands isn’t among the favorites. Group F opponents: Japan (June 14), Sweden (June 20), Tunisia (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +800 (4th)Key player: Winger Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) It’s rare that Brazil enters a World Cup this low in anyone’s rankings. I like the idea of the Brazilians entering this tournament with low expectations attached to them. That might make them more dangerous. Group C opponents: Morocco (June 13), Haiti (June 19), Scotland (June 24) Odds to win the World Cup: +1100 (6th)Key player: Striker Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr) The dynamic surrounding Ronaldo will make or break this tournament for Portugal. The 41-year-old is missing one major trophy in his career, and that’s the World Cup. Will the attention he draws be a help or a hindrance? Group K opponents: Congo DR (June 17), Uzbekistan (June 23), Colombia (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +850 (5th)Key player: Forward Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) In a vacuum, I’d have Argentina higher, but no team has won back-to-back World Cups since Brazil way back in 1958 and 1962. There is no doubt, though, that the Argentines remain serious contenders, led by one of the best players ever in Messi. Group J opponents: Algeria (June 16), Austria (June 22), Jordan (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +4000 (11th)Key player: Midfielder James Rodríguez (Minnesota United) I see the heat and environment in the United States favoring South American teams this summer. Colombia has shown it can compete with the best at these big tournaments, and it has a star in attack (winger Luis Diaz) who could lead it to the promised land. Group K opponents: Uzbekistan (June 17), Congo DR (June 23), Portugal (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +650 (3rd)Key player: Midfielder Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) It pains me to say this, but this is the best England team in decades. With striker Harry Kane leading the attack and Bellingham and Declan Rice in midfield, this could be the year that England breaks through and wins a major international trophy. Group L opponents: Croatia (June 17), Ghana (June 23), Panama (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +500 (1st)Key player: Midfielder Pedri (Barcelona) This is not your parents’ Spain, which won the Euros twice and the 2010 World Cup. It’s better. The Spaniards won Euro 2024 and have not lost since March 2024 — plus, only twice since the start of 2023. Group H opponents: Cape Verde (June 15), Saudia Arabia (June 21), Uruguay (June 26) Odds to win the World Cup: +550 (2nd)Key player: Striker Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) The combination of talent, depth and arrogance in this square … it’s like a lethal French perfume. Manager Didier Deschamps’ team has everything needed to send him off with a win this summer in his final major tournament in charge. Group I opponents: Senegal (June 16), Iraq (June 22), Norway (June 26) 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).Latest Sports News from FOX Sports