Belgium’s sports authorities do not appear to have fully moved past the controversy that shrouded their Round of 16 matchup against the United States, but Belgian fans in Washington have.
Folarin Balogun, the American striker whose red-card punishment was suspended by FIFA just before that game, is now barely top of mind.
“I don’t think it had any impact on the game,” Michael McCusker, a Brussels native, said of FIFA’s decision. “Did it give us the extra push? I don’t know. The USA were terrible.”
But even with Balogun lining up on Monday, the Belgians made mincemeat of the U.S., never trailing in the match. For Belgium’s Beltway fans, winning seems to have taken care of everything.
“I woke up that morning feeling really good,” Margo Vandenbroucke, a Leuven native who works at the International Monetary Fund. “I walked into work that morning and everyone was clapping for me, for Belgium. I think that was the best way of showing that it didn’t matter.”
But if Belgian supporters abroad have moved on, the Balogun scandal is still alive and well in Brussels. In a letter Wednesday, 72 members of the European Parliament called for an investigation into FIFA President Gianni Infantino — and whether his relationship with Trump played a role in the decision to reverse an on-field disciplinary action.
A section of the Harding Icefield is seen on Aug. 5, 2018, from the top of a mountain trail in Kenai Fjords National Park. It is one of the largest icefields in the United States. As it shrinks, new vegetation zones emerge, changing the landscape for pollinators. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
On a still June morning in Interior Alaska, a bumblebee clings to a wild rose petal, waiting for the sun to warm the air enough for flight. These moments — quiet, delicate, and easily overlooked — reveal just how finely tuned Alaska’s native bees are to the rhythms of the North. But those rhythms are changing, and with them, the future of Alaska’s pollinators.
Alaska’s bees have survived ice ages, volcanic eruptions and dramatic climate swings. Yet today, they face a combination of pressures that are accelerating faster than ever before. Habitat loss, invasive species, pesticides and rapid climate change are reshaping the landscapes bees depend on. Even small disruptions can ripple through entire ecosystems.
Habitat loss and fragmentation
Although Alaska is vast, bee habitat is surprisingly fragile. Many species rely on specific nesting conditions — loose soil warmed by the sun, mossy tundra hummocks, hollow stems or abandoned rodent burrows. Development, road construction and land clearing can eliminate these microhabitats in an instant.
Even small disturbances matter. A patch of soil compacted by heavy equipment may no longer support ground‑nesting bees. A roadside sprayed with herbicide may lose the wildflowers bees rely on. In a state with a short growing season, losing even a few weeks of bloom can affect an entire generation of pollinators.
Invasive plants
Non‑native plants such as white sweetclover and bird vetch are spreading across Alaska’s roadways, riverbanks and disturbed soils. These species grow aggressively, forming dense stands that crowd out native flowers. While bees may visit invasive plants, the nutritional quality of their pollen and nectar is often lower than that of native species.
Over time, invasive plants can reshape entire plant communities, reducing the diversity of flowers bees depend on. This loss of diversity can weaken bee populations and make them more vulnerable to other stressors.
Pesticides and herbicides
Even low levels of pesticides can harm bees. Insecticides may affect navigation, foraging behavior, or reproduction. Herbicides, while not directly toxic to bees, can eliminate the flowering plants they rely on.
In Alaska’s short summer, any reduction in forage can have outsized effects. A single poorly timed herbicide application can remove weeks of nectar and pollen sources.
Climate change
Climate change is reshaping Alaska faster than almost anywhere else on Earth. Warmer temperatures, earlier springs, shifting snowpack and altered precipitation patterns are affecting both bees and the plants they pollinate.
One of the most concerning impacts is phenological mismatch — when flowers bloom earlier than bees emerge. If bees wake too late, they miss critical early‑season forage. If they wake too early, cold snaps can kill them.
Climate change also affects:
overwintering survival,
nesting conditions,
competition among species,
the spread of invasive plants and
the timing and abundance of seasonal blooms.
These changes are already being documented in parts of Alaska.
Disease and parasites
Pathogens can spread from managed honeybees to native species. While Alaska has fewer honeybee colonies than most states, disease transmission remains a concern. As temperatures warm, parasites and pathogens may expand their range northward.
Why these threats matter
Bees are more than pollinators — they are indicators of environmental health. When bee populations decline, it often signals broader ecological stress. Because Alaska’s ecosystems are tightly interconnected, changes in bee populations can affect berry production, wildlife forage and even rural food security.
Yet there is reason for hope. Alaska still has vast intact landscapes, and many native bee species remain resilient. With careful monitoring, habitat protection and community involvement, Alaska can safeguard its pollinators before declines become irreversible.
In the quiet buzz of a bee moving through a patch of wildflowers, there is a reminder: the health of Alaska’s landscapes depends on the smallest of its inhabitants.
U.S. Soccer on Thursday named Steve Cherundolo as the head coach for the U-23 Olympic team that will compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The team will soon begin preparing for the Olympics during the coming international windows, and the task at hand is enormously important to the full national team. With the U.S. men’s national team’s exit from the 2026 World Cup, many of the team’s most important players will be exiting their prime years during the upcoming World Cup cycle. Many of these players have been together since shortly after the team failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Regardless of who the coach is, the new cycle will require heavy turnover. The 2028 Olympic team will be essential in filling those openings on the full national team, as many of the top young American players will participate in a major FIFA youth competition. The U.S. is not alone in prioritizing this tournament, as the 2026 World Cup has shown how top countries have benefited from the Olympics. France’s current World Cup team is boosted by seven players from its 2024 Olympic team. Spain’s World Cup team has six players from its 2024 Olympic team (not including Fermín López, who would have made this World Cup team if not for injury). Meanwhile, Morocco had six players who made the transition from the 2024 Olympics to the 2026 World Cup team (although Abde Ezzalzouli withdrew due to injury after being named to the World Cup team). U.S. Soccer understands this. “There’s a lot of data that suggests that success in youth World Cups and in Olympic cycles on the men’s side creates accelerated player development and creates the conditions for success in subsequent World Cups,” U.S. Soccer COO Dan Helfrich said in May. “You will see us strategically investing more attention and resources and focus on the youth national team games program, on elevating the men’s Olympic team to prepare us to be in the best competitive position,” he added. “I think those things will have a significant role in the competitive preparation for our future men’s World Cup and other major tournament performances.” Cherundolo’s Pragmatic Approach Steve Cherundolo has about as strong a resume as you can reasonably expect for a U-23 Olympic team coach. As a player, he was a very important player for both Hannover 96 in Germany and the U.S. national team, where he had 87 caps, with his best performances coming at the 2010 World Cup, where he became a fan favorite. He began his coaching career at the youth levels of Hannover and later as an assistant for Germany’s U-15 national team. He later returned stateside to coach Los Angeles FC from 2022-2025, where he won both the MLS Cup and the Supporters Shield in 2022 and the U.S. Open Cup in 2024. In 2025, he led LAFC to an impressive win over Club America to qualify for the Club World Cup. Cherundolo’s LAFC teams featured a balanced mix of high pressing, solid defensive organization, and quick transitions often led by top MLS wingers such as Denis Bouanga and Carlos Vela. In possession, Cherundolo was often pragmatic and flexible, using either 4-3-3 or 3-4-3 formations depending on the game or the opponent. That adaptability could be useful for the U.S. U-23 team, as it is unclear what the strengths of that roster will be. Key U-23 Players The explosive Real Salt Lake winger/wing back is arguably the top teenager prospect in the American system, and he was reportedly close to making the 2026 World Cup team. The former Inter Miami homegrown midfielder is fully with Parma and won the Golden Boot at the 2025 U-20 World Cup. The San Jose Earthquakes attacking midfielder was at a high level this season before an injury. He could drive the Olympic team’s attack. The New England Revolution left wing/left back is also one of the top teenagers in MLS and is a very good wide player. The Barcelona backup goalkeeper is likely the Olympic starter and a player many hope will eventually push onto the full national team. He is now on loan at Lyngby in Denmark. The 18-year-old New York Red Bulls forward has 12 goals in 2026 and could already be the best U-23 center forward. The 17-year-old midfielder has also been instrumental to the youth movement at the New York Red Bulls, where he is a regular starter who is exceptionally mature for his age. The former Louisville SC and current Benfica central defender has been a staple of U.S. youth teams for years. He desperately needs more first-team minutes, but he remains the best option at his position. Over-Age Players Will Be Key The Olympic team is a U-23 event, but teams are allowed three overage players. That is typically where teams find difference makers. The challenge for this team is that the full national team could be playing in the Copa América. Ideally, this team needs an over-age central defender (as is typical), a defensive midfielder, and an attacker. It will ultimately come down to what the federation and individual players want to prioritize. It is unlikely a player will play in both tournaments. Rebuilding Public Enthusiasm Even beyond the on-field benefits of this tournament, the Olympics are immensely popular with the American public. Having a tournament on home soil is another opportunity to endear the team to the American public. The Olympics would offer an opportunity beyond just developing players for the future. The Copa América is a huge tournament, but the Olympics have always been deeply connected with Americans. Winning a medal would be something that fans care about, and that is something the men’s program has not been able to deliver that very often. Playing at the Rose Bowl with an Olympic medal on the line would be a special moment for the program.Latest Sports News from FOX Sports
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and guests pose for a photograph as they attend. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex traveled to the UK this week for a highly anticipated visit. It’s Meghan’s first time in the country in several years.
According to a report from Page Six, Harry and Meghan traveled to Highgrove House with their children on Friday, where King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted the intimate visit.
No photographs from the reunion have been released, and the meeting was reportedly kept entirely private.
The emotional visit marks the first time Charles has seen Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, in person since 2022, when the Sussex family traveled to the U.K. for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
That trip also marked Charles’ first meeting with Lilibet.
Earlier this week, reports suggested Meghan had initially planned to skip the trip before ultimately deciding to travel with Harry and the children while avoiding public appearances connected to his Invictus Games engagements.
The family gathering comes after months of speculation over whether Harry and Charles would be able to meet during the Duke of Sussex’s latest visit to Britain.
Questions surrounding security, travel logistics, and the pair’s strained relationship had cast doubt on whether any reunion would happen.
While there is no indication that the meeting signals a full reconciliation between father and son, it does represent a significant moment for the royal family after years of distance.
For now, the reunion appears to have been focused on giving King Charles valuable time with two grandchildren he has seen only rarely since Harry and Meghan began their new life in the United States.
Insiders say Prince William and Kate Middleton have no plans to see Harry and Meghan. But this trip still signals that things are moving in the right direction.
This may be the only World Cup where Palestinian flags have so noticeably outnumbered Italian ones. At the first global tournament after Oct. 7, 2023, symbols of Palestinian solidarity have been widespread despite the fact that Palestine has never competed in a World Cup.
After being adopted by teams and fans across the tournament, the Palestinian cause may have seen its last hurrah at this World Cup with yesterday’s elimination of Morocco.
The tournament that began with a record eight Arab nations, twice the previous high for any World Cup, now has none left to represent the region. The war in Gaza has woven Palestinian solidarity inextricably into many of their fanbases.
Celebrating his team’s historic Round of 32 win over Australia last Friday, Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan raised a Palestinian flag as supporters chanted “Free Palestine” at Dallas Stadium.
“To our Palestinian brothers and sisters, may God protect them,” Hassan said at a post-match press conference. “This victory is for the Egyptian people, for the Palestinian people and for the Arab people.” On streets in Gaza, Palestinians mirrored Hassan’s gesture, hoisting Egyptian flags, setting off fireworks and celebrating the victory as their own.
At this World Cup, emblems of support been impossible to miss or conflate with just any other team. Supporters and players of many nations — including Jordan, Senegal, Tunisia, Algeria, and Bosnia and Herzegovina — are among the many who have made their support for Palestine through flags and keffiyehs unmistakable. But with Morocco out, Palestine may have to find its champions beyond the Muslim and Arab worlds.
This European royal looks onto the field before his country plays in the Round of 16.
That’s Prince Sverre Magnus of Norway with Princess Ingrid Alexandra. The royal siblings attended Norway’s match against Brazil on July 5, 2026, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
A Chinook salmon, also known as king salmon. (Photo by Michael Humling/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
The intense marine heat wave conditions that began roiling the Bering Sea in about 2016 resulted in the lowest winter sea ice extent measured in 150 years, widespread bird and marine mammal die-offs, a drastic shift in fish populations and a crash of snow crab stocks.
Now new research is tying the marine heat wave to the recent collapse of Yukon River Chinook salmon.
A study published in April, written by scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center and University of Alaska Fairbanks, showed the correlation between the extreme heat wave conditions and the nosedive in Yukon River Chinook stocks. The heat wave was accompanied by a dramatic increase in deaths of older juvenile and adult Chinook that, had they survived, would have returned from the ocean to freshwater spawning grounds, the study found.
The study was published in the journal Ecological Applications.
The Yukon River’s runs of Chinook, also called king salmon, have been in a long-term decline since their past heyday, when they numbered in the hundreds of thousands and the river was one of the biggest sources of that salmon species.
The sharp downturn in recent years resulted in a 2022 return that was the lowest on record. Widespread fishery closures have been in effect for years along the Yukon River system in both Alaska and Canada.
The study evaluated four general reasons for the sharp decline: poor juvenile “recruitment” into the ocean, which refers to the successful migration of surviving juvenile fish from freshwater; deaths of fish in the marine environment at the start of their migration back to freshwater; harvests that target the salmon; and bycatch, the unintentional harvest of salmon by commercial fishing vessels targeting other species, such as pollock.
Poor juvenile recruitment emerged as an important factor, which was to be expected, the study said.
Mortality of post-juvenile Yukon River Chinook salmon increased dramatically as Bering Sea temperatures did. Panel A shows the number of days characterized by marine heat wave conditions for the Northern and Southeastern Bering Sea and the annual average sea surface temperature from 2003 to 2023. Panel B shows estimates of post-juvenile natural mortality with dashed vertical red lines marking the 2016-2020 heat wave period. (Graph provided by NOAA Fisheries)
“Not surprisingly, we found evidence to suggest that impacts operating in the early life stages have likely contributed to declines in run sizes over the past two decades, which is consistent with previous research,” NOAA Fisheries researcher Lukas DeFilippo, the lead author, said in a statement.
But the information about spiking mortality among adults and older juveniles was new, the NOAA scientists said. That new trend represents “an apparent shift in the critical life history stages and processes” for Yukon River Chinook, and a potential bottleneck limiting population recovery, the study said.
Exactly how the heat wave conditions caused deaths of salmon at sea is yet to be determined, the study said. It listed several factors that could have worked in combination, including lack of suitable prey, infections by the parasite Ichthyophonus and other diseases, as well as increased energy demands brought on by warmer temperatures.
Harvests, either intentional or as bycatch, did not emerge as important factors in the recent Yukon Chinook declines, the study found.
The study contained some warnings.
Even though the marine heat wave conditions have eased, the abundance of prey that salmon need in the ocean has not returned to normal, it noted. And mortality rates in those later life stages continue to be higher than they were prior to the latest heat wave.
And the heat problems for older salmon are likely to become more common in years to come, the study said.
“Given that marine heatwaves are expected to become more frequent and severe with continued warming . . . similar rises in mortality—and concomitant limitation of productivity and recovery potential—as described here could become increasingly common in the future,” the study said.
An earlier study by NOAA Fisheries and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game tied successive heatwaves in both the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska to sharp declines in chum salmon stocks. That 2023 study also pointed to higher mortality out in the ocean.
