Category: Sports Fox

Earlier in June, days before the start of the 2026 World Cup, as I began to walk around the streets of New York in order to get a better sense of the energy that was building towards the tournament, I decided to head to Jackson Heights in Queens. For those who don’t know, the neighborhood is a world within itself. It is a multicultural melting pot, a micro-community where blocks become nations and diasporas tell you who they are through their shop windows or small businesses. It is Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, India and South Asia, serving you some of the best food you will ever have. It is a place that fully defines my sentiment of how diversity empowers our senses and for the World Cup. The fans are everywhere, proudly representing their people, their national team and cultural habits. My favorite Colombian bakery had a replica of the World Cup at its store window next to an image of Luis Díaz. An Ecuadorian food stall had a poster of the ageless wonder Enner Valencia. Mexican flags were not just on food trucks, they were on sidewalks and lampposts. A store selling replica World Cup shirts showed me a rainbow of what was about to come: a beautiful celebration of the greatest game. A few days later after my trip to Queens, as the World Cup was arriving, I kept walking and talking, meeting different faces and experiences. From a Senegalese chef in Harlem to a Norwegian restaurateur in Soho. From an English owner on the Upper East Side to an Egyptian family-based spot lower down in LES. All of them talked to me, happy and excited, wearing their national team shirts, about their World Cup memories and how the nostalgia of the past connects them to the hope of the present and the joy of seeing their nation on the biggest stage of all. I bumped into a Scottish family, asking me about the best places to find a bagel. I sent them to Leo’s in the financial district, and then we waxed poetically about the wonder of John McGinn. And this was just New York City. Before the tournament had even started. And that’s when I knew that this World Cup would be special. Not because of the extravagancy or the size of the stadiums. Not because of the halftime show or the celebrity sightings. Not because of the merchandise or price of tickets. Not because of VAR — or even the players. This World Cup, quite simply, was special because of you. THROUGHOUT THE TOURNAMENT, across three nations and 16 cities in Mexico, Canada and the United States, fans from all over the world traveled to not just support their team, but to be with one another. Yes, opponents on the pitch are clearly evident in this game, but outside of it — the sentiment was one of family, where sharing each other’s cultural gifts to the world was now becoming a gift to each other. Kansas City welcomed Algeria as one of its own, whilst Norway’s iconic Viking row took over the home field of the New York Mets. More than 50,000 Scottish fans drank Boston dry and this only made them become more connected to the city. The mayor held a welcoming ceremony last week for a traffic cone, which is now a symbolic gesture of appreciation after the Tartan Army faithful placed them on top of Boston statues during its run at the World Cup. Then there was the couple in Arlington, Texas, who created a lemonade stand for fans walking up to the stadium. In the end, supporters from all over the world bought a cup and left messages from around the world, thanking them for the hospitality. I met a Paraguayan family who runs a beautiful restaurant in the Sunnyside neighborhood of Queens where the entire community would come, watch and celebrate its team doing the almost impossible after beating Germany. Or how about Oasis’ “Wonderwall” becoming an anthem of nostalgia for England — sung from all corners of the ancient streets of Mexico City to neon-lit boulevards of Miami. Or how about the Mexican fan I connected with, who was once a server in Cancún, immigrated to the U.S. more than two decades ago and built an empire of restaurants in New Jersey. Or the Colombians in Hackensack, New Jersey. Or the Haitians in Brooklyn, Argentinians in North Miami and South Koreans in Los Angeles. Then we have the thousands of videos of pure joy, the reaction of what it meant to taste ranch dressing for the first time. The casual conversations with strangers. The commitment to learning about one another. It truly restored my faith in humanity. AS MY HERO, ANTHONY BOURDAIN once said, travel and exploration of new places and communities isn’t always graceful or pretty, but the journey changes you, leaving a lasting mark on your heart and consciousness. All of these stories, therefore, much like the Panini stickers on the World Cup album, are collected, restored and remembered for eternity. There is nothing more precious that the World Cup can give you than this: an invitation to an extended family. The fan is the blood and oxygen of a team. Without it, stadiums — as we remember during COVID-19 — have no soul. No reason to exist. But when you see a packed stadium, where voices become one singular wave of energy, it moves you. It makes you appreciate life. And so, beautiful fan, that’s why I dedicate this column to you. Because of you, this World Cup awakened us and made us feel alive. That’s what the World Cup is all about: a celebration of the people and their love for the beautiful game, the beautiful us.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

NASHVILLE Superspeedway (Lebanon, Tenn.) — Alex Palou got the track position, and then everyone knew he had the talent that makes him hard to beat. Palou was able to sneak in the pits just before the caution came out with 102 laps remaining, and then was able to keep that track position, including holding off defending Nashville winner Josef Newgarden in the final 31-lap green-flag run Monday for his fifth win of the year. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver, the three-time defending series champion, now has an 83-point lead in the standings with six races left in the season as he seeks his fifth overall title. “I’m just so happy that everything worked,” Palou said in his postrace news conference. Here are my takeaways from the race that was postponed from Sunday night because of heavy downpours on the 1.33-mile concrete oval: 1. Newgarden Frustrated Josef Newgarden, even being on the softer tires that should have allowed him to be a little faster for at least a few laps while Palou chose the hard tires for his final run, couldn’t catch Palou down the end. The Team Penske driver believed Palou would have had to make a mistake for him to get by: “The restart was what it was. Unless you have a full stint, there’s your stack right there [to the finish].” Palou felt he could be in trouble, not believing that simply track position would mean he would prevail: “I knew it was going to be very tough just because I saw how [Newgarden] was racing at the beginning of the race with Kyle [Kirkwood]. They were both flat out. … I was not confident at all.” 2. Malukas’ Big Comeback Two days after going to the hospital for X-rays and scans on his badly bruised right knee, David Malukas recovered from that crash in practice and starting 24th to finishing third. So while his teammate Newgarden was frustrated ahead of him, Malukas was excited even if he was thoroughly exhausted from the heat, which had already spurred INDYCAR officials to announce Sunday night that the event would be reduced from 300 laps to 225 laps. “I had almost no time the past few days to get fluids,” Malukas said in his postrace news conference and after his visit to to the medical center. “We weren’t even getting fluids yesterday. “After that race we knew it was probably going to be a thing. I felt really good, the adrenaline started to wear off, things started to get a little spinny there. I got fluids, picked me up on a little bit of sugar. I’m good.” 3. Schumacher’s First Top-10 Former Formula 1 driver Mick Schumacher earned the first top-10 of his career as he placed eighth at Nashville. Some would say that was because it was more of a track position race, but Schumacher did consistently get track position and didn’t make mistakes. “The pace has always been good enough for a top-10,” he told me and another reporter after the race. “To actually put it on track is a great achievement — but I knew it was possible all along. … It was consistent on the communication, we had no issues in the pits, a nice, solid race.” Schumacher’s future in INDYCAR is unclear whether he will return to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing or possibly go to another team or even make the INDYCAR experience a one-year-and-done quest. Maybe finishing top 10 on an oval is just what he needed to show what he can do. “The pace overall this year has been showing that anyways,” Schumacher said. “People know what they get, and obviously, this hopefully will put it into the books that we are able to do this consistently. “I think there’s a high chance that I’ll be here next year.” 4. Dixon-Rossi Strange Crash Scott Dixon slammed into the back of Alex Rossi when Rossi slowed to pit in a strange accident. Rossi seemed flabbergasted when he talked to reporters outside the INDYCAR medical unit: “It’s insane. I love Scott. I don’t want to say anything bad. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do in that situation.” Dixon seemed just as curious about how it all unfolded. “He was kind of struggling a little bit,” Dixon told me and another reporter. “He was kind of running the high line. I had a pretty good run, went to the low—the same with the lap before, and then he kind of covered the low side. And then on the next lap, when I had a better run, I went to the low side. “Then he went low, and so I went lower, and then all of a sudden he kind of moved back up again, which I thought he was kind of letting me go. And then he slammed on the brakes to come into the pits. So I had no idea that he was coming into the pits [from the] middle of the track. It was unfortunate.” 4 ½. What’s next: Portland The INDYCAR Series takes two weeks off before racing Aug. 9 in Portland. That will start a brutal five-week stretch with six races to finish off the season: Portland, Markham (Toronto suburb), Washington D.C., Milwaukee (two-race weekend) and Laguna Seca.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Spain is the FIFA World Cup champion for the second time ever after a 1-0 extra-time victory over Lionel Messi and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday to close the largest edition of the tournament in history. With the first 48-team World Cup now complete, there were many players who put together fabulous performances throughout the tournament. But only 11 can be picked for the World Cup Best XI. So as the world looks back on an unbelievable tournament, here is FOX Sports analyst Alexi Lalas’ World Cup Best XI. Unai Simón gets in goal after winning the Golden Glove. It was a historic World Cup campaign for Simón, who kept seven clean sheets and conceded only one goal. That was the fewest goals conceded by a team on the way to winning a World Cup. Simón was pivotal with his shot-stopping, his ability to play out from the back and his sweeper-keeper role, constantly sniffing out attacks coming in behind Spain’s back line. Marc Cucurella came into this tournament widely recognized as one of the premier left backs in the world, and he showed that at the World Cup. He was defensively stable in the best defense in the tournament while also being a constant presence in attack with his energy to go up and down the pitch. Aymeric Laporte turned back the clock with a great World Cup for Spain, anchoring the back line as the experienced partner next to teenage center back Pau Cubarsí. Laporte helped lead a defense that conceded the fewest goals ever by a World Cup-winning team. His ability to play out from the back and his defensive stability were cornerstones for Spain throughout the tournament. Cristian Romero was a vital piece of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning campaign, and he continued to be one in this tournament. Not only was he willing to put everything on the line defensively, but he also made an impact in the attacking box as a goalscoring threat. That included his goal against Egypt to bring Argentina back into that match, as well as the header that was deflected in as an own goal to win the round of 32 match against Cape Verde. Pedro Porro showed his true level playing for Spain at this World Cup. After an inconsistent season at Tottenham, Porro put together a strong tournament. Spain initially started Marcos Llorente at right back, but Porro eventually earned the starting spot and became a key player throughout the tournament. He was not only solid defensively, but also a presence in attack, scoring in the round of 32 against Austria and again in the semifinal against France. Rodri won the Golden Ball as the best player on the best team, playing at a high level throughout the World Cup. He showed signs of the level he had before tearing his ACL following his Ballon d’Or and European Championship-winning campaign. Rodri’s decision-making, processing speed and defensive strength in front of Laporte and Cubarsí were massive for Spain. After this tournament, Rodri could be on his way to a second Ballon d’Or. Jude Bellingham had a monster tournament, scoring seven goals from midfield. The capacity he showed to arrive in the box was tremendous, and his clutch moments were on a different level. Every time England was in a hole and needed someone to pull it out, Bellingham seemed to be there showing his class and scoring vital goals. Michael Olise is as silky as a footballer can get, and he showed his quality and creativity at this World Cup. Despite not scoring a single goal, his tournament was fabulous because of the creativity he provided for France. Olise allowed players like Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola and Désiré Doué to flourish because of how consistently he created chances. Olise finished with seven assists, breaking Pelé’s record for the most assists recorded at a single World Cup. Kylian Mbappé had 10 goals at this World Cup, won the Golden Boot and played a huge role in France’s run to the semifinals. He scored in the round of 32, round of 16 and quarterfinals, and then added two more goals in the third-place match against England. Mbappé also broke the record for most career goals scored at the World Cup, moving to 22. With what he has already done on this stage, Mbappé now has a serious case as the greatest World Cup player in history. Erling Haaland had a World Cup campaign that people will tell stories about for years. His seven goals were incredibly vital in taking Norway to the quarterfinals in its first World Cup campaign since 1998. This Norway side won two knockout-stage games, with Haaland scoring the winner in both. He scored the late winner against Ivory Coast in the round of 32, then scored twice to help Norway stun Brazil in the round of 16. At 39, Lionel Messi had about as good of a campaign as an individual in any sport can have at that age. He brought himself back into the conversation as one of the best players in the world, playing lights out with eight goals and four assists while putting Argentina on his back and taking it to the final. Even though Argentina fell short against Spain, Messi’s tournament was another reminder of his greatness.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

It’s already tough enough as it is to pick an All-American team every year, but FOX Sports lead college football analyst Joel Klatt took on an even tougher challenge: naming an All-Century Team. In a recent episode of “The Joel Klatt Show,” Klatt picked which players have been the best at each position in college football since the turn of the century. That leads to plenty of debates at several positions, including quarterback. Four quarterbacks have won the Heisman, a national championship and have been the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft since 2000. And that list doesn’t include other talented college quarterbacks, like Vince Young, Tim Tebow and Matt Leinart. That’s just one of the many debates Klatt had to solve when picking his All-Century Team, as he also named finalists for each position. Let’s take a look at his All-Century Team as we’re roughly one quarter of the way through the 21st century. OFFENSE Finalists: Cam Newton (Auburn), Tim Tebow (Florida), Joe Burrow (LSU), Matt Leinart (USC) Klatt’s thoughts: “How do you pick between [all of these quarterbacks]? … Here’s the deal: I came down to [these finalists] because you kind of have to win a national championship. I know there are other national champions on this list, but you had to win the national championship and carry your team at some point. “I know this might be a little bit biased because I had to play against him, but the pick is Vince Young. If I had one game and I had to pick one quarterback from the last 25 years to go and play that game, my All-Century quarterback is Vince Young. This guy was unbelievable. He went 30-2 as a starting quarterback. That undefeated season in ‘05 for a national championship was remarkable. There were times where he had to put that team completely on his back. “This guy was incredible. I know there might be some debate, but I don’t think I’m going to get a ton of pushback about that.” Finalists: Reggie Bush (USC), Christian McCaffrey (Stanford) Klatt’s thoughts: “I’ve got to pick one of these guys? That’s why I did not want to be in 11 personnel. So, I thought let’s get down to three finalists. “But even with that big list, I got down to two really fast: Reggie Bush and Adrian Peterson. I’m a huge Reggie Bush guy. He was electric. He changed the game in so many ways. I played against Adrian Peterson. His true freshman season was one of the greatest seasons we’ve ever seen from a running back. He led the country in carries as a true freshman and ran for 1,900 yards. Remarkable, absolutely remarkable stuff. Yet, Reggie Bush wasn’t on the field on fourth down for the three-peat. How could you be my 11 personnel, single running back if you weren’t on the field for the most important snap in your team’s history? “It’s not [Bush’s] fault … but for that reason, I went with Adrian Peterson. If you had one game and you need a guy to tote the rock for 20, 25 carries per game, who are you taking? AP!” Finalists: DeVonta Smith (Alabama), Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State) Klatt’s thoughts: “I know some people might one Calvin Johnson on this list, but I think I hit the nail on this one. You’ve got great individual seasons and careers on here. “I could put Larry in the slot. Crabtree was incredible at Texas Tech. Julio was just an absolute boss on the outside. Does anyone remember who Larry Fitzgerald’s quarterback was at Pitt? Rod Rutherford — anyone remember that name? I don’t, and I work in the sport. … If I had to take one, it was Larry Fitzgerald. “Then, you think about Michael Crabtree and Crabtree was insane. He had one of the great seasons in all of college football history. His performance against Texas in that game when both of those teams were undefeated was insane. “I know the numbers might not support [Julio Jones making this list] against some of the other candidates … but he was doing this for a team that was primarily run-oriented in an era in which the SEC was absolutely loaded. I mean, a lot of the defensive backs I’m going to hit on later were from the SEC in this era, and he was an absolute boss.” Finalists: Kyle Pitts (Florida), Tyler Warren (Penn State) Klatt’s thoughts: “I think [Bowers] was the best tight end I’ve ever seen in college football. … This pick was very easy for me. He was a two-time national champ, two-time Mackey Award winner, and if he doesn’t make a couple of insane plays, they don’t win the second national championship because they don’t beat Ohio State in that semifinal.” Finalists: Penei Sewell (Oregon), Jake Long (Michigan), Tristan Wirfs (Iowa) Klatt’s thoughts: “This was the second-easiest pick for me behind Brock Bowers. Bryant McKinnie was an absolute animal. He was a monster in that 2001 season for Miami. He’s the last offensive lineman to finish in the top 10 in Heisman voting. Joe Thomas, he won the Outland for the Badgers. I tried not to think of NFL careers, but isn’t it difficult not to? You kind of have to at some point. Joe Thomas was incredible.” Finalists: Zack Martin (Notre Dame), Chance Warmack (Alabama) Klatt’s thoughts: “I think people forget about David Decastro, but I’m not forgetting! Do we remember how dominant that Stanford team was running the football? … Decastro was incredible. “Then, my second one, this was a little bit more difficult. … Nelson was a two-time All-American at Notre Dame. I just don’t think you can go wrong with Quenton Nelson and David Decastro.” Finalists: Tyler Linderbaum (Iowa), Landon Dickerson (Alabama) Klatt’s thoughts: “Barrett Jones did everything for those Bama teams in the early 2010s. He started at guard, tackle and center. He won the Outland at left tackle in 2010 and then won the Rimington at center in 2012.” Finalists: Travis Hunter (Colorado), Tavon Austin (West Virginia) Klatt’s thoughts: “Sometimes, you’ve just got to trust the smart people in the room. Urban Meyer won multiple national championships as a head coach and is considered one of the great head coaches we’ve had in the history of the sport. I get the pleasure of working with Urban and he’s said to me many times that Percy Harvin is the best football player he’s ever coached. Guess what? That’s good enough for me. When Urban says that, I need him on my team.” DEFENSE Finalists: Jadeveon Clowney (South Carolina), Myles Garrett (Texas A&M), Aidan Hutchinson (Michigan) Klatt’s thoughts: “Does anybody remember Terrell Suggs’ season in 2002? Animal. He had 24 sacks and 31 tackles for loss — both FBS records at the time. Suggs had four games with at least three sacks that year, and the crazy game was against Washington: 4.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss. “Will Anderson, when Nick Saban says that he’s kind of the alpha of alphas that he’s had at Alabama, then I listen. He had 34.5 sacks and 62 tackles for loss in three seasons in the SEC.” Finalists: Vince Wilfork (Miami), Tommie Harris (Oklahoma), Glenn Dorsey (LSU) Klatt’s thoughts: “Suh in 2009 was insane. He finished fourth in the Heisman voting. He had 12 sacks and 20 TFLs — as a tackle! As dominant as any player I’ve ever seen. “Aaron Donald holds the FBS career record TFLs with 66 — as a tackle! And we know what he was in the NFL, but he was that at Pitt. I think the only offense ever created that could move the ball on this defense is the offense that I just created.” Finalists: Manti Te’o (Notre Dame), Derrick Johnson (Texas), Roquan Smith (Georgia) Klatt’s thoughts: “How do you take two of those? At this point, you’ve just got to go with your gut. Kuechly might be the smartest linebacker in history. Micah Parsons might be the greatest Swiss army knife at linebacker that we’ve ever seen. Kuechly holds the FBS record for tackles per game in a single season with 15.9 — almost 16 tackles. He also leads the FBS in career tackles per game with 14. He had 180 tackles in each of his last two seasons. “I know Parsons only played two seasons at Penn State, but he was a force. He was a freshman All-American and then an All-American as a sophomore and he was playing as a normal linebacker in those days and he was still dominant.” Finalists: Terence Newman (Kansas State), Jalen Ramsey (Florida State), Morris Claiborne (LSU) Klatt’s thoughts: “This is a tough one. I’m going to take Patrick Peterson, though. He was going up against guys like A.J. Green and Julio Jones and others in that SEC era. He won the Thorpe and the Bednarik. Patrick Peterson is one of my guys. “I’ve got to take Patrick Surtain, don’t I? He had 38 straight starts at Bama. He was an All-American, lock-down guy. Right now, he’s the best corner in the National Football League. So, I’m gonna go with Surtain there.” Finalists: Caleb Downs (Ohio State), Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama) Klatt’s thoughts: “I’ve got to take the Honey Badger. The Honey Badger was just cut from a different cloth. He had an aura about him when he was out on the field. He was kind of like the college version of Ed Reed. He was all over the place. Quarterbacks had to be aware of him. Offensive coordinators had to be aware of him. So, Honey Badger has got to be on defense. I can’t have a defense for an All-Century team and not have the Honey Badger.” Finalists: Sean Taylor (Miami), Roy Williams (Oklahoma), Eric Berry (Tennessee) Klatt’s thoughts: “I do find it a little interesting that all of these guys played in the pre-targeting era. Don’t you love the physical, old safeties that could absolutely knock people’s heads off? I loved that. “I know you can make an argument for Sean Taylor, but Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed as your safeties with the Honey Badger as your nickel — no one is scoring on this team. Ed Reed was a two-time All-American and led one of those Miami teams to a title. Polamalu, I got to see him play in college before anyone ever knew who he was and had the hair and all of that.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Norway taking down Brazil, England knocking Mexico out, Lionel Messi’s continued excellence, Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha’s meteoric rise, an incredible Golden Boot race and star-studded semifinals — the 2026 World Cup delivered some incredible moments, and it’s hard to pick a favorite. There were so many thrilling and outrageous matches and tons of fun off the pitch, and FOX Sports ranked the 50 best moments. But we want to weigh in too. We’ve covered the largest World Cup in history from so many angles, but these are our favorite moments from the tournament. And we’re sure we won’t be forgetting about these any time soon. Under normal circumstances, the game would’ve been over. England was hanging on for dear life at that point, sure. But the Three Lions were still leading 1-0. They were still five minutes of regular time away from the World Cup final — their first in 60 years. Most opponents just aren’t coming back from that. But Argentina isn’t normal. Lionel Messi definitely isn’t. So with Messi & Co. knocking on the door, what happened next felt almost pre-ordained. First, Messi set up Enzo Fernández’s equalizer. Then the 39-year-old GOAT found Lauturo Martinez at the back post for La Albiceleste’s stoppage-time winner. Sitting in the Atlanta Stadium press box behind England’s goal, I had the perfect view of both goals. And I still can’t believe what I saw. — Doug McIntyre Going with the U.S. men here, which might be controversial. Of course, the expectation was for this team to get past the round of 16 and into the quarterfinals, and their match against Belgium was a dud compared to their previous games. It was challenging for the group to mentally get past the red card debacle. But taking a step back, I don’t remember a time covering the Americans where they all seemed so loose. It was clear every day in training that the guys were having a blast together, and that was reflected in their performance through four games. Even Christian Pulisic, who is a little more reserved with his emotions, seemed happy and was smiling a lot. USA fans really came together behind this team and the stadiums were rocking in LA, Seattle and Santa Clara. It was fun covering their run. — Laken Litman Erling Haaland ending Brazil’s World Cup has to be at the top. Norway’s round of 16 win was the result that made me sit back in my chair. This was the country’s first World Cup in 28 years, facing a Brazil side that Carlo Ancelotti was hired specifically to fix, and for most of the afternoon, the Seleçao had the better chances. Then Haaland rose for a header, and a few minutes later hammered a left-footed shot from outside the box that no keeper alive was stopping. Two touches, two goals, seven for the tournament. Norway had never reached a World Cup quarterfinal. Brazil hadn’t gone out that early since 1990. The sport’s most decorated nation, undone by a country of just more than 5 million people and one unstoppable striker. Those are the underdog stories that entire fan bases rally around. Oh, and Haaland has also won social media during his time here in North America. His star has never been bigger. — Matteo Bonetti For me, I will go with Jude Bellingham’s World Cup. He entered it with many critics, notably many were from the British media, which is not that surprising as I have known this trend all my life and career. But in the end, this young man once again proved just how special he is and helped the Three Lions earn a third-place finish, which is their best record since 1966 and the highest World Cup placement on foreign soil. Don’t forget: He became the highest midfield goalscorer in single tournament history, as well as the top English male scorer in one tournament. Only Perú’s Teófilo Nene Cubillas has more midfield World Cup goals than Bellingham. Oh, and his solo effort against France? A piece of art. — Luis Miguel Echegaray The end of Cape Verde’s 0-0 draw with Spain was incredible and with what we know now, it is even more impressive. The tiny archipelago nation off the coast of Africa has a population of about 500,000 and has very little history in the game. In one of the viral stories surrounding that team, left back Roberto “Pico” Lopes was recruited when the national team head coach discovered him through Linkedin. But the performance of 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha and the images of him after that game will stick with many people for a long time. Spain won seven of its eight games at this World Cup. It won all seven of its games at Euro 2024. The only blemish on Spain’s record in its 15 games across its last two major tournaments came at the hands of Cape Verde. There was a lot of debate before this tournament about whether a 48-team World Cup was going to work. Cape Verde helped make a strong case to support the expanded tournament. — Brian Sciaretta​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Just as we saw a new generation of elite young players make big strides in the World Cup’s immense global spotlight, we also saw what is likely the curtain call for some of the greatest and most beloved players of all time. Nothing is ever known until a player formally retires, and even then, some players come out of international retirement when asked. But with a very high degree of likelihood, this tournament will be the World Cup goodbye for four of the greatest players of all time and several others who were among the best of their generation. There were many “passing of the torch” moments. The final left us with Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal embracing after Spain’s win, leaving many fans hopeful that Yamal and teenage teammate (for both club and country) Pau Cubarsí can help fill the greatness void left by the near-retirement of Messi and his generation. There was also Gilberto Mora and Guillermo Ochoa, both playing for Mexico against Czechia at Mexico City Stadium. Messi and Yamal were pictured in a now-famous photo together when Yamal was a baby. Similarly, Mora was the youngest player at the 2026 World Cup, and during the tournament, he shared a childhood picture of him with Ochoa, his idol growing up. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s team was led by its legendary 40-year-old captain Edin Džeko, who was born in Yugoslavia, grew up through the war and survived the 1992-95 Siege of Sarajevo. Many of the young Bosnian players on the team, including teenage star Karim Alajbegović, were born abroad after being displaced by the war. Now they are returning to play for the national team. For them, Džeko is an important figure and playing with him at this tournament was heavily symbolic of the country’s brutal past and hopeful future. “I am happy because I am the captain of this great generation,” Džeko said in the lead-up to the tournament. This tournament was a poignant transition between generations. Of course, all World Cups see many great players leave the international side of the game following the tournament, but never has a tournament marked the exit for such a class of legendary players. Goodbye To The GOATs There isn’t anything more that can be said about Messi’s greatness. Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, a World Cup champion, two-time runner-up, two-time Copa América champion, a four-time Champions League winner, 10-time LaLiga champion, two-time Ligue 1 champion, six Copa del Reys and, recently, an MLS Cup. He wasn’t just great; he was also popular and likable. He was a wonderful torchbearer for this sport. We won’t likely see him again at such a stage as he was in Sunday’s World Cup final. Ronaldo never won the World Cup, but he has achieved so many historical accomplishments that make him easily among the greatest players of all time. He has a record 146 international goals for Portugal, where he has won a European Championship and two Nations Leagues. He has won the Ballon d’Or five times and the Champions League five times, the Premier League three times, La Liga twice, Serie A twice and the Saudi Pro League once. The 2026 World Cup was not a great tournament for Ronaldo, now age 41, but his two goals in a 5-0 win over Uzbekistan made him the first player to ever score in six World Cups. He finishes his World Cup career with 11 goals and two assists over 27 games, but his penalty conversion against Croatia in the round of 32 was his only knockout goal at the tournament. As one of the greatest midfielders of all time, Modrić, 40, earned his 200th cap for Croatia during the 2026 World Cup. During his decorated career, he helped Croatia’s national team become one of the best in the world with a second-place finish in 2018 and a third-place finish in 2022. In 2018, he was awarded the World Cup Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. In 2022, he won the Bronze Ball as the tournament’s third-best player. His club career is remarkably decorated. In 2010, he helped Tottenham return to the Champions League for the first time in nearly 50 years. With Real Madrid, he won the tournament six times, a record he shares with four other players. Regarded by many as the greatest goalkeeper of all-time, Neuer came out of international retirement to play for Germany at the 2026 World Cup. Ultimately, it did not go well as Germany was eliminated by Paraguay in the round of 32. Neuer gave his team a chance to win it with a save in the fifth round of a shootout, but Germany would eventually fall. Neuer is a World Cup winner with Germany and a 13-time Bundesliga champion with Bayern Munich, including the recent 2025-26 season. He also won the Champions League twice. National Team Legends If reports are correct, the 35-year-old captain of Liverpool and the Netherlands appears set to retire from the international game following the Netherlands’ round of 32 loss to Morocco at the World Cup. As one of the greatest central defenders of his generation, he won the Premier League twice and the Champions League once with Liverpool. In 2018-19, he was named the Premier League Player of the Season and the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year. The greatest Mexican goalkeeper in history hung up his gloves following the 2026 World Cup. He made just one appearance, coming on as a late substitute in a 3-0 win over Czechia at Mexico City Stadium to participate in his sixth World Cup, a record he shares with Ronaldo and Messi. It was an emotional moment for Ochoa, who was cheered and tossed into the air by his teammates for his legendary career with the team that ended with 153 caps. As one of the top center forwards of his generation, Džeko is sure to bow out of the international team following the World Cup, where he made three starts and was held scoreless. But Džeko was critically important over the past 18 months in ensuring Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified for the World Cup. He memorably scored a late equalizer against Wales in the playoff semifinal, which Bosnia and Herzegovina would eventually win in a shootout. For Bosnia and Herzegovina, Džeko has 73 goals in 151 caps. He has also won the Bundesliga once and the Premier League twice. He has also won the single-season scoring titles in both the Bundesliga and Serie A. The highly accomplished Croatian national team winger was still playing at a high level at this World Cup, and his goal against Portugal in the round of 32 seemed like it might have been enough to propel his team to victory. Unfortunately for Perišić, Portugal found a late winner in one of the tournament’s most debated moments. In Croatia’s opening game, Perišić assisted in a loss to England but picked up an assist to become the second player (along with only Lionel Messi) to have an assist in four different World Cups. At 37, Perišić might have some more left to give and has not announced his retirement from Croatia, but this is likely his last World Cup. It’s been a great international career for Perišić, who has 39 goals in 158 caps. He is still going strong at the club level, having won two straight Eredivisie titles with PSV Eindhoven. Prior to that, he won two Bundesliga titles, a Serie A title and a Champions League trophy with Bayern Munich in 2019-20.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The buck stops here — even if Warde Manuel preferred it didn’t. See, he either never learned or forgot what President Harry S. Truman knew about making hard decisions and accepting the fault of his subordinates. Everything is your fault when you are the man in charge. For Manuel, that means losing the job he loves after Michigan offered Manuel a buyout to leave his athletics director position before his contract expired, following an investigation by an outside law firm that uncovered details of a culture of irresponsibility. The University of Michigan paid law firm Jenner & Block nearly $12 million to rummage through its athletics closet and its bins and uncover its sins. The firm has been compensated similarly to the reported cost of Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood for three whole years because Manuel’s house has not been in order, despite Michigan football and men’s basketball getting good again. Manuel — Michigan’s AD from 2016 now through the end of 2026 — has arguably been the nation’s best AD based on pure performance since 2021. And yet, he is out of that job not four months after watching the Wolverines’ men’s basketball team win the national title. Explaining why begins in February 2021. One of Manuel’s first brilliant acts was getting former head coach Jim Harbaugh to accept an insulting and incentive-laden contract. And thus, 2021 began the best three-year run the Wolverines have seen on a football field this century: three Big Ten titles, three trips to the College Football Playoff and a perfect 15-0 run to the 2023 national championship. However, those three years are checkered with coaching scandals. Harbaugh received a 10-year show-cause order, a three-game suspension for violating Big Ten sportsmanship policy from B1G commissioner Tony Petitti and financial penalties from the NCAA that will cost the university $30 million, according to Manuel. Harbaugh’s consequences were the result of allowing former offensive analyst Connor Stalions to orchestrate a robust sign-stealing operation that gave the Wolverines an unfair competitive advantage against opponents. Those facts reveal how the Michigan athletics department operates in comparison to the rest of the country. But there’s more. Former Michigan assistant coach Matt Weiss was indicted on 24 federal charges stemming from allegations that he secretly accessed more than 3,300 student-athletes’ private accounts to steal intimate photos and videos between 2015 and 2023. Former head football coach Sherrone Moore, who succeeded Harbaugh, was engaged in an inappropriate relationship with former Michigan staffer Paige Shiver and was fired in December. Moore, later, trespassed into Shiver’s apartment and was arrested the same day he told Manuel about his violation of university policy. But according to The Wall Street Journal, Manuel knew about Moore’s close relationship with Shiver as early as Aug. 29, 2024. He informed Moore in handwriting on Michigan letterhead that he was concerned about Moore’s closeness with his executive assistant. “I told him I didn’t remember if we had already discussed [it], but that she couldn’t accompany him on trips,” Manuel wrote. On Tuesday, July 14, Manuel gave an interview to The Michigan Insider where he defended his record as an administrator at Michigan since 2016 and let it be known he had no intention of leaving his post willingly. His supporters would have seen him as a convenient scapegoat for decisions made by others. “I don’t need the credit [for Michigan’s success],”Manuel said, “but I’m not going to stand idly by and let people say all this happened despite Warde Manuel.” Stop. First, no one says your name alongside the wins you helped put on the board because that’s what the money’s for. Second, that’s what history exists to record. And, buddy, you’re in that record. But going on a radio program to discuss your résumé isn’t what blue-blood athletics directors do, unless they have something to address that ain’t among their greatest hits. You need us to say it? OK. It happened not despite of Warde Manuel, but because Warde Manuel is the athletics director at the storied University of Michigan. This is true while 31 other Power 4 programs have turned over athletics directors in the last two years. It happened because Warde Manuel is the man who oversaw Jim Harbaugh, Matt Weiss and Sherrone Moore as employees at Michigan. It happened because Warde Manuel was the AD while Paige Shiver went from Michigan intern to victim of a head coach’s abuse of power. Just as every upstanding and courageous Michigan athletics employee is your people, Jim Harbaugh is your people. Matt Weiss is your people. Connor Stalions is your people. Sherrone Moore is your people. Paige Shiver is your people. Just because you acted when the time came does not absolve you of responsibility for the culture that created space for Weiss’ indictment, Harbaugh’s flippancy for NCAA rules, Stalions’ willingness to bend them, Moore’s abuse of power and Shiver’s injury. I know the character of his coaches is important to him because Manuel said so in the same July 14 interview when he expressed why he hired Mike Boyton, Jr., to be head coach of the Michigan men’s basketball team: “Mike is a great person.” Manuel said similar things about new Michigan football coach Kyle Whittingham, who he hired last December. Most Michigan Wolverines are, presumably, good people. But when they are not, and their transgressions are severe, the university has a duty to objectively question its leadership and take appropriate action. That appropriate action happened to Warde Manuel. I know this because I believe an objective look into the history of the past six years would likely lead Warde Manuel to fire Warde Manuel as well.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

I can already smell the freshly cut grass. I can hear the players’ barks, grunts and screams of excitement. I can feel the August sun. Training camp is almost here. Which means football season is almost here. And, man, what an offseason it has been. So before we look ahead to the 2026 season, let’s make sure we take stock of the offseason, which will inform what comes next. I’ve been on paternity leave, and I can’t wait to hit on a few controversies and blockbuster trades. There’s nothing better. This is “Sound Smart,” where I try to spin forward, dive deeper and think outside the box. If I do my job, you’ll have a better understanding of what really happened during the NFL offseason. When it comes to Jalen Hurts, there might not be a quarterback who says less but who is discussed more. Hurts is actually the personification of a handful of clichés about football players. For example: He lets his play do the talking. Here’s another one: All he wants to do is win. That’s the personified cliché that interested me most as the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2025 season wound down. Ironically, in a league that values winning above all else, Hurts’ obsession with winning is what makes him polarizing. His at-times unorthodox playing style makes for a nontraditional path to victory. It’s also possible that distinctive playing style is what led star receiver A.J. Brown to leave Philly. But Hurts does win — quite often. He has won 69.5% of his games as a starter, ninth-best all time (among QBs with at least 70 starts). It’s just a hair below Peyton Manning (70.2%) and it’s better than Aaron Rodgers’ mark (63.6%). You’d think that’s the type of statistic that implies greatness. But you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who’d call Hurts “elite.” There’s the crowd that doesn’t think wins are a quarterback stat. To some degree, I’m with them. Football is a team game. When a team loses, the blame unfairly falls on the quarterback. And when a team wins, the praise overwhelmingly lands on the QB. Roughly five years ago, it felt like wins were an overly common metric to measure a QB’s success. And yes, again, that was unfair. But there are exceptions to the rule. Hurts might just be one of them. “I think it’s convenient,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni told me in April when I asked about how to assess Hurts’ winning percentage. “It’s convenient to say that wins matter for this particular player. And then sometimes we forget about that [and say wins don’t matter]. I think wins for a quarterback is huge. And I think what you’ve seen with Jalen is he’s won every different way we’ve asked him to, and I think that’s what I admire about him.” Kansas City Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes is the perfect example of a player whose wins are a clear reflection of his success. During the Chiefs’ incredible Super Bowl run, five title games in six seasons, Mahomes was widely considered the best QB in the NFL, even when his statistics were average at best. Because he was winning. The longer he did it, the more those wins became a part of his legacy. And yet the same isn’t true of Hurts. In my conversation with Sirianni, I bought up Tom Brady, who spent most of his early career with the New England Patriots dealing with criticism that he was a game manager and a system quarterback — even after winning three Super Bowls. At many different points in his career, Brady sacrificed his individual statistics for team success. When the Patriots lost, it made the criticism of Brady even louder. That must sound familiar to the Eagles. “That’s what I’m saying,” Sirianni told me. “What’s bizarre is like, we look at these stats and put a player’s worth on it. Like, ‘Oh, he threw for a lot of touchdowns.’ Well, you know what? When we get down in the red zone to win the game, we run it, and when we get real close, the quarterback sneaks it in. So maybe he doesn’t have as many touchdown passes. And that affects your passing efficiency [and passer rating]. “What does that matter when you’re scoring the touchdown? That’s the ultimate goal there, and I’m really thankful to have a quarterback that’s like that.” Now, of course, Brady has seven Super Bowl wins and Mahomes has three. Hurts has one. And maybe those numbers — alone — explain why he gets different treatment, despite having a similar mentality to Brady and Mahomes. Hurts has dealt with plenty of criticism following the team’s defeat to the San Francisco 49ers in the wild-card round of last season’s playoffs. Infamously, we now know Hurts asked his coaches to let him run four-verts on the team’s final offensive play from scrimmage, where he threw an incompletion. He called his shot, which included a play that is as simple as plays come, and it didn’t work. He took the blame publicly. “They played a cover-four structure,” Hurts told reporters, saying that was the expected coverage. “I just didn’t make the play. I own it. I own it all.” But the Eagles’ struggles led to the trade of their star receiver, Brown. The Eagles also fired offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo. Philly’s issues have also triggered speculation that maybe the Eagles could move on from Hurts — not this offseason but perhaps in 2027, particularly following an ESPN report in April that the QB is not always receptive to coaching. I, for one, thought the anecdotes in the story showed Hurts’ strong-willed leadership style, the type that generates respect for Rodgers. In this case of comparison, Rodgers has one Super Bowl victory, just like Hurts. The key difference is that Rodgers’ physical tools in his prime (particularly as a thrower) were undeniable. Hurts’ arm can’t compare to Rodgers. One year after Hurts’ Super Bowl win and Super Bowl MVP, he is among the league’s most polarizing quarterbacks. Pull up the lowlights and you’ll see a QB who struggles to optimize an offense with some of the league’s best skill players. Pull up the highlights and you’ll see a guy who just finds a way while blending his rare mobility and throwing abilities. “He’ll do whatever he needs to do,” Sirianni told me. “Every quarterback wants to throw it, but there’s times where he knows that the best thing for us to win the game is to hand it off or to run it. And that’s what you admire about him, because all he really cares about at the end of the day is getting the win. And I love that about him.” Sirianni added: “When your best players play that way and live that way, that sets the table for the entire football team.” When I asked Sirianni for examples of Hurts’ will to win, he picked neither the highest highs nor the lowest lows. He picked a pair of games I didn’t expect. First, he brought up Philadelphia’s 38-7 win over the New York Giants in the divisional round of the 2022 playoffs, when Hurts was 16-of-24 for 154 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 34 yards and another touchdown. Even if you look at the advanced statistics, you won’t come away marveling at what Hurts did. The Giants blitzed on 53.8% of his dropbacks, and he managed the game and avoided mistakes. But this was a game Sirianni brought up to exemplify Hurts’ winning mindset. He quietly played his role in a massive blowout that set off a run to the Super Bowl (where the Eagles lost to the Chiefs). Then, Sirianni brought up another playoff game — this time from 2024 during Philadelphia’s Super Bowl-winning run. Hurts was 13-of-21 for 131 yards and two touchdowns with 36 rushing yards. Again, ho-hum. But the Eagles beat the Green Bay Packers 22-10 in the wild-card round. “We didn’t throw for a bunch of yards. We didn’t play great on offense,” Sirianni told me. “All Jalen wanted to do is win that game and move on. And we ended up doing the most ultimate thing [by winning the Super Bowl]. And so he’s a stud. I can’t say enough good things about it.” The Eagles are not necessarily rebuilding this year, but without Brown, they might not be the same juggernaut. Hurts will have to do more, and with his sixth offensive coordinator in his seventh NFL season. Hurts will have to contribute in bigger — and perhaps unorthodox — ways. And you can bet that the success of his season will be measured one way — above all others. It’ll be the Eagles’ win total. Hurts’ win total. That’s all that matters to him. And you’re kidding yourself if you don’t admit it’s what really matters. I haven’t yet seen the “Dream Team” expression bopping around. And even though it’s something of a curse, it’s also fairly accurate when looking at what the Rams have assembled. These are The Avengers. Iron Man: Matthew StaffordBlack Panther: Myles GarrettCaptain America: Kyren WilliamsFalcon: Blake CorumDoctor Strange: Sean McVaySpider-Man: Puka NacuaVision: Davante AdamsThor: Alaric JacksonLoki: Trent McDuffieWar Machine: Kevin Dotson Now, I know you’re wondering … who’s The Hulk? Or maybe you already know: Aaron Donald. This team was a play away from making the Super Bowl last year. And so L.A. responded by adding two of the league’s most outstanding players: record-setting edge rusher Garrett and All-Pro cornerback McDuffie. They might just add their third in Donald, one of the best defensive linemen ever. He was spotted working out at the Rams’ facility after the team added Garrett. Donald reportedly wanted to do a trial run on his body after two seasons in retirement. If (and maybe when) Donald returns, the Rams could quickly form the most unblockable defensive line since the turn of the millennium. Because nose tackle Poona Ford might not be a household name, but he was the team’s top-rated defensive player in 2026, per PFF. He’s incredibly reliable despite his humble stats: 47 tackles and two sacks. It has long been a curse to throw around “Dream Team.” And I wouldn’t dare. But … also … how could you not?! It has stuck with me that, in the A.J. Brown trade, the Eagles received a 2028 first-round pick. When they make that selection, the country will be talking about the next presidential election. We’ll be about ready to watch the L.A. Olympics. And NASA will have sent someone back to the moon for the first time since the 1970s. In other words, that feels a long way away. When the teams began seriously talking about the deal at the NFL Combine in February, the pick was three drafts away. So not only did the Eagles decide they were OK with bypassing the 2026 pick (in large part because of the financial incentives for waiting until June 1 to split up Brown’s salary cap hit), but Philly also accepted that it wouldn’t get a 2027 first-rounder either. Nominally, the compensation looked like a win for the Eagles: a first-rounder. But it’s not so clear-cut, given how long they’ll have to wait to get paid (so to speak). Yes, they’ll also got a 2027 fifth-rounder, but if Eagles GM Howie Roseman converts that pick into a starter, then it’ll be his best fifth-round selection … ever. It’s not an area of the draft where Roseman has thrived. The point is, this deal looked typical on paper: an (aging) star receiver for a first-rounder. But I think it’s much more unusual than you’d think. In fact, I can’t think of a deal over the past few years that (effectively) deferred payment quite like this one. “We’ve always been in the mindset a pick is a pick — a first-round pick is a first-round pick. Doesn’t matter. Teams are still going to be playing football in 2028,” Roseman said last month after the trade. “I know there’s a lot of attention on the 2027 draft, but at the same time, looking at the ‘28 draft, I feel confident that that’s going to be a good draft as well, and that we’ll be in position to really improve our football team.” That helps explain, at least partially, why the Patriots were happy to defer payment — and give up that 2028 pick. This year, they’re all-in on the core they’ve built around Mike Vrabel. In free agency, New England snagged receiver Romeo Doubs, guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones and safety Kevin Byard to serve as starters. The Patriots have actually upgraded their Super Bowl roster, which suffered only a few key departures, like receiver Stefon Diggs, DT Khyris Tonga, edge K’Lavon Chaisson — most of whom the team promptly replaced. Next year’s draft class is about as hyped as draft classes get, loaded with elite quarterback and receiver prospects. (Yes, the Patriots already have their quarterback. But if five quarterbacks go before the Patriots make their pick, that means the prospect that slides to them is that much better.) New England was smart to hold onto that selection. The Patriots want to stack their roster as they build around Drake Maye. But they also want to build a young core, which was sorely lacking following the departures of coaches Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo. “We have to win. That’s our job, is to win,” Vrabel said following the trade when asked about the first-round pick — and whether his team is in win-now mode. This deal is a major investment in the Patriots now. It’s also more of a coup for New England than people realize. It’s possible that Brown isn’t on the Eagles in 2028 when the team makes the Patriots’ first-round selection. But that won’t necessarily mean that the Patriots didn’t win the trade. What happened here? The NFL players ranked their peers this offseason, and Jackson fell from No. 2 to 69th in the “NFL 100” rankings. So far, Jackson hasn’t responded, not on X nor in a press conference setting. But it’s pretty safe to assume that he saw it, in part because he doesn’t live under a rock and in part because he reposted the news that Zay Flowers landed at 71st in the same ranking. It’s just that Jackson couldn’t have possibly expected to land just two spots away. It’s one thing for a player to get criticism from the media. It’s another to see this level of disrespect from his fellow players. It’s possible that Jackson’s athleticism is fading. It’s possible that his body is breaking down. No doubt, he struggled to play through injuries last year. But I don’t see what the players are seeing. I don’t see him landing at this spot in 2026. Lamar is going to be a top 10 QB — and perhaps even a top 10 player overall.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Here’s what’s happening this week Inside The Garage: NASHVILLE SUPERSPEEDWAY (Lebanon, Tenn.) — Christian Lundgaard admits he was surprised. A driver who has two wins in a season is rarely told he won’t be offered a new contract for the next season. But he also knows he has, in a way, no choice but to move on from the decision made by the Arrow McLaren brass. And, frankly, most expect Lundgaard to land a solid ride — most likely the one vacated by Scott Dixon at Chip Ganassi Racing as Dixon is headed to McLaren. “There’s no news,” Lundgaard told me and other reporters Saturday. “I’m committed to [this team] for the rest of the year and we’ll see what next year brings. I’ll be doing something … I hope.” Lundgaard, when asked if he was bitter, felt the results and reactions by many in the industry questioning the decision, speak for itself. “Everybody knows my opinion and everybody has their own,” Lundgaard said. “I don’t need to go into preference and what people think, but I think there is a general image on the situation.” Lundgaard is one of 10 INDYCAR drivers who don’t have contracts for next season and currently are in limbo. Only two — Lundgaard and his Arrow McLaren teammate Nolan Siegel — have been told by their team they won’t be back. “I’m talking to as many people as I can,” Siegel told me and other reporters on Saturday. “We’ll see. There are things in the works. I’d love to stay in INDYCAR. That is certainly the goal. “I’m more focused on the last seven races and the best thing I can do to find myself back here next year is do a good job the rest of the year.” Siegel jumped at the chance to join Arrow McLaren during the 2024 season. He comes with funding but he wouldn’t second-guess maybe jumping into a premier INDYCAR ride too early. He has inconsistent results, as would probably be expected for a driver who is just 21 years old. “When you get a call to drive for McLaren in INDYCAR and you have no other options, saying yes to that opportunity is absolutely a no-brainer under any circumstance for any driver,” Siegel said. The eight INDYCAR drivers who also don’t have deals set for next year: — A.J. Foyt Racing drivers Santino Ferrucci and Caio Collet — Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing driver Mick Schumacher — Dale Coyne Racing drivers Romain Grosjean and Dennis Hauger — Juncos Hollinger Racing drivers Rinus VeeKay and Sting Ray Robb — Andretti Global driver Marcus Ericsson Some of those drivers could remain with their teams, with Ericsson, a former Formula 1 driver and Indianapolis 500 winner, having a strong enough year to likely earn another season in his current ride. “I’ve been around for a while, so I’m sort of used to all those things happening in the season, so it’s not really something I put too much focus on,” Ericsson told me and other reporters Saturday. “I’m just trying to really deliver out on track and do a good job with the team. That’s where my priorities are.” The driver who might be in the most demand is Rinus VeeKay, who is 11th in points for a team that isn’t considered one of the elite organizations, has earned him plenty of inquiries. He said he hasn’t had any concrete offers just yet. VeeKay said he would like to know what he’s doing next year by the end of the season in the first weekend of August. “I want to get it done before the season is over,” VeeKay said. He reiterated that staying at Juncos Hollinger is a possibility. “There’s seats that are open, and I’m evaluating all the options that are there,” VeeKay said. “What everybody would do if you’re not signed for next year. … The better I perform, the better the offers are going to be for next year. “It’s kind of open. Staying with JHR also is a good opportunity and it is something we’re definitely looking at.” As is the case many times in motorsports, it could come down to funding and sponsorship. Teams are expecting to have to spend additional money next year to get ready for the new car in 2028. That could be offset by winding down inventory that would not be applicable with the new car. For a driver such as Dennis Hauger, who has had a respectable rookie season and was leading the rookie points heading into the race Monday at Nashville, he is hopeful something works out. He has been under contract with Andretti Global this year. He wouldn’t say whether he has any obligations to them (or them to him) for future seasons, but it appears he needs to look. “I’ve showed what I can do when we have a decent car to play with,” Hauger said. “I’m confident I can do good stuff. I am going to try show that whenever I get the chance. We’ll see.” Even drivers with contracts can’t always feel safe. With RLL expected to sell one of its charters to Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, that means one of the drivers likely won’t return. That is expected to be Mick Schumacher, who told reporters that he would like to stay if he could. Louis Foster signed a long-term deal last year to race for the team. “Obviously, I’ve got a deal signed for multiple years,” Foster told me and other reporters. “I’ve heard nothing [about changes] from within the camp.” NASCAR Changes Daytona Aero Package NASCAR changed its aero package for Daytona in hopes of creating cars that have more control to pass on their own. They hope if drivers have more ability to maneuver, then they would be less likely to try to save gas and keep track position in the pack, where pulling out of the pack can be costly if the driver can’t pass and loses spots in the packs. The rear spoiler will be reduced from 7 inches to 4 inches. And the horsepower will be reduced from about 515-520 horsepower to 465. NASCAR Event Management President John Probst said the idea is that it eliminates the ability for the cars to get nose-to-tail, which allows the cars to separate and more ability to dictate their own destiny. The teams will not get practice at Daytona, which will keep them from trying to run simulation after practice to help with adjustments during the race. In The News –The Freedom 250 INDYCAR race next month in Washington, D.C., will be 125 laps on the 1.7-mile course. The 250 in the name of the race is about the country’s birthday, not a specific mileage or lap count. –Elliott Sadler will drive the Kaulig Racing No. 25 truck at his home track, Richmond Raceway, next month. –Jessica Fickenscher, who has held a variety of leadership roles for Speedway Motorsports including heading up North Wilkesboro Speedway, was named general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. –The trial date for the Joe Gibbs Racing-Chris Gabehart and Spire Motorsports lawsuit has been set. The trial, expected to take nine days, is scheduled to begin Feb. 1 in U.S. District Court in Charlotte. — Speedway Motorsports has joined the ownership group of the CARS Tour. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton and Justin Marks all remain as part of the ownership group. Social Spotlight Clinching Drivers Those drivers who clinched spots in the NASCAR Chase at North Wilkesboro: Cup: Ryan Blaney, joining Denny Hamlin and Tyler Reddick. Truck: No additional drivers clinched. Layne Riggs and Kaden Honeycutt already had clinched. They Said It “Dad’s going to be home a little late.” — Joey Logano after his Cup Series victory Sunday at North Wilkesboro​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

With each passing week and each additional layer of scrutiny surrounding Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel, how differently could this saga have unfolded if not for the tragic news involving Kent Syverud, who was slated to become the university’s next president? A few weeks after Manuel hired Kyle Whittingham as the Wolverines’ next football coach in late December, the Board of Regents announced that Syverud would become the 16th president at Michigan. Syverud, who was previously the chancellor and president at Syracuse University, was scheduled to take over for interim president Domenico Grasso on July 1 of this year. But in mid-April, just a few days after Michigan’s men’s basketball team won the national championship, Syverud announced that he had been diagnosed with brain cancer. He stepped down from his presidency before it even began. Grasso was eventually elevated to the full-time position, though not quite in a permanent capacity: The Board of Regents said that the search for a 17th president would begin anew. Correctly or not, it was widely assumed that one of Syverud’s main objectives after assuming his new position would be to change leadership within Michigan’s athletics department. For years, Manuel’s tenure with the Wolverines had been peppered with hiring missteps, NCAA violations and embarrassing conduct from his employees. None more so than former football coach Sherrone Moore, whom Manuel fired last December after the department found “credible evidence” of an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate. That Manuel interspersed each blemish with four national championships — including one each for football (2023) and men’s basketball (2026), the most lucrative and highest-visibility sports — was enough for him to keep his job longer than most people expected. But all of that ended on July 20, when Michigan announced that Manuel will be stepping down from his position at the end of the calendar year. So what does this mean? Here’s a look at what’s next for Michigan. What Does Warde Manuel’s Departure Mean For Michigan Athletics? In the same way that Michigan’s decision to hire Whittingham represented a noteworthy departure from those who were connected to the pockmarked tenure of alum Jim Harbaugh, this most recent divorce between the Wolverines and Manuel affords the institution an opportunity to do the same atop its athletics department. A native of New Orleans, where he was an All-American high school football player, Manuel matriculated at Michigan and played under legendary head coach Bo Schembechler in the late 1980s, including a spell as Harbaugh’s teammate. And though his gridiron contributions were prematurely halted by a neck injury, Manuel still won multiple varsity letters in multiple sports for the Wolverines, shifting over to the track and field team before the end of his undergraduate career. He went on to earn three degrees from Michigan between 1990 and 2005: a bachelor of general studies, a master’s in social work and an MBA. In other words, Manuel falls neatly within the framework of the proverbial “Michigan Man” persona that was popularized by Schembechler, who manned the sidelines for two decades and eventually became the school’s athletics director. That pedigree alone helps explain why Manuel, now 58, was hired by the Wolverines in 2016. Now, it’s also one of the reasons why so many fans wanted him removed. A steady stream of shameful institutional missteps and public relations nightmares during Manuel’s tenure have dulled the sheen so often associated with the proud “Michigan Man” archetype. Most notably, the stomach-turning sexual abuse scandal involving Dr. Robert Anderson, now deceased, and the university officials who overlooked — or flat-out ignored — years of accusations surrounding the physician’s suspected misconduct during a 50-year career. In 2022, Michigan eventually agreed to a $450 million settlement with more than 1,000 of Anderson’s victims. The jaw-dropping revelation that Schembechler, who coached at Michigan from 1969-89, was among those authority figures shielding in real time began to erode the outsized legacy he and his disciples left behind. Though Moore never played for Michigan prior to joining the Wolverines’ coaching staff in 2018, the decision to fire him amid another off-field controversy in December was seen as a necessary step if the program wanted to finally distance itself from anyone linked to Harbaugh, who himself is inextricably linked to Schembechler. Each victory Harbaugh amassed during an unprecedented run over his final three seasons — a period capped, of course, by winning the national championship in 2023 — seemed to be met with another round of eyebrow-raising headlines: There were plenty of other incidents, too. In effect, dismissing Moore meant that Michigan could finally move on from whatever remnants Harbaugh’s highly successful, highly controversial tenure had left behind — the good, the bad, the unethical and everything in between. It meant the Wolverines could distance themselves from a seminal figure in program history, a true Maize and Blue legend, but someone who also muddied the waters with his ongoing flouting of NCAA rules and longstanding ties to the increasingly stained Schembechler era. Parting ways with Manuel, whose time at Michigan can be connected to all of those things, offers Michigan another chance to start anew, to finally hit the reset button atop the athletics department hierarchy. His replacement should come from outside the Wolverines’ family. How Could Manuel Leaving Affect Michigan Football? As the day-to-day leader of Michigan athletics, Manuel preferred to operate beyond the spotlight whenever possible. He was far less outspoken than some of his colleagues across the country — fellow athletics directors like Pete Bevacqua at Notre Dame or Ross Bjork at Ohio State, for example — and reserved many of his regularly scheduled comments for a friendly local radio show in Ann Arbor. The only real exceptions came when Manuel puffed his chest for reporters in the immediate aftermath of championship moments for the football and men’s basketball programs, which were opportunities he seemed to relish. A connection can be drawn between Manuel’s relative disinterest in occupying the kind of mainstream, protagonist role ascribed to modern ADs and the most common critique surrounding how he approached the job. Both publicly and privately, detractors have questioned Manuel’s creativity and aggression when it comes to things like general fundraising efforts, NIL implementation strategies and negotiating contracts with Michigan’s coaches across various sports. It wasn’t until the Wolverines overhauled their pursuit of five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood prior to his senior season of high school that Michigan employed a fully modernized approach to player acquisition, and that was roughly three years after NIL was introduced on July 1, 2021. Even then, sources familiar with the inner workings of Underwood’s recruitment never included Manuel when asked about the most influential figures in that pursuit. All of which is to say that the Wolverines could benefit quite significantly from selecting a leader focused more on enhancing Michigan’s future than simply honoring, or preserving, its illustrious past. This is particularly important when considering that Whittingham, the new football coach, will turn 67 later this year and has never coached in the power conferences. He built a decorated, Hall-of-Fame caliber career while doing more with less across two decades as the head coach at Utah. And now, as college football continues to evolve on what feels like a daily basis, he’ll need strong leadership and guidance from atop the department to properly wield Michigan’s considerable institutional advantages. What About Michigan Men’s Basketball? For a moment, it appeared that Manuel’s uneven tenure might not last beyond the university’s Board of Regents meeting held in Traverse City, Michigan last Thursday. The days leading up to that regularly scheduled gathering hummed with speculation and scuttlebutt surrounding an independent investigation by law firm Jenner & Block, whose bill with the school has now soared to nearly $12 million and counting since the project was commissioned. The Wall Street Journal said the investigation had already found evidence that Michigan received “repeated reports about [Sherrone] Moore’s behavior,” as it pertained to the inappropriate relationship with Paige Shiver, his former executive assistant. The Board of Regents meeting Thursday came and went without any discussion on Manuel’s future. Neither Manuel nor the investigation by Jenner & Block were discussed. Business, it seemed, would continue as usual for at least a while longer. And that’s exactly how Manuel had been operating. Six days before the Board of Regents meeting, Manuel announced that he was dropping the “interim” tag attached to men’s basketball coach Mike Boynton Jr. after the sides agreed on a two-year contract. Boynton, 44, served as the lead assistant and defensive coordinator for the Wolverines under head coach Dusty May the last two seasons, guiding the program to just the second national championship in school history. He’d worked tirelessly to retain the core of Michigan’s roster ever since May decided to leave for an NBA job last month. “Mike is a veteran assistant with strong head-coaching experience and a clear understanding of the standard we expect at Michigan,” Manuel said in a press release. “Over the past two seasons, he has been an invaluable member of our staff, bringing stability, leadership and perspective during an important period of success.” Within a week, though, members of the anti-Manuel contingent were given yet another reason to roll their eyes at the way he conducts business. Boynton’s new two-year contract, which will pay him $3.6 million for the 2026-27 season, includes a series of uncommon performance benchmarks he must meet simply to reach the second year of the deal, according to a records request by MLive and an article published Thursday. “The program can’t have any Level I or II NCAA violations,” writes beat reporter Andrew Kahn, “Boynton can’t violate any policies or rules, and all players must remain academically eligible. The Wolverines must also reach the Final Four or hit at least two of the following: win at least 24 regular season games (out of 31), finish in the top four in the Big Ten, win the Big Ten Tournament, or reach the Sweet 16.” All of those accomplishments feel reasonable for a program that returns several key players from a national championship-winning squad and has also welcomed another star-studded transfer portal class to Ann Arbor, not to mention five-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr., the jewel of Michigan’s high school recruiting class. But with such specific criteria comes plenty of additional pressure for a head coach who already has immense shoes to fill.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports