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CITIZENS BANK BALLPARK (Philadelphia) — Mike Trout circled this date months ago. Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game sits 45 minutes from Millville, New Jersey, where Trout grew up rooting for the Phillies and bleeding Eagles green. Getting back here was personal. Staying healthy was the hard part. Trout hadn’t started an All-Star Game since 2019. He hadn’t even been selected to one since 2023. “I’m never taking anything for granted in this game,” Trout told me on Monday. This year, fans voted Trout in as a starting outfielder, a slash line of .237/.390/.473, 18 homers, 39 RBIs, and his most stolen bases (seven) since his 2019 MVP season carrying him there. Then a hamstring strain in mid-June threatened to keep him home again. But, just 17 missed games later, Trout was back in the Angels’ lineup as a designated hitter just days before the All-Star break. He was healthy and headed to Philly. For the 12-time All-Star who has spent a career as the face of this game, it wasn’t just a return. It was a relief. “You don’t know when your last game is,” Trout said. “When an injury can pop up. Especially the last few years, it’s been a little bit tough for me. I’m just excited to start.” It’s easy to see that starting the All-Star Game means a lot to Trout. Trout found it tough to explain just how meaningful it is for him to be leading off for the American League on Tuesday. He slowed down when reflecting on how difficult the past few years have been for him as he dealt with a laundry list of injuries that limited him to playing just 396 games for five seasons from 2021-2025, or roughly 79 games per season. Plus, he didn’t want to let down his family and friends with a big contingent scheduled to make the short trip to Philly this week. “Well, I only have 20 tickets,” Trout said. “I mean, that’s a lot. So I had to cut it down a little bit. I know a lot of people that are coming. It’s been on the calendar for a while.” Trout’s celebrity status runs deep. Besides pitcher Justin Verlander, who announced he’s retiring at the end of this season and is at the All-Star Game as the Commissioner’s Legend Pick, Trout had the largest media scrum among all AL players on Monday. And Trout also has a huge fan in the AL’s All-Star clubhouse, though he’s completely unaware that this player grew up idolizing him years before he became, well, Mike Trout. “I learned a lot from him — and he doesn’t know it,” fellow AL All-Star and Twins outfielder Byron Buxton told me on Monday. “But I learned a lot from him growing up. I even watched him in the minor leagues.” Buxton and Trout share more similarities than their star power. Both players are homegrown, one-team-for-life talents. And both, oddly enough, once wore a Cedar Rapids Kernels uniform. The minor-league franchise spent 20 years as the Angels’ Single-A affiliate before flipping to the Twins in 2013. Trout came first. He played 81 games there in 2010, an 18-year-old outfielder on his way up. Two years later, after a show-stopping big-league debut when Trout recorded the highest WAR (10.5) in MLB, he won the AL Rookie of the Year award, and Cedar Rapids hung his picture at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Buxton followed in 2013, a 19-year-old outfielder playing 68 games in a Cedar Rapids uniform in the same ballpark. “Every day I walked in, I got to see his picture,” Buxton said. “Man, he was on the top of my list as someone I watched all the time.” Even that small similarity with Trout — playing for the same minor-league affiliate as him thanks to a team change — used to remind Buxton that he was on the right path in his baseball journey. Buxton even tried to copy Trout’s physical build. Even though the Twins outfielder debuted in the big leagues in 2015 as a skinny speedster, he added 21 pounds of muscle before the 2019 season to try and add more slug to his game. “Coming up, he played the game 110%,” Buxton said of emulating Trout’s game. “100% down the line. Putting his body on the line, and things like that. It was something that, when I came up, I was like, alright. That’s how I wanna be. Obviously I wasn’t his size, or like the body build that he has. You had to kind of find that the more you played throughout your career. And it’s something that, over the years, I figured out my frame to where I look back and I’m like, alright, I’m like him now.” This is the second time that Buxton has shared a clubhouse with Trout, both having been named All-Stars in 2022 despite Trout not appearing in the game. He would’ve shared a lineup with him if the Minnesota outfielder wasn’t on the injured list with a hip strain. While they’re both in Philly, does Buxton plan on telling Trout how much he influenced his career? “Nah, I’ll let him do his own thing,” Buxton said. “Maybe after he retires. Which is a long time from now for him.” In reality, Trout should be used to being a hero to his peers. Cardinals manager Oli Marmol, who was selected by NL manager Dave Roberts to be a part of his All-Star coaching staff, told me that Trout garners a ton of respect from players of all ages, all around the league, because they admire his tenacity. After dealing with numerous injuries, particularly later in his career, Trout is still playing at an MVP-caliber level when he’s healthy enough to take the field. “He’s had his struggles, but he’s come out on the other side of it,” Marmol said. “He can speak to both sides of handling failure and success, and the longevity that he brings to the table speaks for itself.” Like Buxton, so many of this year’s All-Stars grew up watching the three-time MVP become a staple at every All-Star Game. Royals All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. was asked multiple times in his media scrum on Monday who he most enjoyed watching growing up, and every time, his answer was Trout. From 2012-2019, Trout had an incredible run of being selected for eight consecutive All-Star Games. Not only was he statistically the best player in the major leagues for the majority of that run, but he also embodied what it meant to play the game the right way. “It’s so cool to share a locker room with him,” Tigers All-Star infielder Kevin McGonigle told me. “Lately, I’ve appreciated the way he plays the game and understanding what it takes to get his body ready to be on the field. It’s a grind, and he’s been doing this a long time.” “He was always the guy I looked up to, just by how he plays the game,” Orioles All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman told me. “His attitude and his ability. It seemed like he played the game right, and in a way that I really admired. Just seemed like he goes about stuff in the right way. And I love that. It’s been awesome to get to know him a little better. Talk with him a little bit. He’s just an awesome guy and a great player.” Trout is too modest to spend any time thinking about how much of an impact he’s made on his peers and baseball fans alike. Still, he understands that part of being a veteran is imparting some wisdom to the younger generation. So, on Monday, he shared some advice with All-Star first-timers. “Just enjoy it,” Trout said. “It goes by quick. So slow everything down. It’s pretty simple. These next two days go by quick, so enjoy every moment. Capture it. Take pictures. Enjoy it with your family. It’s a special honor to be here.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

It’s the MLB All-Star break, meaning we have a clear sense of what every team is. With that in mind, here’s one number that defines the first half of the season for all 30 MLB teams (teams are mentioned in alphabetical order by city/state name): Athletics: 20 Athletics’ catcher Shea Langeliers (21) and first baseman Nick Kurtz (20) have each hit 20 home runs. Atlanta Braves: 5 While they lost 19 of their last 29 games before the All-Star break, the Braves stand atop the National League East (55-40) and are sending five players to the 2026 MLB All-Star Game: Drake Baldwin, Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson, Chris Sale and Raisel Iglesias. Arizona Diamondbacks: 10 D-backs star right fielder Corbin Carroll leads MLB with 10 triples. Baltimore Orioles: 90 The Orioles are 46-51, but when they’re connecting with pitches, they’re annihilating them. Baltimore is first in the sport in average exit velocity (90.0 mph) and hard-hit percentage (42.9%), according to Statcast. Boston Red Sox: 85 The Red Sox won their last nine games before the All-Star break, putting them a half-game out of the third American League wild-card seed. With that said, Boston is, remarkably, last in baseball with 85 home runs. Chicago Cubs: 10 The Cubs are in possession of the first NL wild-card seed at 54-42 after a wonky stretch of play. How’s that? They had multiple 10-game winning streaks. The first one came in mid-April, which was later followed by another 10-game winning stretch from late-April through early-May. What happened after the second hot streak? The Cubs had a 10-game losing streak in mid-May. Baseball. Chicago White Sox: 129 The White Sox are the surprise team in the sport (first place in the AL Central at 50-45), and the long ball has been a primary catalyst for their success; they’re fourth in MLB with 129 home runs, with infielders Colson Montgomery (23), Miguel Rojas (21) and Munetaka Murakami (20) accounting for 64 of those homers. Cincinnati Reds: 254 In what’s his first full MLB season, right-hander Chase Burns, who the Reds selected with the No. 2 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, boasts a 2.54 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 118 strikeouts, 4.2 wins above replacement and a 173 ERA+ over 102 ⅔ innings pitched (18 starts); Burns is a 2026 All-Star. Cleveland Guardians: 28 Guardians right-handed reliever Cade Smith has totaled an MLB-high 28 saves. He also sports a 2.84 ERA, has totaled 63 strikeouts and is holding opponents to a .229 batting average. Colorado Rockies: 590 Of course, playing half your games a mile above sea level at Coors Field is a challenge, but the Rockies’ starting rotation still boasts a jarring 5.90 team ERA, which is last in the sport. Detroit Tigers: 4 After back-to-back appearances in the AL Division Series from 2024-25, the Tigers are 44-52. Moreover, they’ve lost four or more consecutive games five times this season. Houston Astros: 633 Astros superstar Yordan Álvarez is first in MLB with a .633 slugging percentage, as well as on-base percentage (.426) and OPS (1.059); Álvarez also leads the American League with 31 home runs. Kansas City Royals: 533 The Royals are tied with the Los Angeles Angels for the worst record in baseball (38-59). Meanwhile, their bullpen has the worst ERA in MLB (5.33). Los Angeles Angels: 917 Tied with the Royals for the worst record in MLB, the Angels stand alone with a league-high 917 strikeouts. Los Angeles Dodgers: 61 The defending, back-to-back World Series champions are riding high this season, leading the sport with 61 wins. Miami Marlins: 24 In possession of the third NL wild-card seed at 52-45, the Marlins have tallied an MLB-high 24 triples. Middle infielders Otto Lopez, who’s on the NL All-Star Game roster, and Xavier Edwards have each hit six triples. Milwaukee Brewers: 340 The Brewers’ starting rotation is first in baseball with a 3.40 ERA, an effort highlighted by superstar right-hander Jacob Misiorowski, who has a 1.62 ERA, an 0.76 WHIP, logged 167 strikeouts and held opponents to a .148 batting average (all of those figures lead MLB). Minnesota Twins: 10 The Twins aren’t in the playoff picture, but they’ve been able to entertain with the bats. In fact, they’re top 10 in runs (sixth with 471), hits (ninth with 810), home runs (10th with 120), batting average (ninth at .248), on-base percentage (ninth at .323), slugging percentage (seventh at .415) and OPS (eighth at .738). New York Mets: 303 The Mets, who lead the sport with a roughly $329 million payroll, are tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for 28th in MLB with a .303 team on-base percentage. New York Yankees: 142 The Yankees have hit an MLB-best 142 home runs. Philadelphia Phillies: 45 The Phillies fired manager Rob Thomson after the team’s 9-19 start. Since the move, the team is 45-24 under interim manager Don Mattingly. Pittsburgh Pirates: 516 The Pirates are a commendable 50-47 and tied with the Washington Nationals for the most runs in MLB (516). Pittsburgh has also tallied a league-high 886 hits and sports a league-best .263 batting average. San Diego Padres: 30 Despite being a playoff fixture in recent memory, the Padres are last (30th) in runs (379), hits (709), batting average (.226), on-base percentage (.302) and OPS (.672). San Francisco Giants: 119 It has been another long year for the Giants, who are 41-55. A bright spot has been second baseman Luis Arráez, who is second in the sport with 119 hits and is an NL All-Star. Seattle Mariners: 3 Despite being 48-49, the Mariners are just one-and-a-half-games behind the Texas Rangers for first place in the AL West. The Mariners’ bullpen is keeping them afloat, as they have four relievers who have made at least 20 appearances sporting an ERA below three (Eduard Bazardo, José A. Ferrer, Gabe Speier and Matt Brash). In all, Seattle’s bullpen has a 3.56 ERA, good for fourth in the sport. St. Louis Cardinals: 74 Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker, who’s a first-time All-Star, leads the sport with 74 RBIs. He has also blasted a career-high 22 home runs, while owning a .294/.354/.532 slash line. Tampa Bay Rays: 322 Rays designated hitter Yandy Díaz leads the AL with a .322 batting average and 111 hits. In doing so, Díaz earned his second career All-Star nod on a Tampa Bay team that has the best record in the AL (56-38). Texas Rangers: 126 The Rangers are just two games over .500 (49-47), but that’s enough to be first in the AL West. Reliever Jacob Latz has been one of the keys to success for Texas, as he’s 18 of 20 in saves situations, boasts a 1.61 ERA and an 0.67 WHIP and is holding opponents to a mere .126 batting average. Toronto Blue Jays: 13.55 The defending AL-champion Blue Jays are slumping, but their premier offseason pickup, right-hander Dylan Cease, has been stellar. Through 17 starts (98 ⅓ innings pitched), Cease sports a 2.56 ERA, 3.6 wins above replacement and 148 strikeouts, good for an MLB-best 13.55 strikeouts per nine innings. Washington Nationals: 27 While they lead the league in slugging percentage (.435) and are tied for the MLB lead in runs (516), the Nationals have blown an MLB-high 27 saves, which has them on pace to shatter the all-time record, which is 37.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

From Cal Ripken Jr.’s farewell to Kyle Schwarber introducing the swing-off with a bang, MLB’s All-Star Game delivers some of baseball’s best moments with all of its stars together in one place. With the 2026 midsummer classic set for Tuesday, July 14, we’re looking back at the top moments from the MLB All-Star game this century. The American League had won 13 All-Star games in a row before Brian McCann helped the National League break through in 2010. His three-run double in the seventh inning was responsible for all the NL’s runs, but it was enough to beat the AL 3-1. McCann was an All-Star seven times in 10 seasons with the Atlanta Braves and won the game’s MVP award in 2010. In his final All-Star Game appearance, Clayton Kershaw gave fans a treat. He pulled back the curtain of what it’s like being on the pitcher’s mound, as he wore a microphone during the second inning. Fans heard him give away his pitches as he said, “Here’s some cheese,” before throwing 89-mile-per-hour sinkers to Cal Raleigh and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. We watched him react, saying “that’s sick!” to Kyle Tucker’s diving catch to take away a base hit from Raleigh. We watched him get Guerrero to whiff on a curveball, laughing and saying, “Got him,” after the slugger’s swing, then freezing Guerrero on a slider to strike him out. Kershaw played all 18 seasons with the Dodgers, helping them win the World Series in 2020, 2024 and 2025. He earned 11 All-Star nods and won three Cy Young awards. Elias Diaz made the most of his only All-Star Game appearance, knocking a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning off Felix Bautista. Diaz’s shot into left field gave the National League a 3-2 lead. Diaz is a journeyman catcher who’s played for five MLB franchises, but he will always be remembered for his All-Star Game heroics. “Enter Sandman” played for the final time at an MLB All-Star Game as Mariano Rivera trotted out of the bullpen in 2013. He delivered a perfect outing and was named the game’s MVP. Rivera is known as the greatest closer of all time, recording an MLB best 652 saves over 19 seasons with the Yankees. He led the majors in saves in three different seasons. He earned 13 All-Star nods. Mike Trout led off the 2015 All-Star Game with a towering home run, making it clear from the start that he was on track to win the game’s MVP award for a second straight season. Trout was also named All-Star Game MVP in 2014 after delivering two hits and two RBI. The 11-time All-Star, Trout, has been named the American League MVP three times. In his 16th season with the Los Angeles Angels, he remains the best MLB player ever without a playoff series victory, and he only made the postseason once, in 2014. In the fourth inning of the 2014 All-Star Game, Jeter trotted out for his final inning to a loud standing ovation from the crowd in Target Field. The 14-time All-Star was named the game’s MVP in 2000. In 20 years with the Yankees, “The Captain” helped New York win five World Series titles. Ichiro Suzuki hit a drive into the coffin corner in right field at Oracle Park. It took an unexpected bounce off the wall, allowing Suzuki to round the bases, trotting home without a slide. Suzuki won MVP as a rookie in 2001. He was voted an All-Star in each of his first 10 MLB seasons. He led the league in hits in seven separate years and won the 2004 batting title. The introduction of the swing-off to the All-Star Game proved instantly entertaining and decisive. After the American League and National League played to a tie, Kyle Schwarber stepped up and went a perfect three-for-three to lift the National League to victory. Schwarber also earned All-Star Game MVP for his performance. Schwarber has continued to increase his power over the back half of his career in Philadelphia. He led the NL with 46 home runs in 2022 and 56 in 2025. He currently leads MLB with 32 home runs in 89 games this season, as he’s on track to set his career high in long balls. Hunter leaped over the wall in right center field to bring back Barry Bonds’ home run. The highlight play left a smile on Bonds’ face as all he could do was laugh in surprise before going to hug Hunter. Bonds hit an MLB-best 762 home runs in his career, but in the 2002 All-Star Game, Hunter had none of it. In his 19-year career, Hunter was a nine-time Gold Glove winner — seven with Minnesota and two with the Los Angeles Angels. Cal Ripken Jr., a Hall Of Fame shortstop, made his 19th start in the All-Star Game in 2001, but did so at third base. So in an act of honor, starting shortstop Alex Rodriguez made way for Ripken to take his position in the first inning. Ripken followed that up by hitting a first-inning home run and going on to win All-Star Game MVP. It was the perfect conclusion to Ripken’s storied career, highlighted by his 2,632-game (16 seasons) starting streak, a record that will likely stand the test of time. The Orioles shortstop also won two American League MVP awards and led Baltimore to a World Series victory against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1983.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

This is the World Cup semifinals we’ve all been waiting for, and, in fact, these games are so highly anticipated that you could argue they are just finals that we’re getting a round early. On one side of the bracket, we have France and Spain facing off in the first semifinal on Tuesday at Dallas Stadium, and on the other side, we’re looking at defending champ Argentina against England in a rivalry game with decades of history behind it. It’s the first time since the FIFA rankings debuted in 1992 that the final four World Cup teams are also the top-four in the rankings, and also only the third time in World Cup history where all four semifinalists have won at least one World Cup (1970, 1990). And we’re confident these will be some of the most memorable, competitive and balanced games of the tournament. Here are our World Cup experts’ predictions for the two semifinal matches and which teams will advance to the final for a shot at winning it all. 2026 World Cup Semifinal Predictions World Cup Semifinal 1: France over SpainWorld Cup Semifinal 2: England over Argentina World Cup Semifinal 1: France over SpainWorld Cup Semifinal 2: Argentina over England World Cup Semifinal 1: France over SpainWorld Cup Semifinal 2: Argentina over England World Cup Semifinal 1: Spain over FranceWorld Cup Semifinal 2: England over Argentina World Cup Semifinal 1: France over SpainWorld Cup Semifinal 2: England over Argentina World Cup Semifinal 1: France over SpainWorld Cup Semifinal 2: England over Argentina World Cup Semifinal 1: France over SpainWorld Cup Semifinal 2: England over Argentina World Cup Semifinal 1: France over SpainWorld Cup Semifinal 2: England over Argentina World Cup Semifinal 1: France over SpainWorld Cup Semifinal 2: England over Argentina World Cup Semifinal 1: France over SpainWorld Cup Semifinal 2: England over Argentina World Cup Semifinal 1: France over SpainWorld Cup Semifinal 2: England over Argentina​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Both Spain and France are powerhouses. Both teams are star-studded. And both teams are absolutely thrilling to watch with rich histories playing each other. With so much talent on each roster, you could build a truly exceptional starting lineup – so we did. Below is our combined best XI for Spain vs. France ahead of their World Cup semifinal match on Tuesday. Formation: 4-2-3-1 Goalkeeper Both goalkeepers have had strong tournaments. Maignan has only conceded two goals, while Simón had not conceded until Belgium scored in the quarterfinals. Simón has been excellent for Spain, but Maignan gets the slight nod as the better all-around goalkeeper. Verdict: Mike Maignan, France Right Back Pedro Porro has come onto the scene in his first major international tournament for Spain, providing real value in attack from the right-back position, including a goal against Austria. But Koundé gives you more stability as a polished defender and converted center back, while still having the capability to join the attack and provide value going forward. Verdict: Jules Koundé Right Center Back Both Pau Cubarsí and Dayot Upamecano are great center backs, and this is a very tight battle between the two. Upamecano has the athletic advantage, while Cubarsí provides more ability to play with the ball at his feet. Upamecano can be an accident waiting to happen at times, but in this tournament, he has hardly put a foot wrong. At his best, he is easily one of the best defenders in the world. Verdict: Dayot Upamecano Left Center Back The Premier League-winning Saliba wins this battle over Aymeric Laporte, who is having a strong tournament and has been a veteran leader alongside the young Cubarsí at the back. Despite Spain’s excellent defensive record, Saliba and Upamecano complete the clean sweep over the Spanish center backs. Verdict: William Saliba Left Back It has been a remarkable comeback story for Lucas Digne, starting at this World Cup after his last World Cup for France came in 2014. He has returned and has not been bad, but if there is a weakness in this France team, it is at left back. Cucurella continues to show in this tournament why he is one of the best left backs in the world, and he is now a Real Madrid player after completing his move from Chelsea. Verdict: Marc Cucurella Right Central Midfielder This is another tight battle, with both players widely recognized as world-class players at their position and important to their national teams. But the slight nod goes to Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who is showing signs of his pre-ACL-injured self at this World Cup. He has been Spain’s composer throughout the tournament, just as he was for Spain at Euro 2024. Verdict: Rodri Left Central Midfielder On paper, this might seem like no conversation, but Rabiot has not laid a foot wrong in this tournament. He has done all the dirty work for France in midfield with his work rate, cleaning up scraps and allowing Michael Olise to roam around and pick up different pockets without having to worry as much about the defensive side. But Pedri is an incredible player on a technical level and gets the nod. Verdict: Pedri Right Winger Both are young star players who will be stars for many years to come. Doué has been important for this France team, splitting time with Bradley Barcola and making an impact off the bench, including winning the penalty that won France the game against Paraguay in the round of 16. But Lamine Yamal is already one of the best players in the world, even at 18 years old. Verdict: Lamine Yamal Central Attacking Midfielder Michael Olise is having as dominant of a tournament as you can possibly have without scoring a goal up to this point. Olise has completely bossed games from the No. 10 position, creating countless opportunities for the front three ahead of him. He already has five assists, which is only one away from tying Pelé’s all-time record at a single World Cup. Every time Olise gets on the ball, magic happens for this France team. Dani Olmo is a pivotal part of this Spanish side, with his intricate line-breaking passing and ability to make late runs into the box and cause havoc. But Olise can make a real case for the Golden Ball at this World Cup. Verdict: Michael Olise Left Winger Despite Yamal playing on the left-hand side, where Dembélé traditionally plays, Dembélé still finds a way into this team. The Ballon d’Or winner was a pivotal piece in a PSG side that won back-to-back Champions League titles, and he is now having his best international tournament ever. He has scored five goals, which in many past international tournaments would put a player firmly in the Golden Boot race. But this tournament has been an anomaly, with three players scoring at least seven goals. Álex Baena has been solid for Spain, but Dembélé is playing at a different level. Verdict: Ousmane Dembélé Striker Mikel Oyarzabal is an underrated piece of this Spanish side. He is not a typical No. 9, but more of a forward who floats around and picks up different pockets. When he does get a crack at goal, he is a very efficient finisher, and he has four goals at this World Cup. But Kylian Mbappé has eight goals and is widely recognized as one of the best players in the world. His total World Cup goal tally has now reached 20, despite being only 27 years old. Verdict: Kylian Mbappé Final Combined XI For France And Spain GK: Mike MaignanRB: Jules KoundéCB: Dayot UpamecanoCB: William SalibaLB: Marc CucurellaCM: RodriCM: PedriRW: Lamine YamalCAM: Michael OliseLW: Ousmane DembéléST: Kylian Mbappé​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

In each of the two epic quarterfinals we witnessed on Saturday — England’s extra-time win over Norway, Argentina’s extra-time victory against Switzerland — there were long stretches where the underdog seemed destined to pull off the upsets and advance to this week’s semis. Norway led the Three Lions. The Swiss equalized and had the momentum with just over 20 of the regular 90 minutes remaining. Both losers understandably felt aggrieved; the Norwegian players insisted that England’s first goal shouldn’t have counted, and had what could’ve been its own game-winner nullified after an intervention by the video assistant referee. VAR reduced Switzerland to 10 men vs. Lionel Messi and the rest of the defending World Cup champions, rendering the outcome inevitable. However it happened, here we are: with FIFA’s four top-ranked teams — No. 1 France, followed by Argentina, Spain and England — in the semifinals for the first time in tournament history. It’s a remarkable statistic when you think about it. Only eight nations have won the World Cup over 22 editions since the inaugural 1930 competition. The decisive match is almost always a meeting between past winners; just three of the 14 finalists since 2002 hadn’t previously lifted the trophy: Belgium and Croatia in 2018, and Spain eight years earlier. Yet in the semis, chaos has long reigned. Non-traditional powers have littered the World Cup’s last four this century. Unlike the final, the semis are not normally a roll-call of the usual suspects. The Croats also got to the semis in Qatar in 2022. Morocco’s Cinderella run four years ago made them the first African nation and the first from the Arab world to get that far. Portugal, South Korea and Türkiye have also reached the semifinal stage this century. By contrast, all four countries still alive at this World Cup are anything but upstarts. The list includes current holders (Argentina), current runner-up (France), and the titlists from 2018 (France) and 2010 (Spain). England, which is hoping to end its 60-year World Cup drought this summer, was a semifinalist in 2018 and reached the last two European Championship finals. Each of the semifinalists features at least one legitimate global superstar. There’s living legend Messi, the GOAT, who at age 39 has scored eight goals and is tied atop the Golden Boot race with Le Bleus ace Kylian Mbappé. Three Lions duo Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane have six goals apiece, with Bellingham scoring four of those in England’s last two matches. Meantime, La Roja boasts teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, the player widely considered as the heir apparent to Messi and Mbappé as soccer’s best, if he isn’t better already. Though Yamal has had a quiet World Cup so far, the biggest game(s) yet await. The match-ups could hardly be better, either. Tuesday’s France-Spain contest (kickoff at 3 p.m. ET on FOX and FOX One) in Dallas is a rematch of the Euro 2024 semi, when Yamal’s golazo helped La Roja best its cross-border rival. England and Argentina will reignite an even more contentious rivalry on Wednesday (kickoff at 3 p.m. ET on FOX and FOX One) in Atlanta; the Albiceleste are 2-0 against England in World Cup knockout games all-time. There are more irresistible storylines. Can Messi lead Argentina to consecutive World Cup triumphs, which nobody has done since Pele’s Brazil repeated in 1962? Will Mbappé reach a third straight final, or will Yamal play for the most coveted prize in sports next Sunday at New York New Jersey Stadium, just six days after celebrating his 19th birthday? Could this finally be the year it’s coming home to England for what would be the first time in most of their supporters’ lifetimes? In what was already the biggest and best World Cup ever staged, it’s shaping up as a fitting last week. History is about to be written, and we all have a front-row seat.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

To celebrate the Midsummer Classic, we’ve built the All-Star team of the century, the ultimate 26-man roster based on first-half performance. We scoured the stats at every position to find the most impressive All-Star résumés since 2000. Some of the players who made our squad are household names you won’t be surprised to see, but there are a few surprises along the way. (One of these players was the best at his position this century but didn’t even make the roster for that year’s Midsummer Classic!) Here’s our 26-man roster, starting with a big name from last season behind the plate. All-Star Starting Nine By last season’s end, “Big Dumper” had set home run records for catchers and switch-hitters. His 60 dingers rank third all time on the American League single-season list, behind Aaron Judge (62 in 2022) and Roger Maris (61 in 1961). By the 2025 All-Star break, these were already all clear possibilities for Raleigh. He was slugging .634, with 38 home runs, 16 doubles, 10 steals, 82 RBI and 62 walks. On top of all that, he was catching every day and doing a fine job of it, too. Pujols was a safe guess for the Cardinals. The real question: which season? It’s tough to beat his 2009 campaign, when Pujols slashed an unreal .332/.456/.723 with 102 hits, 55 extra-base hits — including 32 homers — and enough plate appearances left over for 71 walks in 90 games. Pujols had plenty of first halves with the Cardinals that ranged from great to amazing, but none epitomized what he was capable of at his best better than his transcendent showing in 2009. Roberts was an underrated second baseman both before and after his 2005 breakout, maybe in part because he never quite reached those lofty heights again. His age-27 season — which featured his first of two career All-Star appearances — was fantastic, though, and difficult to replicate. In the first half of 2005, Roberts slashed .345/.416/.591 with 42 extra-base hits while going 18-for-23 on steal attempts and playing fantastic defense. By season’s end, his glove alone was worth two wins above replacement, and his bat nearly six. His second half looked more like the Roberts the Orioles got for the rest of his career — still great, but nothing more than that. You’d think Cabrera’s Triple Crown 2012 season would be the pick here for the Tigers, but his first half of 2013 was even better. In fact, his entire 2013 was better. Cabrera won his second straight American League MVP after slashing .348/.442/.636 with a 190 OPS+ — the 15th-best OPS+ of the century, and 11th-best for players not named Barry Bonds. Cabrera’s first half did most of the heavy lifting. He slashed .365/.458/.674 with 30 of his 44 home runs that year with 51 extra-base hits in his first 93 games. Cabrera won his third straight batting title, capping a four-year run during which he batted .337. Rodriguez won his first Most Valuable Player award in 2003, but his 2002 season was one hell of a warm-up. A-Rod would lead the majors with 57 homers, 142 RBIs and 389 total bases — and he did all that while playing Gold Glove defense at shortstop. In the first half alone, A-Rod slashed .305/.401/.607 with 27 home runs, 100 hits and 199 of those total bases, earning him his sixth All-Star nod. And it doesn’t matter for our purposes, but he was even better in the second half, with 30 homers and a .642 slugging percentage in 75 games. Bonds hit an MLB-record 73 home runs in 2001, and it’s impossible to do that without a monster first half of the season. He was a monster before the All-Star break that year, hitting 39 of those 73 homers in his first 81 games while slashing .305/.487/.826. Yes, you read that right: Bonds had a slugging percentage over 81 games of .826. He had 18 doubles to go with the 39 dingers, as well as going 7-for-8 on stolen-base attempts, racking up 79 hits despite pitchers avoiding him — Bonds already had 88 walks by the break — and driving in 73 runs even though opponents pitched around him even more with runners on base. Judge has been on an all-time tear since 2022. At no point in his career was this more evident than in 2025, when Judge won the “Slash-Stat Triple Crown,” leading the majors in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Last season, Judge slashed 331/.457/.688 with 53 homers — his fourth campaign with at least 50 dingers — and won his third American League MVP. Before the All-Star break, Judge slashed an even wilder .355/.462/.733 with 35 of those blasts, beating out other Yankees performances of the century … mostly from himself. Part of what made the idea of the Red Sox trading Betts rather than extending him so absurd was his MVP-winning 2018 season. That year, which ended with the Red Sox winning the World Series, saw the 25-year-old Betts lead the majors in wins above replacement (10.7), batting average (.346) and slugging (.640). He also played all-world defense in right field and posted a 30/30 season five years before MLB changed the rules to make thievery easier for baserunners. In the first half of 2018, Betts slashed .359/.448/.691 with 108 hits, 51 of them for extra bases. Pronk! Travis Hafner never made an All-Star team, but this isn’t a list of the best All-Stars of the 21st century, and he absolutely should have been an All-Star in 2006 anyway. Cleveland’s DH slashed an absurd .322/.461/.650 with 25 homers and 43 extra-base hits in 83 pre-break games, punctuated by a June in which he got on base 46 times for a .485 on-base percentage. Plus, he did all of this despite the fact that, at the time, Progressive Park played as a pitcher-friendly ballpark. Hafner finished the season leading the AL in slugging and OPS, he led the majors in OPS+ and finished eighth in the AL MVP race. All-Star Reserves Rodríguez was the 1999 AL MVP, and he continued that level of performance into the new millennium. Though a broken thumb limited him to just 11 games in the second half of the 2000 season, his performance in the 80 games he played before the All-Star break was pure magic. Pudge slashed .366/.393/.708 with 25 homers and 55 extra-base hits — remember, too, that catchers didn’t play every day like this as a regular thing back in 2000. That was just something Rodríguez did in the middle of his career, before injuries became more commonplace for him. Starting in 1995, Jones made the NL All-Star team in five of six seasons, and he won an MVP in the other. It would be seven years until his next All-Star nod, but boy, did Jones make that one count, slashing .376/.472/.614 in the first half while hitting 18 homers. Due to injury, he wound up playing just 128 games in the 2008 season, but that first half helped carry him to his first and only batting title. His .364 average led all of MLB. Lee played in the majors for 15 years and hit .281 with 331 homers, 432 doubles, 104 steals, 1,078 RBI, 1,081 runs, 874 walks and 1,959 hits. For context, just 29 players in the history of the game have reached 300 homers, 400 doubles, 100 steals, 1,000 RBI, 1,000 runs, 850 walks and 1,900 hits. And yet, you’d be forgiven for thinking Lee was more of a one-hit wonder, considering just how staggering his 2005 season was with the Cubs. Lee led the NL in hits with 199 and topped the majors in doubles (50), batting average (.335), slugging percentage (.662) and OPS+ (174). In the first half alone, Lee slashed .378/.452/.733 with 27 dingers and 27 doubles. Football loves its ultra-huge and ultra-fast players, while in basketball there’s an obvious advantage to height and length. In baseball? All of the above helps, sure, but you can also be 5-foot-6 and under 170 pounds and still be a star, so long as you have the hand-eye coordination to make up for it. Altuve is one of the players who best exemplifies this separation between MLB and other major sports. In 2016, he led the league in hits (216) and won the batting title (.338). In the first half, Altuve slashed .341/.413/.542 with 14 home runs, 40 extra-base hits and went 23-for-26 on stolen base attempts. When all is said and done, Ramírez might end up being one of the best players to never win a Most Valuable Player Award. In 2018, en route to his second All-Star selection, Ramírez slashed a ridiculous .302/.401/.629 with 29 home runs while going 20-for-23 on stolen base attempts. His power would drop in the second half, but part of that was because pitchers would pitch around him. Ramírez ended up drawing 106 walks in 2018 after picking up 49 in his 63 second-half games. Tejada rose to prominence with the “Moneyball”-era Athletics, but it was in Baltimore where he produced most of his high-powered offensive seasons. That includes 2005, when he slashed .304/.349/.515 with 26 homers and an MLB-best 50 doubles. Tejada earned an All-Star nomination thanks to a monster first half, when the veteran shortstop hit .329 with 30 of those 50 two-baggers and 53 extra-base hits overall. This was also the last season when Tejada was unquestionably a plus defensive shortstop, and he comfortably produced a win above replacement with his glove alone. In 2022, Acuña stole 29 bases with 15 home runs in 119 games. In the first half of 2023, he stole 41 bases with 21 home runs. Acuña took advantage of the new rules for pickoff attempts and stolen bases right out of the gate. At the same time, further removed from ACL reconstruction, his power had leveled up, too. The National League MVP led all of baseball with 73 stolen bases, 214 hits and a .416 on-base percentage. Oh, and he hit 41 homers, too, making him a 40/40 player as well as the first (and still only) 40/70 one. Bautista broke out with the Blue Jays in late 2009 after five years of replacement-level play with the Pirates. The following year, he bashed an MLB-leading 54 home runs, led the majors in total bases and finished fourth in the AL MVP vote. His 2011 season featured fewer long balls, but was better overall: .302/.447/.608 as the MLB leader in slugging, OPS and OPS+. Ohtani might have earned a spot if he were only counted as a designated hitter. In the first half of 2023, his last season with the Angels, Ohtani slashed .302/.387/.663 with 32 home runs, 15 doubles, six triples and 11 steals in 89 games. Ohtani isn’t just counted as a DH, however, and with good reason: In 17 starts and 100 ⅓ first-half innings, he posted a 3.32 ERA with 132 strikeouts while limiting opponents to a .189/.293/.342 line. He hit 18 more home runs than he allowed over the same time frame, and induced more double plays than he hit into. All-Star Pitchers Randy Johnson’s first half with the 2000 Diamondbacks looks more like a season unto itself. The Big Unit threw 144 ⅔ innings with 198 strikeouts in 19 starts. He posted a 1.80 ERA, while averaging under one baserunner per inning. Opponents slashed just .193/.252/.320 against him, hitting the occasional homer but usually with the bases empty. Johnson won his second of four straight NL Cy Young Awards, a stretch during which he produced a 2.48 ERA with 1,417 strikeouts. The fewest number of batters he struck out in any one of those seasons was 334, in 2002. “King” wasn’t just a nickname for Hernández — he was about as good as a pitcher could be at his peak. And while he won his first and only Cy Young in 2010, it was the first half of 2014 that earned him a spot in this space. The Mariners’ ace limited opponents to a .201/.240/.280 line over his first 20 starts, while producing a 2.12 ERA over 144 ⅓ innings, powered by striking out 6.2 times as many batters as he walked. Hernández’s second half was nearly as good — he finished with a 2.14 ERA over 34 starts and 236 innings — which earned him a second-place finish for the AL Cy Young behind Corey Kluber. Verlander was named to the American League 2026 All-Star team as a Commissioner’s Legend Pick, but in 2011 he was hitting high gear building that legend. Verlander won the first of his three career Cy Young Awards — as well as the AL MVP award — thanks to leading the majors in innings (251), strikeouts (250), and ERA+ (172) and pacing the AL in WAR while allowing less than a baserunner per inning. Before the 2011 All-Star Game, Verlander was absurd: a 2.15 ERA over 151 frames, while limiting opponents to a .188/.235/.298 line. The 6-foot-7 Wainwright was a towering force in the Cardinals’ rotation for years, and 2014 was arguably his top season as a starter. In the first half, he held opponents to a .201/.248/.282 slash line, resulting in a minuscule 1.83 ERA over 19 starts and 138 innings. In fact, that first half was so incredible that even though Wainwright’s ERA ballooned to (a still quality) 3.24 ERA over his final 13 starts, his full-season figure still came in at a career-best 2.38. The 2000 season was right in the middle of a stretch that featured the highest offensive output in the history of MLB. That did not phase or hinder Martínez even a little bit. The Red Sox ace led the majors with a career-best 1.74 ERA across 217 innings and 29 starts. He had an astonishing 291 ERA+, a stat that measures success (or failure) relative to the league average, represented as 100. Martínez’s 291 mark is the best ever for a qualified pitcher, and it all started before the All-Star Game, when he posted a 1.44 ERA over 106 innings while striking out 140 batters. Martínez would go on to lead the majors with a career-high WAR (11.7), win his second-straight Cy Young and third in four seasons, and lead the majors in ERA two more times before his peak ended. The Red Sox converted Jonathan Papelbon from starter to reliever during the 2005 season, and that decision looked brilliant in 2006. Papelbon was named Boston’s closer, and, in 46 first-half innings, he held opposing batters to a paltry .155/.200/.224 line — that’s an OPS of .424 — and an ERA of 0.59. Papelbon allowed three runs total in the first half, two on solo homers, while averaging 0.7 baserunners per inning. Smoltz is primarily in the Baseball Hall of Fame for his fantastic career as a starting pitcher, but he had a tremendous run in the Braves’ bullpen in the early aughts as well. He was never better than in 2003, when Smoltz threw 64 ⅓ innings in relief with 45 saves while producing a 1.12 ERA. Before the All-Star break, Smoltz held opponents to a .198/.118/.267 slash line while striking out 7.7 times as many batters as he walked, earning him a 0.95 ERA. His ERA climbed to a still-stellar 1.59 in the second half, during which he had 19 strikeouts against a single walk in in 18 appearances. Bautista was a revelation as a rookie on the Orioles in 2022, picking up 15 saves while striking out 12.1 batters per nine with a 2.19 ERA. But that was merely the opening act. In 2023, Baltimore’s closer held opponents to a mere .138/.242/.207 slash line in the first half — that’s four extra-base hits in 145 at-bats — and posted a 1.07 ERA. He walked 19 batters, sure, but he also struck out 84 in 42 innings. That’s twice as many whiffs as frames — and also 51% of all batters he faced. How to Watch the 2026 MLB All-Star Game The 2026 MLB All-Star Game is Tuesday, July 14, with first pitch at 8 p.m. ET on FOX, live from Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Watch the MLB All-Star Game on FOX One for live and on-demand streaming.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Somehow, yes, it’s true: for the first time in World Cup history, the four remaining teams are also the top four teams in FIFA’s rankings. The tournament has been around since 1930, and even with an expanded 48-team field designed to create more unpredictability, the final four is as chalk as it gets. No. 1 France plays No. 3 Spain in Dallas on Tuesday, while No. 2 Argentina faces No. 4 England in Atlanta on Wednesday. No matter who wins, we’ll be rewarded with a dream final. That got us thinking: while there aren’t perfect like-for-like comparisons in college football, there are enough similarities that these four World Cup semifinalists resemble some recent College Football Playoff teams. Here’s our best run at it: France is Ohio State: Les Bleus have two World Cup titles, winning on home soil in 1998 and then 20 years later in Russia in 2018. This marks France’s eighth World Cup semifinal appearance. Four years ago, it finished as runner-up after losing to Argentina in the greatest final in tournament history, an epic match decided by a penalty shootout. France regularly produces world-class talent, and its players star for Europe’s biggest clubs. Its attack is powered by a three-headed monster of Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise, while an elite defense has conceded few goals throughout this summer’s tournament. The program also has had stability under manager Didier Deschamps, who has been in charge since 2012 (though 2026 will be his final World Cup with the squad). Ohio State always attracts the top recruiting classes and consistently develops top NFL talent. The Buckeyes won the national championship in 2024, and are tied for the most CFP appearances since the inaugural four-team field in 2014. And, like France, they enter nearly every season as a legitimate contender. Expectations aren’t just high – they’re championship or bust. Argentina is Alabama (during the Nick Saban years): Argentina is the gold standard of international soccer, much like Alabama was during the Nick Saban era. La Albiceleste has been the sport’s most dominant force over the past five years, winning the 2021 and 2024 Copa América titles while sandwiching a World Cup trophy in 2022 behind Lionel Messi. The Argentines refuse to be beaten. They thrive in pressure moments – as has been particularly evident throughout the knockout rounds at this World Cup – and that’s because of the championship mentality that’s deeply ingrained in the program’s culture. That’s what made Alabama a dynasty under Saban. The Crimson Tide didn’t just stockpile elite talent – they expected to win every game and often did. Like Argentina, they were the measuring stick by which every other team compared themselves. The fan bases share similarities, too. They’re loud, passionate and unwavering, and love to dance and sing. They’re confident, too, which is a byproduct of their team’s success. Spain is Georgia: This comparison is more about where the programs are right now than their all-time history. Spain and Georgia are some of the hottest teams in their respective sports. They’re ruthless, relentless and seemingly have an endless pipeline of talent. When a star moves on, another rises from Spain’s academy system or Georgia’s top-ranked recruiting class. Spain are the reigning European champions and have looked like the best team in the world for a while. They have Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Mikel Oyarzabal, but their defense has been dominant at this World Cup. La Roja have conceded just one goal – in their quarterfinal against Belgium – thanks to a backline anchored by center backs Aymeric Laporte and Pau Cubarsí, with Unai Simon providing steadiness in goal. Georgia won back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022, and Spain is hoping to lift the World Cup trophy after most recently winning the 2024 Euros. The Bulldogs may be more known for their size and physicality, while La Roja overwhelms opponents with technical ability and flair, but both programs have become dominant forces that reload every year. England is Texas: Both England and Texas enter every season – or every major tournament – thinking this is their time. It’s always “it’s coming home” and “we’re back.” And yet, the Three Lions haven’t won a World Cup in 60 years, while the Longhorns haven’t claimed a national title since the 2005 season. There’s so much hope – and rightfully so – but also so much heartbreak and disappointment. These programs are defined by their rich history, tradition and brands. They dominate headlines whether they’re winning or not, and every loss becomes a national conversation. They have long-time, wide-spread and loyal supporters who are anxious for their team to regain their place at the top. And they have mega stars like Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane for England and Arch Manning at Texas. However, both teams have shown signs that they might be over the hump. England has reached four World Cup semifinals, including in two of the last three tournaments. Texas has made it to consecutive CFP semifinals, though it missed out last season. Both teams appear poised to change the narrative, with the Three Lions looking like they could defeat Argentina and make it to the World Cup final, and the Longhorns re-establishing themselves as annual championship contenders.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

This week’s All-Star festivities in Philadelphia will be a hometown showcase. The Phillies have two players — Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber — competing in the Home Run Derby on Monday. One day later, four more Phillies players — Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo, Brandon Marsh and Jhoan Duran — will be joining Schwarber and Harper at the All-Star Game. On the American League side, it will also be a return home for Mike Trout, the native of Millville, New Jersey, whose 12th All-Star Game will hold a special meaning. With All-Star week about to get going, here are 10 storylines to watch. Cease And Sanchez Get The Starts Rowan Kavner: There are two strong options for American League manager John Schneider. The Yankees’ Cam Schlittler leads AL pitchers in bWAR, ERA and WHIP, while Schneider’s Blue Jays ace Dylan Cease leads AL pitchers in fWAR, strikeouts, strikeout rate and opponents’ batting average. They’ve clearly been the top two pitchers in the AL. Cease has thrown 15 consecutive scoreless innings in his last two starts, having allowed just four hits and four walks while striking out 20. He will start the game for the AL. It’s a little more complicated in the National League. Jacob Misiorowski would have been the obvious choice in the middle of a historically overpowering season. He leads all qualified MLB starters in ERA, strikeouts, WHIP and opponents’ batting average. Shane Bieber (in the shortened 2020 season) and Gerrit Cole (in 2019) are the only qualified starters who have ever logged a strikeout rate higher than Misiorowski’s (39.6%) over the course of a full season. The only problem? Miz won’t be there. He has been replaced because he will be pitching on Sunday and unavailable for the All-Star Game. Paul Skenes might have made sense, but he will be facing off against Misiorowski on Sunday (and hasn’t had the first-half numbers of other top contenders). NL manager Dave Roberts told me last week that being the hometown pitcher “has got to have some weight” as he mulls his decision. If he chooses to go with a Phillies pitcher, there are two options: Sánchez and Luzardo. Sánchez would have been the clear choice until he coughed up nine runs in Kansas City on Monday. Despite that clunker, he gets the call. Atlanta’s Chris Sale, Cincinnati’s Chase Burns and Roberts’ World Series star Yoshinobu Yamamoto had to have been among the other top considerations. A Farewell To Justin Verlander Deesha Thosar: This week’s All-Star week festivities will double as a farewell stage for Verlander, giving his peers and fans a chance to celebrate his remarkable career. After announcing that he will retire following the season, the future first-ballot Hall of Famer will take one final All-Star bow as one of the sport’s most accomplished pitchers. Verlander is a throwback from a generation of pitchers that played the game with different priorities, including pitching deep into games, emphasizing durability and wins, and defining a legacy through consistency and longevity. It’s fair to question whether we will ever see anyone like him take the mound again. Few careers can match Verlander’s resume. The 43-year-old is a 10-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner, a two-time World Series champion, and the 2011 AL MVP. The right-hander has spent over two decades overpowering hitters, presiding as the active leader in strikeouts (3,554), wins (266), complete games (26), games started (556) and innings pitched (3,571.1). Whatever MLB has in the works to honor Verlander in Philly, it’s certain to be a fitting tribute to one of baseball’s all-time greats. Hometown Stars In Home Run Derby Kavner: In 2018, the Nationals’ Bryce Harper beat the Cubs’ Kyle Schwarber in the finals to win the Home Run Derby. Eight years later, now Phillies teammates, they’ll face off again in front of their hometown fans. It’s the first time since that 2018 Derby that two teammates will compete. (That year, it was Schwarber and Cubs teammate Javier Báez). Harper has tabbed Dodgers third-base coach Dino Ebel, one of his World Baseball Classic Team USA coaches, as his Derby pitcher. Ebel threw to Schwarber during last year’s All-Star Game swing-off, helping Schwarber launch three home runs on three pitches to earn MVP honors. Speaking Of That Swing-Off… Thosar: Could another Home Run Derby-style swing-off decide the All-Star Game? After last year’s dramatic tiebreaker captivated fans, including Schwarber going a perfect 3-for-3 with three home runs, the possibility is back on the table in Philadelphia. Under MLB’s All-Star rules, games tied after nine innings skip extra innings and move straight to a swing-off. Three manager-selected hitters from each league get three swings apiece, and the team that hits the most home runs after all rounds will claim the win. The format was introduced to avoid overworking pitchers while adding late-game drama. There’s no way to predict another tie, but all the ingredients are there. There’s elite pitching, stacked lineups and every run will come at a premium, so another swing-off remains a real possibility. If it happens, who will be crowned the hero? Last year in Atlanta, after the NL and AL ended the ninth in a 6-6 tie, we got to see Brent Rooker vs. Kyle Stowers in round one, followed by Schwarber vs. Randy Arozarena in round two, and finally Jonathan Aranda vs. Pete Alonso in round three. The NL won the All-Star Game, 7-6, after the unprecedented swing-off. Trout To Start In Hometown All-Star Game Kavner: Trout’s 12th All-Star Game will be a particularly memorable one. Trout’s hometown of Millville, New Jersey, is less than 50 miles from Philadelphia, and the Angels superstar has thought about the possibility of playing in this All-Star Game since before the season began. “It would be huge,” Trout told me two weeks ago, when he was still on the injured list with a hamstring strain. “It’d be special, for sure.” Trout has returned from his hamstring strain — as he vowed to do — just in time. He’ll be starting in the outfield for an AL team that could use his pop with Aaron Judge injured. Which AL Rookie Will Step Up? Kavner: It’s a special year for rookie talent, and much of it will be on display on the American League roster. Munetaka Murakami returned from his hamstring injury just in time to be added to the American League roster after launching 20 homers in his first 57 big-league games. Kevin McGonigle is already one of the most valuable shortstops in the game at 21 years old. Cleveland has two AL Rookie of the Year contenders in the game in second baseman Travis Bazzana and pitcher Parker Messick. All of them have risen to the occasion in their first MLB season, and it will be fascinating to see who holds their own — or takes their game to another level — against the sport’s top competition. MLB Continues To Showcase International Stars Thosar: Is it the World Baseball Classic, or the All-Star Game? Just four months after another successful WBC, which ended with Venezuela beating the United States for its first-ever WBC title, the All-Star Game will continue to showcase baseball’s global reach. From Latin America to Asia to the land down under, Philly’s Midsummer Classic will feature plenty of stars whose baseball journeys began in different countries. There are 22 internationally born players earning spots on the All-Star rosters (33.8%), including 12 players in the NL and 10 in the AL. The list features players from Cuba (7); the Dominican Republic (5); Venezuela (4); Canada (2); Japan (2); Australia (1); and Curaçao (1). Guardians rookie second baseman Travis Bazzana, a native of Hornsby, Australia, will become just the fourth-ever native of Australia to make the All-Star Game, joining Grant Balfour (2013); Liam Hendriks (2019, 2021-22); and Dave Nilsson (1999). Diverse All-Star rosters represent the international talent pipeline that’s become essential to MLB’s grandest stages. Will This Week Be The Showcase Of Junior Caminero? Kavner: Caminero is one of the hottest hitters on the planet right now — he had 12 homers in his last 16 games entering the weekend before the break — and he’s out for revenge after falling just short of becoming the youngest player ever to win the Home Run Derby last year. Would anyone be surprised if he won the Derby and then took home All-Star MVP honors? At just 23 years old, the AL starting third baseman is quickly ascending into one of the league’s most promising superstars. The First-Time All-Stars To Watch Thosar: Some have been there, done that (looking at you, Trout, Freddie Freeman, Chris Sale, Juan Soto, Matt Olson, et al.). And then, some will have no idea what to expect and will be taking in the All-Star week festivities with fresh eyes. There is a record, eye-popping total of 29 players who will be making their All-Star Game debuts this year. Among that large group, there are several names worth keeping an eye on who could steal the show. Notable names making their first trip to the Midsummer Classic include Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease, Yankees first baseman Ben Rice and burgeoning star right-hander Schlitter, breakout Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker and local Phillies in Luzardo and outfielder Brandon Marsh rounding out the group of some of the game’s best players of the first half. “I don’t necessarily come into the season saying, ‘I really want to be on the All-Star team,’” Rice told me of whether it was his goal to be selected. “But you can only hope that if you do your best every day and stick to your process and the results follow, that maybe you’ll get the chance.” Key Stars Will Be Absent. Who Will Capitalize? Thosar: We’ve been spoiled over the years with so many household names regularly appearing at MLB’s annual All-Star Game festivities, but this year, the Midsummer Classic will be missing some of its biggest headliners. Shohei Ohtani (left knee irritation), Judge (stress fracture in right rib), and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (elected not to play) are among the superstar absences, with aces Skenes and Misiorowski also unable to play in the All-Star Game because they’re both starting on Sunday. In addition, Byron Buxton is dealing with a right hip impingement, while Nick Kurtz will also miss the game due to a right thumb sprain. Still, these absences create opportunity. With a handful of marquee names sidelined or unavailable, the spotlight shifts to first-time All-Stars and underrated talents who are all eager to make a name for themselves. Keep an eye on All-Star Game replacements like first baseman Willson Contreras and Murakami to make the most of their chances. How to Watch the 2026 MLB All-Star Game The 2026 MLB All-Star Game is Tuesday, July 14, with first pitch at 8 p.m. ET on FOX, live from Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Watch the MLB All-Star Game on FOX One for live and on-demand streaming.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

England’s win over Norway didn’t come without post-match controversy for the Three Lions. Star midfielder Jude Bellingham scored twice to give England a 2-1 win in extra time that sent them to the World Cup semifinals for the fourth time ever. After the match, during an on-field interview, head coach Thomas Tuchel pointed out that his team could have been much better. “We made life very, very difficult for ourselves today,” Tuchel said in a post-match interview on FOX Sports. “The result is fantastic. We’re in the last four. It’s amazing, but not happy with the performance … in every sense.” Bellingham, who scored both of England’s goals to bring his tally for the tournament up to six, seemed to disagree with his coach’s critique after England prevailed in the heat and humidity of South Florida, with temperatures reaching 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33 Celsius) at the start of warmups. “Well, whatever,” Bellingham said, shaking his head. “It’s difficult out there. It’s a tough shift. My thoughts and appreciation goes to the players out there who put in a great shift.” “Maybe he doesn’t know what it’s like to play in those conditions,” Bellingham said, mentioning the top talent of Norway, incuding Erling Haaland, Martin Ødegaard, Antonio Nusa, and Alexander Sørloth. “I think it would probably catch you a little off-guard,” former World Cup defender Walk Zimmerman told us for the comments and Bellingham’s response. “That’s the kind of thing that would fly, I think, at the club level when you’re playing game in, game out. For a knockout tournament, I think the most important thing is that you can say we didn’t play well, then you immediately acknowledge, ‘We won, we’re moving on. We’re going to enjoy this today and look at what we can do better.’” Former U.S. men’s national team coach and FOX Sports analyst Bob Bradley downplayed the impact of Tuchel’s comments, which struck a chord with Bellingham. “I don’t think it’s anything,” Bradley said, calling the comments “postgame emotions.” “Tuchel, like a lot of us, is never satisfied and always demanding,” Bradley told us. “Bellingham represents the players and the effort against a good team.” Thierry Henry also seemed confused by the line of questioning from the interviewer in FOX’s postgame. “I didn’t understand the questions,” Henry said. “The guy is telling you it was all effort and mentality – and you’re asking about mentality. He was talkinga bout the technical aspect of the game. […] He wasn’t happy with the speed, he wasn’t happy about it. That’s why he changed stuff right away. You don’t even need to ask that question. If he’s changing stuff, it’s because he’s not happy with what’s on the field.” Tuchel clarified in his news conference that he was “proud and happy” with how his squad has overcome adversity, but added, “I’m also a football coach and I also have demands. … I think we can play faster. I think we can play more clinically.” Bellingham added, “The game is split into loads of different facets. Some of it is technical, tactical. For me, the biggest one is psychological and how you can manage setbacks, how you can manage adversity. This team showed yet again that they can do it, and that’s a really valuable skill and trait to have.” Former U.S. national team midfielder and FOX Sports analyst Sacha Kljestan believes the comments won’t affect England as it approaches a semifinal matchup with reigning champion Argentina. “I don’t think it’s a very big deal,” Kljestan told us. “He was clearly exhausted after putting in a huge effort. Maybe after watching the game back, he will see that England was a little sloppy on the day.  He has a right to say what he said, and I don’t think it should be a big thing.” “Ultimately, I think it’s a non-story, honestly,” Zimmerman added. “That’s going to be totally fine in the locker room. Neither of them are going to be thinking twice about it.” Alexi Lalas appreciated Tuchel’s approach as well, noting that it’s more about perception than any sort of “bristling” between media and coach on the most recent episode of State Of The Union. “Tuchel’s response was as German as I’ve seen him in this moment, and I think it was by design,” Lalas said. “I think Thomas Tuchel recognizes that in order for this England team to get over this hump and do things we haven’t seen before, he has to treat not just the team but the extended team, the fanbase, in a different way. Because in that moment you’d expect Thomas Tuchel or most coaches to extoll the virtues of what they just say, ‘hey it’s a hard fought game.’ […] He’s zigging while everyone else is zagging. I’m here for it.” On Bellingham’s comments, Lalas had more to say. “I also love the fact that Jude Bellingham in this moment recognized that, ‘well that’s my coach saying this, but we are going to celebrate this and sing while you’re winning.'” “This team is endearing,” Lalas added. Next up for England is a semifinal round matchup against Argentina on Wednesday, July 15 in Atlanta (3 p.m. ET on FOX and streaming on FOX One). It’s the latest in a long history between Argentina and England, one built on ghosts, thorns and legends. “Thomas Tuchel can rain all day long on the parade,” Lalas continued. “And I think it’s done strategically, and I think it’s smart, but I also like the fact that there was pushback from his players that this was not easy.” The Associated Press contributed to this report.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports