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Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Speedway, Ind.) — David Malukas sat motionless in his No. 12 Team Penske Chevrolet in his pit box for a moment. Dejected, he took his time before climbing out, leaning against his car with one hand and burying his helmet-covered face in the other. He was frozen, heartbroken and seemingly in disbelief after being on the losing end of the closest Indianapolis 500 finish in the 110th running of the race Sunday. He was devastated with tears in his eyes. “Every strategy, everything — we did everything correct with this team,” 24-year-old Malukas told us and other reporters on pit road. “This just comes down to the IMS gods not picking us — yet. But it’s coming.” Despite Malukas taking the lead going into Turn 1 on a one-lap shootout for the crown, Felix Rosenqvist won the drag race down the frontstraight to the Yard of Bricks finish line, winning by .0233 seconds. Few could believe the finish, Malukas included. “Lot of anger, lot of pain. I feel like I’m mourning and just a lot of shock,” Malukas continued, choking up and fighting through tears. “I just — I still can’t believe it. Just to be that close to winning the damn thing. I just can’t believe it.” It’s the second straight year Malukas earned a second-place Indy 500 finish. Last year, with A.J. Foyt Enterprises, he got bumped up from third after Marcus Ericsson’s second-place finish was disallowed after his car failed the post-race inspection. When Malukas finally stood up, his pit crew was ready with hugs and words of encouragement. But those are hard to embrace after being oh-so-close to his first INDYCAR win in the biggest race in the world. He couldn’t believe he squandered “perfect position” off the final restart. He had the checkered flag within his grasp until the final few feet of the 200-lap race on the iconic 2.5-mile track. “We had that opportunity right there,” Malukas said. “I really thought we could hold it, and I don’t know what else we could have done. Maybe something different with deployment racing, but I don’t know. … “Felix had such an incredible run. So I don’t know, I don’t think there was anything else we could have done.” While barely missing out on an Indy 500 crown is brutal, Malukas’ teammate, Scott McLaughlin, had an entirely different attitude after finishing third. In last year’s Indy 500, McLaughlin infamously crashed on the pace laps before the race even began, later calling it the “worst day of [his] life.” “It’s zero to third,” McLaughlin told us and other reporters on pit road. “It’s great, but I want to win.” The No. 3 Team Penske driver said he was “happy” with his third-place finish, particularly because he said his group didn’t have “a fast enough car.” But he acknowledged that, in addition to a little luck, Indy 500-winning teams successfully assemble all the puzzle pieces, he and his team weren’t quite there. While congratulating Rosenqvist, McLaughlin empathized with Malukas’ post-race heartbreak. “You’re young, pal. You’re gonna be around for a long time,” McLaughlin said when asked what he’d say to Malukas. “And if he drives like that, he’s gonna be just fine. “Hopefully, he gets one, I get one, and I have no doubt our cars are fast enough. It’s just about putting ourselves in position. It’s gonna hurt for him for a bit, but he’ll be proud that he was leading the Indy 500 with a lap to go.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

It’s hard to put the closest finish in the history of the Indianapolis 500 into context, but we’re certainly going to try. Felix Rosenqvist won the 110th installment of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing on Sunday, passing David Malukas after the final turn to win Sunday’s race by less than a tenth of a second. To be more precise, Rosenqvist won the race by 0.023 seconds, giving INDYCAR fans a photo finish they’ll remember for ages. The thrilling finish led to an exuberant celebration for Rosenqvist, while Malukas and his team expressed disappointment with the result. It’s Rosenqvist’s first victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and it’s the second straight year that Malukas has finished as the runner-up in the Indy 500 as the 24-year-old seeks his first career victory. There’s much more to know, though, about Sunday’s race. So, let’s take a closer look at the 110th edition of the Indianapolis 500 by the numbers. 0.0233: Blink once and you would’ve missed it. Felix Rosenqvist won Sunday’s Indy 500 by not only less than one second, but also by less than one-tenth of a second. Rosenqvist won Sunday’s race by 0.0233 seconds, making it the closest finish in the 110-year history of the Indy 500. For context, you can’t get a shot off in an NBA game in that amount of time. Rosenqvist’s tight victory came as he passed David Malukas with just feet to go in Sunday’s race. Malukas took the lead on the final lap following a restart, passing by Marcus Armstrong. However, Rosenqvist made his move right after the final turn, beating Malukas on the outside to get in front just in time to claim victory. 3: Malukas is the third Swedish driver to race to victory at the Indy 500, joining Marcus Ericsson and Kenny Brack. Ericsson won the race in 2022 and finished in second in 2023. Ericsson finished in 13th on Sunday. Brack, meanwhile, won the 1999 Indy 500. He only competed in the race six times, with his 1999 Indy 500 victory being his final INDYCAR win. 162.021: Did it feel like the cars were moving quickly at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday? Well, that was definitely the case. The average speed that Rosenqvist and Malukas traveled at in Sunday’s race was 162.021 miles per hour. But that trailed Hélio Castroneves’ record by a good bit. The Brazilian driver had an average speed of 190.690 miles per hour in the 2021 Indy 500. 70: There were multiple records set at Sunday’s race. In addition to it being the closest finish, the 2026 Indy 500 had the most lead changes in the history of the race with 70. The previous record for the most lead changes in the Indy 500 was 68, which occurred in the 2013 edition of the race. Tony Kanaan won that year, defeating Carlos Muñoz by 0.1159 seconds. 14: When you have a record number of lead changes, you’ll also have a significant number of different leaders, too. A total of 14 drivers held the lead at one point in Sunday’s race. Alex Palou, who won the 2025 Indy 500 and started Sunday’s race in first, led the race for 59 laps, but finished in seventh. Scott Dixon had the second-most number of laps led, sitting in first for 32 laps before finishing in 15th. Rosenqvist led for 25 laps in Sunday’s race, while Malukas was out front for 30 laps. 18: Amid the history at Sunday’s race, INDYCAR also took time to pay tribute to Kyle Busch, who died suddenly on Thursday. The scoring pylon next to pit lane lit up with Busch’s name, his birth year (1985) and 2026 on Lap 18, a nod to the No. 18 car Busch won two NASCAR titles in. Romain Grojean also switched the font on his No. 18 car to resemble Busch’s car.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

YANKEE STADIUM (New York) — The Tampa Bay Rays swaggered into Yankee Stadium on Friday feeling confident with a spacious lead in the American League East that they expected to extend. The Yankees had played inconsistently for a while, and there was an opportunity for the Rays to capitalize on that volatility. The Bronx Bombers, meanwhile, knew they had to avoid letting the Rays run away with the division. Alas, the heavy rainfall all weekend in the Bronx took away some of the excitement from the cutthroat series between the division rivals. Besides Friday night’s packed crowd for Yankees ace Gerrit Cole’s impressive season debut in his return from Tommy John, Saturday was a rain out, and Sunday was a plastic-poncho party in the stands for those who were dedicated enough to sit through cold and wet temperatures for a few hours. So these weren’t the best performances the top two AL teams would have liked to showcase, never mind the high-stakes impact on the standings. But we still learned a few things about the Rays and Yankees this weekend. Here are my takeaways: 1. A Judgian Slump Ends In Walk-Off Fashion For the past couple of weeks, Aaron Judge has been chasing pitches off the plate, grounding into double plays, and seeing his batting average dip to .250. The slugger entered Sunday mired in an 11-game RBI drought that ran parallel to an 11-game homerless streak. The Yankees go as their captain goes, which explains why they entered the final game of their homestand on Sunday having lost 10 of their last 14 games. Judge finally singled in the first inning Sunday against Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, which ended an 0-for-15 slide at the plate. But then he wandered off first base and made it almost all the way to second on a fly out from Ben Rice. By the time Judge realized the ball fell into the right fielder’s glove, it was too late. He hustled back to first and was doubled up to end the inning and the Yankees’ potential threat. We already knew Judge was feeling off at the plate, but his mental error after getting his first base hit in six days indicated he was really going through it, perhaps more than we thought. The concern turned into full-blown relief in the ninth inning when Judge snapped his homerless streak with a two-run, walk-off home run off Rays right-hander Kevin Kelly. And, man, did the Yankees need that swing from their offensive leader. Sunday’s victory marked the Yankees’ first win of the season against the Rays after they were swept at Tropicana Field early last month. Without it, they were staring down an 0-4 head-to-head record against their division rivals. Now, at least, the Bombers have something to build off. “There’s nothing better,” Judge said after walking it off on Sunday. 2. Tampa’s Rotation Shines Elite pitching is the primary reason Tampa Bay has held its status as the best team in MLB so far this season. Rays starters own the best ERA (2.88) in the majors, and it’s not particularly close. Plus, the rotation has consistently worked deep into games, stifling opposing lineups three times through the order. It becomes demoralizing facing the Rays’ excellent staff, and after getting swept by Tampa Bay on the road last month, the Yankees got another taste of being suppressed at the plate this weekend. Right-hander Nick Martinez, Friday’s starter, delivered another brilliant start in the series opener, limiting the Yankees to one run over six innings and wiggling out of jams despite the nine hits he gave up. Martinez has allowed two runs or fewer in each of his 10 starts this year. The 35-year-old veteran grinded through his outing, but he still lowered his ERA to 1.51, which is second-best in MLB behind only Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler. Then it was Rasmussen’s turn to shine. He took the mound on an extra day of rest following Saturday’s postponed game, then he provided seven shutout innings against the Yankees. Rasmussen struck out six batters and worked around five hits and one walk to keep his final line clean. The combination of Martinez, Rasmussen, and Shane McClanahan has given the Rays a sturdy foundation and a high level of stability that they haven’t been able to enjoy in recent seasons. It’s still early, but the starting staff looks capable of maintaining this terrific performance over the long haul. 3. Rays Gonna Ray No team is putting the ball in play more than the Rays this season. Paired with the lowest strikeout rate in the majors, Tampa Bay is displaying the type of feistiness at the plate that the 2025 Blue Jays relied on to go all the way to the Fall Classic. The Rays’ .305 BABIP is the highest in the AL, and their come-from-behind win on Friday perfectly captured why they’ve been so successful while being scrappy. Down by a run in the eighth inning on Friday, Tampa Bay roared back for their 14th comeback win of the season and their fifth of the year when trailing after seven innings. It was their fifth consecutive win and 22nd of their last 26 games, on a night when nobody would’ve faulted them for taking a loss following Cole’s terrific season debut. Still, they kept their heads down, passed the baton, and rallied for the runs they would need to shut the door on the Yankees. The eighth-inning rally was started by leadoff hitter Chandler Simpson, who reached on a fielding error by Yankees shortstop Jose Caballero. Hungry to punish New York for its mistake, Junior Caminero followed by lining a single to center field, and Jonathan Aranda collected his AL-leading 38th RBI of the year on a double to center that tied the game at 1-1. After reliever Tim Hill intentionally walked Yandy Diaz, Richie Palacios might have felt a certain type of way, because he chopped a ball that deflected off Hill’s glove and went just over the reach of Caballero at short, scoring two more runs and leaving the Yankees in the dust. “I don’t know if my mentality just kind of changes naturally in those types of situations,” Aranda said of coming up clutch. “But, thankfully, they have.” 4. Yankees Need Bullpen Help, ASAP This was the team’s largest glaring weakness going into the season, and it hasn’t taken long for it to rear its ugly head. Too many Yankees relievers are volatile outing-to-outing, nobody has locked down the seventh/eighth inning high-leverage roles, and manager Aaron Boone’s circle of trust is becoming increasingly small. On top of all that, it certainly doesn’t help that closer David Bednar has a 4.91 ERA across 22 relief appearances this season — though his .3.09 FIP suggests he’s running into bad luck. Hill, who has been excellent, is one of Boone’s most dependable relievers. But even he has bad days, and his overuse could lead to trouble by the All-Star break. The southpaw took the loss on Friday after he was charged with four runs (three earned) in that game-changing eighth-inning rally from the Rays. He bounced back on Sunday, though that was due mostly to two stellar defensive plays from the Yankees’ corner outfielders, which kept Tampa Bay off the board. Aside from Hill, right-hander Fernando Cruz is Boone’s only other bridge to Bednar in the ninth inning. The lack of depth is quickly becoming an issue. The bullpen’s problems have been magnified because New York plays so many one-run games. Boone has been forced to use his trusted relievers earlier than he’d like to. Camilo Doval, Jake Bird and Ryan Yarbrough have been disappointing, and we can throw Bednar into that group until he proves otherwise. There are no reinforcements in the minor leagues, either. All of which means the Yankees will be tasked with making the most of what they have for at least the next several weeks, until general manager Brian Cashman can go shopping at the trade deadline. There’s no denying that, for a championship-caliber team like the Yankees, the bullpen is just too thin and unstable right now. 4 ½. What’s next? The Rays (34-16) close out their road trip with a three-game set in Baltimore on Monday, hoping to create more separation in the AL East standings, before they head home to host the Angels on Friday. Tampa Bay boasts an impressive 14-3 record against AL East teams this season. The surging club leads the division by 4 ½ games. The Yankees (31-22) begin a six-game road trip on Monday to face the struggling Kansas City Royals and the AL West-leading Athletics. Their series at Kauffman Stadium is an excellent opportunity for the Yankees to string some wins together and regain their confidence after some inconsistent results this month. Deesha Thosar covers Major League Baseball as a reporter and columnist for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 weekend produced a series of unforgettable images, capturing both speed and emotion at every turn. From roaring engines on the 2.5-mile oval to quiet focus in the garages, Indianapolis Motor Speedway showed a clear contrast of chaos and control. Drivers, crews, and fans all became part of the story, each frame capturing a different side of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Here are the best photos from this weekend’s Indy 500.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

In a race that had so much to offer over the course of 500 miles, from the most lead changes ever to the conclusion being the closest finish in history, when the dust had settled it was Felix Rosenqvist capturing his first Indianapolis 500 in the 110th running of the historic event. The ending produced a photo finish, with Rosenqvist passing David Malukas down the homestretch to win by just 0.0233 seconds. The Winner Is … Rosenqvist survived a rain-delayed afternoon along with a historic number of lead changes to claim the checkered flag and the right to drink the legendary milk. Drivers were aggressively trading positions all afternoon, racking up 70 lead changes, besting the previous mark of 68, set in 2013. Defending Indy 500 winner and pole-sitter Alex Palou entered the day looking to repeat his dominant 2025 performance, but wound up finishing seventh. How The Race Was Won The race came down to one-lap shootout following a restart. Malukas immediately shot out in front, only for Rosenqvist to retake the lead over the last stretch in a photo finish to cap off a dramatic afternoon. Top 10 Results 1. Felix Rosenqvist #60 2. David Malukas #12 3. Scott McLaughlin #3 4. Pato O’Ward #5 5. Marcus Armstrong #66 6. Rinus Veekay #76 7. Alex Palou #10 8. Santino Ferrucci #14 9. Romain Grosjean #18 10. Takuma Sato #75 What’s Next? With The Greatest Spectacle in Racing officially in the history books, the INDYCAR SERIES packs up and heads to the streets of Michigan. Drivers will quickly pivot to the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Sunday, May 31 (12:30 p.m. ET on FOX).​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

When you have roughly 350,000 spectators at one sporting event, you’re bound to run into a celebrity or two. That’s been the case at the Indy 500 for years, and that remained true at Indianapolis Motor Speedway again this year. Dozens of notable names were in attendance for the Greatest Spectacle in Racing on Sunday. Of course, celebrities took part in the pre-race festivities. Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti was the pace car driver for this year’s race, while Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark served as the grand marshal for Sunday’s race. Indiana native David Letterman was also among those in attendance on Sunday. The iconic comedian is a co-owner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, which had three drivers competing in this year’s Indy 500 (Graham Rahal, Louis Foster, Mick Schumacher). NFL great and NFL on FOX analyst Rob Gronkowski had a role in Sunday’s pre-race festivities as well. He was the Snake Pit Grand Marshal for a second straight year, throwing a pre-race party. Here’s a full look at the notable celebrities who were in attendance at Sunday’s race. Fever G Caitlin Clark (Grand Marshal) Actor Brendan Fraser (Honorary Starter) Indiana Head Coach Curt Cignetti (Pace Car Driver) NFL On FOX Analyst Rob Gronkowski (Snake Pit Grand Marshal) Comedian David Letterman Singer Jim Cornelison Astronaut Jeremy Hansen Pacers Forward Pascal Siakam & Guard Andrew Nembhard Singer Jordin Sparks Wrestler Titus O’Neil The Alexi Lalases Actor Terry Crews Pacers Forward Obi Toppin Fever Guard Lexie Hull​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Ed Carpenter’s day at the Indianapolis 500 came to an early end, and he certainly wasn’t happy about it. The ECR team owner and driver of the No. 33 car lost control of his car on a turn on Lap 27, spinning out and hitting the wall. Carpenter’s spin out came as he tried to make a move on the inside of the track, but it appeared that two-time Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato blocked him and caused the SlimFast car to spin. As the yellow flag came out, Carpenter was able to emerge from his vehicle safely. However, Carpenter appeared to say, “F— you” to Sato as he drove by him during the caution. Carpenter later called Sato’s move “disappointing,” adding “I would expect way more out of him.” Carpenter was medically cleared and out of the medical center shortly after the crash. Carpenter was in 20th at the time of the crash, trailing Rinus VeeKay by roughly three seconds for the lead at the time of the crash. He started Sunday’s race in the 13th spot. The 45-year-old Carpenter was seeking his first career victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday. This was the 23rd time Carpenter has raced the Indy 500, finishing in second place in 2018. He finished sixth the following year and came in fifth in 2021. Since then, though, Carpenter has had a tough time at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He came in 15th in the 2025 running of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, which remains his best finish in the Indy 500 over the last five years. Sunday was also the only race Carpenter has driven in this INDYCAR season. The Indy 500 was Carpenter’s only race last season as well. He’s scaled back his racing schedule over the last few seasons. As for Sato, he won the Indy 500 in 2017 and 2020. He’s also finished in the top 10 in two of the last three races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. [FOLLOW INDY 500: Live Updates: Lineup, Leaderboard, Highlights]​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Katherine Legge made history as the first woman to attempt The Double, racing on the same day in INDYCAR’s Indianapolis 500 before heading to Charlotte Motor Speedway for NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600. Over the years, five drivers have attempted the Memorial Day Double, but Tony Stewart remains the only driver to complete all 1,100 miles in a single day. Most recently, NASCAR driver Kyle Larson tried twice, in 2024 and 2025, but both attempts were foiled. And unfortunately for Legge, her Indy 500 ended very early when she was involved in a wreck, leaving Stewart as the only driver to finish both races on the same day for at least another year. The 45-year-old veteran driver from England competed in the Indy 500 for HMD Motorsports as part of an alliance with A.J. Foyt Racing behind the wheel of the No. 11 Chevrolet. For NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600, she’ll be in the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet. There are several logistical challenges of attempting The Double, efficient transportation from Indianapolis to Charlotte included. And Legge likely needed to leave Indianapolis somewhere between 4 and 5 p.m. ET to make it to the Coke 600 before the scheduled 6 p.m. ET start. But with her wreck, she shouldn’t have any problems making it to NASCAR on time. Through Legge’s busy day, we’re here tracking her progress. Indy 500 Field Hits The Track After qualifying for the Indy 500 last weekend, Legge will start this race from the ninth row from 26th. Indy 500 Green Flag While it seemed like rain might impede the scheduled start of the 2026 Indy 500, the green flag flew on time, and Legge started 26th. The average Indy 500 is about three hours. Legge Collected In Early Indy 500 Wreck The Indy 500 had barely started. But on Lap 19, as Ryan Hunter-Reay spun out in Turn 2, Legge tried to avoid him, but the pair still made contact, bringing out the first caution flag. Both drivers were able to exit their cars without help from the safety team, and they were both evaluated and released from the medical center. But unfortunately for her, Legge’s Indy 500 run ended very early. What Legge Said After Her Indy 500 Crash After being evaluated and released from the medical center, Legge explained her perspective on what happened. Obviously, she was devastated. “I’m just gutted more than anything,” Legge told FOX Sports’ Georgia Henneberry. “Ryan spun in front of me,” she continued, explaining her perspective on the wreck. “I think he was battling his car for a minute, and I was back there, just chilling out and saving fuel. And he spun and went down the track, then started coming back up the track, so I had to abort mission and try and go low. And I just didn’t make it.” “Desperately frustrating,” Legge told us and other reporters outside the medical center. “Everybody involved deserved more. To be taken out by something out of your control, I feel like, may be slightly better than being taken out by something in your control. … They were looking forward to a long day today, and now it’s been cut relatively short.” Legge added that she couldn’t see much in front of her because of the smoke off Hunter-Reay’s tires and car. She opted to try the high side of the track to avoid him as he spun low, but then when his car slid back up the track, she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. “At the last minute, I had to go left, and it just wasn’t enough time for the car to not spin out of control,” she continued. “It is what it is. I don’t think anybody could have saved that one, unfortunately.” Now, it’s onto Charlotte Motor Speedway, and on her way, she acknowledged she’ll have to adjust her attitude and put the Indy 500 behind her. Legge Arrives In Charlotte Katherine Legge arrived in Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600 after participating in the Indy 500. Legge Starts In Coca-Cola 600 After a tough crash at Indy, Katherine Legge is aiming for a rebound in NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600, starting from the 37th spot on the grid. Near the beginning of the second stage of NASCAR’s longest race, Legge was running 35th and was the first driver one lap down from the leaders. Legge Makes It Through Stage 2, Then Loses A Wheel A rough day got rough as Legge was four laps down after completing the second stage of the 600. She pitted at the end of stage 2 to put wheels on, but lost a wheel and had to pit again on the 204th lap. As of lap 220, she was running nine laps down in 36th place.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Thirty-two years ago, many fans in the global soccer community saw the United States planning to host its first FIFA World Cup in 1994 and asked one collective question: Why? At the time, the United States men’s national team was a largely anonymous squad of unknown players wearing now-nostalgic denim uniforms. In mainstream America, soccer did not have the same popularity as other sports like gridiron football or baseball. But then, the tournament kicked off. To look back at the summer of 1994, members of that squad — Alexi Lalas, Cobi Jones, John Harkes, and Marcelo Balboa — reunited to take a trip down memory lane and recount the tournament that changed the sport stateside. Bora And The Bootcamp The architect behind the Americans’ 1994 transformation was Bora Milutinović. The enigmatic manager arrived with a storied World Cup pedigree, having already guided Costa Rica and Mexico to the round of 16 and quarterfinals, respectively. Milutinović specialty was inspiring underdogs to play far above their weight class, but his methods frustrated a young Lalas. “Bora, incredibly intelligent man… spoke five languages, not a single one of them well, and will go down for me as… the most frustrating coach I ever had in my life, but also the coach that gave me the opportunity that changed my life,” Lalas. For the players, Bora was not the most popular person in the locker room, as his experience was initially met with resistance, until the team won its first-ever major international tournament title at the 1991 Gold Cup. “I hated it, and I tell you why, because he made me the translator. Nothing like being on a team, and you’re the player translating the coach’s new message. That was awful,” Balboa said. “But as time grew on, I understood what Bora wanted, and I think we all believed it when we go to the ’91 Gold Cup, and all of a sudden we’re starting to win games, we beat Mexico, and we win the Gold Cup. “I don’t think a lot of us were buying in until that tournament. Once we won that tournament, we were like, crap, here we go.” The ‘Miracle On Ice’ Moment By the time the tournament arrived, USA was still widely viewed as naive. But after earning a draw against Switzerland, the Americans faced tournament favorites Colombia in front of a raucous Rose Bowl crowd. What followed was a historic upset that became the U.S. soccer equivalent of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice.” “Final whistle blows, all hell breaks loose in the most positive way… I remember in 1980 when the US hockey team, Jim Craig, with a flag around him, and I, I wanted that moment to celebrate my country,” Lalas said. “Everybody thought we would lose to Colombia, right?” The 2-1 victory was made even more staggering by the roster’s humble realities. The United States didn’t even have a domestic professional league at the time. “When you talk about… ‘iconic wins,’ ‘best win ever.’ You look at that team with six guys, didn’t have a club team, we trained every day,” Balboa said. “Cobi and I, we never played at a club, and all of our experience was international,” Lalas added. Brazil Breaks America’s Hearts The dream run eventually collided with global powerhouse Brazil in the Round of 16 on the Fourth of July. The match reached a violent turning point when U.S. playmaker Tab Ramos was hospitalized following a brutal elbow from Brazil’s Leonardo. Though Leonardo was red-carded, losing Ramos gutted the American midfield. “Just devastating, scared beyond belief, because the way he landed,” Harkes said. “I cared about Tab. I didn’t care about the game at that point.” The loss of Ramos didn’t just hurt USA and its players emotionally, but tactically as well. “We not only lost a player in Tab leaving the field, but we lost from a practical perspective the guy that could hold the ball for us,” Lalas said. Even down to 10 men, the eventual world champions continued to produce scoring opportunities. In the 72nd minute, Brazilian forward Bebeto finally broke the deadlock, slipping a clinical shot through the tiniest of windows. “What pisses me off about this goal is that I have the tackle… The problem is I get to it and I overrun it, and it ends up going in the only possible place through my legs and into the far corner there,” Lalas said. “This little magician right here, Bebeto, scores the goal that they need to go through and for all intents and purposes, our World Cup is over.” Looking Ahead To This Summer More than three decades after the class of ’94 laid the foundation, the World Cup is returning to North American soil. For the current generation of the U.S. the tournament represents a massive launching pad to eclipse the history written by their predecessors. “I think this team can go far. I think this team can go farther than 2002,” Harkes said. I hope we get to a semi, or even beyond that. Why not? Why not us? Let’s believe in that.” As the pressure and expectation mount for the modern squad, the trailblazers of ’94 remind them that changing the sport forever requires a bit of audacity. “Gotta have dreamers,” Alexi Lalas said. 2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch The 2026 FIFA 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 (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19). The opening match on June 11 between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will stream for free on Tubi, as well as the USA’s opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET).​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The 2026 NFL MVP hinted at a return in February and put it in writing this week – Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is officially suiting up for the 2026 season. Stafford, who led the NFL in passing yards and touchdown passes last season, inked a one-year extension with the Rams worth up to $55 million. FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd believes the Rams’ recent draft class made it possible to extend Stafford while keeping a talented defense intact. “The Rams can do that and pay that because they’ve drafted so well, but in about two years, they’ve got some really good players and money’s going to be due with a lot of them on defense,” Cowherd said on Friday’s edition of The Herd. Los Angeles’ returning lineup plus Stafford instantly makes them an early favorite to win the Super Bowl next year. Their defense also received an upgrade with their blockbuster trade of veteran cornerback Trent McDuffie. Come the NFL Draft, the Rams used their first-round selection on quarterback Ty Simpson, which became one of the most shocking picks of the draft. Los Angeles had been projected to select a weapon player, like a wide receiver or a tight end with their first round pick. Although Simpson’s selection could’ve been questionable for the Rams, FOX Sports’ Rob Rang still saw Simpson as a perfect fit. “Prior to the draft, I listed the Rams as one of the cleanest fits for Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. His pre-snap recognition and accuracy project quite well to Sean McVay’s offense, and with Matthew Stafford already in place, Simpson will have the opportunity to learn from the sideline, rather than get pushed onto the field prematurely,” Rang wrote. Simpson led the Alabama Crimson Tide to their first College Football Playoff appearance with coach Kalen DeBoer at the helm. After a first round win over Oklahoma, the Tide fell in a brutal 38-3 loss at the Rose Bowl to eventual champions Indiana in the quarterfinals. Now, Simpson will prepare to take over the Rams offense when it comes time for Stafford to hang up the cleats. The Rams’ returning offense still has wide receivers Puka Nacua and Devonte Adams, tight end Colby Parkinson and running back pair Blake Corum and Kyren Williams. Cowherd also saw the Simpson pick as the right call, especially if Stafford potentially retires following his extension. “This is why I defended the Ty Simpson pick…They’re trying to master two timelines. The number one timeline is: Win a Super Bowl now and next year. The 2nd timeline is: To have their QB in place without getting into a bidding war in two years.” Last year, the Rams fell short of a title, when they lost to eventual Super Bowl LX champions the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship. It was their first time back in the conference title game since their Super Bowl LVI win in 2022. Now, with Stafford’s official return, the Rams are already positioned to make another deep run this season. The Rams officially open up the 2026 season in Melbourne (the first ever NFL regular season game in Australia) with an NFC West game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 10.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports