Category: Sports Fox

While seeing second-generation NFL players isn’t uncommon, several former players have children starring at the highest level in sports other than football. Look no further than the event of the summer, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and this week’s NBA Draft. Here are some of the most accomplished current athletes in the pro sports ranks with NFL bloodlines: Alex Freeman scored the second goal in Team USA’s 2-0 win Sunday over Australia in group stage play at the World Cup, where the Americans have clinched Group D and will advance to the knockout round. The U.S. faces Türkiye in their final group-stage match Thursday (10 p.m. ET on FOX). At age 21, Freeman is the youngest player representing Team USA this year. He plays his club ball for Villarreal in La Liga, the highest level league in Spain. The elder Freeman, Antonio Freeman, played nine seasons as a wide receiver in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers in 1996. He was a first-team All-Pro selection in 1998. Haley, 27, is a standout for Brighton & Hove Albion in the English Women’s Super League, the most competitive tier of women’s soccer in England. She starred collegiately at Stanford and was drafted seventh overall by the Chicago Red Stars in the 2021 NWSL Draft, though she never played for the team. She helped Sydney FC win the Australian League title in 2023 before joining Brighton. Madison’s father, Charles Haley, is a Pro Football Hall of Famer. He won five Super Bowls and was twice named an All-Pro edge rusher in his 13 NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys. Joshua Jefferson was selected in the first round of the NBA Draft on Tuesday, taken at No. 28 overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves, who sent him to Brooklyn in a pre-arranged trade. A 6-foot-8 forward, Jefferson averaged 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists for Iowa State last season. Ben Jefferson was a 6-foot-8, 300-plus-pound guard at Maryland in the 1980s. As a freshman in 1985, he was highlighted by Sports Illustrated as one of the biggest players in college football. He went undrafted out of college but had stints with a few NFL teams, making all four of his career appearances in 1990 with the Cleveland Browns. Koa Peat, who starred for Arizona as a freshman last season, was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks with the 30th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft — a selection that was traded to Phoenix. A 6-foot-8 forward, Peat averaged 14.1 points and 5.6 rebounds for an Arizona team that made the Final Four. Todd Peat Sr. was an 11th round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1987 NFL Draft, making 79 appearances as a guard across six seasons with the Cardinals and Raiders. Koa’s brother, Andrus Peat, is an 11-year NFL veteran and three-time Pro Bowl guard, most recently appearing in six games with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. Longtime pro tennis player Sloane Stephens has been ranked as high as the world No. 3 in singles by the Women’s Tennis Association. She has won eight singles titles as a pro, including the 2017 U.S. Open. Her father, John Stephens, was a first-round pick of the New England Patriots in 1988 and a Pro Bowl running back as a rookie. He played six total seasons, with the Patriots, Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs. Jaxson Hayes was selected eighth overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, and the 7-foot center has played eight seasons and counting with the New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers. His best season to date came in 2021-22, when he averaged 9.3 points and 4.5 rebounds for the Pelicans. Jaxson’s father, tight end Jonathan Hayes, was a second-round pick in the 1985 NFL Draft by the Chiefs and appeared in 184 games across 12 seasons. The elder Hayes is a former tight ends coach for the Cincinnati Bengals (2003-18) and served as the head coach and general manager of the St. Louis Battlehawks in 2020. Vashti Cunningham is a three-time Olympian for Team USA in the high jump, finishing fifth in the Paris Games in 2024. The 28-year-old has medaled twice in the World Championships, winning gold in 2016 and silver in 2018. Randall Cunningham, a second-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1985, was a four-time Pro Bowl quarterback in his 16 seasons with the Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens. Elijah Green was selected fifth overall in the 2022 MLB Draft after starring at IMG Academy in Florida. He’s hit 10 home runs in his first 62 games this season for the Wilmington Blue Rocks, the Nationals’ High-A affiliate. His father, Eric Green, was picked 21st overall in the 1990 NFL Draft by the Steelers. He played nine seasons in the league and was twice named to the Pro Bowl as a tight end.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

LOS ANGELES — Drew Allar might be new to the NFL, but his first professional home provides him with some familiarity. Allar will get to back up Aaron Rodgers, a quarterback he looked up to growing up. But he’s also joining an offensive system that he already knows with the Pittsburgh Steelers, believing the team that selected him in the third round of April’s draft has created a “full circle moment” for him. “The West Coast offense in general was something I studied a lot in the offseasons at Penn State,” Allar told me during a conversation this offseason at the NFLPA Rookie Premiere. “Kind of the newer versions like the [Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean] McVay and [San Francisco 49ers head coach] Mike Shanahan. I was on that trend for the last four years. “But it’s now kind of a full circle moment for me, going back and seeing how everything really started. Why the drops are a certain way and how they match up with the progressions. And where the concepts originated from. It’s really cool to be a part of that. It’s a lot of information, but it’s starting to slow down for me.” And, as Allar mentioned, he will now get to learn from one of the innovators of the West Coast offense: Mike McCarthy. The new Steelers head coach learned from the originators of the scheme during his time as an assistant coach with the Kansas City Chiefs, including Paul Hackett. Hackett cut his teeth in San Francisco, learning from Bill Walsh, the originator of the West Coast offense. McCarthy would go on to coach Joe Montana in Kansas City before coaching Brett Favre and Rodgers with the Green Bay Packers. He also worked under another Walsh protégé, offensive guru Mike Holmgren. McCarthy has been reunited with Rodgers in Pittsburgh, and Allar said he’s privileged to share a quarterback room with the future Hall of Famer. “I’m really excited to learn from him,” Allar told me. “With him being in Coach McCarthy’s system in Green Bay, it’s beneficial because he knows the system inside and out, even though he hasn’t played in it in five or six years at this point. And just everything he’s going through in his career, playing in tens of thousands of snaps, how much experience and knowledge he has — the nuances of playing the position of quarterback, reading coverages, the defensive tendencies — any little thing I can pick up to help me process faster and be more accurate, I’m all in for it.” Allar didn’t always play quarterback. His father, Kevin, was Allar’s youth football coach, and as one of the bigger kids on the team, Allar was relegated to playing tight end, fullback, defensive end and linebacker during his early days of tackle football. But the chance to play quarterback full-time emerged in Allar’s first year in high school. “We didn’t have a quarterback my freshman year, and then I always loved throwing from baseball, so I just wanted to try it out,” Allar told me. Allar blossomed into a five-star college recruit at Medina High School, a half hour south of Cleveland. During his senior season, Allar totaled 4,444 passing yards and 48 passing touchdowns. He also recorded 406 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns. Allar helped to lead Medina to a 13-1 record, earning All-State honors. Allar was also named Mr. Football in Ohio. “High school was fun,” Allar told me. “We were five wide and just throwing the ball every time. We were kind of a no-huddle, up-tempo offense. When we got to my senior year, [head coach Larry Laird] was very lenient with me. I probably called like 20 to 30% of the plays at the line of scrimmage my senior year. And that was always in working collaboration with him.” Considered a first-round pick at the start of the year, Allar didn’t perform as expected and his final season at Penn State was cut short because of an ankle injury. At 6-foot-5 and 228 pounds and blessed with good movement skills, Allar showed glimpses of developing into an NFL-caliber quarterback, but remains a work in progress in the pros. It will be up to McCarthy and an experienced offensive coaching staff led by offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio and quarterbacks coach Tom Arth to develop Allar’s unique skill set. “I believe in first impressions,” McCarthy said about Allar in Pittsburgh’s post-draft press conference with reporters. I had a chance to not only watch him play but meet him at the combine. … I like everything about him. I think he’s got room for growth. He’s a young man that can throw the ball with the best of them, and that’s a great starting point to have.” That’s high praise from McCarthy, but an opinion not necessarily shared by an NFL quarterback evaluator I spoke with about Allar. “I think it was a little bit of a surprise pick in the third round, given his production in college,” the NFL talent evaluator told me. “He’s got all the physical tools. He’s kind of like a create-a-player in Madden. He’s 6-5 and 230. He can throw the ball a mile. He’s got a very pretty spiral. He’s a guy that scouts absolutely love, but I think the disconnect is you’ve got to become someone who coaches absolutely love in terms of decision-making, timing and accuracy. “I would say he’s a project. In my opinion, he’s got a long way to go. They’re investing in him as a guy that two years from now could have major upside. He’s got the prettiest deep ball on the planet, but I think most coaches would tell you, ‘Yeah, that’s great, but it’s second-and-10, and you overthrew the guy by five yards.’” For the past year, Allar’s worked with John Beck and 3DQB here in Southern California during the offseason to prepare him for the league. Beck also worked with another former McCarthy quarterback in Dak Prescott. Allar said Beck helped to improve his footwork, getting him in better throwing positions. Currently, Allar is No. 4 on the depth chart behind Rodgers, Mason Rudolph and Will Howard, who the Steelers took in the sixth round of last year’s draft. But he’s willing to be patient, work on his craft and try to live up to lofty expectations, playing behind one of the best to ever do it in Rodgers. “It’s really just taking it a day at a time,” Allar told me. “They do a great job of building it out throughout practice with the quarterback in individual drills. They do a great job of emphasizing things throughout each day, just so I can get that foundation, because the footwork is a little different than what I’m used to. “We were under center a little bit at Penn State, but not in the drop-back game. It was more run game and play-action game. So, just getting cleaner with under-center drops and drop-back footwork. And just really trying to pick up on the nuances of it. Just some different teaching, and it’s really cool to be a part of that. And kind of have another chapter to learn from and grow from. I already feel a lot more comfortable in it, and I know I’ve just got to keep my head down and keep working at it.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

U.S. World Cup Team Training Base (IRVINE, Calif.) — As a strictly practical matter, it’s no secret that the Stars and Stripes don’t need to win — or even tie — Thursday’s first round finale against already eliminated Türkiye. It’s a right Mauricio Pochettino’s squad has earned. By winning their first two games at a World Cup for the first time in 96 years, the Americans not only advanced to the knockout stage of the tournament with a game to spare, but also clinched Group D. You wouldn’t know it when talking to the U.S. players here this week. While Pochettino confirmed on the eve of the contest that he’ll make several lineup changes from those victories over Australia — at least the four starters who picked up yellow cards; another against the Turks for any of them would trigger a suspension for the round of 32, which isn’t worth the risk — the replacements will approach the match as if it means everything. For many of them, it will. “Everybody’s going to be called on at a different point, in a different capacity,” center back Mark McKenzie — one of eight members of the USA’s 26-man World Cup roster who have yet to see a single minute at the tournament — told me and other reporters here before the USA’s final pre-Türkiye training session. “Being ready I think is the biggest thing for each and every guy.” “I’ve been training hard, waiting for the opportunity, but I’m sure it’ll come,” said Alex Zendejas — who also has yet to play — before quickly qualifying his reward. “That’s obviously a coach’s decision.” So is whether to play top attacker Christian Pulisic, who sat out last week against the Aussies because of a calf injury but said on Wednesday that he’ll be able to start if Pochettino selects him, if not play the entire game. The smart money is on the former Paris Saint-Germain boss taking a conservative approach. As much as he wants to finish the first round with three wins, the game that matters most comes on July 1 in Santa Clara, Calif., and will more than likely be against a Bosnia and Herzegovina side that eliminated four-time World Cup champion Italy in March in Europe’s qualifying playoffs. Lose that contest, and all the good vibes the Americans have created so far instantly turn toxic. Still, heading into that do-or-die tilt without disrupting the momentum would be ideal. “Two wins is what’s keeping the energy high right now, and three would be even [better],” left back Max Arfsten, who seems set to fill in for Antonee “Jedi” Robinson (Jedi was cautioned against the Socceroos), said on Tuesday. “Regardless of if we’ve advanced or not, training is still very competitive, it’s very intense, and I think that’s the culture that the coach created: No matter what, everyone’s still trying to prove something.” At his pre-game press conference, Pochettino laid down exactly what. Whoever he picks must go take the field at Los Angeles Stadium with the mindset that “it’s the final of the World Cup,” the 54-year-old Argentine said. Why wouldn’t they? After all, it could be the culmination of a childhood dream for some of them, and possibly the only World Cup game they ever play in their entire careers. Seeing their teammates accomplish that could have a feel-good knock-on effect on the rest of the roster. Those who haven’t yet played have been training just as hard, have been away from their young children just as long as those who’ve been in the spotlight so far. “I think these guys deserve it if they get the chance,” said star defender Chris Richards, another of the Americans carrying a yellow. “I think everyone on this team is ready to step up,” Pulisic added. “We’re going to support and push everyone the same way, whoever gets the opportunity [on Thursday] to play, whatever the decisions may be. Everyone’s going to be ready, and it just shows how much depth and what a strong team we have.” Not that getting on the field in what some have referred to as a “dead rubber” match is some sort of consolation prize. After all, this is still the biggest stage in global sports. “It’s a World Cup,” said Richards. “If you’re not excited for this, I don’t know when you will be excited.” So yes, the result against Türkiye truly matters — even if it doesn’t. “We need to win,” Pochettino said flatly in his native Spanish. “I have no doubt that the team that plays in the match is going to perform.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Under a grey South Florida sky at Miami Stadium where David Beckham was questionably drinking red wine (in this humidity?) from a suite, Brazil put on a show that dampened Scotland’s party while clinching a spot in the World Cup knockout rounds. Brazilian flags and the canary yellow-clad fans continuously erupted in cheer as Carlo Ancelotti’s side continued took full control of the evening and won Group C. As for the usually raucous Tartan Army, they saw Scotland sadly struggle to get anything going and cause mistake over mistake. One thing is for sure. Ancelotti is slowly but surely returning the Joga Bonito (play beautifully) personality to Brazil. And that’s a scary thing for anyone else standing in its way. Here are my takeaways: 1. Vinícius Júnior Is Dancing To World Cup Glory The night belonged to the five-time World Cup champion and most importantly, Vinícius Júnior, who is having a tournament to remember. The Real Madrid star scored twice and gave the Scottish backline grief throughout the night, whilst Matheus Cunha sneakily scored his third goal of the competition to surprisingly also be in the mix for the Golden Boot race. Thanks to his two goals, Vini Jr. has now scored in all three matches of the group stage – making him the first Brazilian to accomplish that feat since Rivaldo and Ronaldo in 2002, which is when the Seleção last won the World Cup. In fact, every time this has happened, Brazil has won the World Cup as Romario did in 1994 and Jairzinho in 1970 – where the legendary winger scored in every game. Could Vini Jr. emulate that at this World Cup? It’s obviously a big ask, but right now he has four goals — only one behind Argentina’s Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race for the tournament’s top goalscorer. But what’s more important, the Brazil star is leading by example. And that’s exactly what this team needs. 2. Neymar Jr.’s Cameo Continues Summer Of Stars It was also a night where Brazil welcomed back Neymar Jr., as the 34-year-old entered the pitch with less than 15 minutes to go. In a tournament where veteran icons like Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modrić are having their moments in the spotlight, it was nice for Brazilians to welcome their own legendary star once again. After nearly three years, October 2023 to be exact, Neymar Jr. returned to action with Brazil. It has been an arduous time filled with injury-ridden problems that included his ACL and meniscus tear. But once he entered the pitch in the 76th minute to replace Matheus Cunha, the crowd on their feet chanted his name with excitement. This is exactly why Ancelotti brought him back to the squad. To not just perform but to ignite a fire within Brazil. If he can be an impactful player, even in 15–20 minutes of action, then Brazil will feel deeper, stronger and more confident. 3. Scotland Gave Brazil Too Much Respect Scotland now has a waiting game to see if it has made it as a top-eight third-placed team. Having the opening game victory over Haiti helps but the setback against Morocco, and conceding three goals on Tuesday to Brazil, most definitely does not. Don’t get me wrong. Brazil totally deserved its win and there was probably nothing Scotland could have done tonight to change the narrative. But I thought the Scots were too nervous instead of pressing Brazil and making it uncomfortable. In simple terms, Scotland just sat for too long and waited for Brazil to charge as opposed to stopping the momentum in the first place. In this game, whatever happened, Scotland needed to gamble, and I don’t think the team gambled enough. Steve Clarke’s side has three points but also a -3 goal differential, so it has to see whether Scotland will sneak into the round of 32 or if the memorable stateside trip of the Tartan Army finishes earlier than hoped. 4. Bruno Guimarães With A Terrific Performance With the style being provided by the likes of Vinícius Júnior, there needs to be some kudos given to Brazil’s engine in the middle. The Newcastle United man was excellent, as he provided a perfect assist for Vini’s second. Throughout the game, he hovered all over the midfield to begin the team’s sequences and was critical in all the created chances. In the second half, he gave another assist to Matheus Cunha, thanks to a great run inside the box. It was a lovely flick. It was an imposing display. In all, it was a complete performance for Brazil, who now wait for its Round of 32 opponent, which is the runner-up from Group F — either the Netherlands, Japan or Sweden. That’s not an easy situation, especially with the first two mentioned.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Morocco spent a half being outplayed by a team that arrived with nothing to lose, then snapped back to reality. A rotated and rusty Atlas Lions side trailed Haiti twice in Atlanta before quality — and a lively bench — turned it into a 4-2 win. Here are my takeaways from Morocco’s comeback over Haiti: 1. Group C, Sorted: Morocco March On, Haiti Head Home With Brazil seeing off Scotland 3-0 across the bracket, Group C finished as the seedings predicted — just not in the order Morocco wanted. Both Brazil and Morocco closed on seven points, but Brazil’s plus-six goal difference dwarfed Morocco’s plus-three, so the Atlas Lions take second and the slightly bumpier road. As runners-up, they’re set to meet the Group F winner in the Round of 32 — likely the Netherlands or Japan. Regardless of the outcome, the 2022 semifinalists have advanced. For Haiti, the math was settled before kickoff. The defeat locks them into last place with zero points, eliminating them and sending them home. The favorites advance. The underdogs bow out. 2. Ismael Saibari Saved His Best For Every Occasion Some players save their best for the big stage. Ismael Saibari decided every stage was the big one. The PSV Eindhoven striker scored in all three group games — a delicate lob against Brazil, the fastest goal in Morocco’s World Cup history against Scotland, and a cool Achraf Hakimi-assisted finish here — to finish as Morocco’s group-stage top scorer with three. He’s the breakout name, but hardly the only one who shone. Captain Achraf Hakimi was everywhere again, scoring one goal and assisting another from right back. Real Madrid’s Brahim Díaz and Stuttgart’s Bilal El Khannouss provided the craft in the final third. And the bench bailed them out: substitutes Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassine combined for the two goals that finally put Haiti away. Morocco isn’t a one-man team. They’re a deep one, which is far more frightening. 3. The Tactics: Hakimi’s Show, And A Bench That Bites On paper, it was a 4-2-3-1. In practice, it was the Achraf Hakimi show with a double pivot behind it. Morocco controlled 70% of the ball, funneled their best attacks through Hakimi’s overlapping runs on the right, and trusted Sofyan Amrabat and Neil El Aynaoui to shield the back four. When it clicks — as it did against Brazil and Scotland — Mohamed Ouahbi’s side looks like a team that can hurt anyone. They possess significant technical ability across every line in the formation. The caveat: they conceded twice to an already-eliminated Haiti, the kind of switch-off better opponents punish. So what’s the ceiling? These are the 2022 semifinalists, now with arguably more attacking talent and a bench that wins games. Another deep run is firmly on the table — the quarterfinals feel a fair ask — provided the concentration that drifted in Atlanta shows up for the knockouts. 4. Haiti Leave With A Goal For The Ages Haiti reached their first World Cup in 52 years and left without a point: three games, three defeats, bottom of Group C. But don’t confuse the standings for the story. Sébastien Migné’s side led mighty Morocco twice, and the moment that outlives this tournament belonged to Wilson Isidor. With Haiti ahead and swinging, the Sunderland forward collected the ball on the right, shifted onto his stronger foot, and detonated a rocket into the top-left corner — an early goal-of-the-tournament nominee from a team that wasn’t supposed to score at all. The bodies and the quality ran out after the break, as everyone suspected they might. But Haiti found the net for the first time at a World Cup since 1974 and genuinely frightened a semifinalist. Some nights, that’s the victory. For Isidor, that’s a memory that’ll last a lifetime.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

There might not be anything to play for in terms of Group D standings when the USA takes on Türkiye on Thursday – but that doesn’t mean this one is meaningless in terms of reps and lessons. That said, it’s a juggling act for Mauricio Pochettino to keep his guys fresh but not take any unnecessary risks. If I were Poch, I’d be hesitant to play Christian Pulisic in this game. I get the idea of wanting to keep him sharp, but there’s more to lose than there is to gain. These players are already fit, so playing 90 minutes wouldn’t be a concern. Instead, I expect we’ll see a rotated United States team with players starting who will be hopeful of making a positive impact in their first extended action of the tournament. Here’s what I think we’ll see from the USA and Türkiye on Thursday night in Los Angeles. I expect the USA to heavily rotate here. The guys who are one yellow card away from a suspension or carrying minor knocks are the ones who I especially do not expect to play. You may see some of the other players who have been active so far in this tournament start before getting subbed off, before they play the entire 90 minutes. I’d expect to see guys who start but haven’t gotten much action in the tournament play close to the entire game. What I’m not expecting is to see a less competitive United States team. The guys who haven’t gotten many minutes but will play are likely to want it even more than the ones who have been. This is their chance to get a start at the World Cup, and it’s their opportunity to show that they’re capable of stepping up during the knockout stage. That will especially be the case in attack. We’ve seen early goals against Paraguay and Australia, so most of the USA’s minutes have been playing with a lead. If that doesn’t happen again and attacking changes need to be made in the knockout stage, I want to see who can step up. We saw Ricardo Pepi get a start in place of Pulisic against Australia, but who will be the first name(s) off the bench when the USA might need a goal later in the tournament? Will it be Tim Weah or Alex Zendejas? Haji Wright? Brenden Aaronson? We don’t know yet. The one attacking player who has made an impact is Gio Reyna, who scored the fourth goal against Paraguay after coming on in the 82nd minute. What I’m most curious to see with Gio is how he is deployed. I thought he was going to start on the left wing in place of Pulisic against Australia, but Mauricio Pochettino opted for a second striker with Pepi instead. Assuming Gio starts this game, is he on the wing? Is he playing as an “8” in more of a central role in midfield? This will be a big opportunity for Reyna to show why he should be the go-to guy off the bench. I want to see him grind on both ends of the pitch and show why he thinks he should be starting. Türkiye may be the most unlucky team in the World Cup and will feel hard done by entering this game. Of all the teams that are at the bottom of their group, especially the ones that have already been eliminated, the Turks are probably the most talented. Türkiye had 62 shots in its first two games without scoring a goal. Against Australia in the opener, Türkiye faced a side that defended extremely well and happened to get an early goal. After that, the Aussies were able to sit back and defend in a low block that was really well-executed. Then, against Paraguay, it was an even earlier goal that put Türkiye behind. Then, the Turks played against 10 men for 50 minutes but still couldn’t score. When you look at Türkiye’s xGs (expected goals) and total number of shots, you’d be shocked that it lost both matches and didn’t even get a point from either. But, in reality, this team is going home after this game regardless of the result. Conceding early has especially been tough for Türkiye. It makes for a weird game because the Turks have been in control, so there’s initially a sense of confidence that the goal will come. Then, as the game goes on, it gets more and more frustrating. Güler has a great ability to find the final pass or shoot effectively from distance. The surprising thing so far in this tournament is that he has not been efficient with either of those skills. Something has just been a little off. You can tell when Güler gets on the ball, though, that he’s the player trying to make things happen. He gets on the ball, and the rest of the team perks up. The other key attacker for Türkiye is winger Kenan Yildiz, who came on at halftime against Australia and played all 90 minutes against Paraguay. He’s a different type of player from Güler, one who thrives in one-on-one situations.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The final whistle brought disappointment, but it also delivered history. Despite a 2-1 loss to Switzerland on Wednesday afternoon, Canada, under coach Jesse Marsch, secured its first-ever trip to the FIFA World Cup knockout stage. Marsch has transformed Canada from a nation primarily known for hockey into a team that believes in itself. That belief has been evident throughout the tournament as Canada looks to make an impact on the World Cup stage. “One thing I know about our team is we have heart, and we won’t stop,” Marsch said. “We’re so committed to the game and to each other, so that part I’m really proud of. We have to now take that performance and make sure we apply that from the start when we go down to LA.” Switzerland is one of the most complete teams in this year’s tournament, but that didn’t shake Marsch’s belief in his squad. His ambitions extend beyond a single match, as he believes this Canadian team is capable of something special. “We knew that this team [Switzerland] was more established and the goals are bigger than just one goal, one point or one win,” Marsch said. “We want to really make a run at it because we believe in our group.” Marsch said injuries played a role in Wednesday’s loss, saying that Canada has struggled to get players healthy throughout the tournament. Still, he added that the team expects captain and star player Alphonso Davies to return for its next match. “One of the things that’s been a little bit unlucky is trying to get guys healthy again,” Marsch said. “Alphonso Davies will be ready to go next game, so that’s a good sign. Everyone here puts so much into it, and they care so much about this program.” Adding Davies back to the lineup will be key for a Canada team set to face one of Group A’s qualifiers: South Korea, Czechia or South Africa. Canada will need a full-strength squad if it hopes to continue its World Cup run. “It’s an honor to coach this national team,” Marsch said. “We’re going to go down to LA and make sure that we put our best performance forward.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Lionel Messi has left the door open for a sensational appearance at the 2030 World Cup after cementing his legacy as the greatest goalscorer in the history of the competition. The Argentina icon, currently leading the Albiceleste’s charge at the 2026 tournament in North America, recently surpassed Miroslav Klose to take his total tally to 18 goals across six editions. The GOAT Refuses to Say Goodbye Despite turning 39 this week, Messi is showing no interest in discussing his retirement from the international stage. When quizzed about the possibility of featuring in the 2030 World Cup, which will celebrate the tournament’s centenary, the Inter Miami star remained evasive but optimistic about his longevity. “I don’t know. The truth is, I’m not thinking about that right now. It seems a bit far off but, as I said, I’m living one day at a time and focused on the present,” Messi told reporters, per ANI. The veteran forward, who has scored all five of Argentina’s goals in their opening two group matches against Algeria and Austria, insisted his continued participation depends entirely on his physical state. Messi added: “Yes, yes… I will continue for some time, as long as I can contribute, feel good physically, and help my teammates… I will keep playing.” His comments suggest that the dream of seeing him compete at age 43 remains very much alive for football fans globally. Record-Breaking Exploits On The World Stage Messi’s current form suggests that age remains little more than a number for the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. By netting a brace in the 2-0 win over Austria, he became the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history, moving past the previous record of 16 goals. It has been a clinical start to the 2026 campaign, following his hat-trick in the opening match that also made him the oldest player to score a treble in the competition’s history. The former Barcelona star was humble when reflecting on his milestone, even after missing a penalty earlier in the match. “The truth is that it is spectacular how it happened,” Messi admitted. “Today I had the penalty that I could have increased the score with, but if I had scored the penalty, perhaps I wouldn’t have scored the other two. You never know, but I’m happy with the result.” Peak Physical Condition at 39 While most players have long since retired by their late thirties, Messi continues to stun observers with his fitness levels. While celebrating his 39th birthday, the Argentine captain shared footage of himself performing perfect pull-ups at the Albiceleste’s training base, demonstrating the rigorous gym work behind his on-field success. This physical dedication has convinced many that he could follow in the footsteps of other sporting icons who played well into their forties. Pundits are already speculating on what his next club move might be, with former England international Gabby Agbonlahor agrees that a 2030 World Cup appearance is on the cards. Agbonlahor even suggested that if Messi were to make a shock move to the Premier League with Aston Villa, he would lead them to both domestic and European glory. Defending The Title in North America For now, the primary focus remains defending the World Cup trophy. Argentina have already secured their place in the Round of 32 with a game to spare, allowing manager Lionel Scaloni to potentially rest his stars for their final Group J encounter against Jordan. Scaloni has been vocal about his desire to keep his captain happy and thriving, noting the positive atmosphere within the squad as they pursue back-to-back world titles. “We believe it’s the group that gets through both the good and the bad moments. We know that being beside a friend always makes things better. That’s how we all feel, and I imagine Leo feels the same way, based on what he said,” Scaloni remarked. With the knockout rounds looming, Messi’s record-breaking form and elite physical condition suggest that Argentina remain the team to beat as they march toward the final in New York.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Canada threw itself a party at home and Switzerland strolled in to rearrange the furniture. Two goals in the first dozen minutes of the second half settled it. Switzerland and Canada both advanced to the knockout round as well. But the co-hosts’ 2-1 defeat in Vancouver was a reminder that hosting a World Cup gets you a great crowd, not a free pass. Here are my takeaways from Switzerland’s win over Canada: 1. Swiss Banking: The Swiss Take Group B, Canada Cashes In Anyway Both teams arrived on four points, and both left with what they came for — sort of. Switzerland’s win lifts Murat Yakin’s side to seven points and first place in Group B, which should buy it the friendlier-looking half of the round of 32 bracket. Canada dropped to second. But here’s the part worth celebrating in Vancouver: second place still means advancing. For a nation that went home pointless and goalless in 1986 and again in 2022, this is uncharted territory — the first time Canada has ever escaped a World Cup group. Losing the group on the final day dents pride, not the standings. Qualification was effectively secured before kickoff, and Canada is happy to take a knockout berth on home soil, however it arrives. 2. No Galáctico, No Hype — And Top Of Group B Anyway Here’s a fun exercise: name a Swiss superstar. Take your time. Switzerland just won Group B without a single player who the casual fan would cross a room to watch. Captain Granit Xhaka is a 33-year-old metronome rebuilt at Sunderland. Defensive rock Manuel Akanji quietly anchors Inter Milan. Gregor Kobel keeps goals out of the net for Borussia Dortmund, and Breel Embolo leads the line for Rennes. All solid players at the club level, but not one is a household name — and that’s precisely why everyone keeps sleeping on them. Murat Yakin’s side is organized, compact, ruthless in transition and lethal from set pieces — the footballing equivalent of the kid who always did the homework and stayed after class for extra help. Switzerland reached the quarterfinals at each of the last two Euros. Overlooked suits the squad just fine. It only means nobody enjoys drawing the team that quietly keeps advancing. 3. Hot, Cold, And Through: The Jesse Marsch Verdict Three group games, three completely different versions of Canada. A flat 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina to open, despite being ranked 34 places higher. Then a 6-0 demolition of Qatar that smelled like a breakout. Then this: busy, competitive and ultimately second-best. That’s the Marsch experience in a sentence: high-energy, high-press, gloriously unpredictable, occasionally combustible. What did Wednesday teach us? That the press can be split by quick, direct play, and that two soft moments after halftime — including a goalkeeper who got a hand to the second goal but only helped it in — will sink you against good teams. But also that this group doesn’t fold; Canada outshot Switzerland and pulled one back through substitute Promise David. The verdict is a genuine knockout side with a wobble in it. Dangerous on a good day, beatable on a bad one. 4. The Kid From Geneva: Johan Manzambi Has Arrived Remember the name, because Switzerland already has. Johan Manzambi — a 20-year-old box-to-box midfielder from Bundesliga side SC Freiburg — delivered the breakout performance of the Swiss tournament. He set up Rubén Vargas seconds into the second half, then doubled the lead himself with a direct shot that squeezed past Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau. This was no fluke. The Geneva-born youngster — son of Angolan and Congolese parents — had already come off the bench to score twice against Bosnia and Herzegovina, becoming the youngest Swiss player ever to score a brace at a World Cup. Manzambi has three goals and an assist in his first tournament, at 20, from midfield. Murat Yakin has spent the group stage learning what Freiburg already knew, and Premier League scouts are circling.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Bosnia and Herzegovina rose to the occasion to defeat Qatar 3-1 in Seattle, and likely put itself into the knockout stages of a World Cup for the first time. Sergej Barbarez’s team was aggressive in the first half behind standout performances from teenager Kerim Alajbegovic and legendary 40-year-old captain Edin Džeko to propel the team to a defining World Cup victory. The full rankings of third-place teams will not be known until later in the week, but Bosnia and Herzegovina is now in great shape to advance. Here are my four takeaways from the match: 1. Youth Is Served For Bosnia and Herzegovina In a World Cup that has been dominated by some of the greatest players to ever play the game, Bosnia and Herzegovina is all-but-assured to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time in its history, thanks to major contributions from its youth, including its youngest-ever goalscorer in winger Kerim Alajbegović (18). Born in Cologne, Germany, to Bosnian parents, Alajbegović took a ball from Ivan Basic and evaded several Qatari defenders and fired a brilliant and unstoppable shot into the top corner. Bosnia and Herzegovina has a promising group of younger players within its system and Alajbegović is a big part of the team’s future. Now at Salzburg, he is set to join Bayer Leverkusen this summer. Even aside from the goal, Alajbegović had a very good and complete performance where he was routinely dangerous and always looking to make a difference. That is why this tournament can be so much fun. It is not just for established stars; it is also a place where stars are made – and Alajbegović just scored what is arguably the biggest goal in the history of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team. In addition to Alajbegović, Ivan Basic was also very dangerous for Bosnia and Herzegovina throughout the game. Basic not only assisted on Alajbegović’s goal, he also set up Džeko for a shot off the post. He was the best passer in this game. At just 24, Basic is a player not just for this World Cup, but he will also be important to Bosnia & Herzegovina by a long stretch. Finally, there is Ermin Mahmic, the 21-year-old who put the game out of reach with the third Bosnia and Herzegovina goal. Born in Austria to Bosnian parents, Mahmic played for Austrian youth national teams in the past. It was only last month, in May, when he completed a change-of-association switch with FIFA to play for Bosnia & Herzegovina. In doing so and then scoring in this game, he became one of the key pieces to this national team’s future. Bosnia and Herzegovina is well set up for the future with a talented base of young players. Most of these players were born outside of Bosnia and Herzegovina at a time when many families in the country were displaced in the 1990s. Now, many children born abroad to Bosnian parents in the years following the war are opting to play for Bosnia & Herzegovina. In addition to Mahmic and Alajbegović, there is also Esmir Bajraktarevic, who started in this game and played a big role in World Cup qualifying. Bajraktarevic was born and raised in Wisconsin and played for the U.S. U-20 and U-23 teams (and one appearance with the full national team) before switching to Bosnia and Herzegovina. 2. Džeko Still Important To Bosnia What was fun about this win for Bosnia and Herzegovina is that it was not just the youth of Alajbegović; it was also a very important performance from Edin Džeko, who at age 40 is Bosnia and Herzegovina’s all-time leading scorer. The Sarajevo native has over 400 career goals for club and country. For Bosnia and Herzegovina, he has 73 goals in 150 appearances. Džeko did not score in this game, but he made the team’s second goal possible when he got on the end of a cross from fullback Sead Kolasinac deep in the box. He then attempted to send a header back across the goal, but it deflected off Sultan Al Brake for an own goal. In the 38th minute, Džeko nearly put the game out of reach when he got on the end of a brilliant ball from Basic while in stride towards the goal. He took a left-footed shot that looked as if it was heading into the corner, but instead hit the post. Džeko’s 150th cap ended in the 64th minute when he was subbed out. While he was technically not part of a goal contribution, it was a very good performance and the win was not possible without him. Between Džeko and Alajbegović, it was a win that was made possible by two players 22 years apart in age, spanning multiple generations. It was a true “changing of the guard” moment for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team. 3. Qatar kept fighting When Qatar conceded its second goal in a five-minute span via an own goal to fall behind 2-0, it seemed as if Qatar was going to fold and make a quiet exit from the tournament. That was not the case at all. Qatar responded by playing its best soccer of the tournament, by far. It began with a great cross from right back Pedro Miguel that found Edmílson Junior at the back post. He then was able to set up Hassan Al-Haydos for a close finish to pull one back and make it 2-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina. Then, just before the half, Miguel nearly equalized for Qatar but hit the post instead. While trailing in the later stages of the first half, Qatar enjoyed a long spell where it was on the front foot. It was a positive response for Qatar and one that should make its fans proud that the team put up a fight and never gave up. 4. The U.S Awaits? Bosnia and Herzegovina finished third in Group B behind Switzerland and Canada. But with four points, that will certainly be enough to send the team through to its first-ever knockout appearances. One of the likely scenarios now has this Bosnia & Herzegovina team facing the United States on July 1 at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in what would be a huge occasion for both teams. For the U.S. team, it is a chance to win a rare knockout game on home soil. For Bosnia and Herzegovina, it will likely be the biggest game in the history of its national team. Bosnia and Herzegovina matches up well with the United States. It has a nice blend of youth and experience that should give the team plenty of energy. It is also a strong and physical group. Under head coach Sergej Barbarez, the players all play hard and compete. That was how it enjoyed its defining moment of beating Italy in the playoffs of World Cup qualifying. The U.S. team will scout Bosnia and Herzegovina extensively ahead of this potential matchup, and if the game materializes, Mauricio Pochettino will have to prepare his team for a very physical battle for 90 — or possibly even 120 minutes.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports