Category: Sports Fox

Erling Haaland might be the best goalscorer in the world, but don’t tell Zlatan Ibrahimović that the Norwegian star is on his level yet. When FOX Sports soccer analyst Alexi Lalas suggested that Haaland could surpass Ibrahimović as one of the best strikers in the game with a strong showing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Ibrahimović – who is Sweden’s all-time leading scorer – vehemently disagreed. “I’m not sure about that. [Haaland] needs to do much more to reach the freak of nature,” Ibrahimović said when Lalas made his bold statement about Haaland on “FIFA World Cup Live.” Ibrahimović didn’t totally dismiss Haaland’s game. He showed some respect for the Manchester City striker, but Ibrahimović also said he believes Haaland’s game is one-dimensional and not as complete as his. “He does [score] goals. He’s a killer in the box. But I saw myself more all around. I like to play with the ball,” Ibrahimović said. “He’s a killer in the box, but that’s enough. He’s intelligent. He does what he needs to do. He doesn’t do more than he’s able to do. He doesn’t waste energy on that. I saw an interview with him where he said my dream is to touch two balls, score two goals. I would say different: My dream is to touch two balls, score three goals.” Haaland, who’ll only turn 26 in July, has already set numerous goalscoring records in his relatively young career. He’s won the Premier League’s Golden Boot in three of his first four seasons with Man City, setting the league record for the most goals scored in a single season (36) in 2022-23. He scored 27 goals in 35 Premier League appearances for Man City this past season en route to his third Premier League Golden Boot, too. Haaland’s dominant play hasn’t been restricted to the club level, either. His 16 goals in World Cup qualifying were the most among all players. He also has an astonishing 55 goals in 50 caps for Norway. That’s why Lalas believes Haaland could reach all-time status soon. “Just absolutely eats up ground. Ruthless as a finisher, in the box, in the air and with his feet,” Lalas said. “Keep in mind, [it’s Haaland’s] first World Cup. Now, a lot of times when we talk about Haaland, it’s in the context of the incredible player he is for club, right? But he’s obviously a critical player for Norway. Is his supporting cast good? Judging him at times is going to be difficult. “I’m going to tell you right now: If this man has a big World Cup, boom, right to the top. Even over [Ibrahimović]. I love you, Z, but I’ll take Haaland over you if he has a big World Cup, in terms of legendary status.” Still, Haaland might have a bit of a way to go before matching Ibrahimović as an all-time player. He’s still nearly 200 goals shy (317) of the 511 goals Ibrahimović scored at the club level. Ibrahimović also holds numerous unique records, like being the only player to score in the UEFA Champions League with six different teams and being the only player to score in his Premier League, Serie A, La Liga and Ligue 1 debuts. But Haaland now has an opportunity to do something that Ibrahimović wasn’t able to do, which is to make the knockout stage of the World Cup. Haaland and Norway begin their World Cup play in Group I on Tuesday, when it takes on Iraq at Boston Stadium (3 p.m. ET on FOX/FOX One). Norway will also face Senegal and France in group play. How To Watch 2026 FIFA World Cup The World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX and FS1 with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports apps.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

LOS ANGELES STADIUM — With victory already in hand deep into stoppage time of the U.S. men’s national team’s 2026 World Cup opener Friday night, the Americans simply needed to maintain possession and run out the clock. Over the course of 70 seconds before the final whistle blew, the USA strung together 26 passes that zigzagged the field, culminating in a stunning goal by Gio Reyna to seal a 4-1 rout. Reyna scored on a brilliant trivela, using the outside of his right foot to put just enough spin on the ball to send it beyond Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gil. “My parents and my wife have been telling me to shoot more,” Reyna told me and reporters after the match with a sheepish grin. “I know I have a good shot, but I’m conditioned to pass first, and they want me to be a little bit more selfish at times.” This was the moment to do it. After a composed and patient buildup, Reyna received a pass from Alex Freeman just outside the box. He took one touch to push forward into space, then pulled off an incredibly difficult move to score his first-ever World Cup goal and send the already exuberant crowd at Los Angeles Stadium into another level of euphoria. “We see stuff from him like that every day,” said Christian Pulisic, who contributed to two goals in the first half. “So it’s not like a crazy surprise. And he deserves it. It’s great to see him pull it off in a moment like this.” After the goal, 23-year-old Reyna celebrated by putting the ball inside his shirt and pretending to suck his thumb as a shout-out to his wife, Chloe, who is expecting their first child. This is all to say that the moment represented how things have come full circle for Reyna and his recent history with the national team. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a then-20-year-old Reyna was at the center of controversy that overshadowed the team’s performance in the tournament when his immature attitude nearly got him sent home. Reyna’s lack of playing time led to a highly publicized fallout between former manager Gregg Berhalter and Reyna’s parents, U.S. Soccer legend Claudio Reyna and former U.S. women’s national team player Danielle Reyna. Previously, the families had been longtime friends. For the past few years, the conversation around Reyna has been dominated by that drama. His inclusion on Mauricio Pochettino’s World Cup roster was a source of debate for some, not only because of what transpired in Qatar but also because he wasn’t playing regularly for German club Borussia Mönchengladbach. But Pochettino has been clear in his comments about Reyna, consistently expressing trust in the player and belief in his talent. After the goal, the manager sprinted down the sideline to celebrate, embracing him in an emotional hug. Over the past few weeks, Reyna has repeatedly faced questions from curious reporters about the last World Cup. Each time, he has said that he’s grown from the experience and is focused on the present. He wants to move on. Sebastian Berhalter, who grew up with Reyna, has also found himself fielding questions about everything that went down with his father. But he usually doesn’t engage. After Friday’s match, a reporter asked Berhalter how it felt being on the field with Reyna since both came on as substitutes in the second half. “It’s not a story between me and him,” Berhalter said without hesitation. “We’re on the same team, and, for us, it’s just about winning games for the national team. He scored an incredible goal, he’s an incredible player, and yeah, we want to make each other better. And we’re fighting for the common goal to win games for our country.” Perhaps now, after a magnificent goal that few can execute, any lingering questions or bad feelings from four years ago can finally be put to rest.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Back by popular demand! You know them, you love them: My 2026 FIFA World Cup Power Rankings, featuring the top 10 in this tournament as of today. As a reminder: These are my power rankings. You want some power rankings? Go get your own! These are mine, and they’re a work in progress throughout the tournament. I might get up and say, “Wow, this team is really turning me on!” Or, I might get up and say, “This team is not turning me on.” The U.S. turned everybody on during Friday night’s win! But keep in mind, just as you go up, you can come down as the tournament goes along. Let’s dive into it: Odds to win the World Cup: +3500 (11th)Key player: Winger Christian Pulisic (AC Milan) Nothing beats home cooking, but the United States might need a double helping of it this summer if it wants to contend — so far, so good. Group D opponents: Paraguay (4-1 W), Australia (June 19), Türkiye (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +1400 (7th)Key player: Midfielder Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich) Even a mediocre German team is still German. While manager Julian Nagelsmann’s squad lacks truly elite players, it will still be a force to be reckoned with this summer. Group E opponents: Curaçao (June 14), Ivory Coast (June 20), Ecuador (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +1700 (8th)Key player: Defender Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) While the Dutch have a strong team, it’s not quite ready for prime time to truly compete with the top-tiered teams. There is quality around the field on this team, but the Netherlands isn’t among the favorites. Group F opponents: Japan (June 14), Sweden (June 20), Tunisia (June 25) Odds to win the World Cup: +900 (5th)Key player: Winger Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) It’s rare that Brazil enters a World Cup this low in anyone’s rankings, but I like the idea of the Brazilians entering this tournament with low expectations attached to them — it might make them more dangerous. Group C opponents: Morocco (1-1 D), Haiti (June 19), Scotland (June 24) Odds to win the World Cup: +800 (4th)Key player: Striker Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr) The dynamic surrounding Ronaldo will make or break this tournament for Portugal. The 41-year-old is missing one major trophy in his career, and that’s the World Cup. Will the attention he draws be a help or a hindrance? Group K opponents: DR Congo (June 17), Uzbekistan (June 23), Colombia (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +1000 (6th)Key player: Forward Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) In a vacuum, I’d have Argentina higher, but no team has won consecutive World Cups since Brazil way back in 1958 and 1962. There is no doubt, though, that the Argentines remain serious contenders, led by one of the best players ever in Messi. Group J opponents: Algeria (June 16), Austria (June 22), Jordan (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +4000 (12th)Key player: Midfielder James Rodríguez (No club) I see the heat and environment in the United States favoring South American teams this summer. Colombia has shown it can compete with the best at these big tournaments, and it has a star in attack (winger Luis Díaz) who could lead it to the promised land. Group K opponents: Uzbekistan (June 17), DR Congo (June 23), Portugal (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +750 (3rd)Key player: Midfielder Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) It pains me to say this, but this is the best England team in decades. With striker Harry Kane leading the attack and Bellingham and Declan Rice in midfield, this could be the year that England breaks through and wins a major international trophy. Group L opponents: Croatia (June 17), Ghana (June 23), Panama (June 27) Odds to win the World Cup: +460 (1st)Key player: Midfielder Pedri (Barcelona) This is not your parents’ Spain, which won the Euros twice and the 2010 World Cup. It’s better. The Spaniards won Euro 2024 and have not lost since March 2024 — plus, only twice since the start of 2023. Group H opponents: Cape Verde (June 15), Saudia Arabia (June 21), Uruguay (June 26) Odds to win the World Cup: +470 (2nd)Key player: Striker Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) The combination of talent, depth and arrogance in this square … it’s like a lethal French perfume. Manager Didier Deschamps’ team has everything needed to send him off with a win this summer in his final major tournament in charge. Group I opponents: Senegal (June 16), Iraq (June 22), Norway (June 26)​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Switzerland arrived at the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup with a realistic goal of making a long run in the knockout stages, but on Sunday, the Swiss turned in a dismal performance where they were only able to find the back of the net through a penalty in the first half Instead, Switzerland wasted chance after chance to put the game away, allowed Qatar to hang around, and were ultimately punished for it. Deep into stoppage time in the second half, Qatar took advantage of a rare scoring opportunity as a cross from left back Homam Elamin found veteran central defender Boualem Khoukhi who headed the ball home with authority for a dramatic equalizer. Minutes later, the final whistle blew, and each team walked away with a point. But the emotions were very different. For Qatar, this was a massive point and its first ever positive result in its World Cup history. For Switzerland, it was an embarrassing two points lost. The reason is that the two teams came into the tournament in different places. Switzerland performed brilliantly in World Cup qualifying, winning UEFA Group B without losing a game. At Euro 2024, Murat Yakin’s team got out of its group, defeated Italy in the round of 16 and advanced to the quarterfinal where it narrowly lost to England. Qatar, on the other hand, is coming off the 2022 World Cup where it had the worst campaign of any host nation in the history of the tournament, having lost all three of its games. Its last win came in October and at the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup at the end of the year, Qatar lost all three of its games to Palestine, Syria, and Tunisia. Even before the game began, it was obvious that Switzerland wanted to dominate while Qatar simply wanted to hang on, perhaps create a chance or two against the run of play, and make sure that the score remained close should goal differential become a decisive factor in determining which of the third place teams advance. The warning signs were there early for Switzerland. An early turnover gave Qatar a great chance which forced a save. Meanwhile, Switzerland missed a chance while attempting to break down Qatar’s compact defense. It was only from a first half penalty that Breel Embolo was able to find the back of the net. However, Qatar managed to stay in the game. Even after Embolo moved the Swiss ahead, Qatar did well to stick to its initial game plan. Slowly in the second half, Qatar’s possessions were a little more meaningful. Then in the end, its patience paid off. Here are my takeaways: The defining story from this game is how the Swiss were remarkably wasteful from the run of play. Qatar deserves a lot of credit for keeping its defense organized and compact throughout the entire game, but Switzerland had plenty of chances to score more goals and had the talent put this one away early. Switzerland had more shots today than in any other World Cup match, surpassing the 21 shots it mustered against Togo in 2006 and the 21 it had against Germany in 1966. Next up for Switzerland will be teams that are far more dangerous offensively in Bosnia & Herzegovina and Canada. The good news for them is that these teams will not sit back quite as deep defensively and the Swiss should have more space to operate. The bad news is that if they continue to waste as many chances, the Swiss will likely be punished even worse. Scoring goals and finishing chances at this level is often an issue of confidence. Switzerland did not just lose two points, it might have lost the confidence which is needed heading into the more difficult games.  We won’t know until the next game how Switzerland responds, but the team’s mindset is a legitimate concern. Granit Xhaka is the captain and the emotional leader of Switzerland. He has a storied career in the top leagues of Europe. But in a game where frustrations become obvious, this is where veteran leadership is needed the most. Xhaka did not have a good game, and he did not create many chances. Instead, he was part of the problem as he regularly forced the issue by trying to make plays that were not there. Switzerland can still accomplish its goals at this World Cup but the week ahead in training will be an important time for mental preparation to get the team refocused. Part of that is on head coach Murat Yakin. Part of that is on Xhaka to help the team get back to a positive mindset. If the Swiss can simply refocus and put this behind them, they can be the favorite in the final two games. But that is easier said than done as this result will sting. Qatar’s Spanish head coach Julen Lopetegui deserves a lot of credit. When Embolo scored, Qatar could have abandoned its deep-sitting defense and instead tried to play more with Switzerland. Instead, Lopetegui had his team continue to sit back and continued to push for chances on the counterattack. It was a bold strategy given that Qatar had not scored a goal since December at the Arab Cup. But the plan was that the best chances to earn a result would be to continue sitting deep. It worked and Qatar kept up the same approach for the entire 90 minutes. Ultimately, it walked away with its first ever World Cup point after losing all three games in its tournament debut in 2022. With eight of 12 third place teams advancing at this World Cup, almost every team will still be alive heading into its final group stage game. Qatar took a big step forward today towards advancing, but getting there will likely require either a win or at least two more draws. As well as Qatar played defensively and as poorly as Switzerland played offensively, Qatar still needed a lot of luck. On most days, Switzerland would have found a way to win with a 26-7 shot advantage. For Qatar, this was likely the most difficult opponent it will face in the group stage. Next up will be Canada who are also disappointed and likely frustrated after failing to win its opener. The pressure in this game is all on Canada, and that can only help Qatar. Qatar’s hopes of advancing rest primarily on its goalkeeper Mahmud Abunada who conceded the penalty which Embolo converted, but still was the team’s best player over 90 minutes. He made five big saves and did well to keep Switzerland off the board from the run of play. In the upcoming games, Qatar will likely be outshot by more talented opponents. If Abunada can continue to play just as well as he did today, Qatar might have a chance. Group B is wide-open following two 1-1 draws in the first two matches, resulting in all four teams ending their first match day with one point each. With two matches remaining, goal difference and fair play will be the key in Group B. Switzerland will play Bosnia and Herzegovina at Los Angeles Stadium in its second group-stage match of the tournament on June 18; Qatar will play co-hosts Canada at BC Place in Vancouver later that day.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Waffle House and Carolina barbecue, the Auburn War Eagle and Boston Harbor boat parties, ranch dressing and bacon-wrapped everything. Welcome to America. The United States boasts a tremendously eclectic culture, and, let’s be honest, sometimes it’s super weird and inexplicable, even to some Americans. So many things across the 50 states — they each have their own flavor and culture too — are uniquely American, which World Cup fans around the world are discovering as they come to the U.S., perhaps for the first time, for the 48-team tournament this summer. And several fans and fan bases are going viral with their adventures, team pride and sharing of their traditions and cultures too. A major highlight has been a couple of Germany fans, influencers Freddy and Fiago, who have been trekking around the U.S. and are thoroughly (and hilariously) documenting their adventures around the South and Midwest. But there’s so much more to learn about (North) American culture. So we’re rounding up the best and funniest moments as international fans learn about the wacky and delightful things the U.S. has to offer — along with their wonderfully unbridled support for their respective teams. Mexico isn’t the only country that added a duck to their World Cup fan base. Scotland joined the fun ahead of their second group stage game against Morocco at Boston Stadium on Friday. As the Tartan Army’s march took over the streets of Providence, Rhode Island, a duck famously known as “Dawn” or “Donny the Duck” joined the fun with a Scotland flag attached to its back. A week prior, Merlin the duck was seen parading the streets with Mexico’s fan base for their group stage game with South Korea. The Tartan Army is famously known for their massive Scotland national team fan base that travels the world in support of the team. Following the Tartan Army’s outing at Fenway Park, they recently took over a Boston Brewery and sparked conversations about a sister city partnership between Boston and Glasgow, the capital of Scotland. While Scotland’s tournament fate resides in two more group stage games, expect to see plenty more of Dawn leading the Tartan Army. The World Cup excitement is taking over Major League Baseball stadiums, and now Australia is getting in on the action. Australia has officially taken over T-Mobile Park in Seattle, just a day before it faces the United States men’s national soccer team in World Cup action. Fans are filling the stands, celebrating, dancing, and cheering as they completely take over the section. With what is expected to be a close matchup on Friday night, it appears Australia’s fans are ready to back their squad and match the United States’ energy leading into the game. World Cup Fever is taking over North America and American Airlines decided to get in on the fun. On a Thursday morning flight from Los Angeles to Seattle — the host city for the U.S. men’s national team’s second World Cup group-stage match — every seat was draped with a US soccer jersey and a World Cup-themed care package. Travelers were able to keep the jerseys, as well as the care packages, and were even wished a “Happy World Cup” over the loudspeaker before disembarking. The U.S. men’s national team is set to take on Australia at 3 p.m. ET Friday at Seattle Stadium. Texas is known for having some of the best BBQ in the world, but while the taste is undeniable, you’ve got to know your limits.One Croatia fan learned his limits the hard way after consuming way too much Texas BBQ during his time in downtown Dallas. The result? No sleep ahead of Croatia’s big matchup against England on Wednesday (4 p.m. ET on FOX).”Everything is so big. The food is great here, especially the Texas barbeque,” the Croatia supporter said. “We ate so much, we couldn’t sleep all night.” A classic Texas rookie mistake. Hopefully this fan learned his lesson! When in Texas, you have to take in what’s one of the must-do traditions – a rodeo at the Ft. Worth Stockyards! Located near Dallas Stadium, where England takes on Croatia on Wednesday, fans from both teams packed the arena for some barrel racing and calf roping. It’s also likely those cowpokes heard a rousing and well-sauced rendition of “Sweet Caroline” from supporters of the Three Lions. Lionel Messi made history on Tuesday night against Algeria, scoring a hat trick while also tying Germany’s Miroslav Klose for the all-time men’s FIFA World Cup goals record. After the game, Argentina fans were seen bowing together in admiration of Messi. It was more than a 3-0 victory; it was another moment that showed fans around the world are witnessing the greatness that makes Messi so special. Messi was already widely regarded as an all-time great, but his 2022 World Cup win arguably cemented his case as one of the best the sport has ever seen. Now, as Argentina pursues another title, fans across the stadium continue to show their admiration for a legacy still unfolding. Norway’s fans have arrived for their team’s opening game against Iraq in Boston, and they’re flaunting their Viking culture in big ways. Or, maybe just in unique ways. These fans decided to ride up the escalators from Boston’s South Station by rowing up them. It may not be the type of longship that their ancestors used to crisscross the Northern Atlantic, but at least it makes taking public transportation a bit memorable. Cape Verde’s stunning draw against Spain was worth celebrating (unless you are Spain). It was the debut for the former in the World Cup, and took one of the tournament favorites to the limit. It’s one of the best stories of the early tournament so far. And now that story includes fans celebrating with goats. Not goat, singular, but plural. Depending on where you are or what your algorithm looks like, you may have seen Scotland fans putting orange traffic cones on statues. And their heads. One fan explained it simply to The Providence Journal: “So essentially, there’s a statue in Glasgow where some Scottish people, for a long time, have put a traffic cone on top of it. And it’s just become a bit of an icon.” The Scotland men’s national team might have left the Boston area for Charlotte following its 1-0 win over Haiti on Saturday, but much of the Tartan Army remained. Countless Scotland fans were at Fenway Park for Sunday’s Texas Rangers-Boston Red Sox game, taking over America’s Most Beloved Ballpark. One of the most cherished World Cup fan traditions has now made its first appearance at this edition of the World Cup. As they have at previous international tournaments, supporters of Japan helped pick up litter in the stands following a game – this time after a 2-2 thriller against the Netherlands at Dallas Stadium. The tradition of Japanese fans helping tidy up the venues after games — which follows a Japanese saying of “A bird that flies never leaves a trace” — became prominent when the men’s team made its World Cup debut in 1998. The beloved gesture even compelled New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston, who is spending the summer as a FOX Sports digital correspondent covering the World Cup, to participate in the effort. The scenes in and around Dallas Stadium were nearly all orange before and during the Netherlands’ draw against Japan on Sunday. The Oranje Army took over Dallas, with fans marching across the city. The Oranje Army was more than the people in Dallas, too. One Oranje kitten went viral during Sunday’s match. The underdog of underdogs, Curaçao made its World Cup debut Sunday against Group E foe Germany, and while it lost pretty convincingly, 7-1, it had a special moment. Early in the first half of its tournament opener, Curaçao scored its first World Cup goal, thanks to Livano Comenencia, whose shot deflected off Germany captain Joshua Kimmich and found the back of the net. Fans absolutely erupted, players went wild and 78-year-old Curaçao coach Dick Advocaat couldn’t believe it. What a wonderful moment for Curaçao fans in Houston in their team’s World Cup opener. UPDATE: The duck’s name is apparently Merlin, and it’s an absolute star. OK, so this technically isn’t happening in the United States; it’s wonderfully delightful, and we’re here to have fun. The world has a responsibility to protect this duck, who is clearly one of Mexico’s best supporters. For one confused Japanese fan, it seemed odd to receive chips and salsa while visiting a Mexican restaurant without asking for them. As he wrote: “We have not earned these.” But that’s the beauty. They are free. And they are bottomless. So three baskets later, even before his actual food came, a valuable lesson – in courtesy, in life, in honor – was learned. You can agree that this insightful fan has most certainly earned his salsa. When in the City of Brotherly Love, there is no shortage of historical or cultural sites to visit. But rallying at the iconic Rocky steps is always a special experience, especially when you’re in Philadelphia to watch your team compete in the World Cup. *cue Gonna Fly Now* Scotland’s mighty Tartan Army (as the team’s traveling fan base is known) is making itself right at home in Boston, including apparently finding — and loving — the infamous slide. It’s the city that never sleeps, and it’s the fan base that is always partying. Ahead of Brazil’s opening World Cup group-stage match against Morocco, fans of the five-time champions took over Times Square in New York City. The last time Brazil played at a World Cup tournament in the U.S. was in 1994, when the team ended up winning it all. So these fans are expecting another stateside trophy. And with Brazil’s last win coming in 2002, there are high hopes that the streak can be snapped this summer. But don’t count out Morocco, which will be aiming for another semifinal run after 2022. Even rapper French Montana joined the party in Times Square to hype up the fans of the Atlas Lions. Do you think you miss Rod Stewart? Some Southern Californian natives might have felt that way this weekend. Stewart canceled his concert in San Diego on Friday night, roughly 40 minutes before he was scheduled to appear on stage, due to illness. However, Stewart was seen at Scotland’s win over Haiti at Boston Stadium on Saturday night. Stewart even posted a video of himself flying to the Boston area ahead of the match on Instagram, while a representative for Stewart told the San Diego Union-Tribune that his illness was genuine. Who doesn’t love ranch? Come on, it’s absolutely the best. Feel free to disagree, but you’d also be wrong. An American staple: Scotland fans seem to be having so much fun in Boston. They’ve also taken over Boston Harbor, complete with a party barge. The fans even had one of Boston’s finest doing some keepie-uppies – pretty impressive skills there by that police officer! Earlier this week, one Scotland fan shared his experience trying Carolina barbecue for the first time, and apparently it went so well it’s ruined his life. He also found Buc-ee’s for the first time. Seems like it went over pretty well. Buc-ee’s is leaning in, too. On the penultimate day before the start of the World Cup, German influencer Freddy wound up watching Argentina’s win over Iceland in Tuesday’s friendly at Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium. While Freddy saw Lionel Messi score a goal, he was more mesmerized by the SEC experience. The Auburn War Eagle is included. He also made it to Waffle House and Taco Bell, among other iconic restaurants. One of the best parts about Freddy’s trip to Waffle House in Georgia is that he didn’t even go during traditional breakfast hours, as he sat down at 1 a.m and opted for hash browns rather than waffles. But this is really the best way to experience Waffle House anyway. Drink up.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

LOS ANGELES STADIUM — A day before the USA men’s national team produced its most lopsided victory in almost a century’s worth of FIFA World Cup appearances, head coach Mauricio Pochettino mentioned something that felt like a throwaway remark at the time. In their opening match of the 2026 tournament, the USA’s players “need to think tomorrow and play like they are a child,” he said, “and without pressure, without responsibility.” Did they ever. In front of a huge home crowd of more than 70,000 fans, Pochettino’s squad demolished a Paraguayan side that had qualified for this World Cup by conceding just 10 goals in 18 qualifying matches — beating Brazil and defending champion Argentina along the way — with a 4-1 win on Friday night. The Stars and Stripes were brave. They were relentless going forward, the risk of a counterattack be damned. They suffocated their battle-tested South American opponent from the opening whistle and didn’t let up until the very end, when Gio Reyna added a beautiful fourth goal in the final seconds of stoppage time. The poor Paraguayans never knew what hit them, as the USA scored its most goals ever in a single World Cup match. Most of all, the co-hosts played freely. Unburdened. Like kids. “We just wanted to go out there and feel like how we felt whenever we would play pickup ball,” said midfielder Weston McKennie, whose attempted pass to Folarin Balogun in the seventh minute resulted in the own goal that sent the World Cup co-hosts on their way. “We wanted to go out there and just have fun.” Just a few weeks ago, even diehard USA fans were wondering if their team was capable of a respectable showing at the second World Cup staged on American soil. Badly outclassed by European powers Belgium and Portugal in March, supporters couldn’t be blamed for fearing the worst. A win over Senegal in their penultimate tune-up and a respectable loss to Germany last week restored cautious optimism. Still, few could’ve predicted kicking off the World Cup campaign in such glorious fashion. After having a would-be goal ruled offside after review, striker Folarin Balogun scored twice, the second a left-footed rocket into the top corner of the visitors’ net. The U.S. dominated possession. Paraguay scored in the second half on its only shot of the evening, but the truth is the home side could’ve even added a few more. Still, it was a historically good showing on the biggest stage in soccer — one that they can build on as the tournament progresses. “That’s the first performance that the fans can really be proud of,” veteran left back Antonee “Jedi” Robinson said. “We’re a competitive team, and we mean business.” Now, the challenge is to do it again. As impressive as Friday night was for the Americans, it won’t mean much if they fail to win their next two Group D contests. “We’ll try and put in another similar performance against Australia and Türkiye, and go from there,” said captain Tim Ream, who at 38 became the oldest American ever to appear in a World Cup match. The key could be Balogun in attack. It wasn’t immediately clear afterward if Christian Pulisic will be available for next Friday’s meeting with the Socceroos in Seattle. The U.S. headliner, who was involved in the first two American goals vs. Paraguay, took a kick to the left calf and said he’s “hoping I’ll be fine the next few days.” Either way, Balogun’s presence takes some of the scoring load off of Pulisic. Speaking of history, the AS Monaco striker made some of his own on Friday, becoming the first American to notch multiple tallies in the same match in almost a century. “When you have a goal-scorer who’s confident like he is at the moment,” midfielder Tyler Adams said, “that’s huge.” So is the World Cup experience that many of these players came into the competition with. Four years after starting 11 debutants in their opener at Qatar 2022, more than half of Pochettino’s lineup was composed of players who’d been there before. “To win 4-1 against a team like Paraguay says a lot, especially in the opening game, but we also know that that’s just a start,” McKennie said. “This is something that we don’t want to over-celebrate.” Not yet anyway. After all, they’ve still got plenty left to prove — to their doubters, and to themselves. “It’s easy to do it in one game; you then have to back that up,” Ream said. “That,” he added, “is obviously the goal for us.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

LOS ANGELES STADIUM — I knew this USA team could cook, but it threw some special sauce in on Friday night. And it wasn’t just the players. Before I get into my ratings for them, a 20/10 performance from the crowd on Friday. I’ve been in that stadium multiple times, but I’ve never seen or felt it like that. From the moment players came out to warm up until the final whistle, there was an energy like no other in that building. Passion, pride, belief! The USA gave us a little bit of everything — and then some — in the first half of its win over Paraguay. Mauricio Pochettino’s team was dominant from the opening whistle to the final one. It was a masterclass. Nobody left the stadium early. The fans wanted to give this USA team the love it deserved, and they were rewarded for sticking around in the form of a brilliant Gio Reyna goal to make the scoreline 4-1. I want to note that these ratings come as a prisoner of the moment. It was an incredible night in Los Angeles as the United States dominated. Here we go. Starting XI Freese got the start over Matt Turner, but he wasn’t called upon too much Friday. I’m being generous, though. He didn’t have a starring role, and I don’t think he could do too much on the goal. From that positioning with Mauricio through on goal, I don’t think there was anything he could do. As I said, I’m feeling very generous today after that performance, so it’s an 8 for Freese. I thought Antonee Robinson was more involved in the attack tonight, while Alex Freeman was a bit more disciplined defensively on the right side and Sergiño Dest played further up the wing. Freeman looked like he belonged tonight. A really strong World Cup debut from the 21-year-old. I praised Freeman during the two friendlies against Senegal and Germany in the buildup to the tournament, and he looked like he belonged tonight. A very encouraging start to the tournament from both. Robinson scored a banger of a volley against Germany last week and continued to look like a threat down the left wing. He’ll be a key part of the U.S. attack on that side of the field. I thought Richards’ leadership was felt early on in this game, especially in the first half. The game started with a half-chance for Paraguay inside the box, but Chris helped calm things down after that alongside his 38-year-old partner. In the second half, they both made mistakes on the goal. Richards gambled maybe a bit too much and didn’t make contact with the ball on his first attempt, and then Ream kind of dangled out a leg and didn’t make any contact with a Paraguayan player with it. I also want to note that the passing out of the back was good. Ream had a few good balls forward to find Malik Tillman and Weston McKennie in midfield, which is what he’s expected to do with that left foot. Also, Richards quite literally did not miss a pass. He completed all 83 of the passes that he attempted, the most passes with a 100% accuracy rate since 1966. I thought the midfield three were all excellent, but for different reasons. The balance they afforded one another was a joy to watch. Tyler picked up a yellow card, but beyond that, he covered ground and moved all over the pitch to complement Tillman and McKennie. He remained more disciplined while allowing Tillman and McKennie to have the freedom to move further up the pitch. I thought Weston’s energy was incredible. The way he was consistently an option in the final third was encouraging, and that was clear on the first U.S. goal. He picked the ball up in midfield and had multiple Paraguayan players around him, but he was able to get the ball out to Christian on the left. The best part, though, is that Wes continued his run after playing the pass and got the USA touch before Damian Bobadilla put the ball into his own net. It was also an encouraging performance from Tillman, whose quality and calmness on the ball showed throughout. His ability to set the tempo was necessary and impressive. It also looked like he had a great understanding with Adams. A lot of pressure and responsibility on his shoulders. He came back into form just before this tournament in terms of finding the stat sheet with goals and assists. Hopefully, Pulisic’s calf injury was nothing too significant. Fantastic in the first half with his movement, creating chances, creating space for other players. His dribbling was sharp and quick, and he caused problems throughout the first half. That’s how the first goal for the U.S. came about. He skipped by two defenders and then picked out a pass to McKennie, whose attempted pass to Balogun was turned into the net. Also of note, Christian’s chemistry with Flo was excellent. If those first 45 minutes were any indication, the rest of the tournament better watch out. The only reason this rating isn’t higher is that he only played 45 minutes. Hopefully, he’s ready to go next week to face Australia. It’s the goals, it’s the way he took his goals, and it’s also his overall play, which I thought was excellent. Obviously, the two great finishes from Flo are worth celebrating, but there was more to his performance. The way he occupied both of Paraguay’s center backs was great. He was strong throughout the game, held up the ball and really powered the U.S. attack. Flo’s movement was spot on for a center forward. He ran into the channels very well and was able to play well with a defender on his back. He also led the Americans’ counter-press against the Paraguayan defense and was spot-on with his movement as a defender. He was a big reason that the Americans’ game plan worked so well. My man Peter Crouch suggested that Balogun might be looking at a Golden Boot with a start like that to his tournament. I’m encouraged to see where his tournament can go from here. I love Sergiño higher up the pitch. Initially, I wasn’t so sure. I liked him starting as an attacking fullback, but he thrived by having more freedom to simply start further up the pitch. His maintaining the width on the right wing with some silky smooth dribbling at times caused problems and kept the Paraguay left back, Júnior Alonso, wide, which helped create space for the midfield to run into. Sergiño’s ability to start further up the pitch really makes him a wild card. He’s unpredictable. It’s hard to plan how to defend him because you don’t know where he’s going to play. Tonight, that caused so many problems for Paraguay. Bonus: A 10 for head coach Mauricio Pochettino. Poch got everything right tonight. First, he picked the right lineup in his debut as a World Cup manager (including the decision to bring on Gio Reyna late!). This lineup looked good against Germany without Richards, and his inclusion was a great addition. Second, the approach of how they wanted to create space and maintain width was spot on. The game plan was perfect, much like the USA for the majority of the match.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The second day of the 2026 FIFA World Cup provided some magical moments from the hosts. The U.S. cruised past Paraguay, while Cyle Larin late equalizer ignited an electric atmosphere in Toronto. Here is everything you might have missed from Day 2 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup: Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina United States vs. Paraguay BEST OF THE DAY Assist Of The Day It was a massive moment for Canada in the 78th minute as Cyle Larin expertly controlled, turned, and finished after receiving a brilliant first-time pass from Promise David. The forward’s clever one-touch ball, played with the outside of his boot, split the Bosnian defense and found Larin in space. It was a moment of creativity and quality that Canada desperately needed against a disciplined Bosnian back line, with only a touch of ingenuity capable of unlocking their stubborn defensive structure. Save Of The Day A potential Save of the Tournament candidate on match day 2 came from Saed Kolašinac, who produced a heroic last-ditch goal-line block in the 53rd minute. His intervention deflected the ball onto the crossbar and out, preserving Bosnia and Herzegovina’s lead. Canada eventually found an equalizer later in the match to earn a point, but Kolašinac’s remarkable defensive play may ultimately prove to be the reason Bosnia escaped Toronto with a valuable draw. Goal Of The Day An incredible goal from Gio Reyna, who curled a trivela with the outside of his boot past the Paraguayan goalkeeper, who had no chance of making the save. Reyna came off the bench after a difficult club season in which he struggled to break into the Borussia Mönchengladbach lineup, but coach Mauricio Pochettino still put his faith in him by including him in the squad. Reyna repaid that trust with a moment of individual brilliance. Moment Of The Day The United States could not have gotten off to a better start, cruising past Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium. It was a rocking atmosphere in Los Angeles as Folarin Balogun bagged a brace, alongside an opening own goal, to lead the U.S. to a 3–1 victory. It’s the kind of performance that can fuel a dream run for the Americans.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

LOS ANGELES STADIUM — Four years ago, at the last FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the U.S. men’s national team scored just three goals in four games. It took the team just 45 minutes of the 2026 event to equal that output. And then another 45 minutes to make history. The tournament co-hosts kicked off their World Cup campaign on Friday with aplomb, running out to a three-goal lead in the first half over Paraguay on the strength of two goals from forward Folarin Balogun. The U.S. had not scored three times in the opening stanza of any World Cup since its 2002 opener against Portugal, which began a memorable run to that year’s quarterfinals — still the best performance at the planet’s biggest sporting event since the inaugural tournament in 1930. Do you believe in omens? It wasn’t a perfect start to the World Cup — the Paraguayans pulled one back in the second half before Gio Reyna scored a golazo with the outside of his right foot deep into second half stoppage time — but it was close. And with that last score, it became the first time ever the U.S. scored four goals in a men’s World Cup match. Here are my takeaways following the USA’s dominant 4-1 triumph: 1. USA Makes Its Own Luck In An Empathic Win In baseball, they say the first at-bat of a new season sets the tone for everything that happens after. In the first game of a World Cup, the first goal of the tournament is even more important. The USA got there fewer than seven minutes into Friday’s match, following a ferociously intense start. It was a little bit fortunate, with Paraguayan midfielder Damián Bobadilla inadvertently turning Weston McKennie’s attempted feed to forward Folarin Balogun past keeper Orlando Gill for an own goal. But you make your luck at this level, and the Americans certainly did, with defender Alex Freeman starting the play almost 100 yards from the visiting net with a long pass to McKennie, who found Christian Pulisic out wide before getting a return pass from the Stars and Stripes top attacker. It was the third-fastest lead the U.S. has ever taken at a World Cup. For a team looking to make a deep run on home soil this summer, omens don’t come much better than that. “The first game is always the most difficult, to get the nerves out of the way,” Balogun said. “We were able to do that really quickly.” 2. Folarin Balogun Lives Up To The Billing During a lengthy interview last September, the USA’s top striker told me that he often daydreamed about lining up for the national anthem in this stadium before the country’s first game at the 2026 World Cup. He surely thought about scoring in it, too. The New York-born, London-reared Balogun, who chose to play for the USA over England three years ago, thought he’d found the net in the 28th minute, only for VAR to cancel it out for offside. Three minutes later, Balogun collected a Pulisic pass and beat Gill again. There was no question that this one would count. The 24-year-old wasn’t done, putting Mauricio Pochettino’s team up by three on the stroke of halftime with his second of the match. It marked the first time in 96 years that any American had a multi-goal performance in a single World Cup match, when Bert Patenaude had a hat trick, also against Paraguay in 1930. It was a strike worthy of history. “It was a dreamy night,” Balogun said afterward. “I visualized my debut in the World Cup, scoring, but yeah, the reality did surpass that, scoring two goals, and the second goal was a fantastic goal as well.” “The kid’s insane, Pulisic said of Balogun. “He’s lethal right now in front of goal. We’re really lucky to have him.” 3. Concern For Christian Pulisic? While Balogun was the obvious Man of the Match, Pulisic was almost as important; Pochettino’s No. 10 was at the heart of almost every foray into the Paraguayan side of the field during that pulsating start. But when the second period began, Pulisic was on the bench. There was no immediate word on why. Is he injured? Was it precautionary? Or, with such a lopsided advantage, did Pochettino simply decide to rest arguably his most irreparable offensive weapon ahead of next week’s second Group D encounter, against Australia in Seattle? “We didn’t want to take any risks,” Pochettino said after the 4-1 win. Television cameras seemed to show Pulisic indicating to his family members that he was fine. But for a player who has frequently battled injury — and who’s slick dribbling ability and status always invites robust tackles — it’s something to keep an eye on as the first round progresses. “I just got a bit of a kick in the first half, so I’m really hoping that it’s nothing,” Pulisic explained. “Taking a little bit of precaution today, but I’m hoping I’ll be fine the next few days.” 4. The Home Team Can’t Get Ahead Of Itself Sure, the American players earned the right to celebrate following such a dominant and commanding performance in which they enjoyed almost 70 percent of possession against an opponent that was chasing almost the entire match. U.S. supporters definitely are; how many new fans did this team make over those incredible first 45? Still, they conceded another preventable goal before Reyna added the fourth. Make no mistake: Pochettino will be telling his charges to stay humble and focused, even if history suggests that the squad now already has a foot in the second round. He’s right. There are still two group games left; finishing first will be hugely beneficial if and when they reach the knockout stage. The home team has a ton of momentum, but the hardest work of all remains ahead of it. “There’s still a lot more than we want to do,” said Pulisic. “We’ll enjoy this one tonight, spend some time with our families, then we’re going to get right back to work. “We can take a deep breath,” he added. “There’s still so much more we want to accomplish in this tournament.” 4 ½. Next Up Are The Socceroos In Seattle As crucial as taking all three points from their first World Cup match was, beating Australia on June 19 could clinch Group D and make the group finale, back here against Türkiye on June 25, moot depending on other results. (Australia and Türkiye meet on Saturday.) With this one done, that match now becomes the USA’s singular focus when Pochettino’s squad returns to training at its base in Irvine, California, on Monday.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

There’s no way around it: The U.S. men’s national team was dominant in the first half against Paraguay in its opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on its way to a 4-1 victory. The USA got out to a 3-0 lead in Friday’s Group D opener, with striker Folarin Balogun scoring a brace to give the Americans an overwhelming lead. And while the USA’s first goal was a Paraguay own goal, that didn’t stop FOX Sports soccer analyst Alexi Lalas from crowning the 45 minutes of play among the best ever for the federation in the World Cup. “I think that’s the greatest half of group play from a men’s team at a World Cup in history,” Lalas said at halftime. “Everything went right, total dominance from top to bottom.” The USA actually could’ve gone up 4-0 in the first half. Balogun got a ball in the back of the net after the USA took a 1-0 lead, but the goal was wiped for offside. Not long after, Balogun made up for it, scoring off a cross from Christian Pulisic before creating an opportunity for himself and scoring top shelf to put the USA up 3-0. As Balogun scored twice, Pulisic also stood out in the first half. Pulisic was credited with the assist on the own goal, giving him two assists in the first half before he was subbed out at halftime. “Christian Pulisic was all over the place on the left-hand side, creating opportunities,” Lalas said. “You make your luck. I know this is an own goal, but it put [Paraguay] in a dangerous situation.” In the first half, the USA outshot Paraguay, 7-2. It also had more shots on goal than Paraguay (4-1) and dominated possession, controlling the ball for 71% of the first 45 minutes. So, was the first half the best half ever for the USA in a World Cup? Here’s a look at how historically dominant the USA’s first half was by the numbers. 2: Balogun is the second American man ever to score two goals in the first half of a World Cup match, and the first since 1930 (Bert Patenaude). Patenaude scored a hat-trick in that game in 1930, and it also came against Paraguay; he is the only American man to have a hat-trick in a World Cup match. 1: This was Balogun’s first World Cup appearance, meaning this is his first time scoring in the World Cup. 96: This was Balogun’s first career multi-goal game for the U.S.; he is the first American man to have multiple goals in a World Cup game since Patenaude in 1930. 3: Christian Pulisic is now up to three career assists in the World Cup, the most by any American man (two in 2022, one Friday); he joins Tab Ramos and Graham Zusi as the only American men with assists in multiple World Cups. 38: This is the first time the USA has had a three-goal lead after the first half of a men’s World Cup match in 38 World Cup matches. 24: This is the first time the U.S. has had a multi-goal lead after the first half of a men’s World Cup match in 24 years. It held a 2-0 lead in the first half of its group match against Portugal in the 2002 FIFA World Cup.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports