Posted on

How to Watch Belgium vs

Belgium and Senegal meet in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match on Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. ET from Seattle Stadium.

Belgium topped Group G with a 1-0-2 record and five points, beating New Zealand 5-1 in their final group stage match after draws with Egypt and Iran. Leandro Trossard scored twice in the tournament so far. 

Senegal advanced from Group I on three points, losing to France 1-3 and Norway 2-3 before closing with a 5-0 win over Iraq, with Ismaila Sarr scoring three times across the two matches.

Below are the details on how to watch.

How to Watch Belgium vs. Senegal

    [–>

  • When: Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. ET
  • Where: Seattle Stadium, Seattle, WA
  • TV: FS1
  • Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One, FOX Sports

Belgium vs. Senegal Preview

Youri Tielemans running the middle is the matchup that decides this.

Belgium’s attack has clicked into gear whenever Tielemans gets to dictate tempo from central areas, and the six goals in three matches back it up. Feed him the ball with room to work, and the rest of the front line follows his lead.

Senegal isn’t the type to sit deep and hope for scraps, though. Ismaila Sarr already has three goals of his own, part of a Senegal attack that’s put up eight in three matches, so Belgium can’t afford to crowd the middle around Tielemans and leave the back exposed. Let Senegal disrupt that rhythm and break quickly, and this turns into a shootout.

Keep an eye on the first ten minutes after Belgium settles in. If Tielemans is getting time and turning upfield cleanly, this game opens up in a hurry.

Argentina, France & Spain battle, England, Portugal make cut in FIFA World Cup Now Power Rankings

Argentina, France & Spain battle, England, Portugal make cut in FIFA World Cup Now Power Rankings

Bob Bradley, Mo Edu and Alex Scott breakdown FIFA World Cup Now’s Knockout Stage Power Rankings going into the Round of 32. Agree with their rankings?

Belgium vs. Senegal Odds

Learn more about Belgium vs. Senegal and check the full FIFA World Cup schedule on FOX Sports!

Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.

FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience ]–>

Source

Posted on

How to Watch the World Cup Today: Schedule, Times, TV,

Day 23 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup wraps up the Round of 32, and Lionel Messi’s Argentina takes center stage against Cinderella story Cape Verde. The day opens in Dallas with Australia and Egypt, where Mohamed Salah’s fitness is in question, and closes in Kansas City with Colombia and Ghana. All three matches air on FOX, with every game streaming live and on demand on FOX One.

World Cup Schedule for Friday, July 3

Australia vs. Egypt

  • Time: 2 p.m. ET
  • TV: FOX
  • Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One
  • Venue: Dallas Stadium, Dallas, TX

Australia advanced from Group D on four points, beating Turkiye 2-0 before losing to the United States and drawing Paraguay 0-0. Egypt advanced from Group G on five points but enters banged up, with captain Mohamed Salah forced off with a hamstring strain in the group finale against Iran. Head coach Hossam Hassan is optimistic that Salah will play, but Egypt’s offense will struggle to compete if Salah is not fit. Neither nation has ever won a World Cup knockout match, so history is on the line for the winner.

Player to Watch

Patrick Beach

 It was a shocking decision shortly before the first game when Popovic benched veteran starter and now former captain Matthew Ryan in favor of the inexperienced Beach, who plays domestically for Melbourne City. Beach has only five caps with Australia but put in a stunning performance in the win over Türkiye and then earned a second clean sheet against Paraguay. Beach is likely going to need to be at his best again if Australia is to advance.

Argentina vs. Cape Verde

  • Time: 6 p.m. ET
  • TV: FOX
  • Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One
  • Venue: Miami Stadium, Miami, FL

Argentina won Group J by multi-goal margins in all three games and has won its last 10 matches, with Lionel Messi tied for the tournament lead with six goals. Cape Verde has been the World Cup’s best underdog story, going unbeaten through three draws, including a scoreless result against Spain, to finish second in Group H. Goalkeeper Vozinha has been outstanding, but the Blue Sharks face a massive step up in class against the defending champions.

Player to Watch

Lionel Messi

It is an obvious pick to say Messi is the player to watch, but there is no other realistic pick. Messi now has 19 World Cup goals and at age 39, he is the tournament’s co-leading scorer and arguably the best player yet again. It is hard to see the Blue Sharks keeping him off the scoreboard when no one else can. 

Is Mexico Finally a Top 10 Team? Alexi Lalas Updates His FIFA World Cup™ Rankings

Is Mexico Finally a Top 10 Team? Alexi Lalas Updates His FIFA World Cup™ Rankings

Alexi Lalas updates his 2026 FIFA World Cup™ Top 10 rankings and reveals where Mexico and Norway land after their latest performances.

Colombia vs. Ghana

    [–>

  • Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
  • TV: FOX
  • Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One
  • Venue: Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, MO

Colombia won Group K behind wins over Uzbekistan and DR Congo and a scoreless draw with Portugal. Its attack, led by Luis Diaz and James Rodriguez, has been one of the tournament’s most fluid. Ghana advanced as one of the third-place finishers out of Group L behind a defense that coach Carlos Queiroz has quickly repaired, though the team managed just 15 shots across the group stage. Colombia is heavily favored, but Ghana’s physical, low-event approach could make this an ugly grind.

Player to Watch

James Rodriguez

Colombia’s captain has not had much club success in recent years, but he continues to be an excellent player for his national team. For Rodriguez, the test is for him not just to play well, but to also be a leader on the field for his team against an opponent that will aim to frustrate with a much slower and more physical approach. 

Who Plays Today in the World Cup?

  • Australia
  • Egypt
  • Argentina
  • Cape Verde
  • Colombia
  • Ghana

World Cup Scores Yesterday

How to Watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup

All World Cup matches air on FOX and FS1, with every game streaming live and on demand on FOX One.



Source

Posted on

What is Bobby Bonilla Day? Explaining the New York Mets’

Major League Baseball might be intertwined with July 4, but another early-July holiday holds special significance for a significant portion of baseball fans.

That day is July 1, also known as “Bobby Bonilla Day.” It’s the day when the New York Mets pay their annual deferred fee to former player Bobby Bonilla — who last played an MLB game in October 2001.

Bonilla was owed $5.9 million when the Mets cut the aging player in 1999 and bought out the rest of his contract. Instead of paying him the sum up front, however, then-Mets owner Fred Wilpon cut a deal with Bonilla’s camp. The Mets would pay Bonilla in installments, with annual interest, every year from 2011-2035. Those installments will eventually total nearly $30 million, much more than what Bonilla was owed, according to ESPN.

But there were several upsides for the Mets to pursue this strategy as well — at least, that’s the way it looked at the time. The Mets used the $5.9 million to create an annuity with a securities investor they were heavily in business with at the time that would pay them back in annual dividends. By doing so, they also freed up that money from their payroll for MLB bylaws purposes, meaning that they could use it to sign other players without adding to the total roster payroll that the league could potentially levy taxes against. 

The investor with whom they created the account was known for paying back those dividends with high interest, so the Mets themselves thought they would reap the profits of millions of dollars over the course of the deal even when subtracting all the money they would pay Bonilla.

Tom Brady Reveals NFL Performances as EPIC as Shohei Ohtani’s 10-Strikeout, 3-Homer Game 🤯

Tom Brady Reveals NFL Performances as EPIC as Shohei Ohtani’s 10-Strikeout, 3-Homer Game 🤯

Tom Brady reveals what a Shohei Ohtani-level game looks like in football — the kind of rare performance where an athlete completely takes over the field. The 7-time Super Bowl champ dives into the NFL archive to share the most incredible individual and team performances he’s ever witnessed. From his own snowy 5-touchdown quarter against the Titans to rival Peyton Manning’s 7-TD opener and legendary days from Joe Montana, Adrian Peterson, Julio Jones, and Jerry Rice—these are the games even the GOAT can’t believe.

Just one problem — that investor’s name was Bernie Madoff, and in 2009, Madoff was convicted of running the largest Ponzi scheme fraud in recorded history and sentenced to 150 years in prison. In other words, the profits that the Mets were counting on in their Bonilla strategy likely never came. The fallout of Madoff’s crimes financially devastated the Mets, whose dealings with the corrupt money manager went far beyond their Bonilla agreement. The Mets struggled financially for the rest of Wilpon’s tenure as owner until the team was sold to current owner Steve Cohen in late 2020.

Given the backdrop of Madoff’s involvement, Wilpon’s struggles in the later years of his ownership, and the general drama on and off the field that the Mets even to this day cannot seem to escape, “Bobby Bonilla Day” has become an ironic anti-holiday for fans who want to commemorate the fact that the Mets are paying a now-60-year-old — whose last MLB appearance came nearly 22 years ago — nearly $1.2 million on every July 1 until 2035.

Of course, as the folks over at For The Win pointed out, Bonilla is hardly alone in having a massively deferred contract. Several major MLB contracts over the last few years include large sums of deferred money installments that extend almost two decades into the future, such as Freddie Freeman’s deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers and current Mets star Francisco Lindor’s extension. Of course, these deferments were agreed to when both players were still in their respective primes and not at the end of their careers like Bonilla.

Bonilla was not a bad player by any stretch of the imagination. He made six All-Star teams and won three Silver Slugger Awards in the 1980s and 1990s. Pittsburgh Pirates fans likely remember Bonilla as one of the best hitters on the perennial early 90s playoff-contending teams that also featured a young Barry Bonds. Miami Marlins fans likely remember him as a key part of the team that won the franchise’s first World Series title in 1997.

But to Mets fans and baseball fans in general, Bonilla — fairly or not — will be commemorated every year on the day when he becomes about $1 million richer.

Other Notable Deferred Money Deals

Bobby Bonilla is not alone. A few other notable deferred-money arrangements are still on the books:

    [–>

  • Bobby Bonilla (part 2): A second deal with the Mets and Orioles pays him $500,000 a year for 25 years, with payments beginning in 2004.
  • Bret Saberhagen: Collects $250,000 a year from the Mets for 25 years, also starting in 2004. This deal was the original inspiration for Bonilla’s more famous arrangement.
  • Manny Ramirez: Collecting the final installment of $24.2 million total from the Red Sox through 2026.
  • Max Scherzer: Will receive $105 million total from the Nationals, paid out through 2028.
  • Chris Davis: The Orioles’ arrangement with Davis may make him the next Bonilla. He collects $59 million across a 15-year stretch that runs through 2037. He was paid $9.16 million in both 2024 and 2025, then $3.5 million annually from 2026 to 2032 and $1.4 million from 2033 to 2037.

FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience

Source

Posted on

How to Watch USA vs

The USMNT and Bosnia and Herzegovina meet in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match on Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. ET from San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.

The United States won Group D with a 2-1-0 record. Their World Cup path started by beating Paraguay 4-1 and Australia 2-0 before falling 2-3 to Türkiye in their final group match. Folarin Balogun scored twice for the Americans in the group stage. 

Bosnia and Herzegovina advanced as one of the tournament’s best third-place finishers out of Group B, going 1-1-1, drawing 1-1 with Canada in their opener, losing 1-4 to Switzerland in their second match and beating Qatar 3-1 in their final group match. Ermin Mahmic found the net twice across the group stage.

Below are the details on how to watch.

How to Watch USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina

    [–>

  • When: Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. ET
  • Where: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area, CA
  • TV: FOX
  • Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One, FOX Sports

Zlatan & Thierry Henry Preview United States’ Round of 32 Matchup vs Bosnia and Herzegovina

Zlatan & Thierry Henry Preview United States’ Round of 32 Matchup vs Bosnia and Herzegovina

Check out Zlatan Ibrahimović, Alexi Lalas & Thierry Henry’s preview of the United States’ Round of 32 Matchup against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

United StatesProjecting USA’s Starting Lineup

    [–>

  • Goalkeeper: Matt Freese
  • Defender: Antonee “Jedi” Robinson
  • Defender: Tim Ream
  • Defender: Chris Richards
  • Defender: Alex Freeman
  • Midfielder: Tyler Adams
  • Midfielder: Malik Tillman
  • Midfielder: Weston McKennie
  • Attacker: Christian Pulisic
  • Attacker/Defender: Sergiño Dest
  • Forward: Folarin Balogun

 

WHAT YOU SHOULD READ NEXT

USA vs. Bosnia And Herzegovina: Storylines, Projected Lineup, Predictions

Everything to know about USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina in their round of 32 showdown.

 

USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina Odds

Learn more about United States vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina and check the full FIFA World Cup schedule on FOX Sports!

Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.

FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience

Source

Posted on

Last Night In Baseball: Watch Out For The Surging, MLB-Best

There is always baseball happening — almost too much baseball for one person to follow themselves.

Don’t worry, we’re here to help you by figuring out what you missed but shouldn’t have. Here are all the best moments from last night in Major League Baseball:

Miami MarlinsMarlins Close June With Dominant 20th W

The Marlins crushed the Rockies on Tuesday, 14-3, earning Miami its 20th win of June on the month’s final day. That is not only the most of any team in MLB in June, but also is just the second instance in Marlins’ history where they won at least 20 games in a single month. With the Braves losing to the Cardinals, 5-3, Miami is now just 4.5 back of Atlanta in the NL East: on June 7, the Marlins were 14 behind the Braves. On May 31, they were eight games under .500.

Now, Miami is 46-40, and just capped a month in which it outscored opponents by 53 runs, scoring 133 while allowing just 80: just three teams in the National League have a run differential for the entire season that bests that +53 mark, and only one in the AL managed as much.

Left fielder Griffin Conine — who went 4-for-5 on the day — led off the scoring with an RBI double in the first. The third inning is where business would pick up, though, when shortstop Javier Sonoja hit a three-run homer, his third dinger of the year, to put Miami up 5-1.

That ended up being the game-winning hit, but no one knew it at the time. The Marlins would add another three runs in the sixth on a series of singles, and then in the seventh catcher Joe Mack drove in Sonoja with a two-run jack.

This was overkill at this point, but the longest long ball of the game came off the bat of Owen Caissie: the right fielder drove this 90.4-mph inside-and-low fastball 453 feet to right-center, with it coming off the bat at over 109 mph. Smoked.

It wasn’t just the hitting that starred, though: starter Eury Pérez went 5 ⅓ innings with just two hits and a run allowed, while striking out eight Rockies against four walks. Remember, this game was played at Coors Field — that’s a pretty good turn in the rotation right there.

The Marlins were highly successful in June, and they were also facing legitimate competition. In order: they swept the Nationals, won a series against the Rays, swept the Diamondbacks, took a series from the Pirates, swept the Giants, won series against the Rangers and Cardinals, and have already guaranteed that they would at least do that much against the Rockies. The only series that the Marlins lost all month was to the Phillies, who also spent June surging up the standings. The Rockies are the only team Miami played all month that lacks postseason aspirations, and the Marlins acquitted themselves against that competition quite well.

Arizona DiamondbacksMarte Homers In 4th-Straight Game

Speaking of the Diamondbacks, Arizona won 8-2 against the Giants last night, powered in part by Ketel Marte. The leadoff hitter and second baseman went 2-for-5 with three RBIs and a run, with the first two RBIs coming on a single to left in the bottom of the third.

The last RBI might have counted for less, but it was much louder. Marte hit his 17th homer of the year in the bottom of the sixth, drilling a middle-middle curveball 431 feet to right off of Adrian Houser.

It marked the fourth-straight game in which Marte has homered: in a season where his average and walks are both down a bit, the pop is still very much there. And really, the rest of the package has been there since mid-May, as well: Marte is batting .315/.373/.611 with 11 doubles and homers each since May 20, a 37-game stretch.

The D-backs are just 2.5 back of a wild-card spot in the NL, while this loss shoved San Francisco back to 35-50 and 10.5 behind.

San Francisco GiantsDevers Hits No. 250

The Giants did have something noteworthy happen in their favor during the game, at least. In the top of the seventh, first baseman Rafael Devers crushed a 94.2-mph cutter left over the middle of the plate, and sent it 424 feet to left-center at over 111 mph.

It was career homer No. 250 for Devers, who also drew a pair of walks during the game. He’s now batting .261/.336/.563 with 19 doubles, a triple and 13 of his 15 homers in 52 games since May 3; reports of his demise seem premature, which is good news for the Giants whether they decide to hang on to the slugger or deal him before the trade deadline next month.

Devers, 29, is in his 10th season in the majors, and has played in nine years’ worth of games. He’s averaged 33 homers per 162 games at this point, and if April’s struggles were a temporary thing and not a warning of a steep decline that’s soon to come, he should keep piling on home runs even while playing in that enormous park in San Francisco half the time.

Tampa Bay RaysCaminero Homers In 5th-Straight Game

Four games in a row with a home run is great, there’s no attempt to take away from what Ketel Marte has pulled off. However, four games in a row? Not five. And five is where Rays’ third baseman Junior Caminero is right now, as he went yard again. 

In a 10-4 Tampa Bay victory, Caminero made his presence felt with a 2-for-5 showing that included three RBIs and a run. All of those ribbies came on the dinger in the third, one Caminero sent an impressive 438 feet to left-center on a mid-90s four-seamer that caught way too much of the top of the zone.

Fittingly, Caminero was the first player to announce that he’ll be competing in the 2026 Home Run Derby. Looks like he’s got a little bit of a head start on that front.

Caminero is now up to .294/.384/.555 with 23 dingers, with the 22-year-old’s long ball last night putting a bow on a torrid June in which he slugged .673.

Los Angeles DodgersRoberts Fastest-Ever To 1,000 Wins

On Monday, Tigers’ manager A.J. Hinch became just the second active manager with at least 1,000 career wins. On Tuesday, he and Reds’ skipper Terry Francona were joined by Dave Roberts when the Dodgers downed the Athletics, 9-3. On top of being the third active manager to 1K, Roberts is also the fastest manager to ever reach 1,000 career wins. And this despite his first — and only — game managed outside of his time with the Dodgers being a loss, too.

In 10 full seasons with the Dodgers, Roberts has finished in first nine times and second once. He has a record of 1,000-605, good for a .623 winning percentage, which is just goofy — no wonder he’s the fastest to 1,000 wins, with a track record where the worst season featured 106 wins, and the only time Los Angeles didn’t win at least 91 times was 2020, when the pandemic-shortened season featured just 60 total.

Roberts and the Dodgers got there with help from third baseman Tommy Edman, who blasted a three-run homer in the third inning to make it 5-1, Los Angeles.

And on the mound was lefty Justin Wrobleski, who continued his excellent campaign with an 11-strikeout performance, a new career-best. Wrobleski picked up his 10th win while walking no one while allowing three runs and seven hits over seven innings of work.

The A’s fell to 40-46 with the L, and have lost four in a row, dropping them to 3.5 back of a wild-card spot in the AL. A tough end to a month that had been promising not all that long ago, but there’s also a lot of 2026 left.

Chicago White SoxWhite Sox Score 7 Before Making An Out

The top of the third was not kind to the Orioles. Starter Trey Gibson got wrecked there, with the White Sox managing to score seven runs before an out was recorded. DH Andrew Benintendi led things off with a single, and then shortstop Colson Montgomery hit his 21st homer of the year — a 440-foot blast — to make it 3-1, Chicago. 

Right fielder Braden Montgomery and second baseman Chase Meidroth would both walk, then center fielder Tristan Peters singled to load the bases. First baseman Jacob Gonzalez would plate two with a single of his own, and then came the final blow, with Junior Perez getting his second dinger of the year, a three-run shot, to make it 8-1, White Sox.

Gibson would recover from that long enough to record consecutive outs, ending the streak, but he then walked Benintendi in his second plate appearance of the inning, and that was it for his outing. There was no major comeback for the Orioles in the works, either: Baltimore would lose, 9-3, with Chicago’s bats going mostly quiet the rest of the way but not until way too much damage had already been done. With the Guardians losing — more on that shortly — the White Sox are now two games up in the AL Central, while the O’s have lost four-straight games and five back of a wild-card spot and 12.5 behind the Rays in the AL East.

Houston AstrosAlvarez’s Milestone Grand Slam

Yordan Alvarez hit the seventh grand slam of his career on Tuesday, helping the Astros to a 6-4 win over the Twins. It put them ahead for good, as Houston was down 3-2 at the time, but Alvarez cleared ‘em all with a swing of the bat against starter Joe Ryan.

It was his 26th homer of the season, but more notable is that seven grand slams tied the franchise mark for the Astros, also held by Carlos Lee, Alex Bregman and current teammate Jose Altuve. This is also Alvarez’s third grand slam of the season, tying the Astros’ mark for the most in a single season — that is also held by Altuve and Bregman, as well as George Springer, per MLB.

Alvarez is leading the American League in homers and runs (59), and the majors in on-base percentage (.428), slugging (.618), OPS (1.046), OPS+ (189), and total bases (191). Unsurprisingly given all of that, he’s also leading the bigs with 13 intentional walks.

Cleveland GuardiansOh No

Poor Cooper Ingle. The Guardians’ rookie was making just his second big-league start in the outfield after he was called up last week, and he lost track of how many outs there were. Not only that, but he lost count with a runner on second, and threw the ball into the stands for a fan as if the inning was over.

Right fielder Ezequiel Duran hustled home when he realized there was a miscount, but was awarded the run, anyway, since the ball had been thrown out of play — it counts as a “throwing error” in the boxscore, which, yes, that’s true.

The good news — silver lining edition — is that the Rangers would win this game 4-2, not by a single run, and that the additional run didn’t come until an inning later and not as a direct continuation of this miscue.

On the Rangers’ side that didn’t involve some luck, there was starter Jacob deGrom. The veteran right-hander went seven strong innings with nine strikeouts against zero walks, and gave up two runs on four hits. Tanner Bibbee was nearly as good, but not quite, and the Guards dropped in the AL Central standings while Texas kept its pace ahead of the Mariners and Astros with the W.

Detroit TigersSkubal Dominated, Schlittler Did Not

The Yankees ended their June with six-straight losses, and while they are still comfortably five games up on a wild-card spot in what’s been a mostly uninspiring American League, New York also fell another game back of the Rays with the latest L, dropping to 2.5 behind.

The problem here was… everything. The Yankees scored just three runs and had four hits, which is part of a larger alarming run: since scoring 12 and 10 runs in back-to-back games, New York has scored five runs once in 13 games, four runs three times, and three or fewer in the rest. That’s an average of 2.5 runs per game, and sure, the endpoints are arbitrary, but it’s another example of what can go wrong whenever historically great hitter Aaron Judge isn’t there to pick up the slack.

A much larger problem on Tuesday, though, was the starting pitching. The normally reliable Cam Schlittler had his second poor start in a row and third of June, as he allowed six runs on four homers in just four innings of work. His ERA for the season is still 2.08, but it’s worth pointing out that his previous appearance had four unearned runs and yet it still climbed from 1.50 at May’s end to this. 

There’s no reason to panic yet — Schlittler is great — but if he’s sliding back towards “great” instead of “elite” then the Yankees need their injured reinforcements to come back whole even sooner.

Meanwhile, Tarik Skubal looked a lot like he’s supposed to for the Tigers, going six innings with nine strikeouts, no walks, and one hit — a solo homer. He gave up two runs, one unearned, before his night ended, which is the kind of performance the ace needed to have with trade rumors swirling. Hey, the Tigers might be just 6.5 back of a wild-card spot, but Skubal is a free agent this offseason and there are nine teams in front of them, and just the Angels and Royals behind.

Philadelphia PhilliesHarper With The Snag

Bryce Harper used to be a catcher, and then he was an outfielder, and now he’s a first baseman who sometimes is penciled in as a designated hitter. He can still field out there, though, even if he’s not as young as he used to be.

The Phillies blanked the Pirates, 8-0, with starter Cristopher Sánchez lowering his ERA to 2.00 with nine strikeouts and seven scoreless innings, and Harper had an RBI single and a walk to go with the nifty glovework.



Source

Posted on

Why Are So Many Players Wearing Pink Cleats At The

If you have tuned into the 2026 World Cup, you have likely noticed one striking visual trend across the pitches as an overwhelming number of players are wearing bright pink cleats. 

Major sports apparel brands, including Nike, Adidas, Puma, New Balance and Sketchers, all independently released pink-centric footwear packs for this summer’s tournament.

This widespread adoption of the color comes down to a combination of broadcast visibility, consumer trends, and player confidence, according to a report by The Athletic.

Erling Haaland in his pink cleats during Norway’s group-stage match against Senegal. (Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

–>

The primary technical reason for the color choice is high contrast.

Pink sits opposite green on the color wheel, making it the most visible color against a soccer pitch. Product testing from major brands revealed that pink provided the maximum visual impact for fans watching both in the stadiums and on TV or mobile screens. 

Furthermore, because no participating country at the World Cup features a primarily pink uniform, the cleats are guaranteed to stand out without clashing or blending into team kits.

Kylian Mbappé is among the stars who have been rocking pinck cleats at the FIFA World Cup. (Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

–>

There is also a psychological element behind the design choice. Brand executives noted that athletes request loud, bright colors during high-pressure moments to boost their confidence.

Odinga Nimako, a senior member of Nike’s global soccer footwear team, told The Athletic that players wearing such a loud color can amplify their confidence.

Rob Sheldon, head of product for soccer at New Balance, echoed that sentiment, noting that pink aligns with global design trends focused on visibility while reflecting their own energy.

“Athletes (are) demanding the most advanced performance footwear available and increasingly wanting products that reflect their individuality,” Sheldon told CNN Sports.

One player who’s not wearing the pink boots and is standing out in doing so: Lionel Messi.

Lionel Messi stands out as one of the few World Cup stars who is not wearing pink cleats. (Pablo Morano/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

–>

While the simultaneous release of pink cleats by rival companies makes it look like a coordinated effort, industry experts suggest it is a coincidence driven by shared market research and consumer data as each brand aimed to create the most eye-catching product for the world’s biggest sporting stage. 

However, the uniform shift toward pink should not be expected to be permanent.

“When a new season begins, it’ll be a new color, around the end of July,” Ben Warren, founder of BW Boots UK told The Athletic.

For those viewing the World Cup, the green grass of the pitch will have pink cleats sprinkled atop for at least the remainder of the tournament.



Source

Posted on

Polymarket Promo Code FOX: Claim a $50 Bonus When Trading

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. 

New users can use Polymarket promo code FOX to claim a $50 bonus and trade on the biggest World Cup markets of the day.

The World Cup round of 32 continues Wednesday with three compelling knockout matches as England, Belgium, Senegal, and co-host USA all battle for places in the quarterfinals. 

England can keep their World Cup trophy hopes alive as they look to end DR Congo’s remarkable tournament run after the Leopards reached their first World Cup knockout stage since 1974.

Belgium and Senegal square off after both teams stormed into the round of 32 with five-goal victories in their group-stage finales. 

The spotlight then shifts to San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, where the USA looks for just its second-ever men’s World Cup knockout win against a dangerous Bosnia and Herzegovina side.

Use Polymarket promo code FOX to claim the $50 bonus and trade on another day full of chaos in the World Cup.

For more information and full terms and conditions, visit our Polymarket promo code page.

How to Claim the Polymarket Promo with Code FOX

  1. Click here to download the Polymarket app on iOS or Android.
  2. Create a new Polymarket account using your email address.
  3. Enter promo code FOX in the promo code or invite code field during registration.
  4. Complete identity verification as prompted inside the app.
  5. Deposit a minimum of $20 to your Polymarket account.
  6. Your $50 trading bonus will be credited to your account automatically after the qualifying deposit.

USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina Odds

*Odds/Probability are subject to change*

Teams Chance Yes No
USA 83% 83¢ 18¢
Bosnia and Herzegovina 18% 18¢ 83¢

More markets available on Kalshi.

How to Watch USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina

  • When: Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. ET
  • Where: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area, CA
  • TV: FOX
  • Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One, FOX Sports

Players to Watch in USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina match

Christian Pulisic is expected to return after missing the group-stage finale and remains the spark for the U.S. attack. His ability to take on defenders and create space will be vital against Bosnia and Herzegovina’s organized defense.

Folarin Balogun has been one of the United States’ most dangerous attacking threats throughout the tournament. If the U.S. midfield can consistently find him in dangerous areas, Balogun has the finishing ability to decide the match.

Edin Džeko continues to lead Bosnia and Herzegovina’s attack with his experience and physical presence. The veteran forward remains the focal point in the final third and will look to capitalize on any scoring opportunity.

Kerim Alajbegović announced himself with a standout performance against Qatar, scoring the opening goal to help send Bosnia and Herzegovina into the knockout stage. The talented young winger gives his side another dynamic attacking option capable of changing the game.

England vs. DR Congo Odds

*Odds/Probability are subject to change*

Teams Chance Yes No
England 88% 88¢ 13¢
DR Congo 13% 13¢ 88¢

More markets available on Kalshi.

How to Watch England vs. DR Congo

  • When: Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET
  • Where: Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, GA
  • TV: FOX
  • Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One, FOXSports.com, FOX Sports App

Players to Watch in England vs. DR Congo match

Harry Kane remains England’s focal point in attack and will lead a talented frontline into the knockout stage. His finishing and link-up play will be crucial against DR Congo’s compact defensive setup.

Jude Bellingham controls the tempo in midfield and excels at finding space between the lines. England will rely on his creativity to unlock a disciplined DR Congo defense.

Yoane Wissa has been the Leopards’ breakout star, scoring three goals during the group stage. He’ll be the primary threat on the counterattack if DR Congo hopes to pull off another upset.

Chancel Mbemba anchors the heart of DR Congo’s defense and will be tasked with organizing the back line against England’s dangerous attack. His leadership and physicality will be vital if the Leopards are to frustrate the favorites.

Belgium vs. Senegal Odds

*Odds/Probability are subject to change*

Teams Chance Yes No
Belgium 60% 60¢ 41¢
Senegal 41% 41¢ 60¢

More markets available on Kalshi.

How to Watch Belgium vs. Senegal

  • When: Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. ET
  • Where: Seattle Stadium, Seattle, WA
  • TV: FS1
  • Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One, FOXSports.com, FOX Sports App

Players to Watch in Belgium vs. Senegal match

Kevin De Bruyne remains the driving force behind Belgium’s attack. His vision, passing range, and ability to create chances will be crucial as the Red Devils look to break down Senegal’s disciplined defense and continue their unbeaten run.

Leandro Trossard provides Belgium with another dangerous attacking outlet thanks to his movement and creativity in the final third. If Belgium is to capitalize on its possession, Trossard will play a major role in unlocking Senegal’s back line.

Ismaïla Sarr has been Senegal’s most dangerous attacking player throughout the tournament, scoring three goals during the group stage. His pace and direct running give Senegal its best chance to threaten Belgium on the counterattack.

Pape Gueye earned his place in the spotlight after a dominant performance against Iraq, contributing two goals and an assist. Senegal will need another commanding display from Gueye in midfield to disrupt Belgium’s rhythm and help fuel another upset bid.



Source

Posted on

Kalshi Promo Code FOXSPORTS Unlocks a $10 Bonus for USA

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.

The World Cup round of 32 continues with another exciting day of knockout action as England, Belgium, Senegal, and co-host USA all take the pitch with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line. 

New users can use Kalshi promo code FOXSPORTS to receive a $10 bonus and trade on Wednesday’s biggest World Cup matches.

England opens the day looking to end DR Congo’s Cinderella run, reaching their first knockout stage since 1974. England’s Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have energized their attack and can cause troubles early for this DR Congo team.

Belgium and Senegal then meet after both teams punched their tickets to the round of 32 with dominant five-goal wins in their group-stage finales. 

The day concludes with the USA facing Bosnia and Herzegovina as the Americans chase just their second-ever men’s World Cup knockout victory.

Use the Kalshi promo code FOXSPORTS to claim your $10 bonus and trade World Cup knockout action as these nations look to advance to the round of 16.

For more information and full terms and conditions, visit our Kalshi promo code page.

How to Claim the Kalshi Welcome Bonus

  1. Click this ‘Claim Now’ link to visit Kalshi and start the signup process.
  2. Create a new Kalshi account using your email address and basic registration details.
  3. Enter Kalshi promo code FOXSPORTS during signup, so the welcome offer is attached to your account.
  4. Complete identity verification, which Kalshi requires before users can deposit and trade.
  5. Deposit funds and trade at least $10 in event contracts to receive the $10 bonus trading credit.

USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina Odds

*Odds/Probability are subject to change*

Teams Chance Yes No
USA 84% 84¢ 17¢
Bosnia and Herzegovina 17% 17¢ 84¢

More markets available on Kalshi.

How to Watch USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina

  • When: Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. ET
  • Where: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area, CA
  • TV: FOX
  • Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One, FOX Sports

Players to Watch in USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina match

Christian Pulisic is expected to return after missing the group-stage finale and remains the spark for the U.S. attack. His ability to take on defenders and create space will be vital against Bosnia and Herzegovina’s organized defense.

Folarin Balogun has been one of the United States’ most dangerous attacking threats throughout the tournament. If the U.S. midfield can consistently find him in dangerous areas, Balogun has the finishing ability to decide the match.

Edin Džeko continues to lead Bosnia and Herzegovina’s attack with his experience and physical presence. The veteran forward remains the focal point in the final third and will look to capitalize on any scoring opportunity.

Kerim Alajbegović announced himself with a standout performance against Qatar, scoring the opening goal to help send Bosnia and Herzegovina into the knockout stage. The talented young winger gives his side another dynamic attacking option capable of changing the game.

England vs. DR Congo Odds

*Odds/Probability are subject to change*

Teams Chance Yes No
England 88% 88¢ 13¢
DR Congo 13% 13¢ 88¢

More markets available on Kalshi.

How to Watch England vs. DR Congo

  • When: Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET
  • Where: Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, GA
  • TV: FOX
  • Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One, FOXSports.com, FOX Sports App

Players to Watch in England vs. DR Congo match

Harry Kane remains England’s focal point in attack and will lead a talented frontline into the knockout stage. His finishing and link-up play will be crucial against DR Congo’s compact defensive setup.

Jude Bellingham controls the tempo in midfield and excels at finding space between the lines. England will rely on his creativity to unlock a disciplined DR Congo defense.

Yoane Wissa has been the Leopards’ breakout star, scoring three goals during the group stage. He’ll be the primary threat on the counterattack if DR Congo hopes to pull off another upset.

Chancel Mbemba anchors the heart of DR Congo’s defense and will be tasked with organizing the back line against England’s dangerous attack. His leadership and physicality will be vital if the Leopards are to frustrate the favorites.

Belgium vs. Senegal Odds

*Odds/Probability are subject to change*

Teams Chance Yes No
Belgium 60% 60¢ 41¢
Senegal 41% 41¢ 60¢

More markets available on Kalshi.

How to Watch Belgium vs. Senegal

  • When: Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. ET
  • Where: Seattle Stadium, Seattle, WA
  • TV: FS1
  • Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One, FOXSports.com, FOX Sports App

Players to Watch in Belgium vs. Senegal match

Kevin De Bruyne remains the driving force behind Belgium’s attack. His vision, passing range, and ability to create chances will be crucial as the Red Devils look to break down Senegal’s disciplined defense and continue their unbeaten run.

Leandro Trossard provides Belgium with another dangerous attacking outlet thanks to his movement and creativity in the final third. If Belgium is to capitalize on its possession, Trossard will play a major role in unlocking Senegal’s back line.

Ismaïla Sarr has been Senegal’s most dangerous attacking player throughout the tournament, scoring three goals during the group stage. His pace and direct running give Senegal its best chance to threaten Belgium on the counterattack.

Pape Gueye earned his place in the spotlight after a dominant performance against Iraq, contributing two goals and an assist. Senegal will need another commanding display from Gueye in midfield to disrupt Belgium’s rhythm and help fuel another upset bid.



Source

Posted on

USA vs. Bosnia And Herzegovina Prediction, Odds, Picks For World

USA will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in a 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 32 showdown on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on FOX. 

The United States is in the World Cup knockout stage for a fourth straight time, but the U.S. is looking to avoid a fourth straight exit in its first knockout match. 

USA got off to a dream start to this tournament. The Stars and Stripes won its opener 4-1 against a Paraguay team that has now advanced to the Round of 16. The U.S. followed that up with a controlling 2-0 win over Australia before falling to Türkiye on a last-minute goal in a game that was meaningless from a group perspective. 

In the group finale loss, the U.S. rested many starters for the majority of the game. But the Americans are expected to have their full starting lineup back and ready to go in the round of 32, including Christian Pulisic, who missed the Australia match with a left calf injury.

Meanwhile, Bosnia and Herzegovina is in the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in its nation’s history. 

Bosnia and Herzegovina advanced from Group B with four points as one of the best third-place teams, beating Qatar 3-1 in the finale for its second-ever World Cup win. It impressively drew Canada 1-1 in the opener before falling 4-1 to Switzerland in a game where three of Switzerland’s goals came after a Bosnia red card. 

Let’s check out the odds for the USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina matchup at FanDuel Sportsbook as of June 30. 

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.

Christian Pulisic is +110 to score against Bosnia and Herzegovina (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP via Getty Images). –>

USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina Odds

Moneyline

    [–>

  • USA: -280 (bet $10 to win $13.57 total)
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina: +800 (bet $10 to win $90 total)
  • Draw: +390 (bet $10 to win $49 total)

Spread 

  • USA -1.5: +110 (bet $10 to win $21 total)
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina +1.5: -140 (bet $10 to win $17.14 total)

Over/Under Total Odds: 1.5

  • Over: -134 (bet $10 to win $17.46 total)
  • Under: +110 (bet $10 to win $21 total)

USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina Prediction, Pick

From FOX Sports Research:

  • Bosnia and Herzegovina will be no cakewalk for the U.S. in this match. Bosnia is a very physical and defensively oriented team that will try and wear you down. While the U.S. should ultimately advance, there is no value on its moneyline odds. Instead, take Folarin Balogun to score. Balogun scored twice in USA’s opening match but hasn’t scored since. Expect USA’s star striker to put one into the back of the net.

USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina

  • When: Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. ET
  • Where: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area, CA
  • TV: FOX
  • Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One, FOX Sports, FOX Sports App

Let’s take a look at some other bets for the match. 

Anytime Goalscorer Props

  • Folarin Balogun: +100 (bet $10 to win $20 total)
  • Christian Pulisic: +110 (bet $10 to win $21 total)
  • Ricardo Pepi: +120 (bet $10 to win $22 total)
  • Haji Wright: +120 (bet $10 to win $22 total)
  • Giovanni Reyna: +165 (bet $10 to win $26.50 total)

Tie No Bet

  • USA: -650 (bet $10 to win $11.54 total)
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina: +420 (bet $10 to win $52 total)

Both Teams to Score

  • Yes: +102 (bet $10 to win $20.20 total)
  • No: -130 (bet $10 to win $17.69 total)



Source

Posted on

Pulisic. Ream. Who Else? Charting The USA’s Penalty Takers At

If the United States national team gets pressed into a shootout during the knockout rounds of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, it will be a new experience for many of the team’s players.

It’s equally tough to predict who will take the attempts, considering penalties will only factor if both teams are still tied after 120 minutes. Christian Pulisic, Ricardo Pepi, Folarin Balogun, and Haji Wright have meaningful experience with penalties at the club level, but it is unlikely all four would be on the field at one time. That will likely press others into an uncomfortable situation. 

The U.S. team has a limited penalty record in recent years. The team has never been involved in a World Cup shootout and most of its history in shootouts comes from the Gold Cup (with one notable exception being against Mexico at the 1995 Copa América). 

The most recent shootout came last summer at the 2025 Gold Cup where the U.S. team prevailed over Costa Rican team that featured former Champions League winner Keylor Navas in goal. There we saw current World Cup players such as Tyler Adams, Malik Tillman, and Alex Freeman all score. Sebastian Berhalter missed. 

With all that understood, here’s what the shootout lineup could look like for the U.S. team at this World Cup. 

United StatesStep Right Up

Christian Pulisic has had success from the penalty spot. (Photo by Karl Anderson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

–>

  1. Christian Pulisic | Forward
  2. Ricardo Pepi | Forward
  3. Folarin Balogun | Forward
  4. Antonee “Jedi” Robinson | Defender

Here’s Why: Pulisic is a no-brainer as he has taken plenty of important penalties for both club and country. When taking standalone penalties, he’s made 12 of the 14 attempts at the senior level. Pepi and Balogun are pure goalscorers and both have experience taking them for their clubs. Robinson is now in Fulham’s penalty rotation after he coolly converted an attempt against Wolverhampton at the end of the 2025-26 Premier League season. 

United StatesYou’re Next

Tim Ream, as a veteran captain, will want to take the spot. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

–>

  1. Haji Wright | Forward
  2. Tim Ream | Defender
  3. Chris Richards | Defender

Here’s Why: Wright has converted all five of his attempts for Coventry in league play and seems like a logical choice. The problem, however, is that if Balogun, Pulisic and Pepi are on the field to take the first set, the chances are unlikely that Wright is also on the field. 

Ream and Richards will almost surely be on the field for the USMNT if healthy. The central defensive tandem both have a lot of experience in top leagues, but not much by way of penalties. Ream has only taken one penalty in his career while playing for Fulham in March 2017 – and it was saved.  Chris Richards converted a shootout attempt this past season for Crystal Palace in a Carabao Cup win over Millwall. 

Regardless, penalties in shootouts are often just as much a test of maturity and confidence as they are about skill. Ream and Richards can likely be relied on to handle the pressure of a late-round attempt. Specifically, Ream is the team’s captain and likely wants to lead the team in this area. 

United StatesBe At The Ready

Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams for the USA. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

–>

  • Tyler Adams | Midfielder
  • Malik Tillman | Midfielder
  • Weston McKennie | Midfielder
  • Sergiño Dest | Defender/Forward
  • Alex Freeman | Defender
  • Gio Reyna | Midfielder

Here’s Why: These players all remain realistic options to take penalties should the U.S. team get to a shootout, but more experienced options will likely go first. 

Adams, Tillman, McKennie and Dest are stars of the team, but all have very limited penalty success at the first-team club level. Freeman, Tillman, and Adams scored for the USA last summer in a shootout win over Costa Rica at the Gold Cup (although Tillman also missed a chance in regulation). Reyna converted an attempt in the 2022-23 Bundesliga season against Stuttgart while playing for Borussia Dortmund. 

Matt Freese Matt Turner Goalkeeper: Which Matt Gets The Nod?

Penalty shootouts don’t just require converting your attempts – but having a goalkeeper who also rises to the occasion on the other end.

Both Matt Freese and Matt Turner have had success saving penalties at the club level. This is not the case where Mauricio Pochettino will want to make a goalkeeping change just ahead of a shootout. 

Last summer after the U.S. team defeated Costa Rica in a shootout at the Gold Cup, Freese saved three attempts. He said afterward that “penalties are my thing.”



Source