Day: April 23, 2026

The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, but there are plenty of noteworthy names remaining. Five of the last six first-round picks were traded, which means a lot of teams moved back into the second round. In fact, two of the first three teams set to pick on Friday night (as of midnight ET) made the playoffs last season. I have those teams set to take potential impact defenders. How will the second round, which begins Friday night, shake out? Here’s my second-round mock draft, starting with the 49ers getting a new potential starting safety. The Niners could use an upgrade at safety. Here, they get that in McNeil-Warren, who was a third-team AP All-American this past season after posting two interceptions, three forced fumbles and five pass breakups. With Jalen Thompson departing in free agency and Budda Baker being 30 years old, the Cardinals must think about their future at safety. Stukes picked off four passes last season en route to third-team AP All-American honors. The Bills signed Bradley Chubb in free agency, but they still need young talent at edge rusher. Young, who was a first-team All-SEC selection in 2025, recorded 6.5 sacks and 42 tackles for Missouri last season. After taking Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick, the Raiders should shift to defense. They need a long-term starter at defensive tackle. The 6-foot-2, 326-pound McDonald recorded 65 tackles (nine tackles for loss), three sacks and two forced fumbles en route to first-team AP All-American honors in 2025. After ranking second worst in run defense last season, the Giants will fortify their interior defensive line with Miller, who had 23 tackles (four for loss) and 1.5 sacks for Georgia in 2025. The Texans are loaded on defense but would benefit from more depth at cornerback. McCoy didn’t play in 2025 because of a torn ACL, but he was a second-team AP All-American the year prior after picking off four passes and adding nine pass breakups. The Browns didn’t have a 700-yard wide receiver last season, so adding more talent at the position should be a priority, even after adding KC Concepcion in the first round. A big-bodied pass catcher, the 6-foot-3 Boston caught 62 passes for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns (ninth in the FBS) for Washington last season. The Chiefs need more depth at defensive tackle, where perennial Pro Bowler Chris Jones is 31 and free-agent acquisition Khyiris Tonga turns 30 before training camp. At 6-foot-7 and 330 pounds, Harris has a similar long frame to Jones. Harris registered 58 tackles (nine for loss), three sacks, three pass breakups and an interception in 15 games for Ole Miss this past season. Franchise quarterback Joe Burrow could always use more protection, so the Bengals should be in the market for a swing tackle behind starters Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims. At 6-foot-7, Tiernan fits the trees manning the tackle spots for Cincinnati (both Orlando Brown and Armarius Mims are 6-foot-8). He made 25 consecutive starts for Northwestern at left tackle, and also started five games at RT in 2022. After taking Jordan Tyson, the Saints continue stacking talent at wide receiver opposite Chris Olave, who’s set to play on his fifth-year option. A long-limbed deep threat, the 6-foot-4 Brazzell led Tennessee with 1,017 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns en route to first-team All-SEC honors. New head coach Jeff Hafley has a heavy background working with defensive backs, and the Dolphins’ current cornerbacks room is underwhelming. Miami gets the juice it needs in its own backyard with Scott, who had two pick-sixes, 13 tackles for loss, five pass breakups and two forced fumbles en route to second-team All-ACC honors. The Jets added David Bailey at No. 2 overall before getting a pair of pass-catchers in the first round, but they shouldn’t be done on defense. An AP first-team All-American, Allen is a smart addition at linebacker, where New York could use more premium talent alongside 37-year-old Demario Davis. Apart from Zay Flowers, no other Ravens receiver reached 350 receiving yards last season. The 6-foot-1 Bernard would bring more playmaking ability, as he had 114 receptions and 1,656 receiving yards over the past two seasons for the Crimson Tide. Free-agent acquisitions Alex Anzalone and Christian Rozeboom mitigate desperation for the Bucs in the wake of Lavonte David’s retirement, but Tampa would benefit from young blood at the position. The reigning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, Rodriguez led the FBS with seven forced fumbles in 2025. With their top pick, the Colts must nab an impact player on defense. They get that in Howell, who had 11.5 sacks (seventh in the FBS) and six pass breakups en route to being named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2025. The Falcons need to replace Kaden Elliss, who walked in free agency. The 6-foot-2, 238-pound Hill earned second-team All-American and All-SEC honors after stuffing the stat sheet with seven tackles for loss, four sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions for Texas last season. The Vikings should be thinking long term at cornerback, where 28-year-old Isaiah Rodgers is entering a contract year and Byron Murphy doesn’t have a guaranteed salary beyond 2026. Terrell, a third-team AP All-American this past season, broke up nine passes and tied for third in the FBS with five forced fumbles in 2025. The Lions enter 2026 with uncertainty on the interior offensive line, specifically at left guard and center. A third-team All-SEC in 2025, Bisontis started 22 games at left guard for Texas A&M over the past two seasons. The Panthers would be wise to nab a starting-caliber safety who could succeed Nick Scott, who turns 31 next month. Haulcy was a first-team All-SEC selection for LSU in 2025, when he posted 88 tackles, three interceptions and four pass breakups. The Packers are thin at cornerback, even with the signing of Benjamin St-Juste in free agency. A third-team All-SEC selection, Hood had 50 tackles, eight pass breakups and a pick-six in 2025. With Isaac Seumalo gone to the Cardinals as a free agent, adding more guard talent should be a priority for the Steelers. Pregnon was a first-team AP All-American for the Ducks last season and started 51 games at guard between his time at Wyoming and Oregon. The Eagles have a hole on the edge after losing Jaelan Phillips in free agency. Over the last two seasons, Parker registered 16 sacks, 29 tackles for loss and six forced fumbles for Clemson. After addressing the defensive front in the first round, the Chargers must now focus on bolstering their new-look interior offensive line. The 6-foot-5, 319-pound Dunker started 37 games at right tackle for Iowa over the last three seasons, but some league observers believe his best NFL position will be guard. After letting Devin Lloyd walk in free agency, the Jags must shore up the linebacker spot. Golday was a first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2025, recording 105 tackles (six for loss), 3.5 sacks and three pass breakups. The Bears need an edge rusher who can start opposite Montez Sweat. Thomas had 9.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a safety last season en route to first-team All-SEC honors. The Niners drafted Mykel Williams in the first round last year, but Nick Bosa is coming off a torn ACL and San Francisco loves to load up on the defensive line. A first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2025, Moore had 10 sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles for Michigan last season. As deep as the Texans are at edge rusher, they need a long-term answer on the interior defensive line. Halton recorded 8.5 sacks over his last two seasons at Oklahoma, also adding 13 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and two pass breakups. The Bears traded for Patriots center Garrett Bradbury after Drew Dalman’s retirement, but Bradbury — who has just one year left on his contract — could be viewed as a short-term solution. Cue Hecht, who started 25 games for Kansas State over the past two seasons. The Rams should be prioritizing a WR3 behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, who turns 34 in December. The 6-foot-3, 206-pound Hurst caught 71 passes for 1,004 yards and six touchdowns for Georgia State in 2025, when he was named a first-team All-Sun Belt selection. The Broncos got just three touchdowns from their tight ends last season. They can get more juice at the position in the athletic Stowers, who won the John Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end last season. Robert Spillane turns 31 next season and Christian Elliss is entering the final year of his contract, so Mike Vrabel & Co. may be thinking long term at inside linebacker. Trotter had 84 tackles, including 13 for loss, and two sacks for Missouri last season. Tariq Woolen is now with the Eagles, so the Seahawks need a new No. 3 cornerback. Enter Cisse, who had five pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble for the Gamecocks in 2025.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

As everyone expected, the Las Vegas Raiders took Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. But after that, Round 1 brought major surprises, trades and utter chaos. The biggest surprise of the night came when the Los Angeles Rams selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 13 pick. With the Rams currently listed as the betting favorite to win next year’s Super Bowl, many expected them to target an immediate impact player. Instead, they chose to invest in the future and begin preparing for life after Matthew Stafford. On top of that, the Arizona Cardinals drafted star running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 3, while the Tennessee Titans surprised by giving Cam Ward a new weapon in Carnell Tate.  The Dallas Cowboys also got their dream pick in Caleb Downs after trading up to No. 11. Now, the focus shifts to Day 2, where value often defines the draft. While this class may lack true top-end star power, the depth shows up in critical areas. Teams searching for immediate contributors can still find starting-caliber talent along both sides of the line of scrimmage and throughout the secondary, with impact players expected to come off the board well into Day 3. With that in mind, here’s Rob Rang’s updated big board of the top 100 prospects still available after Round 1. 100. Elijah Sarratt, WR, IndianaProjection: Round 4-5A classic possession receiver with good size, body control and sticky hands, Sarratt may lack upside, but few pass-catchers in this class offer as high of a floor. 99. Jakobe Thomas, S, MiamiProjection: Round 4-5Overshadowed by all the talent at Miami this year, Thomas quietly finished second in the ACC with five interceptions, showing the aggression and closing speed to project as a future NFL starter and special teams ace. 98. Darrell Jackson Jr., DT, Florida StateProjection: Round 4-5Among the most imposing players in this draft, the 6-foot-6, 315-pound Jackson offers intriguing potential as a two-gapper, using his girth and especially long arms (34 3/4″) to stack and shed would-be blockers at the point of attack. 97. Adam Randall, RB, ClemsonProjection: Round 4-5The 6-foot-3, 232-pounder spent his first three years at Clemson as a receiver, but flourished in 2025 at tailback, showing impressive vision and toughness between the tackles, as well as power and surprising slipperiness to create yards after contact. 96. Jalen Farmer, OG, KentuckyProjection: Round 4-5Guards don’t typically come with highlight reels, but Farmer is an exception — he just needs to play with greater awareness (and lighter feet) in pass protection to emerge as an NFL starter. 95. Jake Slaughter, C, FloridaProjection: Round 4A center-only prospect due to his relatively narrow shoulders and wide hips, Slaughter won’t be a fit for everyone. But his naturally low center of gravity, quality technique and proven effectiveness against quality competition suggest he’ll outperform his draft selection. 94. Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke Projection: Round 4He’s a four-year standout at cornerback who lacks ideal size but possesses the instincts and quickness to handle slot duties. 93. Travis Burke, OT, MemphisProjection: Round 4Football is a big man’s game, and they simply don’t come much bigger than the 6-foot-9, 325-pound Burke, who uses his girth, long arms (34 inches) and leg drive to maul opponents. 92. Gracen Halton, DT, OklahomaProjection: Round 4Halton may never be a full-time starter, but I like his fit as a quick-twitch interior disruptor in an NFL rotation. 91. Caden Curry, Edge, Ohio StateProjection: Round 4One of this year’s real breakout stars, Curry added spice to the Buckeyes’ pass rush in 2025. He jumped from 2.5 sacks as a junior to 11 as a senior, but he’s more strong than sudden and might have benefited from his supporting cast. 90. Eli Raridon, TE. Notre DameProjection: Round 4Similar in some ways to Georgia’s Oscar Delp, Raridon lacks eye-popping stats. But he offers an exciting blend of size and athleticism and comes from a program well known for developing NFL talent at tight end. 89. Drew Allar, QB, Penn StateProjection: Round 4A classic dropback passer with an ideal frame and arm, Allar offers the basic building blocks worthy of developing. 88. Michael Trigg, TE, Baylor Projection: Round 4A loose and fluid athlete with long arms, Trigg boasts intoxicating upside, but he’s sushi-raw as a route-runner and blocker with a lot of concentration drops on tape. 87. Brenen Thompson, WR. Mississippi StateProjection: Round 4Scouts already knew Thompson would be among the fastest players in this draft — seven of his 10 career receiving TDs went for 40-plus yards — and he proved it at the Combine in a blistering 4.26 seconds. 86. Daylen Everette, CB, Georgia Projection: Round 4Scouts can check off a lot of boxes with Everette, a 41-game starter with an exceptional blend of size (6-1, 196 pounds, 32-inch arms) and speed (4.38). 85. Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota StateProjection: Round 4With only one year as a starter, Payton is as raw as it gets. But the 6-foot-3, 232-pound southpaw has plenty of arm and is a powerful and instinctive runner. 84. Caleb Tiernan, OL, Northwestern Projection: Round 4A 6-foot-8, 323-pounder with stubby arms (32 1/4″), Tiernan likely will slide inside to guard after starting the past four years at tackle. 83. Mason Reiger, Edge, WisconsinProjection: Round 4Long and lean for the position but highly physical and a more nuanced rusher than his 13 career sacks might suggest, I think Reiger’s best football is still ahead of him. 82. Taylen Green, QB, ArkansasProjection: Round 4He’s easily the biggest and most athletic of this QB class yet lacks his counterparts’ accuracy. It thus begs the question: If a team is looking to develop a signal-caller, why not gamble on the one with the highest upside? 81. Alex Harkey, OG, OregonProjection: Round 4Harkey spent time at four different colleges (Tyler JC, Colorado and Texas State) and could be on the move again in the NFL — sliding inside after playing 2025 at right tackle. But he shows the initial quickness, girth and tenacity to handle the switch. 80. Jude Bowry, OT, Boston CollegeProjection: Round 4The drop-off in talent is steep at OT, but Bowry is my favorite of the second-tier prospects at the position, struggling a bit with injury and inconsistency yet flashing the raw talent to suggest that he may be better in the NFL than he was in college. 79. Chris McClellan, DT, Missouri Projection: Round 4Overshadowed by edge rushers during his time at Missouri (and Florida), McClellan’s combination of bulk, power and surprising quickness translate well to the next level. 78. Kaleb Proctor, DT, Southeastern Louisiana Projection: Round 4Proctor may not look the part of a full-time DT in the NFL, but few in this class can match his initial quickness and lateral agility — traits that should help him generate plenty of disruption. 77. Keyshawn James-Newby, Edge, New MexicoProjection: Round 4Among this year’s quickest rushers off the ball, James-Newby led the Mountain West in both sacks (9) and forced fumbles (3), while finishing second in the conference with 15 tackles for loss. 76. Carson Beck, QB, MiamiProjection: Round 4In some circles, Beck might be better known for his mistakes than his successes, but he’s battle-tested, a gifted natural passer and offers prototypical size. He is one of the few QBs in this class with a realistic shot of eventually being an NFL starter. 75. Keagen Trost, OG, MissouriProjection: Round 4Broad as a barn door, Trost (who turned 25 this month) was literally a man among boys in the SEC last year, showing off the bulk and strong hands that I think will suit the longtime collegiate tackle best inside at guard in the NFL. 74. Le’Veon Moss, RB, Texas A&M Projection: Round 4If not for durability issues, Moss might warrant second-round consideration due to his vision, initial burst and an attacking mentality which drives him through would-be tacklers. 73. Kage Casey, OG, Boise StateProjection: Round 4Stopwatches at the Combine suggest that Casey is sluggish, but his tape shows good initial quickness and serious pop on contact — traits that I think will suit the college left tackle best inside at guard. 72. Romello Height, Edge, Texas TechProjection: Round 4At 6-foot-3, 239 pounds, Height lacks ideal size for the edge, but he’s sudden and slippery, winning with a variety of dips and spins to efficiently get past would-be blockers and quickly close on the quarterback. 71. Jimmy Rolder, ILB, MichiganProjection: Round 3-4Showing Jedi-like instincts and picture-perfect tackling technique, Rolder jumped from 26 tackles as a reserve in 2024 to leading the team in stops in 2025. Run-stuffers like Rolder aren’t as valued in today’s pass-happy NFL, so it’s possible he slips into Day 3, but I see a future starter who will ultimately outplay his draft slot. 70. Trey Zuhn III, C, Texas A&M Projection: Round 3-4A classic tweener who lacks the mobility and arm length to remain outside at tackle (where he started four years for the Aggies), Zuhn possesses the short area quickness and pop on contact to move inside. But few teams want 6-foot-7 guards or centers. 69. Treydan Stukes, DB, Arizona Projection: Round 3-4He’s a former walk-on turned star who capped off a stellar 2025 season with a terrific Combine workout. Stukes’ instincts, athleticism and ball-skills make up for his average size and open-field tackling. 68. Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State Projection: Round 3-4He’s sushi-raw as a route-runner, but that can be taught. Hurst offers a 6-foot-4, 205-pound frame with proven 4.4 speed that is well worth a mid-round gamble. 67. Tacario Davis, CB, WashingtonProjection: Round 3-4An injury-plagued 2025 campaign may have kept Davis off the media radar, but he’s well-known by NFL scouts. The uniquely-built 6-foot-4 corner offers the speed (4.41) and hand-eye coordination to corral receivers off the line and at the catch-point. 66. Skyler Bell, WR, ConnecticutProjection: Round 3-4A true speed demon, Bell caught five touchdowns as a redshirt freshman at Wisconsin. But it wasn’t until a breakout 2025 at UConn that he really caught scouts’ attention, showing greater concentration and improved hands. 65. Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota StateProjection: Round 3The NDSU-to-NFL pipeline continues this year with Lance — the younger, faster brother of Trey Lance. Given how rarely the Bison throw the ball, Lance is surprisingly savvy as a route-runner with a legitimate chance to prove a mid-round steal. 64. Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia Projection: Round 3One of this year’s biggest Pro Day risers after clocking in at 4.49 seconds at 6-foot-5, 245 pounds, Delp has a chance to be more productive in the NFL than he was over 55 games (34 starts) with the Bulldogs. 63. De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, MississippiProjection: Round 3A three-time transfer who produced at Washington State and Oklahoma State as well as Ole Miss, Stribling looks the part with a broad 6-foot-2, 207-pound frame and impressive speed, but he’s faster than quick and may struggle to get open versus NFL competition. 62. Wesley Williams, Edge, Duke Projection: Round 3Stubby arms (31 7/8″), average speed (4.89 40) and meager sack production in 2025 (two sacks) could cause some to overlook Williams. But he plays with the anticipation, intensity and violence that could keep him in the NFL for a long time. 61. Chris Bell, WR, LouisvilleProjection: Round 3An ACL tear in December will push Bell well into Day 2, but the 6-foot-2, 222-pounder possesses the bulk, body control and soft hands to project as a future NFL starter. 60. Jadon Canady, CB, Oregon Projection: Round 3Teams willing to sacrifice bulk for quickness, will be intrigued by the thinly-built Canady (5-foot-11, 181 pounds) whose route awareness and quickness closing downhill allow him to disrupt receivers. 59. Max Klare, TE, Ohio StateProjection: Round 3More of an H-back than a traditional sixth lineman, Klare offers quickness, soft hands and body control to make tough contested grabs. 58. VJ Payne, S, Kansas StateProjection: Round 3Scouts can check a lot of boxes with Payne, a team captain and 42-game starter who boasts an exceptional size/speed combination and proven track record for generating turnovers. 57. Sam Roush, TE, StanfordProjection: Round 3In a class full of pass-catching specialists at tight end, Roush is a legitimate “Y” with the size (6-6, 267), strength, smarts and athletic bloodlines to project as a quick contributor. 56. Jonah Coleman, RB, Washington Projection: Round 3A pinball runner whose low center of gravity and leg drive help him break tackles, Coleman is an effective inside runner who might lack top speed but projects well to the NFL because of his commitment to pass protection and soft hands as a receiver. 55. Brian Parker II, OL/C, DukeProjection: Round 3My favorite of this year’s projected position switchers, Parker is a three-year starting right tackle whose burly frame, core strength and underrated athleticism project best inside at the next level. 54. Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa StateProjection: Round 3Appropriately nicknamed “Big Citrus,” Orange uses his round frame and long (33 3/8″) arms to stack and shed opponents at the line of scrimmage. Unfortunately, he provides little “juice” as a rusher, recording just one sack in 50 college games. 53. Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn StateProjection: Round 3He boasts prototypical size (6-2, 200) and excellent ball skills (six INTs among 12 career PBUs), but Wheatley must improve his open-field tackling. 52. Deion Burks, WR, OklahomaProjection: Round 3Topping out at 629 receiving yards (and that was at Purdue in 2023), Burks never dominated in college like his timed speed (4.30 in the 40-yard dash) and strength (his 26 reps tied for the most among receivers) would suggest. But it is hard to imagine some NFL team not gambling a Day 2 pick on his upside. 51. Tyler Onyedim, DT, Texas A&MProjection: Round 3Don’t let the fact that Onyedim generated just 5.5 sacks in 53 games at Texas A&M (and Iowa State) fool you, his first-step quickness, core flexibility and long arms make him one of this year’s most disruptive defensive tackles. 50. Sam Hecht, C, Kansas State Projection: Round 3Quick as a hiccup with the low center of gravity well-suiting to his position, Hecht isn’t overpowering. But his agility and play-through-the-whistle mentality suggest a long NFL career. 49. Malachi Fields, WR, Notre DameProjection: Round 3Clocking at a sluggish 4.61 seconds in the 40-yard dash and corralling just 36 catches for 630 yards and five touchdowns last year for Notre Dame, Fields won’t be for everyone. But the imposing 6-foot-4, 219-pounder offers the physicality, sure hands and surprisingly sharp route-running that project well as a traditional X receiver. 48. Jaishawn Barham, Edge, MichiganProjection: Round 3Barham spent much of his career at Michigan (and previously at Maryland) as an off-ball linebacker, but he possesses projectable twitch and core flexibility to attack off the edge. 47. Logan Jones, C, IowaProjection: Round 3An athletic technician who overcomes middling size and strength, Jones pounces out of his stance to stalemate DTs, projecting as a longtime NFL starter in a zone scheme. 46. Emmett Johnson, RB, NebraskaProjection: Round 3Johnson may lack the top-end speed to consistently beat NFL defenders to the edge, but he earns high marks in some of the traits I think are even more important for success at the next level: lateral agility to make defenders miss in tight spaces, as well as both the vision and burst to attack cutback lanes. 45. Josh Cameron, WR, BaylorProjection: Round 3While Cameron is a couple inches taller, it is easy to see some shades of Deebo Samuel in the Baylor product’s game, as both are essentially running backs in a receiver’s body, bullying opponents with their long arms, strong hands and ultra-physical style. 44. Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio StateProjection: Round 3A four-year starter at Ohio State (and Mississippi), the 6-foot-2, 189-pounder has a high-cut frame that leaves him vulnerable to shifty route-runners. Still, he closes quickly and confidently against both the pass and run, projecting best as a press corner in the NFL. 43. Joshua Josephs, Edge, TennesseeProjection: Round 3Josephs is currently a one-trick pony speed rusher, but he’s so sudden off the snap and has some of the longest arms (34 1/4″) in this class, which have helped him generate nearly as many pass breakups (nine) and forced fumbles (six) as sacks (9.5). 42. Zxavian Harris, DT, MississippiProjection: Round 2-3The massive 6-foot-8, 330-pound Harris is a polarizing prospect among scouts, as he loses leverage at the snap with too much of his production coming downfield. But his ability to play up and down the line of scrimmage and block kicks (six over his career) will have some team gambling on him with a Day 2 pick. 41. Dani Dennis-Sutton, Edge, Penn StateProjection: Round 2-3He is among the handful of prospects to surge on my latest board, proving at the Combine that his stellar production in college was due not only to refined technique but underrated athleticism. Consider Dennis-Sutton one of this year’s biggest winners at Lucas Oil Stadium. 40. Zachariah Branch, WR, GeorgiaProjection: Round 2-3Branch is likely going to generate some Tyreek Hill comparisons during the pre-draft process, powered by the 4.35 speed he demonstrated at the Combine. Like Hill, Branch is at his best as a vertical threat or in the quick game, offering the kind of instant spark to a passing attack that only elite speed can provide. 39. Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSUProjection: Round 2-3A propensity for risky throws and an injury-marred senior campaign are clear red flags, but Nussmeier has the grit, smarts and arm talent required for NFL success. He may never prove to be a frontline starter in the NFL, but he should carve out a long career, justifying a Day 2 selection. 38. Bud Clark, S, TCUProjection: Round 2-3Teams will have to weigh the pros (elite ball skills) versus the cons (spindly 6-foot-1, 188-pound frame) with Clark. His awareness, agility and soft hands he showcased at the Senior Bowl suggest he’ll soon be starting in the NFL. 37. Antonio Williams, WR, ClemsonProjection: Round 2-3With 25 combined touchdowns (21 as a pass-catcher, two as a runner, two as a passer) in 43 career games at Clemson, Williams has a proven big-play knack, showing impressive spatial awareness, body control and soft hands to make difficult plays look routine. 36. Gennings Dunker, OL, IowaProjection: Round 2-3With his long red hair, Dunker enjoyed more airtime during the Combine than some quarterbacks, but his game is built more on power and nastiness than athleticism, which is why the career right tackle might be pinched inside in the NFL. 35. Jalon Kilgore, S, South CarolinaProjection: Round 2-3The team that invests a Day 2 selection on Kilgore is banking on upside — and he offers plenty of that given his prototypical size and athleticism — but there are more lapses in coverage and missed tackles than his flashy highlight reels would suggest. 34. Mike Washington Jr., RB, ArkansasProjection: Round 2-3Few boosted their stock at the Combine more than the burly Washington, whose 4.33-second 40-yard dash time not only was the fastest among all running backs, it was the fastest among any player weighing over 220 pounds. In a relatively weak year for running backs, Washington’s elite size-speed combination warrants top-50 consideration. 33. Chris Brazzell II, WR, TennesseeProjection: Round 2-3Brazzell reminds me a lot of Bengals star Tee Higgins in size and style, towering over cornerbacks with an imposing 6-foot-4 frame. But it’s his rare burst off the snap that separates him from most taller vertical threats. 32. Kyle Louis, OLB, PittsburghProjection: Round 2-3At just 5-foot-11, 224 pounds, Louis won’t be a fit for everyone. But, frankly, I think that’s a mistake. Louis is highly instinctive with lightning-quick closing speed. He is a proven big-play magnet with 24 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and six interceptions over the past two seasons. 31. Derrick Moore, Edge, MichiganProjection: Round 2-3In a class full of Swiss Army knife rushers, the 6-foot-4, 255-pound Moore is the hammer, utilizing a pro-caliber bull rush to bully would-be blockers on his way to the quarterback, generating 10 sacks in 12 games for Michigan in 2025. 30. Jake Golday, ILB, CincinnatiProjection: Round 2A moveable chess piece at nearly 6-foot-5, 239 pounds, Golday is a former edge rusher whose agility and speed have allowed him to excel at off-ball linebacker. He’s raw yet fast and physical. 29. Malik Muhammad, CB, TexasProjection: Round 2The 6-0, 182-pound Muhammad might have a slight frame, but his long arms (32 3/8″), light feet and route anticipation make up for it — as does his experience playing against top competition. 28. Lee Hunter, DT, TexasProjection: Round 2Disappointing workout results might have highlighted some of Hunter’s athletic limitations, but the big man dominated in the trenches during Texas Tech’s playoff run, as well as at the Senior Bowl, winning with a stunning combination of explosive first step quickness and overwhelming brute strength. 27. Germie Bernard, WR, AlabamaProjection: Round 2Bernard isn’t the biggest or fastest receiver in this class, but he shifts gears well to create separation and possesses soft, strong hands to pluck outside his frame, offering a nuanced skill set that projects nicely to the NFL. 26. Eli Stowers, TE, VanderbiltProjection: Round 2A former quarterback who is built more like a receiver than a traditional tight end, Stowers’ tape is full of highlight reel plays and his Combine workout was one of this year’s best. He needs to get stronger, but Stowers projects as a matchup monster out of the slot and wing in the NFL, warranting top-50 consideration. 25. Keith Abney II, CB, Arizona StateProjection: Round 2Everything about the 5-foot-10, 187-pound Abney looks average except his tape — he’s among the most tenacious and competitive players in this class. 24. Connor Lew, C, AuburnProjection: Round 2A baby-faced 20-year-old who opted for the 2026 NFL Draft despite tearing his ACL in October, Lew nevertheless looks the part of a decade-long NFL starting center, offering an ideal blend of size, balance, agility and already grown-man strength. 23. Keyron Crawford, Edge, AuburnProjection: Round 2A late comer to the game who only switched from basketball to football as a senior in high school, Crawford needs to locate the ball quicker and learn to use his hands better to fend off blockers. But few in this class offer his zip and efficient change of direction off the edge. 22. Josiah Trotter, ILB, MissouriProjection: Round 2A downhill thumper with a unique frame, closing speed and NFL bloodlines, Trotter — who won’t turn 21 until April — has the look and energy of a longtime starting middle linebacker. 21. Avieon Terrell, CB, ClemsonProjection: Round 2Nickel cornerbacks have never been more in demand, and Terrell is my favorite among them in this class. The NFL legacy plays significantly above his weight class (180 pounds), averaging 50 tackles over the past two seasons and generating eight forced fumbles during that span, including an ACC-best five this past year. 20. Jacob Rodriguez, ILB, Texas TechProjection: Round 2More decorated than a wedding cake after winning the Nagurski, Bednarik and Butkus awards, Rodriguez arguably should’ve been on my original list even before a terrific showing at the Combine. But I certainly won’t make the mistake of excluding him after he erased any doubts about his pure athleticism in Indy. 19. Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, OregonProjection: Round 2A classic mauler whose square-ish 6-foot-4, 314-pound frame is seemingly all shoulders and thighs, Pregnon is one of the few true guards who projects as an immediate NFL starter. 18. Keionte Scott, DB, MiamiProjection: Round 2If he weren’t such an instinctive, passionate football player, Scott could make it as a travel guide, starring at Snow Junior College, Auburn and Miami, where he’s played safety, linebacker, nickel, cornerback and punt returner. I like him best at big nickel, where his instincts and physicality should shine brightest. 17. R Mason Thomas, Edge, OklahomaProjection: Round 2Reminiscent of another former Sooner — Broncos star Nik Bonitto — Thomas personifies the often-used scouting expression of “converting speed to power.” He routinely forces would-be blockers onto their heels and off-balance with an explosive burst and then bull-rushes them through the chest on a direct route to the ballcarrier. 16. A.J. Haulcy, S, LSUProjection: Round 2Feast or famine personified, Haulcy promises to be one of the more polarizing defenders of this class as he’s decisive and a heavy hitter but also hyper aggressive and prone to missed tackles. 15. D’Angelo Ponds, CB, IndianaProjection: Round 2I’m less confident that undersized defenders such as Ponds will be among the first 50 players drafted than I am about him ultimately proving he should’ve been. At just 5-foot-9, 173 pounds, Ponds has obvious limitations, but he’s pound-for-pound the most physical and instinctive DB in this class with 33 pass breakups — including seven interceptions — in three standout seasons at the collegiate level. 14. Christen Miller, DT, GeorgiaProjection: Round 2Miller elected not to participate in the timed drills at the Combine, but he’s just too good of a player to not include on this list. I don’t see a flashy athlete, but he has prototypical size (6-foot-4, 321 pounds) for blue collar run-stuffing duties. Miller’s length, strength and grit suggest that he’ll stick around in the NFL for a decade or more. 13. Chase Bisontis, OG, Texas A&MProjection: Round 2An athletic 6-foot-5, 315-pounder, Bisontis looks and moves like a tackle — he even earned freshman All-American honors at right tackle back in 2023. He played even better inside at left guard the past two years, showing the initial quickness and agility to fit best in a zone-blocking scheme. 12. Anthony Hill Jr., ILB, Texas Projection: Round 2Hill was asked to play many roles during his three years at Texas, spanning from edge rusher to inside linebacker to even nickel cornerback. That fact speaks to Hill’s football IQ. The tape shows uncommon agility for a 6-foot-3, 240-pound linebacker, as well reliable open-field tackling skills. 11. Zion Young, Edge, MissouriProjection: Round 1-2Among the most physical players in the entire class, Young pairs violent hands with ideal size (6-foot-6, 262 pounds) and strength to bully opponents at the line of scrimmage. He lacks the burst and bend around the corner, however, to expect much more in the NFL than the career-high 6.5 sacks he posted in 2025. 10. CJ Allen, ILB, GeorgiaProjection: Round 1-2Many of the top off-ball linebackers in this class are hybrid-types with limited experience taking on and shedding blockers in the hole. Allen isn’t flashy, but he’s as close to a Day 1 starting middle linebacker as this class has to offer. He’s smart, stout and just scratching the surface of his potential at just 20 years old. 9. Brandon Cisse, CB, South CarolinaProjection: Round 1-2Cisse has all the traits to become a quality NFL starter — including a prototypical blend of size, speed and physicality in run support. His occasional mistakes on tape seemed coachable, and with Cisse not turning 21 until July, the expectation is that he’s just scratching the surface. 8. Gabe Jacas, Edge, IllinoisProjection: Round 1-2Using a blend of physicality and instincts that translates well to the pro game, Jacas led the Big Ten with 11 sacks and three forced fumbles in 2025 before delivering a stellar performance at the Senior Bowl. Jacas may lack the twitch of some of this year’s top pass-rushers, but I see shades of a young DeMarcus Lawrence in Jacas’ game. 7. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, ToledoProjection: Round 1-2The ability to create turnovers is like catnip to football scouts, and few in this class offer a more tantalizing track record of that than the lanky, hard-hitting McNeil-Warren, who enters the NFL with nine forced fumbles and five interceptions in his career. 6. Kayden McDonald, NG, Ohio StateProjection: Round 1-2At 6-foot-3, 326 pounds, McDonald is every bit the run-plugger his frame suggests, complementing his dense, powerful frame with excellent balance and spatial awareness. He isn’t going to ever lead the NFL in sacks, but he’s no slug against the pass, either, showing effort, power and surprisingly quick feet to play all three downs. 5. T.J. Parker, Edge, ClemsonProjection: Round 1-2Like several of his former Clemson teammates, Parker was the victim of his own success, struggling to live up to expectations in 2025 after a dominant 2024 campaign that included 19.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and an FBS-leading six forced fumbles. He’s a functional, rugged edge defender whose game is built more on torque than twitch. 4. Denzel Boston, WR, WashingtonProjection: Round 1-2The whole point of playing receiver is to catch touchdowns, and with 20 TDs over the past two seasons, Boston is the most prolific scorer of this year’s top wideouts. He should be able to continue this red zone mastery in the NFL, using his 6-foot-4, 209-pound frame, timing, body control and strong hands to win above the rim. 3. Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&MProjection: Round 1-2Stubby (30 1/4-inch arms) and less explosive (32.5-inch vertical jump) than expected, Howell slips down my board a bit after a disappointing Combine. But he remains one of my favorite prospects in this class because of his slipperiness off the edge and ability to drop into coverage. 2. Colton Hood, CB, TennesseeProjection: Round 1-2Hood travels as well in the hip pocket of receivers as he does in the transfer portal, bouncing from Auburn to Colorado to Tennessee over the past three years before entering the draft at just 20 years old. He is an easy mover with impressive awareness of the ball and in run support, as well as a legitimate playmaker with touchdowns scored via interception and fumble recoveries. 1. Jermod McCoy, CB, TennesseeProjection: Round 1-2McCoy’s first two college seasons (at Oregon State and Tennessee, respectively) were so impressive that he maintained a first-round grade on my board even after missing the entire 2025 season with an ACL injury. When healthy, McCoy is a smooth cover corner with terrific ball skills, breaking up 16 passes (with six interceptions) over that span.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

While the prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft class might not have been highly-touted, the first round of this year’s draft certainly brought the fireworks. Of course, the Las Vegas Raiders took Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick, but there were plenty of surprises after that. The Arizona Cardinals took running back Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick. Not many had the Tennessee Titans drafting wide receiver Carnell Tate at No. 4. No pick caused a greater shock, though, than the Los Angeles Rams’ decision to select Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick. Why did Los Angeles add a backup quarterback with such a premium selection? Here are our five takeaways from Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft: 1. Cowboys are an early draft winner with Caleb Downs Ben Arthur: The Cowboys may have gotten the best player in this year’s draft. And they didn’t have to overspend to get him. There was plenty of speculation pre-draft that Dallas, armed with two first-round picks (Nos. 12, 20), could be aggressive to move up. Instead, it let the board come to them, and traded up just one spot with the Dolphins at a relatively cheap price — pick 12 and two fifth-rounders (Nos. 177, 180) — to take Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, who was widely touted as a generational prospect. Jerry Jones and Co. couldn’t have asked for a better scenario. Downs should immediately be one of the best players on a Cowboys’ defense that ranked last in points allowed in 2025. Beyond his incredible instincts and skills, his football IQ can’t be ignored. Thirty-four-year-old Christian Parker will be a first-time defensive coordinator in Dallas. Downs was running Nick Saban’s defense at Alabama as a true freshman, so there’s reason to believe he won’t have the typical rookie hiccups. Parker’s extensive background as a DBs coach with the Broncos (2021-23) and Eagles (2024-25) should serve him in deploying Downs, who’s a safety by position but has the versatility to play all over the secondary. And Downs wasn’t the only win for the Cowboys Thursday night. They traded back with the Eagles three spots to No. 23, which was used to select UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence, and picked up two fourth-round picks in the process. So essentially, Dallas gave up two Day 3 picks in the Downs trade but was later able to replace them, one round up. To sum up, the Cowboys got two players who should immediately impact their defense. They moved up and down the draft order with prudence. Plus, star wide receiver George Pickens is signing his franchise tender. All in all, Friday night should be viewed as a success at The Star. 2. Even the Buccaneers were surprised to get Rueben Bain Jr., and now their pass rush is much better Greg Auman It’s good fortune when the best player available can line up with a team’s most glaring positional need, and that was a pleasant surprise for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who did not expect Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. to still be there when they picked at No. 15. General manager Jason Licht said there were “very few scenarios” where they expected Bain to be there — he was widely projected as a top-10 pick, and only one of the last 80 mock drafts posted at NFLmockdraftdatabase.com had him around when the Bucs were picking. Part of that drop could be the news last week that Bain was driving in a 2024 car accident that left one passenger dead. He was cited with careless driving, and Licht said the team had known about the incident long before it became public, saying “he’s a good person” and someone they had no misgivings about selecting. The Bucs sorely need pass-rush help, and they’ll have three new impact players there, first in Bain, but also in free agent Al-Quadin Muhammad, who had 12.5 sacks off the bench for the Lions last year, as well as second-year pro David Walker, who missed his rookie season with injury. Tampa Bay’s defense – and specifically its pass rush – disappeared down the stretch last year when the Bucs lost seven of eight and missed the playoffs for the first time in six years. The team’s success – and the future of head coach Todd Bowles – may hinge on the defense playing at a higher and more consistent level. Licht said he hasn’t seen many draft rooms more excited than the Bucs were when Bain fell to them, and he’ll be a key part of their comeback efforts this coming season. 3. Giant surprise helps John Harbaugh build a dangerous pass rush in New York Ralph Vacchiano: The best New York Giants teams in the Super Bowl era have had pass rushes that came at opposing quarterbacks in waves. That’s what they think they’ve built again, after Arvell Reese fell into their laps on Thursday night. They were stunned, in fact, when that happened because they had Reese, the Ohio State edge rusher, rated as the No. 1 non-quarterback on their entire board. So when he was still available at five, the franchise that lives by the mantra “You can never have enough pass rushers” jumped at the chance to add another. So now the Giants have a pass rush that includes Reese, All-Pro Brian Burns (16.5 sacks last season), Kayvon Thibodeaux (11 sacks in 2023 before injuries started to hurt him), and Abdul Carter, the No. 2 overall pick in the draft last year. That rotation may not evoke memories of Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka just yet. But they should be a lock to improve on their 38 team sacks last year. And that could be enough to make one of the NFL’s worst defenses into a competitive unit, at least. No quarterback will be comfortable playing against this team. That pick, plus the addition of Miami (Fla.) offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa with the 10th overall pick (which they got from Cincinnati for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence), played right into new coach John Harbaugh’s plan. He promised his team would be strong in the trenches. And in the first round, they got much stronger on both sides of the ball. 4. Makai Lemon will be Eagles OC Sean Mannion’s building block Henry McKenna: It has been clear for weeks that the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles have essentially agreed to terms on an A.J. Brown trade, which will go through on June 1. Philly’s first-round selection only affirms what we already knew. Makai Lemon, whom the Eagles traded up to get at No. 20 (stealing him away from the Steelers), will join DeVonta Smith, Hollywood Brown and Dontayvion Wicks, who the Eagles acquired from the Packers. It’s clear that general manager Howie Roseman is building a passing offense around what new OC Sean Mannion will need. And if Mannion has what he needs, it’ll set up Jalen Hurts for success. This new vision started with the Wicks acquisition and it’ll extend to Lemon. By adding Lemon, the Eagles have admittedly brought in a deep pool of receivers with similar profiles. I don’t think that’s necessarily a problem. The Seahawks — who run a similar system to what the Eagles will likely run — powered their offense around Cooper Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a pair of slot receivers (who can, realistically, line up all over the formation). There will be a lot of pressure on Lemon. Just ask Treylon Burks — who joined the Titans as a first-rounder after Tennessee traded away A.J. Brown. But Roseman is as shrewd as they come. Lemon is a really good yards-after-catch receiver. He’s fast. He was a high-production player at USC. And in this offense, I could see him being the most productive rookie wideout in 2026. 5. Rams pick Matthew Stafford’s successor when they needed to add another playmaker Eric D. Williams: For the second time since Sean McVay took over as the team’s head coach in 2017, the Rams drafted a quarterback, picking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson as the heir apparent for starting quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Rams needed a backup, with Jimmy Garoppolo mulling retirement and 2023 fourth-round selection Stetson Bennett the only other quarterback on the roster. At No. 13, the Rams had the team’s highest draft selection in the first round since selecting Jared Goff at No. 1 in the 2016 draft. The last team to take a quarterback in the first round with the reigning league MVP on the roster was the Green Bay Packers in 1967, who took Don Horne at No. 25 overall to back up 33-year-old Bart Starr. At 6-1 and 212 pounds, Simpson is an accurate thrower with good movement skills who plays with anticipation. He should be a good fit in McVay’s offense and now has time to grow and develop behind the 38-year-old Stafford. However, the Rams finished a game away from the Super Bowl, losing a closely contested NFC Championship game in Seattle. Yes, the Rams made moves in free agency to upgrade the defense by trading for versatile slot defender Trent McDuffie and signing cornerback Jaylen Watson, but the addition of Simpson doesn’t necessarily upgrade an offense in need of another playmaker, particularly with Puka Nacua dealing with off-the-field issues this offseason. “I hate sitting here and going: we are a player away in the draft from a Super Bowl,” Rams general manager Les Snead said at his post-Round 1 press conference. “At the end of the day, what we want to accomplish in the draft and any acquisitions that we have is to try to engineer as competent a team as possible. And then let’s go to work. “Let’s get through May. Let’s get through June. Let’s come back in August. Let’s then go to Australia and play Game 1. And try to be the best team, try to evolve and be playing our best football at the end.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will ultimately come to life because of its constellation of stars, and this summer’s tournament will be full of them. From living legends like Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo to goal machines Kylian Mbappé of France and Erling Haaland of Norway — these are the names who’ll take center stage starting in June. Here’s one player from each of the 48 World Cup squads worth keeping a close eye on. JUMP TO: Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D | Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H | Group I | Group J | Group K | Group L 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP A Raúl Jiménez | Forward | Mexico Age: 34National team appearances: 123Club: Fulham (England) Jiménez is part of Mexico’s veteran core. He scored nine of El Tri’s 22 goals in 2025, including a brace in both the Nations League semifinal and final. Jimenez also netted the winning goal in the Gold Cup semifinal and added another in the win over the U.S. in the tournament final. Jimenez, who has already played in three World Cups, has also scored nine goals for Fulham across all competitions this season and is in ideal form entering an important summer with a World Cup on home soil. Notable stat: Jiménez has scored 44 goals for Mexico, which is three shy of moving into second all time and nine shy of breaking the record held by Javier “Chicharito” Hernández. Jimenez’s European club career includes stops at Atlético Madrid, Benfica, Wolverhampton and Fulham. Lyle Foster | Forward | South Africa Age: 25National team appearances: 30Club: Burnley (England) Foster brings a strong attacking presence to the Bafana Bafana. He’s fast and can be dangerous in the buildup, but his teammates need to find ways to get him the ball. The 25-year-old striker plays for Burnley in the Premier League, where he has scored three goals this season. Foster netted two goals and had two assists in the Africa Cup of Nations as South Africa made it to the round of 16. Notable stat: Foster has made nearly 100 appearances for Burnley since joining the club in 2022 and has scored 10 goals for South Africa in 30 appearances. Son Heung-min | Forward | South Korea Age: 33National team appearances: 142Club: LAFC (United States) Known as “Sonny,” South Korea’s undisputed star and captain will be a fan favorite. Son is South Korea’s most-capped player and is close to becoming the program’s all-time leading goal-scorer — perhaps he’ll break that record over the summer. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he led the Taegeuk Warriors to a dramatic group-stage win over Portugal, but they fell in the Round of 16 when they lost to Brazil. The winger is in good form for LAFC and leads MLS this season in assists. Notable stat: Before his move to LAFC in 2024, Son spent 10 seasons at Tottenham, where he scored 173 goals in 454 appearances. Tomáš Souček | Midfielder | Czechia Age: 32National team appearances: 89Club: West Ham United (England) Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick will likely score goals this summer, but Souček will provide reliability in the midfield for Czechia. Souček has been the team’s longtime captain, and he led the squad to qualify for the World Cup by beating both Ireland and Denmark on penalties during the UEFA playoffs in March. Souček was also nominated as the Czech Footballer of the Year in 2025. Notable stat: Souček has made more than 270 appearances for West Ham United since 2019. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP B Alphonso Davies | Forward | Canada Age: 25National team appearances: 58Club: Bayern Munich (Germany) Davies will wear the armband for the co-hosts this summer and is looking to bounce back after what’s been an injury-marred season for his club. The Bayern Munich standout, UEFA Champions League winner and former FIFA Best XI selection scored the first World Cup goal in Canada’s history in 2022 at Qatar. His main attribute is his versatility. He often plays left back for Bayern but takes a more attacking position for Canada. In Bayern’s Bundesliga-clinching win on April 19, he scored his first goal of the season. Notable stat: Davies has made more than 240 appearances for Bayern Munich since joining the team in 2018. Esmir Bajraktarević | Forward | Bosnia and Herzegovina Age: 21National team appearances: 14Club: PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands) It’s easy to pick 40-year-old talisman striker Edin Džeko, but let’s go with surprise star Bajraktarević. The 21-year-old MLS academy product — he was born and raised in Appleton, Wisconsin, after his parents fled the war-torn Baltic state in the 1990s — converted the decisive penalty attempt against Italy in March’s World Cup playoffs. Cut from the U.S. Olympic team in 2024 before switching international allegiances, the player who has been affectionately nicknamed the “Milwaukee Messi” now returns to his native country for this summer’s World Cup. Notable stat: Bajraktarević has made nearly 40 appearances for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven since joining that team in 2025 from MLS club New England Revolution. Almoez Ali | Forward | Qatar Age: 29National team appearances: 125Club: Al-Duhail (Qatar) Though he’s not yet even 30, Ali has already made well more than 100 appearances for Qatar and is the Maroons’ all-time top scorer with 60 international goals. The Sudan-born striker was also part of the 2022 World Cup squad for Qatar, which hosted the tournament. Notable stat: Ali led Qatar to two AFC Cup titles and was the top scorer in the 2019 edition. Manuel Akanji | Defender | Switzerland Age: 30National team appearances: 79Club: Inter Milan (Italy) Although defensive midfielder Granit Xhaka is the captain, look for Akanji to also take on a big responsibility. The Manchester City man, who’s on loan at Inter Milan this season, has helped get the Italian club on the verge of two domestic trophies. For Switzerland, he’s been an anchor for a defense that conceded just two goals in six games in the final round of UEFA’s 2026 World Cup qualifying tournament. Notable stat: Since 2017, Akanji has made more than 330 appearances for Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City and Inter Milan. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP C Raphinha | Forward | Brazil Age: 29National team appearances: 37Club: Barcelona (Spain) On a star-studded roster, who do you pick? Let’s lean on Raphinha. While Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior gets most of the plaudits, the Barcelona attacking midfielder has arguably been the better player over the last year, despite some hamstring injuries. Raphinha was the lone Brazilian to earn a Ballon d’Or nomination in 2025, and his ability to also play on the wings will keep opponents on their toes this summer. Notable stat: Raphinha has made more than 170 appearances for Barcelona since joining the club in 2022 from Leeds United, totaling more than 130 goal contributions. Brahim Díaz | Forward | Morocco Age: 26National team appearances: 24Club: Real Madrid (Spain) Paris Saint-Germain defender Archaf Hakimi is seen as a top-10 player in the world, but Brahim Díaz could be a breakout star for Morocco at this World Cup. The Real Madrid midfielder scored five goals for the Atlas Lions in the Africa Cup of Nations, and fans are hoping that was just the jumping off point. Díaz played for the Spanish youth national team before committing to Morocco and is a rising star who former manager Walid Regragui said could be “the best player in the world.” The 26-year-old was not part of Morocco’s 2022 World Cup team, which made it to the semifinal, but he could be a reason why the squad makes another deep run in 2026. Notable stat: The 26-year-old has made nearly 300 appearances in his time with Manchester City, AC Milan and Real Madrid; he appeared in 12 Champions League games this season as well. Johny Placide | Goalkeeper | Haiti Age: 38National team appearances: 79Club: Bastia (France) Placide could be very busy this summer. The 38-year-old French-born goalkeeper has been Haiti’s captain for the last 15 years and will backstop the team’s effort this summer in a group that includes five-time champion Brazil and 2022 semifinalist Morocco. Notable stat: Placide has been a part of Haiti’s two bronze-medal finishes at the Caribbean Cup, coming in 2012 and 2014. Scott McTominay | Midfielder | Scotland Age: 29National team appearances: 69Club: Napoli (Italy) McTominay has had a renaissance over the past year. The 6-foot-3 attacking midfielder 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. A former Manchester United player, McTominay will be the focal point for the Tartan Army. Notable stat: McTominay was named the 2024-25 Serie A Footballer of the Year, becoming the first Scottish player to win the Italian award. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP D Weston McKennie | Midfielder | United States Age: 27National team appearances: 64Club: Juventus (Italy) Has McKennie now surpassed AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic — who struggled mightily in early 2026 — as the Americans’ most influential player? The all-action Juventus midfielder is having a career season (four goals during Champions League competition) in which he’s been the best player for Italy’s most successful club. It was promising that he scored for the USA in the March friendly against Belgium, despite the 5-2 loss in Atlanta. Now a veteran presence for the Stars and Stripes, McKennie can further solidify his stardom on home soil this summer. Notable stat: McKennie has made more than 220 appearances for Juventus since joining the club in 2020, with more than 50 goal contributions in that span. His 64 caps are third-most among active players behind Pulisic’s 84 and Tim Ream’s 80. Miguel Almirón | Midfielder | Paraguay Age: 32National team appearances: 75Club: Atlanta United (United States) Almirón is familiar to fans on three continents, having moved from Cerro Porteño in his native country to Argentine club Lanús to MLS side Atlanta United to Premier League mainstay Newcastle United before returning to Atlanta last year. With Paraguay being the USA’s opening match opponent, Almirón could also help spoil the Americans’ party during group stage action. Notable stat: Almirón made 223 appearances for Newcastle United from 2018 to 2025, scoring 30 goals and 12 assists. Jordan Bos | Defender | Australia Age: 23National team appearances: 25Club: Feyenoord (Netherlands) The 23-year-old Feyenoord left back is a quicking turning heads in European club soccer. Bos has experience scoring against the USA, and he could do so again when the Socceroos take on the co-hosting team in Seattle in group-stage play. Last October, he had the Aussies’ lone goal in a 2-1 loss to the U.S. in an exhibition match in Denver. He scored in his next two appearances, too, including a game-winner over Cameroon in March. Notable stat: Bos made 46 appearances in two seasons for Westerlo (Belgian Pro League) before making his move to the Dutch Eredivisie. Kenan Yıldız | Forward | Türkiye Age: 20National team appearances: 28Club: Juventus (Italy) Expect a tough matchup for the USA when it takes on Yıldız and Türkiye in what could be the Group D decider this summer. Real Madrid forward Arda Güler is continuing to shine this season (despite suffering an injury on April 23), but 20-year-old Juventus playmaker Yıldız has already established himself as one of the game’s most gifted youngsters in global soccer. In 2024-25, the Juventus winger scored Serie A’s “Goal of the Season.” Notable stat: In 42 appearances for Juventus this season, Yildiz has scored 11 goals and recorded 10 assists. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP E Florian Wirtz | Midfielder | Germany Age: 22National team appearances: 39Club: Liverpool (England) Wirtz may be struggling this season with Liverpool, but he’ll give Germany a shot at making a deep run at the World Cup. The 22-year-old 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. He then moved to Liverpool later that year on a blockbuster $156 million transfer deal but continues to adjust to life in the Premier League. In March, Wirtz scored his 10th goal in just 39 games for his country. Notable stat: Before moving to Liverpool this season, Wirtz scored 57 goals and 65 assists in 197 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen from 2019 to 2025. Eloy Room | Goalkeeper | Curaçao Age: 37National team appearances: 70Club: Miami FC (United States) With debut team Curaçao facing some stiff competition in this group, Room figures to be plenty busy for the Blue Wave this summer. Tied for the most caps (with former Aston Villa striker Leandro Bacuna) in Curaçao’s history, Room’s journeyman career has taken him across several clubs in the Netherlands and Belgium. He did have a notable stint in MLS as he helped the Columbus Crew win the 2020 MLS Cup. Room now plays for Miami FC in the USA’s second-tier USL Championship. Notable stat: Room recorded a clean sheet for the Columbus Crew in the 3-0 victory in the 2020 MLS Cup final over the Seattle Sounders. Franck Kessié | Midfielder | Ivory Coast Age: 29National team appearances: 102Club: Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia) Kessié is not just Ivory Coast’s heart-and-soul central midfielder, but he is also the Elephants’ captain. Now playing his club ball in Saudi Arabia, the 29-year-old’s resume includes stints with European juggernauts Barcelona and AC Milan. A good showing this summer at the World Cup could land him a return to a European club. Notable stat: During his time at AC Milan and Barcelona, Kessie totaled 266 appearances, scoring 40 goals and 19 assists. Moisés Caicedo | Midfielder | Ecuador Age: 24National team appearances: 60Club: Chelsea (England) Regarded as perhaps the finest defensive midfielder in the game, Caicedo will lead a stacked Ecuador side that also features 36-year-old all-time scoring leader Enner Valencia and young Paris Saint-Germain defender Willian Pacho. La Tri is seen as a dark-horse side, but Caicedo helped Chelsea win the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and is the linchpin in Ecuador’s lineup. Notable stat: Caicedo’s transfer from Brighton Hove & Albion to Chelsea in 2023 was the fourth-most expensive for a central midfielder in the world at $129.5 million, according to Transfermarkt. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP F Virgil van Dijk | Defender | Netherlands Age: 34National team appearances: 90Club: Liverpool (England) Van Dijk is the best center back in the world. The main thing about the 6-foot-5 stalwart defender is his leadership. He captains both his Liverpool club and his country, and his energy and tone trickle down to his teammates. He’s literally and figuratively the quarterback of his back line. He’s composed on the ball, rarely makes mistakes, wins one-on-one battles and is a bully in the air. He’ll turn 35 during the World Cup, but his age doesn’t matter — van Dijk is a reason why the Oranje are automatically contenders against any opponent. Notable stat: One of the most decorated Dutch players of all time, van Dijk is a former English Premier League Player of the Season and five-time Team of the Season selection. Takefusa Kubo | Forward | Japan Age: 24National team appearances: 48Club: Real Sociedad (Spain) Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo is a key player for Japan, but will he be able to come back in time for the World Cup after ankle surgery in February? Regardless, the Samurai Blue will need players like Kubo to step up. The Real Sociedad winger, who was once dubbed the “Japanese Messi,” has looked good following his return from a hamstring injury in January. He’s been a key contributor for Real Sociedad, which won the Spanish Copa del Rey in April. Notable stat: Kubo played for Barcelona’s youth academy and was acquired by Real Madrid in 2019, never making an appearance for the team but totaling more than 200 appearances in La Liga play for Mallorca, Villarreal, Getafe and Real Sociedad. Viktor Gyökeres | Forward | Sweden Age: 27National team appearances: 32Club: Arsenal (England) Sweden will have two elite strikers in Liverpool’s Alexander Isak and Arsenal’s Gyökeres, but the latter has been a bit more prolific this season. The Arsenal star scored four goals in Sweden’s two playoff games against Ukraine and Poland. Isak is working his way back from surgery on a fibula fracture last December, which means Gyökeres is the most in form at the moment to lead the Swedish attack this summer. Notable stat: Before moving to Arsenal this season, Gyökeres scored 97 goals and 28 assists in 102 appearances for Sporting Lisbon. Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane | Midfielder | Tunisia Age: 26National team appearances: 54Club: Al-Ahly (Egypt) Tunisia’s bread and butter may be its defense, but Romdhane is known for his proficiency on the ball and has a nose for goal. The 26-year-old plays for Al Ahly in Egypt, and he scored a goal against Portuguese powerhouse Porto at the 2025 Club World Cup. He also scored the goal that booked Tunisia’s spot at the World Cup in a 1-0 qualifier win over Equatorial Guinea in September. The Eagles of Carthage will likely be over-matched by their group opponents, but any foe certainly has to account for Romdhane and his propensity to impact the game. Notable stat: Romdhane spent eight seasons playing at clubs in Tunisia and Hungary before moving to Al Ahly in the Egyptian Premier League in 2024. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP G Jérémy Doku | Forward | Belgium Age: 23National team appearances: 41Club: Manchester City (England) Napoli midfielder Kevin De Bruyne? Real Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois? We’re going with standout winger Jérémy Doku. Belgium boasts elite players up and down its lineup, including veteran defender Thomas Meunier and captain Youri Tielemans, but the 23-year-old Manchester City dangerman — a key threat — is its undisputed game-breaker. He scored against the USA in the March friendly, and the Red Devils will go as far as he takes them. Notable stat: Since signing with Manchester City in 2023, Doku has made more than 120 appearances for the team, with 20 coming in the Champions League. Mohamed Salah | Forward | Egypt Age: 33National team appearances: 115Club: Liverpool (England) Mohamed Salah is easily the greatest player in the country’s history with 67 goals. The Pharaohs captain and Liverpool icon, who’ll leave the club this summer, could overtake current national team coach Hossam Hassan’s Egyptian record of 69 goals in what could be his final World Cup. Notable stat: Salah is a two-time African Footballer of the Year winner and a two-time English Premier League Player of the Season. He’s won nine major trophies with Liverpool — including two league titles and the Champions League. Mehdi Taremi | Forward | Iran Age: 33National team appearances: 103Club: Olimpiacos (Greece) Taremi stands out for Team Melli. The talented striker is Iran’s captain and best player, having played across several prominent European teams. A key factor for Greek power Olimpiacos, Taremi was a UEFA Champions League runner-up with Inter Milan last season. Notable stat: In 225 combined appearances with Porto and Inter Milan, Taremi scored 94 goals and added 65 assists. Chris Wood | Forward | New Zealand Age: 34National team appearances: 88Club: Nottingham Forest (England) If New Zealand score any goals this summer, it’ll likely be by Chris Wood. The 34-year-old Premier Leaguer has more goals and caps than any player in the country’s history. The 6-foot-3 Nottingham Forest striker also wears the armband for the Kiwis under English coach Darren Bazeley. Notable stat: Wood’s career includes stops all around the English Premier League, having played at Leicester City, Leeds United, Burnley and Newcastle United before making the move to Nottingham Forest in 2023. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP H Lamine Yamal | Forward | Spain Age: 18National team appearances: 25Club: Barcelona (Spain) World Cup fans will be relieved that Yamal is expected to be in action this summer for Spain, despite a hamstring injury that will keep him out of Barcelona’s final stretch. This will be the 18-year-old’s first World Cup, and he will be an absolute delight for fans. He’s creative and unafraid on the ball and is a force in the attack, when healthy, be it for Spain or his club Barcelona. While this will be his debut on the global stage, Yamal has already won a Euros medal, and his unique talent already has soccer fans wondering if he’s the best player in the world already or if it’s only a matter of time. Notable stat: He is the most expensive player in the world at $235.5 million, according to Transfermarkt. At age 17, he became the first player ever to score or assist in the quarterfinals, semifinals and final of a single European Championship during the 2024 edition. Dailon Livramento | Forward | Cape Verde Age: 24National team appearances: 20Club: Casa Pia (Portugal) Livramento carries the hopes and dreams of this island nation off the coast of Africa. The 24-year-old plays in Portugal and has scored the two most important goals in his nation’s history: the opener in a 3-0 win over Eswatini during World Cup qualifying and then the game-winner against Cameroon, clinching a spot for this summer’s tournament. Notable stat: Livramento spent the early part of his career playing in the Netherlands before making the move to Italy for Hellas Verona in 2024 and made 31 appearances. Salem Al-Dawsari | Forward | Saudi Arabia Age: 34National team appearances: 107Club: Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) Al-Dawsari is one of the best players in Saudi football history and has made more than 100 appearances for his country. The 34-year-old midfielder plays for Al-Hilal and captains his national team. He scored a stunning goal in the win over Argentina at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. With a team like Spain looming in the group stage, perhaps he’ll have more heroics up his sleeve this summer. Notable stat: Al-Dawsari is a two-time Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Player of the Year winner (2022, 2025) who has scored more than 140 goals for Al-Hilal while leading the team to six Saudi Pro League titles. Federico Valverde | Midfielder | Uruguay Age: 27National team appearances: 73Club: Real Madrid (Spain) Valverde is one of Uruguay’s more familiar and established players. He has experience and has Champions League, La Liga and FIFA Club World Cup titles to his name. Valverde has more than 70 caps for La Celeste and was on Uruguay’s rosters for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Notable stat: Considered one of the best midfielders in the world, Valverde has made more than 360 appearances for Real Madrid since joining the team in 2018. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP I Kylian Mbappé | Forward | France Age: 27National team appearances: 96Club: Real Madrid (Spain) Mbappé was the leading scorer at the last World Cup with eight goals — including a hat trick in the final — and he’s arguably still the world’s best player when at the height of his powers. Since 2022, he has made the move from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid, where he continues to shine. Already a World Cup winner from the 2018 tournament, a second one would further solidify his case of being among the best of all time. Notable stat: Mbappé is just one of two players ever to record a hat trick in a World Cup final, joining England’s Geoff Hurst. He is also five goals away from breaking the all-time record of 16 set by Germany’s Miroslav Klose. Idrissa Gueye | Midfielder | Senegal Age: 36National team appearances: 131Club: Everton (England) Sadio Mané was a mainstay for clubs like Liverpool and Bayern Munich, but don’t overlook Gueye, who is Senegal’s captain and most capped player. The current Everton and former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder remains a key player for his country even at age 36. Notable stat: Gueye has made more than 380 combined appearances for Aston Villa, Paris Saint-Germain and Everton. Ali Al-Hamadi | Forward | Iraq Age: 24National team appearances: 17Club: Luton Town (England) Al-Hamadi has carved out a respectable club career in England, where he moved with his family as a child. His opening goal against Bolivia in March’s intercontinental playoff led to Iraq clinching its first World Cup appearance since 1986. Notable stat: Al-Hamadi made 11 appearances in the English Premier League for Ipswich Town in the 2024-25 season. Erling Haaland | Forward | Norway Age: 25National team appearances: 49Club: Manchester City (England) Haaland is the sport’s most prolific scorer with an astonishing 55 goals in just 48 games for Norway. Still only 25, no player in international soccer history hit the half-century mark in fewer matches than it took the 6-foot-5 striker. He’s already won every major club trophy with Manchester City, including the 2025 Champions League, and now he’ll want to make his mark on the international level. Notable stat: Haaland holds the records for the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals, in addition to being the fastest player to reach 50 Champions League goals. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP J Lionel Messi | Forward | Argentina Age: 38National team appearances: 198Club: Inter Miami (United States) The 2026 World Cup is also known as Messi’s Last Dance. He led Argentina to a thrilling victory over France to win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and has helped La Abiceleste win the last two Copa América crowns. Messi will turn 39 during the World Cup, but his place and status on the team is as strong as ever. Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has said Messi can and will be part of the national team for as long as he wants. Now playing at Inter Miami in MLS, winning a World Cup on American soil could be a fitting end to a legendary career. Notable stat: No player has won the Ballon d’Or more times than Messi with eight, and he also holds the record for most matches played in World Cup history, along with being tied for the fourth-most goals ever with 13. Riyad Mahrez | Forward | Algeria Age: 35National team appearances: 113Club: Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia) Mahrez is considered Algeria’s best player, winning multiple club trophies with Manchester City and being part of Leicester City’s improbable 2015-16 Premier League title team. Now playing club ball in Saudi Arabia, Mahrez will take part in his first World Cup after having led Les Verts to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations title. Another notable name on Algeria’s roster is Granada goalkeeper Luca Zidane, the son of France legend Zinedine Zidane, who switched international allegiances in 2025. Notable stat: Mahrez spent 10 seasons in the English Premier League, where he scored 82 goals and 63 assists in 284 appearances for Leicester City and Manchester City. Marcel Sabitzer | Midfielder | Austria Age: 32National team appearances: 97Club: Borussia Dortmund (Germany) Sabitzer scored the winning goal to beat the Netherlands in the group stage of the 2024 Euros. The 32-year-old midfielder has made 95 appearances for his national team and has scored 23 goals, and he’s an integral piece of this squad. Notable stat: Sabitzer has been playing top flight European football since 2014, making more than 330 appearances for clubs like RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund. Musa Al-Taamari | Forward | Jordan Age: 28National team appearances: 90Club: Stade Rennais (France) There are a few players on this World Cup debut team who are based in Europe, and Al-Taamari is one of them. He predominantly plays right wing for French side Stade Rennais FC, where he’s scored three goals and had five assists in Ligue 1 this season. He will be one of the most important parts of Jordan’s attack. Notable stat: Al-Taamari has made more than 80 appearances in France’s Ligue 1 since 2023, playing for Rennes and Montpellier. With 23 international goals, he is 11 shy of breaking the all-time record for Jordan. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP K Cristiano Ronaldo | Forward | Portugal Age: 41National team appearances: 226Club: Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia) Just like Messi, this is expected to be Ronaldo’s last World Cup. But unlike Messi, Ronaldo has yet to lift the sport’s most prestigious trophy. It’s truly the only accolade that’s eluded him in his career, and there’s nothing the 41-year-old forward wants more. Now, Ronaldo isn’t the most important player for Portugal anymore, but he’s still captain and the face of the team. He would give anything to ride off into the retirement sunset on top of the football world. Notable stat: On pace to be the first player to officially eclipse 1,000 career goals scored, Ronaldo is the only player in World Cup history to have scored in five different editions of the tournament. Aaron Wan-Bissaka | Defender | Congo DR Age: 28National team appearances: 9Club: West Ham United (England) Wan-Bissaka is a household name among Premier League fans. With more than 200 appearances for Crystal Palace, Manchester United and West Ham United, the 28-year-old fullback has carved a solid club career in England. Had he not gotten injured before two of England’s Euro 2020 qualifiers seven years ago, he’d likely be permanently cap-tied to the Three Lions under FIFA rules. Instead, he switched to the country of his roots last year. Now he’ll represent the Leopards on the biggest stage of all. Notable stat: Wan-Bissaka was named the West Ham United Player of the Season in 2024-25 and the Crystal Palace Player of the Season in 2018-19. Abdukodir Khusanov | Defender | Uzbekistan Age: 22National team appearances: 25Club: Manchester City (England) Football fans should be somewhat familiar with this City center back. The 22-year-old defender has had a quick rise from playing youth soccer in Uzbekistan to now thriving as the first player from his country to feature regularly in the Premier League. He was a standout defender in the Carabao Cup final win against Arsenal. Notable stat: Khusanov has made more than 40 appearances for Manchester City this season, including six in the Champions League. James Rodriguez | Midfielder | Colombia Age: 34National team appearances: 124Club: Minnesota United (United States) The main scoring threat for Los Cafeteros will be winger Luis Diaz, but James Rodriguez will serve as captain for Colombia. The 2014 Golden Boot winner will turn 35 during the World Cup, and while the former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich striker’s club fortunes have changed — his short-term deal with MLS side Minnesota United hasn’t gone as planned due to a brief hospitalization in March with dehydration — he remains an important player for Colombia. Notable stat: Rodriguez is six appearances and six goals shy of breaking the Colombia national team record in both categories. 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUP L Harry Kane | Forward | England Age: 32National team appearances: 112Club: Bayern Munich (Germany) England is going to need Kane to score some goals this summer. The 32-year-old star striker is the Three Lions’ all-time record holder with 78 goals in 112 appearances, and he has 52 this season for his club Bayern Munich. However, this was an area where Kane struggled four years ago in Qatar, only scoring two goals at the 2022 World Cup. Kane will be motivated to do everything to finally bring an international title home. Notable stat: Kane is the English Premier League’s second all-time leading scorer with 213 goals to his name. Luka Modrić | Midfielder | Croatia Age: 40National team appearances: 196Club: AC Milan (Italy) Of course, it’s the 40-year-old midfielder, who will be playing in his fifth World Cup. Like peers Messi and Ronaldo, we are expecting this to be his last one. He’s become a footballing icon with flair on the pitch with his technical ability and overall presence, as well as off of it — as his long hair and headband make him impossible to miss. He figures to reach the 200-game mark during this summer’s tournament. Notable stat: The greatest Croatian player of all time, he is the overall leader in appearances with 196 and, most notably, won the Ballon d’Or in 2018. Antoine Semenyo | Forward | Ghana Age: 26National team appearances: 34Club: Manchester City (England) Semenyo has been a revelation for Manchester City this season (11 goal contributions in 19 appearances), and that bodes well for the Black Stars. And with Tottenham forward Mohammed Kudos still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in January, there’s further responsibility on Semenyo’s shoulders this summer. Notable stat: The 26-year-old scored 32 goals and 13 assists in 110 appearances for Bournemouth before being acquired by Manchester City in January of this year. Adalberto Carrasquilla | Midfielder | Panama Age: 27National team appearances: 73Club: Pumas UNAM (Mexico) Carrasquilla is a dynamic and impactful midfielder for Panama. He received a red card in a 2024 Copa América group stage match against the U.S. that forced his team to play down a man — though the Panamanians still managed to pull off the victory and eliminate the Americans. He’s a veteran for his national team with 70 appearances and will play an important role for his side as it prepares to face a challenging group. Notable stat: Carrasquilla won the Golden Ball at the 2023 Gold Cup, where Panama finished as runners-up to Mexico. How To Watch The 2026 FIFA World Cup The World Cup will run from June 11 to 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

The Los Angeles Rams have made one of the surprise picks of the 2026 NFL Draft, and they’ve found their potential successor to Matthew Stafford. Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson was taken by the Rams with the 13th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The selection was widely viewed as a stunner, with most mock drafts not having Simpson getting taken until the end of the first round. In fact, FOX Sports lead draft analyst Rob Rang didn’t have Simpson going in the first round of his most recent mock draft. Most big boards also had Simpson rated as a fringe first-round pick, at best, too. Rang ranked Simpson the 33rd overall prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft in his top 150 prospects list. “Simpson, a former 5-star recruit, torched the SEC for 28 touchdowns and a conference-leading 3,567 yards in his lone season as a starter in Tuscaloosa, showing the pro-caliber accuracy to project as a future NFL starter,” Rang wrote. “The traits were obvious during the throwing session at the Combine, all but cementing his position as the No. 2 quarterback in this class. Simpson has a quick release, plenty of zip and excellent touch to make every NFL throw — but there were some “deer in the headlights” moments on his game tape. Moreover, the track record of quarterbacks selected in the first round with 20 or fewer starts (Simpson has 15) is a bright red flag.” FOX Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt ranked Simpson as his No. 32 overall prospect in his top 50 ranking. But Klatt was a bigger fan of Simpson than his draft ranking might indicate. “Simpson is kind of all over the place on these big boards,” Klatt wrote. “I’m a Simpson fan. I know his size is going to turn some people away, but if you watch him play, the film suggests he plays a lot bigger than his actual frame. The reason is that he makes really strong and accurate intermediate and deep-level throws, particularly outside the numbers. When you can do that, do I really care about your size? He’s a battler. This guy’s a warrior in there. Some of those games he played — Georgia and Oklahoma on the road — he was exceptional. He was a real bright spot for Alabama.” Simpson was only a one-year starter at Alabama. He helped the Crimson Tide reach the College Football Playoff, going 11-4. He threw for 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns and five interceptions in 2025. Simpson will likely back up Stafford for at least the 2026 season as the 38-year-old is coming off an MVP year in 2025. It was recently reported that the Rams and Stafford were making progress toward an extension, with the quarterback entering the final year of his current deal. Still, most expected Los Angeles to select a wide receiver at No. 13, with players like USC’s Makai Lemon and Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. still on the board.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports