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It’s a big year for the biggest sporting events around the globe, and the U.S. has taken center stage with more to come this summer. After U.S. men’s and women’s hockey’s big successes last month at the Olympics, Team USA is looking to add to the trophy case at the World Baseball Classic. Later this summer, the United States men’s national team will host the biggest sporting event ever and hope its team can hold up its end of the bargain at the 2026 World Cup. The build to the summer has already begun, as U.S. soccer unveiled its World Cup kits on Monday morning with a stars-and-stripes inspiration. USA Baseball star pitcher Paul Skenes was gifted the jersey on Tuesday’s broadcast of the final. The U.S. men’s national team’s home and away uniforms for the 2026 World Cup were dropped. The Americans will debut those kits on March 28, when they face Belgium in the first of four pre-World Cup friendlies. Aaron Judge also showed love to the U.S. hockey teams, both of which won gold medals at the Winter Olympics last month. The American captain donned the sweater on his way into loanDepot Park on Tuesday night. On the diamond, Team USA is vying for its second World Baseball Classic title. The Americans will face Venezuela, which is appearing in its first WBC Final.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The World Baseball Classic is meeting the moment – and plenty of eyeballs are tuning in and watching some high-stakes baseball in March. Team USA’s 2-1 win over the Dominican Republic in Sunday’s semifinal on FS1 drew the most viewers in tournament history on any network with a total of 7,369,000 viewers. The 2-1 USA win also became FS1’s most-watched telecast since 2019 and the most-watched event throughout last weekend. Viewership peaked at 8,170,000 people from 11-11:08 p.m. ET, toward the end of the game as Team USA wrapped up its victory. Team USA’s win over Canada on Friday was the most watched WBC quarterfinals eve, with a viewership figure of 4,285,000. While both lineups were stacked, it was the pitching in the game that made the difference. Paul Skenes allowed one run over 4.1 innings, and was supported by Tyler Rogers, who took over for Skenes in the fifth inning with the bases loaded, and got out of the jam clean. Dominican Republic starter Luis Severino struck out six batters and Huascar Brazoban struck out three batters across 1.1 innings in relief. However, Gregory Soto conceded a home run to Roman Anthony, the first batter he faced, and that was the winning run. Team USA faces Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic Final on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Eight teams. Two world-class arenas. An NIL prize pool of $500,000 on the line.The 2026 College Basketball Crown bracket was revealed Monday afternoon on FS1’s “First Things First.” The second-year tournament features a loaded field made up of teams from the nation’s top basketball conferences. FOX Sports college basketball analyst LaPhonso Ellis joined Danny Parkins on the show to reveal the eight-team event, which will take place in Las Vegas at MGM Grand Garden Arena and T-Mobile Arena from April 1-5. Here is a look at the matchups and analysis from Ellis: Game 1: Oklahoma (19-15) vs. Colorado (17-15), April 1, 8 p.m. ET Ellis on the Sooners: “This is an Oklahoma team that’s won six of their last seven games, playing at a really high level. Four guys [are] averaging 12 points or more, and they make 10 3s per game.” Ellis on the Buffaloes: “The issue with Colorado is they give up 37% from the 3-point line… The question is going to be, can they run this Oklahoma team off the 3-point line and keep them off the offensive glass?” Game 2: Baylor (16-16) vs. Minnesota (15-17), April 1, 10:30 p.m. ET Ellis on the Bears: “This is a team that, though they haven’t been where they typically are offensively, they’re one of the more efficient defensive teams in the nation and do a terrific job getting out in transition.” Ellis on the Golden Gophers: “This is a terrific passing team — the best passing team in the nation — and they can really stick the 3.” Game 3: Stanford (20-12) vs. West Virginia (18-14), April 2, 8 p.m. ET Ellis on Stanford: “Their big-time player is Ebuka Ekorie. He’s only 6-foot-1, but can flat-out score. He’s not even 19 years old yet… [He’s the] eighth-leading scorer in the nation, and I think he has Kyrie Irving-like finishes around the rim with either hand.” Ellis on the Mountaineers: “This is a West Virginia team that is 17th in the nation in terms of defensive efficiency. … They do a terrific job of closing out. Honor Huff, their 5-10 point guard, plays off the basketball and is one of the elite scorers in the Big 12. … and as he goes, West Virginia also goes.” Game 4: Rutgers (14-19) vs. Creighton (15-17), April 2, 10:30 p.m. ET Ellis on the Scarlet Knights: “This is a Rutgers team that struggled all year long, but all of a sudden, they started to surge toward the end of the year because their defense was so much better.” Ellis on the Bluejays: “This is a Creighton team that’s not necessarily known for their defense. … They do make 10 made 3s per game, so can Rutgers slow down that 3-point barrage?”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The world’s best sporting event is coming this summer, and it’s going to be bigger and better than ever. We’ll have 48 teams, supported by 48 passionate fan bases, filling stadiums across three countries – the U.S., Canada, and Mexico — at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Plenty of action on the pitch, but we’re also in store for the sights and sounds of soccer fans from across the globe. But which fan base will be the loudest? The most fun and the most followed? I present to you my World Cup Fan Base Power Rankings, sponsored by Lay’s. Let’s go into more detail: No. 10: Netherlands You can always hear the Dutch fans coming from a mile away and see them coming even further. Their iconic orange kits harken to the country’s history, and they’re always in full throat in the stands chanting and singing. Talk about knowing how to make an entry. Alexi’s Take: I know the Netherlands have a legendary fan base with all of that orange, it’s wonderful. But it’s also, it’s kind of a one-trick pony when I’m thinking about the Dutch. So again, there’s no shame in coming in as 10th, but I’m sure the Dutch out there are saying this is ridiculous and they should deserve to be much higher. No. 9: England Is it finally coming home? The fans of the Three Lions have waited a long time for any type of major trophy at a men’s tournament. But their fans always pack the stadiums and pubs when their team plays. Alexi’s Take: Now listen, your reputation precedes you. Both the good and, unfortunately, the bad. So you’re still at No. 9, and I’m not saying you’re not going to have a fun time when it’s England at the World Cup, but you’re still here because there are other people that do it better. I’m just, sorry. Truth hurts. No. 9: Senegal Senegal, as two-time winners of the African Cup of Nations trophy, have become one of the best teams on the continent. And the Teranga Lions bring energy thanks to their devoted fans, as they showed here in the streets of Dakar after their latest title. Alexi’s Take: We’ve seen Senegal just recently and even recently around the world. So it’s not just at the event, it’s not just in the country, it’s around the world. The Senegalese love to celebrate this team and this very, very good team we saw recently become champions of Africa, people stopping traffic and running around. So I think if this team were to do well this year in the World Cup, that fan base that they have is something to be seen. They like to party. Yes, they do. No. 7: Brazil Even with a World Cup title drought that’s now stretched 24 years, the Brazilians also pack the stands with the samba sounds and trademark yellow attire. Getting to experience a Brazil match in person is a must-do on any fan’s bucket list. Alexi’s Take: Speaking of party, Brazil comes in at No. 7, and I’m sure my colleague David Mosse is not happy. Again, it’s all about the samba, it’s all about the dance. And I get it. Who doesn’t love to dance? And that is a big part of what makes the Brazilian fan base wonderful. But there’s got to be something more. I’m sure they’re screaming at the screen right now or screaming at their phone right now saying, “We do this, we do this, we do this.” You know what? I’m sorry, you’re still only coming in at seventh. No. 6 Morocco What a time for Moroccan soccer. The Atlas Lions became the first African and Arab country to reach the World Cup semis back in 2022. And the country will be one of the three main co-hosts (alongside Spain and Portugal) at the 2030 World Cup. Alexi’s Take: Everything is going right from Morocco. A wonderful, wonderful fan base from top to bottom. Whether it’s the men’s team, the women’s team, whether it’s youth, they bring it, they celebrate. They just like to see Morocco win. It doesn’t matter again who’s actually on the field. No. 5: Colombia Colombia may not have the title pedigree as some of their other South American rivals but the fans flock whenever Los Cafeteros are on the pitch. Keep an eye on them this summer the World Cup when they play Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal in a group stage game in Miami. Scenes. Alexi’s Take: I told you before that I’m really, really excited and bullish about this Colombia team this summer at the World Cup, especially here in the United States. I think they’re going to be comfortable, and I think that they are going to rock on the field and off the field. You ever had a good party with Colombians? Oh, they don’t mess around. No. 4: Japan The devoted supporters of the Samurai Blue are engaged from the beginning to the end of any big match, and more so afterward. The fans are known to help clean up World Cup stadiums – win, lose or draw. Alexi’s Take: We know they are organized but not in a sterile way. There is absolute humanity and there’s personality and there is emotion when it comes to the Japanese fan base. But they also clean up for themselves. That, in and of itself, is a good thing. And I think people sometimes say, ‘Oh, it doesn’t really matter.’ No, that does matter. That deserves respect and that’s why they’re coming in at No. 4. No. 3: USA The co-hosts this summer and the spotlight will be on both the team and its supporters. Much like the 1994 World Cup helped transform the trajectory of soccer in the U.S., fans will hope the 2026 edition can further propel the team’s success. Alexi’s Take: This might be a controversial one too, but good ol’ US of A comes in at No. 3. We’ve talked about the diversity that we have here in the United States. The multiculturalism that we have, the multiple languages that we have, and all of those different nationalities and heritages and backgrounds coming together. I think that’s something incredibly unique. When I look around, and I see the stands full of people waving American flags, I know that they all come from diverse backgrounds and different pathways, and yet they’re celebrating this country together. I’m not saying that other countries don’t have that, but I think the USA, more so than any country in the world, does that. You can call it nationalism or whatever, but Americans, regardless of their background, love to celebrate America. And I think you’re going to see that absolutely this summer. And I think you have seen it consistently. No. 2: Scotland Scotland is back at the World Cup for the first time since 1998 and expect tons of support. Their fans singing “The Flower of Scotland” before games will be spine-chilling. Good news on the attire front, as they’ll be allowed to wear their traditional sporrans on their kilts this summer. Alexi’s Take: I mentioned partying earlier, and that’s why at No. 2 is Scotland and its Tartan Army. I mean, they just love to have a good time. And you know what? While they like to win on the field, that’s secondary as long as people are having a good time. But they seem to be more concerned that you are having a good time and that you are getting enough to eat, that you are getting enough to drink, that you are dancing, that you are having a good time. No. 1: Argentina This summer may be the last time we see Lionel Messi playing for Argentina, so expect a fervent following for the defending World Cup champions. Alexi’s Take: I remember back at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. I remember seeing the Copacabana Beach lined with RVs and vans of Argentinians who had come over the border and just descended and taken over the beach and taken over Rio de Janeiro. And the passion, the tears, the success. They are spoiled, but I don’t think that they ever take it for granted. And some of the greatest moments were when they won the World Cup in 2022. We saw the tears, whether it was in the stands, whether it was on the field, whether it was back home, whether it was the crowds, whether it was the TV personalities, just wonderful. So they’re top the list right now. These are my World Cup fan base Power Rankings and things could change. And we will continue to update this and certainly as we get closer and closer and even at times during the World Cup. These fan bases can go up and can go down. Who knows?  Maybe the Dutch will bring it on their way and even more. And if you’re up at top but if you don’t behave, or you do something that I don’t like, boom, you can fall down. 2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch The World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports apps. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19).​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The blockbuster deal the NFL world has been waiting for is the Philadelphia Eagles inevitably moving mercurial receiver A.J. Brown. But instead, the Denver Broncos got ahead of that market, acquiring productive receiver Jaylen Waddle from the rebuilding Miami Dolphins on Tuesday. According to multiple reports, the Broncos gave up the team’s first-round selection in this year’s draft, No. 30 overall, along with third- and fourth-round picks in exchange for Waddle and a fourth-round selection. So, what does that mean for the Broncos, who finished a game away from the Super Bowl last season? And what is happening in the receiver market, given that salaries are rapidly rising at this premium position? Here are my four takeaways from Denver’s big move. 1. Broncos HC Sean Payton secures a No. 1 WR for QB Bo Nix Courtland Sutton, Denver’s top receiver last season, is a big, physical target who can make contested catches on third down and near the red zone. Sutton is Nix’s security blanket. And Marvin Mims Jr.  does a nice job of stretching the field for the Broncos. But the addition of Waddle gives the Broncos a pass-catcher with No. 1 receiver traits. He can consistently win against man coverage and can score from anywhere on the field. Waddle had 1,000-yard seasons his first three years in the league and averaged 14.2 yards per reception in a bad offense for the Dolphins last season. Acquiring the 27-year-old Waddle allows the Broncos to take advantage of third-year quarterback Nix still playing on his rookie contract. And Waddle also reunites with former Alabama teammate and Denver lockdown cornerback Pat Surtain II. 2. Waddle escapes the dysfunction in South Beach Waddle was set to play for his third head coach, Jeff Hafley, and a new quarterback in Malik Willis. The Dolphins are in the middle of an organizational restructuring, with former Green Bay Packers personnel executive Jon-Eric Sullivan taking over as Miami’s general manager. Talk around the league has centered on the dysfunction that existed during the coaching tenures of Brian Flores and Mike McDaniel, with no clear plan or alignment between the front office and the on-field product. Owner Stephen Ross is focused on creating that clarity this offseason. The Dolphins are now one of five teams with two first-round selections — and six picks in the top 94 selections. Miami is in full rebuilding mode. With Tyreek Hill and Waddle gone, free-agent addition Tutu Atwell is the most dynamic receiver currently on Miami’s roster. Meanwhile, in Denver, there is clear alignment between Payton and GM George Paton, and Waddle will take the field for a team ready to make another deep playoff run. 3. Denver’s trade for Waddle highlights shift in WR market The franchise tag for receivers of $27.3 million is the second-most in the NFL, behind only quarterbacks at $43.4 million. Alec Pierce, who finished with just 47 catches a year ago, recently re-signed with the Indianapolis Colts for $29 million a year. Waddle is set to make $41.2 million in total compensation over the next two seasons. That’s a good deal for the Broncos, considering skyrocketing salaries for receivers and how much it costs to secure them on the open market. The Eagles have been unwilling so far to part ways with Brown, but he’s sure to fetch more than what the Broncos gave up for Waddle, based on his past production. And the price is only going to get higher to secure top-notch receivers in the future, with young stars such as Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Puka Nacua eligible to sign new lucrative deals. Five years ago, the franchise tag for receivers was $18.4 million. 4. Broncos are clearly in win-now mode With Nix out with a leg injury, Denver lost the AFC Championship Game to the Patriots 10-7 with backup Jarrett Stidham under center. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is working his way back from an ACL injury. The Chargers can’t seem to protect Justin Herbert and squandered another postseason opportunity last season. Star QBs Joe Burrow (Bengals), Lamar Jackson (Ravens) and Mahomes all missed the playoffs in 2025, while Buffalo’s Josh Allen has a new head coach in Joe Brady. Denver is built to compete with New England for AFC supremacy. Grabbing Waddle shows that Payton and the Broncos believe they can make a strong run at the Lombardi Trophy this season.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

It’s finally here. The first round of the men’s NCAA Tournament, affectionately dubbed as March Madness, will begin on Thursday, March 19. The 87th annual edition of the tournament will see the usual suspects try and win the national championship. But what truly makes the tournament special is how often we see smaller schools and underdogs make incredible runs, which is what really causes the madness. These underdogs are often called Cinderella teams, with fans trying to pick them out each year ahead of the tournament. But what characteristics make up a Cinderella? And are there similarities among all the past ones? FOX Sports Research dove into the data and identified several traits that comprise a Cinderella. First, we’ve highlighted a few notable Cinderella teams in recent memory to set up our analysis. Let’s take a look. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Notable runs over the past 15 years All the teams below made it to at least the Elite Eight and were double-digit seeds in the tournament: 2024 NC State (No. 11 seed) It’s not often you see a team go 9-11 in conference play and then go on to make the tournament— let alone go dancing all the way to the Final Four. But that’s just what the 2023-24 NC State team did, only making the field of 64 because it somehow won the ACC Tournament. For perspective, the Wolfpack were 50-1 to win the conference tourney, taking down the pre-tournament favorite North Carolina Tar Heels in the final. They took down a 6-seed in Texas Tech in the opening round and went on to beat (14) Oakland, (2) Marquette and (4) Duke before losing to (10) Purdue in the Final Four. 2022 Saint Peter’s (No. 15 seed) There might not be a more magical run than this 2022 Saint Peter’s squad, which miraculously became the first 15-seed ever to make the Elite Eight. After winning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament, the Peacocks opened the dance with a huge upset win over second-seeded Kentucky. John Calipari entered that game 19-1 all-time in the Round of 64. After defeating the Wildcats, Saint Peter’s took down (7) Murray State and (3) Purdue before losing to (8) North Carolina. [NCAA ODDS: Latest Men’s March Madness Odds, Favorites] 2021 UCLA (No. 11 seed) UCLA, a Cinderella? In the 2021 season, it absolutely was. The Bruins barely made the tournament, entering the field as a First Four participant after going 22-10 in the regular season. After beating Michigan State in overtime in that game, Mick Cronin & Co. would go on to rattle off four straight wins against (6) BYU, (14) Abilene Christian, (2) Alabama in overtime and (1) Michigan before losing to Gonzaga on a half-court buzzer-beater by Jalen Suggs. Had that shot not fallen, UCLA would have been the first team to make the national title game after starting the tournament in the First Four. 2018 Loyola Chicago (No. 11 seed) No one can forget the Ramblers’ run in 2018. After winning the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, Porter Moser led a talented group all the way to the Final Four. In the first round, they took down (6) Miami and subsequently beat (3) Tennessee, (7) Nevada and 9 (Kansas State) before losing to (3) Michigan in the semifinals. They’d finish the season with a 32-6 record and go on to make the Sweet 16 in 2021. Loyola Chicago and Wichita State are the only Missouri Valley schools to have ever made the Final Four. 2014 Dayton (No. 11 seed) The Flyers didn’t even win the Atlantic 10 Tournament in 2014 but still qualified for the tournament as an 11-seed. Archie Miller would take them all the way to the Elite Eight, opening up the tournament with a victory over (6) Ohio State. In the next round, they took down (3) Syracuse in a two-point barn-burner before eventually beating (10) Stanford in the Sweet 16. They’d lose to (1) Florida by ten points but are still just the sixth Atlantic 10 program to make the Elite Eight since 1985 (Temple, UMass, Rhode Island, Saint Joseph’s, Xavier) — as well as the most recent. 2011 VCU (No. 11 seed) Before 2024 UCLA, there was 2011 VCU. Despite losing to Old Dominion in the championship game of the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament, VCU made the big dance as a First Four team. This was also the first year in which the round was introduced, and VCU took advantage of it — going all the way to the Final Four after defeating (11) USC for one of the four final spots in the tournament. The Rams would go on to take down (6) Georgetown in the opening round, followed by (3) Purdue, (10) Florida State and (1) Kansas — before ultimately losing to (8) Butler in the semifinals. They are one of two CAA teams to make the Final Four, along with 2006 George Mason. [MEN’S TOURNEY: 1 Thing To Know About Every Men’s Team] The Dynamic Duo Cinderella’s are always led by a pair of players who shift into a different gear in tournament play. From Jason Richards and Steph Curry for Davidson in 2008 to Bryce Drew and Zoran Viskovic for Valparaiso in 1998, a dynamic duo has become a common theme among teams to make a Cinderella run. Below, we’ve listed the duo for each of the six teams we mentioned earlier, along with their statistical averages in each respective NCAA Tournament appearance. While some of the numbers might seem low for a few players, keep in mind that all of these individuals played between four and six games — as everyone on the list made it to at least the Elite Eight. How conference tournament play factors in Momentum and getting hot at the right time always play a factor in Cinderella runs during March Madness, which is why how a team performs in its conference tournament is so important. Of the six teams mentioned above, half of them won the conference championship and four of them at least made the title game. Furthermore, since 2005, 19 teams have been a double-digit seed in the NCAA Tournament, not played in a major conference (Power 5, Big East) and made the Sweet 16. Of those 19 teams, a whopping 13 of them won their conference championship and that number jumps to 16 when including teams that lost in the final (2006 George Mason, 2013 La Salle, 2014 Dayton were the lone teams to make Sweet 16 outside these criteria). Conference tournaments serve as a strong indicator for tournament success in general, as no team has ever lost its first conference tournament game and then won a national title — along with 15 of the past 27 national champions having won their conference tournament. What KenPom says KenPom has been a widely used and respected source for college basketball analytics, using metrics to analyze a team’s performance on the court. For example, 23 of the last 24 national champions have ranked in the top 21 of KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency (AOE) metric with 21 of those 24 also ranking in the top 31 of its adjusted defensive efficiency (ADE) metric (using pre-tournament KenPom data). The last 24 national champions ranked in the top 25 of KenPom’s adjusted efficiency margin (AEM), which factors in both metrics along with other statistical categories. Since 2001 — which is also as far back as KenPom pre-tournament data goes — 25 teams have made it to make the Sweet 16 as a double-digit seed while not playing in a major conference. We looked at the KenPom numbers for those 25 teams and calculated the average rank for the aforementioned efficiencies within Division I, along with adjusted tempo (AT) — also known as pace of play. Keep in mind that between 2001 and 2025, the number of teams in Division I play has hovered between 321 and 364. Possible Cinderella’s in this year’s tournament So now that we’ve gone over several criteria that make up a Cinderella, we’ve identified a few possible candidates in this year’s tournament that fit the bill or come close to. No. 7 seed Saint Mary’s No. 9 seed Saint Louis No. 9 seed Utah State No. 10 seed Santa Clara No. 11 seed VCU No. 11 seed South Florida​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Team USA and Venezuela needed to win low-scoring affairs to punch their tickets into Tuesday’s World Baseball Classic final. However, Derek Jeter believes that the championship matchup might be a bit different. After the two winning sides scored a combined six runs in their semifinal victories, Jeter predicted that the USA-Venezuela matchup will be a high-scoring affair. “There’s no easy outs in either lineup,” Jeter said on FS1’s postgame show following Venezuela’s 4-2 win over Italy on Tuesday. “Every pitch is important. Sometimes when you’re a pitcher and navigating through a lineup, you have a few guys where you’re able to breathe. You fall behind, and you may be able to throw a ball over the plate. Neither side can do that. You’re going to have to focus one through nine for nine innings. “I expect the offense to show up — I expect the offense to show up on both sides tomorrow night.” Between the USA and Venezuela rosters, there are 20 All-Star hitters set to play in Tuesday’s final. But the two teams haven’t provided a ton of fireworks to this point. Venezuela has scored five or fewer runs in three of its first six games. The same goes for Team USA, which has scored just seven total runs in the knockout stage. So, with that in mind, David Ortiz is anticipating more of the same in Tuesday’s final. “The pitching that I saw from the U.S. last night, and the pitching that I saw from Venezuela tonight, it’s going to be a battle,’ Ortiz said. “We always talk about good pitching going to stop good offense. If you look at it properly, both teams haven’t been able to attack like everybody expect. It’s going to be the battle of the pitching tomorrow. That’s what I expect.” What was key to helping the USA and Venezuela punch their tickets to the WBC final on Tuesday were strong performances from their respective bullpens. Team USA’s bullpen didn’t allow a run in over five innings of work in its semifinal win over the Domincan Republic. Venezuela’s bullpen, meanwhile, didn’t surrender a run in 7 ⅔ innings of work on Monday. That’s why Alex Rodriguez believes it’s vital for both teams to get out to an early lead in Tuesday’s championship battle. “Whoever is going to win tomorrow night is going to have to do it early, because both bullpens are lights out,” Rodriguez said. “The last nine outs aren’t going to be fun either way. So, it’s vital to be ahead in the first six innings.” No matter what happens, though, Rodriguez expects the World Baseball Classic to live up to the hype. “This is going to be must-see TV,” Rodriguez said. “I know we had the Oscars a couple of nights ago, but this is going to be like an Oscars because these teams have played the best, you’re going to have stars all over the place and I cannot wait to think about tomorrow.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Team USA. Venezuela. We have ourselves a World Baseball Classic Championship Game. Venezuela took down surprise squad Italy in Monday’s semifinal game after having defeated defending champions Japan. Awaiting the South American squad in the final is Aaron Judge and Team USA, who took down the Dominican Republic in the semis. The game will be Tuesday, March 17 at 8 p.m. ET on FS1. How to Watch the 2026 World Baseball Classic FOX is your exclusive home to the WBC with games spread across the FOX family of networks. The USA vs. Italy/Venezuela Championship Game will be on FOX on Tuesday, March 17 (8 p.m. ET). The game will be available for streaming on the FOX Sports app and FOX One. Catch the action on the following streaming options: How to Watch on Galaxy XR Headset Watch the World Baseball Championship Game on the FOX Sports XR app for the Galaxy XR headset powered by Android XR. How to Watch At Cosm Watch the World Baseball Classic Championship Game in a live immersive experience at Cosm’s award-winning shared reality venues in Dallas & Los Angeles. For details, click on Cosm.com. Team USA Lineup, Pitchers USA manager Mark DeRosa will go with New York Mets starter Nolan McLean for Tuesday’s final. He started in the USA’s lone loss at the WBC, a 8-6 setback to Italy in Pool B play. The 24-year-old McLean had a 2.06 ERA in 48 innings for the Mets down the stretch last season. “I’m built for this,” McLean said. “I’ve been waiting my whole life for something like this.” Here’s the Team USA lineup, which features Byron Buxton and Will Smith in place of Pete Crow-Armstrong and Cal Raleigh. Venezuela Lineup, Pitchers Team Venezuela has had an amazing run at the WBC, defeating Italy in the semifinals and the reigning champs Japan in the quarters. Now they face the ultimate test in Tuesday’s matchup if they want to take down the USA for the first WBC title in its history. Venezuela will go with Eduardo Rodriguez on the mound against the USA. The Diamondbacks pitcher allowed three runs in 2.2 innings against the Dominican Republic in Pool D play. Luis Arráez has been a hitting machine for Venezuela. The Padres star has two home runs and 10 RBI with a solid .348 batting average. In the win over Italy, Eugenio Suarez hit his first home run of the tournament. Royals star Maikel Garcia and Ronald Acuña Jr. had homers in the win against Japan, as did Wilyer Abreu who hit the definitive three-run homer that sealed the win over Japan. WBC Final Tuesday, March 17: USA vs. Venezuela (8 p.m., LoanDepot Park in Miami on FOX)​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

LoanDepot Park (Miami) – Hours after the Dominican Republic was eliminated by the United States, players walked out of the clubhouse blasting a high-energy Dominican Dembow song. Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Juan Soto strutted through the tunnel of the Miami Marlins’s stadium unable to mask their expressions of disappointment and frustration. Yet, despite their 2-1 defeat to Team USA in the World Baseball Classic semifinal, the Dominican Republic tried their best to leave the tournament the same way they entered it. As Soto said a day before the WBC started: “We’re going to have fun, and we’re going to be loud.” The Dominican Republic team paraded its distinctive style of playing baseball with fun and flair from beginning to end in their undefeated run to the semifinals. Players lifted a dumbbell adorned with plantains to celebrate hitting home runs. They danced and took fake selfies at home plate. They pounded their chests while running the bases. They smiled. They laughed. They hugged. They sent 40-foot bat flips into the air. Every swing was dramatic. Every strikeout was aggressive. Every at-bat was a confrontation. This wasn’t fluff; they backed it up. The Dominican Republic this year set a record for the most home runs (15) by a single team in WBC history. Their celebrations were just as explosive as their offensive firepower. The festive atmosphere created by the Dominican Republic had a ripple effect across sold-out crowds and through social media as people watching the tournament worldwide experienced the joy that became the team’s identity. Passion was their personality. Entertainment was essential. And it’s not just the Dominican Republic. Team Italy has an espresso machine in the dugout, and players drink a shot of java after hitting home runs. That style of play was so endearing and so infectious that Team USA fans wondered why players didn’t seem like they were having fun. Dugout celebrations were quieter. Their energy was consistent, if monotonous. There were no props to commemorate home runs. USA’s sense of been there, done that is in stark contrast to the way the rest of the countries in the tournament have openly shown emotion. The Americans took care of business, and played like businessmen. They know they’re being criticized for it. “For some reason, everyone thinks that we don’t have fun playing baseball,” USA outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong said after their win on Sunday. “I don’t know if we make it look like we don’t have fun or what, but our goal is to make it to the championship game. I don’t think we want to get ahead of ourselves, and I think we understand that it’s nine innings of baseball.” Crow-Armstrong said the team is “having a blast out there.” To prove his point, he posted on his Instagram story a picture of Gunnar Henderson’s home run against the Dominican Republic and Team USA’s excited reaction, accompanied by the song “Ain’t It Fun” by Paramore. The Chicago Cubs outfielder sounded almost offended as he defended the perception that the team isn’t having fun. “I’m not offended at all,” he said. “I just think it’s hilarious. Really, I do.” Crow-Armstrong continued: “You guys will think it’s silly if we shuffled like Soto or did Vladdy’s little whip move. That’s them. And if I had enough swag to do that, I’d probably do that too. I think you guys would think it was funny if we were out there doing what they’re doing. I don’t think that’d be as authentic as it is for them to be who they are. And that’s totally okay. We’ve won in our own way, but we definitely have fun out there.” The USA might not have aura, but it does have immense talent. Manager Mark DeRosa compiled the most star-studded roster the tournament has ever seen. The offense is led by team captain and three-time MVP Aaron Judge, Kyle Schwarber, Bobby Witt Jr., and Bryce Harper. And the pitching staff featured the reigning Cy Young award winners from each league in Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal, alongside a lethal bullpen arm in Mason Miller. Twenty-one of the 30 players on USA’s roster have been MLB All-Stars, a total that led all teams in the tournament. USA is a juggernaut. After Sunday’s win over the Dominican Republic, USA advanced to the WBC final and will play the winner of Monday’s semifinal between Italy and Venezuela. As far as the Americans are concerned, they’re letting their winning pedigree speak for itself. “Japan plays a certain game. America plays a certain game. Latin American countries play a certain game,” Harper said. “We’re all in this tournament feeding off of playing a great game, and that’s what makes our game so great, is there’s so many different cultures that play this game. “I can’t dance a lick like Tatis can, but I have fun playing this game. So I think it’s such a storyline for all you guys, compared to us. We’re just going out there and enjoying the game that we play, and that’s kind of how we feel.” It’s fascinating that Harper, of all people, is on the team that’s receiving criticism for not showing enough emotion. Back when he won National League Rookie of the Year in 2012, Harper received backlash for playing the game with intensity and passion. He often challenged America’s traditional unwritten rules and tried to make the game exciting with emphatic bat flips and his signature fiery competitiveness. “Latin American countries play with a lot of flair, a lot of energy,” he said. “And I love watching it because that’s how I played when I was younger. I got in trouble for it.” Harper used to be bold. He played with different colored bats and unique styles of cleats. He smeared way too much eye-black on his cheeks, starting from just underneath his eyes and going all the way down to his neck. He used it as war paint. In 2024, after hitting a home run in the MLB London Series against the Mets, Harper hit a soccer-style knee slide on the turf, complete with his arms wide open while pumping up the crowd. But, about 10–15 years ago, that display of emotion wasn’t popular. MLB told him he couldn’t use gray bats, he couldn’t use eye-black. Eventually, now entering his 15th season in the major leagues, he stopped playing the game with as much passion and flair. Harper said he doesn’t really miss doing that stuff, because it wasn’t fun getting yelled at for showing his personality. “I kind of got pounded for it,” Harper said. “It got beat out of me a little bit, where I didn’t want to do it anymore. The game has changed, and I like that. I love the way that Ronald Acuña [Jr.] plays the game. I love the way that Tatis goes about it. [Shohei] Ohtani, obviously, brings his style of the game, too. Everybody has their certain style from different countries, and that’s why baseball is the greatest game in the world, because you bring so many different styles together, especially in this tournament. And it’s so much fun to watch.” At times, it’s been difficult to understand the USA’s identity. Players salute each other in celebration. They’ve talked about how meaningful the tournament is to them after the sacrifices that service men and women have gone through to defend the country. While videos of Dominican Republic players dancing and being goofy in the clubhouse went viral, Team USA players were shown quietly listening to former Navy SEAL Robert J. O’Neill delivering a pregame speech. As far as USA players are concerned, though, whatever they’re doing is working. They don’t need to match or copy someone else’s identity to win. “What we’re good at on our side is, if the crowd wants to be big and loud and all that, we will keep that steady heartbeat until the pop happens,” Crow-Armstrong said. “The Gunnar homer, the Roman [Anthony] homer. David Bednar getting out of a big inning. [Garrett] Whitlock shutting it down — three up, three down. I think we just pick our spots. You get to see us play our style, and that’s OK. “We’ve carried ourselves this tournament the way that we wanted to, and that is feeling like we’re the best team in this tournament, the best team in the world.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The College Basketball Crown is back as the second-year event takes center stage in Las Vegas in early-April. This year’s edition will feature eight teams facing off in a postseason tournament, competing for NIL dollars. There are six automatic bids — two each reserved for the top teams in the NCAA Evaluation Tool in the Big Ten, Big East and Big 12 — as well as two at-large participants. Here is the full schedule and key information for the College Basketball Crown. Who is in the 2026 College Basketball Crown tournament? The College Basketball Crown tournament is made up of an 8-team field. Below are this year’s participants: Where is the 2026 College Basketball Crown? The 2026 College Basketball Crown will take place in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in the quarterfinals, and T-Mobile Arena for the semifinals and final. Where can I watch the College Basketball Crown? The 2026 College Basketball Crown will air on FOX and FS1, with the quarterfinals broadcast on FS1 and the semifinals and final on FOX. College Basketball Crown Schedule and Bracket Crown Quarterfinals Wednesday, April 18 p.m. ET: Oklahoma vs. Colorado (FS1)4:30 p.m. ET: Baylor vs. Minnesota (FS1) Thursday, April 28 p.m. ET: Stanford vs. West Virginia (FS1)4:30 p.m. ET: Rutgers vs. Creighton (FS1) Crown Semifinals Saturday, April 41:30 p.m. ET: TBD vs. TBD (FOX)4 p.m. ET: TBD vs. TBD (FOX) Crown Finals Sunday, April 55:30 p.m. ET: TBD vs. TBD (FOX)​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports