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Weston McKennie has declared that he is ready to transform the immense pressure of a home World Cup into a historic performance for the United States men’s national team. The Juventus midfielder insists that while the “butterflies” are inevitable, he feels no fear heading into the 2026 tournament, viewing the global spotlight as a unique opportunity to elevate American soccer to unprecedented heights. Embracing the butterflies over fear As one of the most experienced leaders in the U.S. men’s national team locker room, McKennie is leaning into the emotional weight of the upcoming World Cup. Rather than shying away from the expectations of a nation, the midfielder believes that the nervous energy surrounding the event is a sign of its significance. “I don’t think I feel fear. I feel butterflies, which is normal,” McKennie told FIFA. He explained that these feelings are a positive force, stating, “If you don’t feel butterflies, it means you don’t care about what you’re doing. I feel like I’m a player that thrives under pressure, I like to have that responsibility on my shoulders.” Turning pressure into a home advantage Playing a World Cup on home soil brings a level of scrutiny the USA has not faced since 1994, but McKennie views the host status as a competitive edge. He is adamant that the energy from the American fans will be the catalyst for the team’s success, rather than a burden that weighs them down. McKennie highlighted the importance of the home crowd, noting, “I think the energy of the fans can be a big part of helping us create an atmosphere that is difficult for the opposing team. The fans have a lot more to do with the influence of the game than they probably think. Having them behind us, supporting us, even in difficult moments, or when the game’s not going our way, is very important.” Growth and maturity since Qatar 2022 Reflecting on the journey since the last tournament in Qatar 2022, McKennie points to the increased maturity of the “Golden Generation.” With many players now featuring regularly for top European clubs, the 25-year-old feels the tactical and mental level of the group has reached a new peak. The Juventus star noted that the experience gained in the Champions League and top-flight domestic battles has been invaluable. “We are not the young, inexperienced team anymore,” McKennie suggested. “The first one in Qatar was a dream come true because you grew up wanting to play in a World Cup and you grew up wanting to represent your national team and you never really think, as a kid, that you’re going to be on that stage. And then, to be able to do it on home soil will be a pretty cool experience, for sure.” The Pochettino effect The arrival of Mauricio Pochettino has introduced a new layer of intensity to the USA camp, according to McKennie. The midfielder revealed that the former Tottenham and Chelsea boss has eradicated complacency within the squad, making it clear that reputation alone will not earn a starting spot. “I think the coach has come in with energy,” McKennie explained. “I feel like there are a lot more opportunities for a lot of players, and I think nobody can feel like they’re 100 percent secure in their position. I think that’s something he brought in, a very competitive group of players, that if you want to play, you have to show why.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Lucas Herbert did not make it easy on himself, but he made it count when it mattered most. The Ripper GC stalwart closed with a 3-under 69 on a dramatic Sunday at Maaden LIV Golf Virginia to win his first individual title, holding off a hard-charging Sergio Garcia by four shots. Herbert navigated a roller coaster back nine at Trump National Washington D.C. — including a nervy stretch around the ninth and 10th holes that briefly tightened the contest — before steadying himself after a rain delay and closing out the final holes in emphatic fashion. “Probably that I can perform pretty damn well when things aren’t perfect,” Herbert said when asked what made him most proud. “I was pretty sick all week, and I woke up this morning probably feeling worse than I did the last few days. I had Sergio coming at me for 36 holes really hard, and he pushed me the whole way, made me earn that one. I didn’t doubt myself. After the rain delay, the way I played those eight shots, I’m so proud of that.” Garcia finished solo second at 20 under after a final-round 70, with Bryson DeChambeau third at 19 under following a closing 6-under 66. Dean Burmester finished fourth at 18 under, and Josele Ballester rounded out the top five at 17 under. Herbert’s caddie, Nick Pugh, was a central figure throughout the week, guiding his player around a course Herbert had never seen before Thursday. “We just had such a laugh out there,” Herbert said. “We said walking to the first tee, we’re going to have fun regardless. He’s amazing. There’s not a good enough word I can speak about him. He deserves it as much as I do.” The win came with a significant bonus — Herbert has earned the LIV Golf U.S. Open exemption, earning a spot in the field at Shinnecock Hills next month. It will be his 18th major championship start and a return to the venue where he made his major debut. “My first major ever was at Shinnecock. Nice to go back and see what I’ve learned since then,” Herbert said. “Can’t wait to get there and try to play like I did this week.” Thomas Detry, who entered the week in position to claim the exemption, finished T6 at 16 under — just shy of what he needed. On the team leaderboard, 4Aces GC claimed the team title in a playoff over Fireballs GC after both teams finished tied at 49 under. Leaderboards Individual Top 10 1. Lucas Hebert (24-under)2. Sergio Garcia (20-under)3. Bryson DeChambeau (19-under)4. Dean Burmester (18-under)5. Josele Ballester (17-under)T6. Thomas Dety (16-under)T6. Anthony Kim (16-under)T8. Jon Rahm (15-under)T8. Scott Vincent (15-under)T8. Joaquin Niemann (15-under) Team Top 3 1. 4Aces (49-under; won by 1 stroke in playoff)2. Fireballs (49-under)3. Legion XIII (48-under) This piece is courtesy of Mike McAllister in partnership with LIV Golf.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Watched by its grieving coach, Barcelona won its second straight Spanish league title and 29th overall with a comfortable 2-0 win over Real Madrid at Camp Nou on Sunday, adding to its rival’s troubled season. Goals by Marcus Rashford in the ninth minute and Ferran Torres in the 18th gave Barcelona the victory and an insurmountable 14-point advantage over its fierce rival with three rounds remaining in La Liga. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick was in the dugout for Sunday’s clásico following the death of his father, which Barcelona announced hours before kickoff. Players from both teams wore black armbands and there was a moment of silence before kickoff. A draw would also have been enough for the Catalan club to seal its third league title in four seasons. Madrid, which remains the most successful club in the league with 36 trophies, is ending a second consecutive season without a major title. Sunday’s defeat at Barcelona capped an embarrassing week for Madrid, marked by altercations between players in training that led the club to fine Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni 500,000 euros ($589,000) each. Rashford opened the scoring for the hosts with a wonderfully taken free kick, curling the ball over the wall and into the top corner. Torres added to the lead from inside the area after a flick from Dani Olmo. Flick’s father reportedly died overnight. The coach celebrated Barcelona’s goals and looked emotional after the final whistle. “I will never forget this day. It was a tough day for me. It starts with this (news that) my father passed away, but here, my team is fantastic,” Flick said. “I really love it, this is like a family and they gave everything today and I’m really proud. It’s amazing, in this stadium, and also in the clásico against Real Madrid, to win La Liga.” There was a brief scuffle between players in the 51st minute after Olmo confronted a Madrid player. Olmo was shown a yellow card. Madrid’s Jude Bellingham had a goal disallowed for offside in the 63rd. Brazil forward Raphinha replaced Rashford in the 64th to return from a long injury layoff. Barcelona has been playing the final league games without the injured Lamine Yamal, its biggest star. Yamal was on the field lifting the trophy along with his teammates. Madrid was without the injured Kylian Mbappé, the league’s leading scorer with 24 goals. The France forward failed to recover from a left-hamstring ailment that has kept him sidelined since late April. Mbappé last week addressed a fresh wave of criticism of him in Spain, insisting he was fully committed to the club and to recovering from his latest injury. Some Madrid fans had expressed concern that the France forward was saving himself for the upcoming World Cup. He posted a story during Sunday’s game while it was being shown on a television, along with supporting words for the club and a white heart. Madrid was also without Valverde, who hurt his head in the altercation with Tchouaméni after allegedly accidentally knocking his head on a table. It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training last week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle. The loss in Sunday’s clásico is likely to increase criticism of coach Álvaro Arbeloa, who was promoted from Madrid’s reserve team when Xabi Alonso was fired in January. Singer-songwriters Olivia Rodrigo and Nathy Peluso were among the celebrities at the stadium. Rodrigo, an American multi-Grammy winner, had her logo appearing in the team’s jersey as part of the club’s partnership with Spotify. Barcelona this season also won the Spanish Super Cup. It has won 11 consecutive games in the league. The Associated Press contributed to this report.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Sunday is Mom’s day to shine, and Major League Baseball sure knows that. Once again, numerous players on all 30 teams are wearing or using pink gear in honor of Mother’s Day. Some players are using pink bats, like New York Yankees star Aaron Judge. In fact, Judge hit his 16th home run of the season, using a pink bat to send a pitch off Milwaukee Brewers starter Logan Henderson into the bleachers. That home run put Judge in a tie with Philadelphia Phillies star Kyle Schwarber for the most in baseball this season, while Bryce Harper also hit a home run with a pink bat on Sunday. As Judge, Harper and others bring some golden memories for moms on this Mother’s Day, let’s take a look at some of the other top Mother’s Day moments in recent MLB history. In a way, Bill Hall’s mom helped power the Brewers to a walk-off win over the New York Mets on Mother’s Day in 2006. Hall hit a walk-off home run in the Brewers’ Mother’s Day win over the Mets that year, using a pink at-bat with his mother’s name (Vergie Hall) engraved in it as she watched from the stands. The bat was later auctioned to help raise money for breast cancer research. Brewers owner Mark Attanasio later obtained the bat and gifted it to Vergie Hall. As for the auction, the bat went for $25,000. The Boston Red Sox needed a miracle and then some to take down the Baltimore Orioles on Mother’s Day in 2007. Facing a 5-0 deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Red Sox rallied and scored six runs to get a walk-off victory. The Orioles committed a few self-inflicted errors to allow the Red Sox to win the game, though. An infield pop-up fell for a hit, while three walks allowed the Red Sox to make a one-run game. It appeared the Orioles had the game sealed when Julio Lugo hit a ground ball to Orioles first baseman Kevin Millar. However, Millar’s toss to Orioles closer Chris Ray went off the pitcher’s glove, allowing the Red Sox to score the game-tying and game-winning runs. Fred Lewis was only a few days into his second MLB stint when he achieved one of the toughest accomplishments in baseball on Mother’s Day in 2007. The then-San Francisco Giants outfielder hit for the cycle in his team’s 15-2 win over the Colorado Rockies. He went 5-for-6 at the plate, with his home run that day doubling as his first MLB home run. Dallas Braden joined an elite class of pitchers on Mother’s Day in 2010. He threw the 19th perfect game in MLB history in the Oakland Athletics’ 4-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays nearly avoided being on the wrong side of history, though. With two outs in the ninth, Rays outfielder Gabe Kapler chased at Braden’s fastball outside the zone on a 3-1 count, hitting into the final out of the game. Had Kapler looked at the pitch, he likely would’ve walked. Adding to the drama, Braden actually thought it was a 2-2 count when he threw the final pitch, later saying that he would’ve thrown a changeup had he known it was a 3-1 count. Beyond the perfect game, the day had significant meaning for Braden. Braden’s mom passed away years prior from cancer, leading to him sharing an emotional moment with his grandmother. 2012: Joey Votto Hits 3 Homers, Including a Walk-Off Grand Slam Not many people want to spend their Mother’s Day weathering a three-hour rain delay. However, Joey Votto made it worthwhile for Cincinnati Reds fans in 2012. The franchise icon hit three home runs against the Washington Nationals on Mother’s Day in 2012, saving his best for last that day. Facing a 6-5 deficit in the bottom of the ninth, Votto belted a ball to straightaway center for a walk-off grand slam. Feloix Hernandez joined a rare group of pitchers on Mother’s Day in 2015. The Seattle Mariners’ ace struck out six hitters that day in a 4-3 win over the Athletics, logging his 2,000th career strikeout. He became the fourth-youngest pitcher in MLB history to log 2,000 career strikeouts. “This is Mother’s Day, so it’s pretty special for me,” Hernandez told reporters after the game. “My mom’s in Venezuela and I miss her so much. I just want to go out there and keep trying to help the team to win. Just dedicated this game to my mom and my wife.” Jahmai Jones began his MLB career by going on a pretty long homer-less streak, failing to go yard in his first 46 career games. That changed on Mother’s Day in 2024, though. Playing in his 11th game for the New York Yankees, Jones hit his first career home run in a 10-6 win over the Rays on Mother’s Day that year. Jones dedicated the moment to his mom, as she had to raise him and his five siblings alone following his father’s death in 2011.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports