Algeria earned a place in the knockout rounds of the 2026 World Cup. The team competed in Group J against Argentina, Jordan, and Austria, fielding a squad that advanced past the group stage.

During the group stage, they lost their opening match 3-0 to Argentina before securing a 2-1 victory over Jordan. A 3-3 draw against Austria confirmed Algeria’s progression to the knockout phase. Amine Gouiri scored a goal in the victory against Jordan.

Ultimately, Switzerland scored two goals to defeat Algeria 2-0 in the Round of 32 match to eliminate them from the tournament. The team and its players concluded their tournament appearance in the first knockout round.

So what’s next for the players who led Algeria to its knockout stage appearance?

Mahrez captained the Algerian squad during the tournament and played in the attack during the group stage. He scored a brace against Austria and earned an assist against Jordan in the group stage. He plays club football in Saudi Arabia for Al-Ahli.

Gouiri featured in all four matches for Algeria during the tournament and scored a goal against Jordan in the group stage. He plays club football in France’s Ligue 1 for Marseille.

Ait-Nouri played 90 minutes at left-back during the Round of 32 elimination match against Switzerland. He plays club football in England for Premier League side Manchester City.

Bensebaini started and played 90 minutes at centerback in all four matches for Algeria at the World Cup. He plays club football in Germany for Borussia Dortmund, one of the most storied clubs in the Bundesliga.

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INDYCAR unveiled renderings of its new 2028 car, which will start on-track testing this week. The drivers like the looks of its sleek INDYCAR feel and will soon get a chance to help test and make tweaks. 

“We all wanted a new, modern-day car that is lighter and looks futuristic and fast but still has all of the incredible safety advancements that INDYCAR is known for,” ECR driver Alexander Rossi said in a news release. “This does all of those things.

“There are still a lot of things to work through in terms of on-track testing and how it reacts to the different types of environments it will be exposed to, but from a visual standpoint, it’s incredible.”

Rendering of the new Chevrolet ride.

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The car is designed to go faster while also incorporating many of the safety elements implemented since the last car was first designed around 2012. Those safety and other elements added weight and the 2028 car is a fresh opportunity to overhaul the car to keep its INDYCAR style while also making it faster. 

That starts with the car, designed by Dallara, that will be 100 pounds lighter, including a reduction of 20 pounds of the hybrid system and 25 pounds of the gearbox. 

“I was just as excited to see what was inside the car as I was to see what it looks like on the outside,” Andretti Global driver and INDYCAR champion Will Power said in a statement. “INDYCAR and Dallara have done an incredible job combining updated aerodynamic ideas with all of the safety elements from the current car. It has a seamless look and one that’s also modern and aggressive at the same time.”

In arguably the most impactful development from an engineering standpoint, teams will no longer make and develop their own dampers. On the current car, damper development is key to how the suspension handles because it was the primary area where teams had the most latitude.

Series officials, in a news release, indicated teams will have a variety of options, including more spring, damper and inerter tuning options while using the single-source supplied parts. That potentially could tighten the field and create more parity with the teams having similar options. 

The engine will be a 2.4-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 internal combustion engine capable of producing up to 760 horsepower.

That should produce some record speeds, potentially at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which should also see the benefit of a more aerodynamically stable speedway front wing.

“There is a wow factor,” said defending Indianapolis 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist in a news release. “The first thing that struck me is that it has more room in the cockpit and will fit differently-sized drivers, which is really good. Secondly, it definitely has the INDYCAR DNA, which was a worry for me that it wouldn’t look like an INDYCAR Series car.

“This definitely does. It also has an aggressive look with an integrated aeroscreen and a car that addresses a lot of little tweaks that drivers have asked for. Dallara has delivered on almost everything. I’m super excited for the future.”

The new car will undergo a series of driver tests before competing on track in 2028.

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The exact dates and sites of testing will be announced soon.

“Seeing the car for the first time made me even more excited about where INDYCAR is going,” said four-time INDYCAR champion Alex Palou in a news release. “The design is super cool and feels like a proper next step for the series while still looking like an INDYCAR Series car.

“I think the fans are going to love it, and as a driver I cannot wait to get behind the wheel. The most important thing is that we keep the close, fun racing that makes INDYCAR special, and from what I’ve seen, we’re heading in a really good direction.”

WHAT YOU SHOULD READ NEXT

What separates Alex Palou from the rest of the INDYCAR field.

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Indianapolis Motor Speedway was another weekend when Toyotas were strong, taking four of the first five spots.

But Ford also put four cars in the top 10. The only Chevy in the top 10? Carson Hocevar.

Granted, Kyle Larson had a flat tire and Chase Elliott ended up in a wreck, but that certainly impacted these power rankings. 

No Hendrick driver is in the top 10. They only have eight top 10s combined over the last eight races (Larson with four, William Byron two, Alex Bowman two and Elliott none).

Here are my power rankings after the Brickyard 400 and headed into an off week before the season resumes Aug. 9 at Iowa.

Dropped out: Kyle Larson (Last Week: 10), Shane Van Gisbergen (Last Week: 9)

On the verge: Alex Bowman, Chris Buescher, William Byron, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Shane van Gisbergen

10.

Hocevar won the pole and finished ninth as the top Chevrolet finisher at the Brickyard. That’s two top 10s in the last three races for the No. 77.

9.

An eighth-place for Preece at the Brickyard gave him back-to-back top-10 finishes. He’s going to need to keep rattling off top 10s if he hopes to make The Chase.

8.

It was not a good weekend for Wallace, as he started 29th and finished 28th. But he does have four finishes of sixth or better in the last eight races, and few drivers are posting those solid finishes over that long of a stretch.

7.

Reddick was 10th at the Brickyard as he continues to try to find the magic from earlier in the season. He’s making a little bit of progress with two top 10s in the last three races. He is still the series leader with five victories this year.

6.

Blaney got wrecked (unintentionally) by John Hunter Nemechek and it didn’t just result in a 26th-place finish; it also resulted in Blaney finishing behind Todd Gilliland as they battled for the $1 million in-season tournament prize. But Blaney is still third in the series standings.

5.

Logano followed up his win at North Wilkesboro with a third. The three-time Cup champion probably can’t declare being back until The Chase, and that’s when the more traditional 1.5-mile tracks come into play. But at least it appears he’ll be playing in the postseason.

4.

Gibbs started fourth and finished 12th at the Brickyard. It was the second consecutive what-could-have-been day for Gibbs, but he continues to show speed and with no real signs of slowing down.

3.

Briscoe finished fourth at the Brickyard although probably wishes he had the last restart back, as it appeared he, Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin weren’t in sync. But he’s moving up in the standings and has a realistic shot of being fifth by the time The Chase starts.

2.

Bell finished second … again. It was the sixth time this year and third time in the last four races. But he considered the Brickyard a good second-place finish. He arguably could be No. 1 on this list but really needs a win.

1.

A fifth-place finish last weekend gave Hamlin three top fives in the last four races and seven top fives in his last 10. He’s still the man to beat on ovals.

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Canada’s dream of a deep run in the FIFA World Cup came to an end in the Round of 16, but not before the program rewrote its record books. Under manager Jesse Marsch, Canada captured its first World Cup win and reached the knockout stage for the first time in program history.

The Les Rouges defeated Qatar, drew Bosnia and Herzegovina in the group stage and followed it up with a Round of 32 victory over South Africa. The historic run came despite the team dealing with several key injuries.

Canada’s Best Moments 2026 FIFA World Cup™ 🇨🇦

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One of those injuries involved star defender Alphonso Davies, who appeared only in Canada’s Round of 32 victory over South Africa. He missed the Round of 16 loss to Morocco after a lingering hamstring injury sidelined him for most of the tournament.

Although Canada fell short of Marsch’s ultimate goal, the team’s World Cup run still stands as the most successful in program history. With just three World Cup appearances (1986, 2022 and 2026), the future has never looked brighter.

So what’s next for the players who led Canada to its first-ever knockout stage appearance?

Davies missed most of the tournament with a hamstring injury, making his only appearance in the 75th minute of Canada’s Round of 32 win over South Africa. As arguably Canada’s best player, he had limited availability, which impacted the team’s World Cup run.

With Canada’s World Cup run over, Davies will return to Germany to rejoin Bayern Munich for the upcoming Bundesliga season.

David announced his arrival on the World Cup stage with a hat trick against Qatar. The Canadian striker started every match, finishing the tournament with 18 shots, including eight on target.

He will now return to Juventus to prepare for the Serie A season and a UEFA Europa League campaign.

Few players had a bigger impact on Canada’s World Cup run than Larin. He made history during the group stage, scoring the 79th-minute goal against Bosnia and Herzegovina that earned Canada its first-ever World Cup point.

Larin will return to Southampton as the club prepares for another season in the English Championship.

Eustáquio started four of Canada’s five World Cup matches and made his biggest impact against South Africa, scoring his only goal of the tournament in the Round of 32. He will return to Portugal to continue his club career with FC Porto.

Bombito was one of Canada’s biggest storylines heading into the World Cup after battling back from a broken leg suffered in October. Although he missed the group stage as a precaution, he returned to start against South Africa and Morocco in the knockout rounds.

Even with Bombito only recording one shot on goal, he remained one of the most important players on Canada’s roster throughout the tournament. With the World Cup behind him, Bombito will return to France’s Ligue 1 to continue his club career with Nice.

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Australia qualified for their 11th overall men’s World Cup and reached the Round of 16, where it lost to Egypt in a penalty shootout. 

The Socceroos’ group stage campaign included a surprise 2-0 win over Türkiye in Group D, followed by a 2-0 defeat to the United States in Seattle. A scoreless draw with Paraguay ensured that Australia would reach the knockout stage but fell short in its quest of a deeper run. 

Here’s what’s next for some of Australia’s stars after the 2026 World Cup. 

Connor Metcalfe made his World Cup debut for Australia and netted his first goal in Australia’s 2-0 group stage win over Türkiye. Outside the national team, Metcalfe plays for St. Pauli in Germany. 

Competing in his second World Cup for Australia, Harry Souttar wore the captain’s armband in their trip to the round of 32. Souttar currently plays for Leicester City in England.

Although midfielder Aiden O’Neill suffered an injury in early May, he recovered in time to suit up for Australia this World Cup. Aside from the national team, O’Neill currently plays for New York City FC. 

Centerback Lucas Herrington was one of their most talented defenders, and became the youngest starter this World Cup at 18 years old. Herrington recently signed with the Colorado Rapids in January. 

The 22-year-old shot-stopper got the surprise nod over experienced goalkeeper Mat Ryan and made the most of his opportunity. Patrick Beach had a strong tournament for Australia, conceding only three goals in four games and keeping two key clean sheets that helped the Socceroos finish second in their group. 

Maybe the most notable moment came in the Round of 32 against Egypt, when Tony Popovic decided to make a goalkeeper change before the penalty shootout. Ryan was brought on for Beach, but Australia eventually went out 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

After two full seasons as the starter for Melbourney City in the A-League, he’ll now head to France to join Ligue 2 side Troyes for the 2026-27 campaign. 

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Jalen Carter isn’t going anywhere!

The Philadelphia Eagles announced on Tuesday that they’ve signed the star defensive tackle to a four-year extension, which keeps him under contract through 2031. 

The extension is a four-year, $152 million deal that could reach $160 million in value and includes $106 million guaranteed, per ESPN. This deal is the richest for a defensive tackle in NFL history. Carter passed Tennessee Titans star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons for the highest average annual value at the position in league history ($35.3 million).

Moreover, Carter’s $38 million AAV is second in Eagles history, with quarterback Jalen Hurts’ $51 million AAV (five-year, $255 million deal) first in franchise history.

Carter, a Pro Bowler in two of his three seasons in the sport (2024 and 2025), totaled three sacks, seven passes defended and 33 combined tackles across 11 regular-season games last year (2025); he missed six games due to heel, shoulder and hip issues. Carter was second in the sport with six batted passes, according to Pro Football Focus.

Philadelphia selected Carter with the No. 9 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, with the defensive tackle tallying two forced fumbles in 2023 and 2024, earning second-team All-Pro honors in his second year.

Earlier this offseason, the Eagles extended fellow defensive tackle Jordan Davis to a three-year, $78 million deal. Last month, they traded wide receiver and three-time Pro Bowler A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder.

The Eagles are coming off an 11-6 season that saw them lose to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC wild-card round.

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Here goes nothing!

Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have ended extension talks, and the quarterback will play out the final year of his contract without a new deal, our Greg Auman reported on Tuesday morning.

Mayfield is entering the final season of a three-year, $100 million contract with the Buccaneers, with Mayfield’s $33.3 million average annual value 16th among NFL quarterbacks. The 31-year-old signal-caller has a roughly $40 million cap hit for next season.

For reference, Justin Herbert is the 10th-highest-paid quarterback in the NFL based on annual average salary at $52.5 million, according to Over The Cap.

If Mayfield hits the open market next offseason, it would be the second time in the quarterback’s eight-year career (2018-25) that he becomes a free agent; he signed a one-year deal with the Buccaneers in the 2023 offseason, which came after he was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Rams during the 2022 season.

Last season (2025), Mayfield totaled 3,693 passing yards, 26 passing touchdowns, 11 interceptions and a 90.6 passer rating, while completing 63.2% of his passes. He also rushed for 382 yards and one touchdown and dealt with biceps and shoulder injuries, respectively, in a season that saw the Buccaneers miss the playoffs at 8-9, ending the franchise’s four-year stretch of winning the NFC South.

For context, Mayfield posted career highs in passing yards (4,500), passing touchdowns (41), passer rating (106.8) and completion percentage (71.4%) in 2024. He was a Pro Bowler in both 2023 and 2024 for Tampa Bay. Granted, he led the NFL with 16 interceptions in 2024.

Elsewhere for the Buccaneers, defensive tackle and two-time Pro Bowler Vita Vea, who’s also a free agent after next season, has reportedly requested a trade. Like Mayfield, though, Vea is present for training camp.

Mayfield was an early favorite for the MVP award through six games last season. In that span, he had 12 touchdowns and one interception while completing 66.2% of his passes and averaging 7.9 yards per attempt. In his final 11 games, those numbers went down to 14 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, a 61.5% completion percentage and 6.2 yards per attempt.

Tampa Bay went 5-1 in those first six games but finished the season 3-8 and missed the playoffs.

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Ghana found its way into the round of 32 as one of the eight best third-place teams, finishing on four points thanks to a stoppage-time winner against Panama and a stingy defensive performance that led to a goal-less draw against England.

Ghana’s Best Moments 2026 FIFA World Cup™ 🇬🇭

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A late goal against Croatia kept Ghana from finishing second in the group, but it still did enough to move on. Under Carlos Queiroz, who came in late to tidy up a defense that had struggled in the buildup to the World Cup, Ghana was extremely organized. It sat in a low block, defended in numbers and tried to break whenever it had the chance.

That defensive structure worked. Ghana conceded only three goals in four games. The issue was at the other end, where it only scored two goals of its own.

So what’s next for the players who led Ghana to the last 32?

The veteran forward, 34, made his debut for Ghana in 2010 and has since appeared in three different World Cups.

Jordan Ayew captained Ghana and led the line during this tournament as it reached the round of 32. He brought experience, leadership and work rate to a Ghana team that spent long stretches defending deep and looking for moments in transition.

Ayew is currently a free agent after spending last season with Leicester City, which now plays in EFL League One following relegation.

Antoine Semenyo came into the tournament as Ghana’s star man after earning his move to Manchester City this summer.

Despite being the biggest name in the squad, Semenyo had a relatively quiet World Cup. Part of that came down to Ghana’s setup, with the team mostly playing in a low block and not attacking much throughout the tournament.

Still, Semenyo remains one of Ghana’s most important attacking pieces going forward. He currently plays for Manchester City.

Iñaki Williams, the brother of Spain star Nico Williams, is a forward for Ghana and played a key role for the team at the 2022 World Cup.

This time around, his role was more mixed. Williams started two of Ghana’s fixtures, against England and Croatia, while coming off the bench against Panama and Colombia.

Even without a starring role, Williams remained an important option for Ghana because of his pace, movement and ability to stretch back lines. He currently plays for Spanish side Athletic Bilbao. 

Caleb Yirenkyi was one of the pivotal players in Ghana’s World Cup campaign.

The 20-year-old scored the winning goal against Panama in stoppage time in the opening game, a decisive moment that ultimately helped Ghana qualify for the knockout stages. Without that late goal, Ghana likely does not get out of the group.

Yirenkyi currently plays for Danish Superliga club Nordsjælland.

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Paraguay shocked the world by upsetting Germany and earning a spot in the last 16, before eventually going down to France in a 1-0 defeat thanks to a Kylian Mbappé penalty.

Paraguay had an incredibly resilient tournament, especially after starting with a horrendous 4-1 defeat to the United States. They responded immediately by winning their second match against Türkiye 1-0 despite being down to 10 men for more than 45 minutes. They then earned a point in their final group-stage match against Australia, which saw them advance as a third-place team.

Paraguay’s Best Moments 2026 FIFA World Cup™ 🇵🇾

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So what’s next for the players who led Paraguay to the last 16?

The main talisman and star of this Paraguayan team, Enciso was the primary attacking outlet and support for a Paraguay side that often sat back and looked to play direct balls into him to release pressure and give the team a chance to breathe.

He worked extremely hard throughout the tournament, running relentlessly despite not having much joy at times and often being isolated as the lone attacker. Enciso also scored the crucial goal that gave Paraguay the lead against Germany.

He plays for Ligue 1 club RC Strasbourg.

The former Newcastle attacking midfielder, now playing for Atlanta United, was a pivotal outlet for Paraguay whenever he was on the pitch.

Almirón was sent off against Türkiye in Paraguay’s second match and was therefore suspended for the final group-stage match against Australia. But against Germany and France, he was an important outlet for Paraguay to get up the field, especially with the team having very little of the ball in both games.

He plays for MLS side Atlanta United.

It was an up-and-down tournament for Diego Gómez. The Brighton youngster was an important player in midfield for Paraguay, but he was suspended for the Round of 32 because of yellow-card accumulation and later conceded the crucial penalty that cost Paraguay in the Round of 16 against France.

He plays for Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.

The captain of Paraguay at this tournament, Gómez was the leader of a backline that defended in a deep low block for long stretches.

He was important in anchoring that defense as Paraguay defended for their lives throughout the tournament, especially in their run to the last 16.

He plays for Brazilian Serie A club Palmeiras.

Orlando Gill kept two clean sheets in the tournament and did not concede a goal from open play in Paraguay’s final four games after their opening-day defeat to the United States.

He made key saves throughout the tournament and played an important role in Paraguay’s run to the last 16.

He plays for Argentine club San Lorenzo de Almagro.

Galarza was an absolute workhorse for Paraguay, covering ground all over the pitch throughout the tournament.

He was pivotal in the upset against Germany, helping cover space defensively while also providing an outlet in counter-attacking situations. He also scored the decisive goal in the second minute against Türkiye, which went on to be the winner.

He plays for Argentine club River Plate.

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For half the summer, World Cup odds dominated the American sports betting landscape. Wagering records were set and just as quickly broken throughout the tournament.

Now, the betting fare has returned to its typical summer menu — and the biggest winners are coming from golf.

The latest example: A high-roller at DraftKings Sportsbook banked a multi-million-dollar win on PGA Tour rookie Jackson Koivun’s first career victory.

More on that seven-figure haul, early bettors firing on 76ers’ futures — with LeBron James now in the mix — and a five-dollar parlay that needs just one more winner to cash out for six figures.

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.

Action On Jackson

On Wednesday, a DraftKings customer with a lot of disposable income decided to put some of that cash on Koivun to win the 3M Open. 

The 21-year-old turned pro in June, after leading Auburn to its second NCAA title in three years and winning three straight SEC individual titles.

The bettor put $108,108.18 — yes, 18 cents, as well — on Koivun at +3700 odds.

Then Koivun shot four straight rounds in the 60s, including a 7-under 64 opener, a torrid 10-under 61 in Round 3 and a closing 66.

Koivun’s 61-66 weekend matched world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who shot 64-63. And it gave the rookie a 25-under 259 total to beat second-place Scheffler by three strokes.

Koivun earned $1.584 million for his victory. The bettor, however, claimed 2.5 times that amount, profiting just over $4 million, for a total payout of $4,108,110.84.

For us average Joes and Janes, here’s something a bit more relatable: $200 on Koivun +4000, from a Hard Rock Bet customer.

Granted, that bettor didn’t become a millionaire. But turning $200 into $8,000 profit is mighty fine ROI.

Sixers Elixir?

It’s been 25 years since the 76ers last went to the NBA Finals. In the 2000-01 season, Allen Iverson led Philadelphia to the championship series vs. a Lakers team that included Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, coached by Phil Jackson.

Philly lost that series 4-1.

Is 2026-27 the season the Sixers finally return? And in doing so, win their first title since Dr. J made house calls in 1983?

This summer’s moves certainly have the public betting masses brimming with optimism. Following a big July 1 splash with the acquisition of Jaylen Brown, the 76ers on Friday won the LeBron James sweepstakes.

In just the first hour after the news broke, 98% of all NBA Finals straight bets at BetMGM were on the 76ers. At DraftKings, in the first 24 hours, Philadelphia landed 86% of bets and 93% of money in NBA Finals odds.

One of the larger reported plays came on Polymarket’s prediction market platform. Within 20 minutes of the James news breaking, a trader put $12,472.68 on the 76ers at a price of 7%, which equates to odds in the range of +1300.

If the Sixers go the distance, then the trader profits $155,171.32, for a total payout of $167,644. But there’s gonna be a long wait from now til mid-June 2027.

At Fanatics Sportsbook, a bettor smartly got in earlier on the 76ers, at better odds. The customer put $4,000 on Philly +1800 after the Sixers signed Brown.

If that bettor waited until after the Sixers got James, those odds would’ve been sliced to +900, cutting the potential profit in half. Instead, a 76ers title run would land $72,000 profit (total payout $76,000).

Parlay Partay

As I often like to remind folks in this space, betting 15-leg parlays is a great way to separate you from your money. Hell, that can happen even betting three- and four-teamers.

So if you feel compelled to still do so, then keep the wager amount reasonable. Like, say, two dollars.

That’s what a Hard Rock Bet customer did Saturday, with a moneyline parlay involving all 15 MLB games. To the bettor’s credit, the parlay mixed in six underdogs to go with nine favorites.

Still, a huge amount of good fortune is required to cash such a ticket. Three games were decided by one run: Royals 3, Tigers 2; Orioles 3, Braves 2; and Dodgers 4, Mets 3.

And two of those games saw the winning run plated in the ninth inning. Kansas City scored in the top of the ninth to break a 2-2 tie, and Dylan Beavers hit a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth for Baltimore.

Add up all those odds across 15 legs, and you total out at a monstrous +1133619. Or in slightly-easier-to-digest terms, just beyond 11336/1.

So the bettor’s meager two bucks turned into $22,672.38. 

Incredible.

Built For The Futures

With Spain hoisting the World Cup trophy, a FanDuel Sportsbook customer moved one step closer to turning a few bucks into a massive payday.

Sometime late in the NFL’s 2026-27 season, the bettor put all of $4.80 on a five-leg futures parlay:

• Seahawks +800 to win the Super Bowl
• Michigan +450 to win March Madness
• Knicks +1300 to win the NBA Finals
• Spain +400 to win the World Cup
• Yankees +750 to win the World Series

The first four legs are already in. And the bettor has a cashout offer of $14,233.84, which is nothing to sneeze at.

However, the Yankees are currently the +550 second choice in FanDuel’s World Series futures odds, behind only the +160 favorite Dodgers. So this ticket is quite live, perhaps more so if Aaron Judge makes a late-season return from a rib injury that’s shelved him since May 31.

At incredible odds of +2945150 (beyond 29451/1), if New York wins the title, then that four bucks and change becomes $141,372. That’s a pretty envious position to be in.

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