In Driver’s Eye with James Hinchcliffe, the six-time INDYCAR winner will bring you inside the mind of a racer while breaking down the nuts and bolts of the sport for fans.

After a late arrival on the schedule, a myriad of complex logistical hurdles and an unprecedented (but totally justified) amount of promotion and hype, we are finally here: INDYCAR’s Freedom 250.

For many people, being able to attend an Indianapolis 500 — or indeed any INDYCAR race — could be a once-in-a-lifetime proposition. We in the industry often forget how lucky we are to get to go to the race track for a living. But even those of us who live and breathe motorsports will be in for a once-in-a-lifetime event this weekend.

This is shaping up to truly be one of the most exceptional events in the long and storied history of INDYCAR for a number of reasons. 

(Photo by Mehmet Eser/Anadolu via Getty Images)

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Let’s start with the setting. Having a race track built in D.C., around the National Mall no less, is certainly not something many people thought they would see in their lifetime. 

To build a track, you have to meet certain prerequisites, and — by a bit of luck and a lot of hard work from a lot of people, both on the D.C. side and the INDYCAR/Penske Entertainment side — all boxes were checked.

The backdrop will be unmatched and the visuals will be stunning, as Indy cars flash by some of the nation’s most recognizable monuments and buildings in a 180-mile-an-hour blur. The challenge for the drivers will be equally monumental.

We’ve already had two brand-new street circuits this season, so the idea of it all seems old hat by now. 

(Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

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But with D.C., things are a little different. Unlike the streets of Arlington, Texas, and Markham, Ontario, D.C. has not been laser scanned to make an accurate track model for the sim. There is a track model, but it’s based off a 2-D CAD drawing and is nowhere near as accurate.

Furthermore, teams don’t have exact info on surface conditions or grip levels, so it’s all a bit of a guess. When speaking with Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood on my podcast, “Off Track with Hinch and Rossi,” this week ahead of the race, he said that the pre-race simulations are predicting a lap time of somewhere between 53 and 60 seconds. A seven-second spread! That would be like the difference between a lap in an Indy car and one in an Indy NXT car!

So needless to say, drivers are coming in with even more unknowns than they had for either Arlington or Markham.

That said, having had the recent experience of Markham under their belts, the engineers especially will be looking back at what worked and what didn’t on another newly designed, freshly paved circuit. 

But they can’t simply cut and paste setups because the layout of the D.C. course is comprised of several more 90-degree, slower-minimum-speed-type corners than Markham. This means there will be a huge emphasis on longitudinal grip — straight line braking and traction — and less on higher-speed lateral grip.

FREEDOM 250: WHAT’S AT STAKE FOR INDYCAR DRIVERS

On paper, D.C.’s 1.7-mile circuit looks like more of a traditional street course than what we saw last week. Think a little more Detroit-ish in nature. But tuning the car is only half the battle. You need to make sure your driver is ready to go, too.

(Render courtesy of INDYCAR)

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Firstly, you have to cover the mental state of your driver. We are in the last few rounds of the season, and if your year hasn’t gone well, the desperation level climbs each weekend. 

For drivers that haven’t won a race yet this year, time is running out, and bigger risks need to be taken.

Likewise for drivers who aren’t just thinking about getting a W on the board for this year but don’t have a contract in place for next season. Every race, every session, every lap of a weekend is part of the job interview that could make our break the next step in your career.

And let’s not forget about the magnitude of this race. 

Penske Corporation President Bud Denker, Graham Rahal, Santino Ferrucci, Pato O’Ward and Alex Palou with the Winning Owner’s trophy in front of the US Capitol. (Photo by Michael L. Levitt/Lumen via Getty Images)

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No, it’s not the Indy 500, but if you thought the list of Indy 500 winners was an elite one, the winner of the Freedom 250 will stand alone. One of one. The only driver to conquer the U.S. capital.

D.C. doesn’t have the racing history that Indy does, so it will never mean quite as much to drivers. But there is something undeniably cool about being the only driver to have won such a prestigious event. And it will be prestigious!

Not only will there be 100,000 fans observing trackside from the ticket lottery, there are also tons of hospitality suites occupied by some of the biggest companies on Earth, and many of the country’s most powerful people will be in attendance. They will say, “I remember when…” And they will remember who won that race.

Not going to lie, that’s pretty cool!

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE FAST: WASHINGTON, D.C.

So, once you make sure to keep your driver’s head in the game, you’ve gotta hope their body is up to the task. 

Street courses are physical, but not in the way a Barber or Mid-Ohio is, with the long, fast corners that place the driver under high G-loads. They are physical because the bumps and surface changes send so much feedback through the steering wheel that it feels like it’s going to rip out of your hands. So you are death-gripping the wheel all day long.

And in D.C., the day will be long. Very long…

In an attempt to make the distance match the name, a handful of laps were added to make the official race distance 250 miles. That means we are going to be racing for 147 laps.

Freedom 250 course map. (INDYCAR)

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Let me put that into perspective. 

St. Petersburg is one of the longest races of the year out side of the Indy 500. And it’s also hot and humid with a bumpy street track. Makes it a real physical test. That track is about 1.8 miles, and we race there for 100 laps. Even all green, it’s a nearly two-hour race. Throw in a few cautions and you’re looking at two-plus. That’s a long time strapped into a race car in the heat and humidity.

The D.C. track is 1.7 miles long. And remember, we’re doing 147 laps. In a very humid city barely above sea level.

Even all green, this is set to be a marathon-type race for the drivers. And if what we saw in Markham is any indication, the combination of a new track, a big event and some late-season desperation kicking in means the likelihood of an all green race is slim to none. 

(Photo by Kent Nishimura / AFP via Getty Images)

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This will be a different type of physical challenge for drivers, maintaining their cool in composure in an environment where even misjudging an inch or two could fire you into the wall.

1 FOR THE ROAD

I will leave you with one final thought: This weekend is going to be memorable. This is going to be a mini Indy 500. 

And as such, we at FOX have put together a monumental pre-race show, and if I am being totally honest, I am about as excited about that as I am for the race! Knowing what’s coming down the pipeline has got me telling everybody that as much as this race has the potential to be one for the books, don’t sleep on the pre-race show!

It kicks off at 11:30am ET for 90 minutes to set the biggest street circuit stage that the sport has ever seen. And you are not going to want to miss it!

MORE DRIVER’S EYE:

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The Freedom 250 isn’t the first race hosted in Washington, D.C. by the U.S. president in celebration of America’s birthday. 

On July 4th, 1801, 225 years ago, to celebrate America’s 25th birthday, President Thomas Jefferson helped put on festivities including horseback riding and cockfighting in Washington, D.C., according to the White House Historical Association. 

Jefferson, the third President of the United States, and the Washington Jockey Club “established a racecourse just blocks from the White House, with part of the course running across Pennsylvania Avenue and through what is now Lafayette Park.”

The United States Capitol is seen along the Freedom 250 Grand Prix track outside of the National Gallery of Art on Thursday. (Finn Gomez/Getty Images)

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According to the White House Historical Association, “the north grounds of the President’s Park came alive at daybreak with the raising of tents and booths, soon followed by crowds of people. A festival took place just for the day. Food and drink and cottage goods of all types were sold. There were horse races and parades of the Washington Militia, along with other military companies. 

After the festivities, Jefferson invited attendees into the White House. The tradition of an annual reception at the White House continued for much of the nineteenth century.

Not only did Jefferson host a horse race near the White House, but he was an avid supporter and participant in horse racing. He often attended meets at the National Race Course in Washington, D.C.

Now Donald J. Trump, the 47th president of the U.S., is helping to bring a 250-mile, 147-lap race to Washington, D.C. to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. 

“I’m thrilled to be here with some of the most extraordinary figures in the history of motorsports and any sport, if you think about it,” Trump said at a Freedom 250 Grand Prix Showcase on July 13. “As we count down to the Freedom 250 Grand Prix, this will be like no other race, ever. I don’t think anything will ever be — will ever top what we’re going to be having.”

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., is the first NTT IndyCar Series race ever held in the nation’s capital. The FOX pre-race show will begin at 11:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 23, with the green flag scheduled for 1:13 p.m. ET. The course does not reach the White House, but it runs along Pennsylvania Avenue, Constitution Avenue and in front of the Washington Monument. 

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix is the second event hosted in proximity to the White House this summer, along with UFC Freedom 250. 

With this being the initial IndyCar race in Washington, D.C., no drivers have course experience as an upper hand. But Alex Palou (542 points) enters Sunday’s race with a healthy lead in the standings, despite finishing fourth at the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham last Sunday. 

The battle for second place is much closer, with Kyle Kirkwood (409), David Malukas (405) and Christian Lundgaard (403) separated by six points. So while the Freedom 250 will be a spectacle to watch, IndyCar’s top drivers can’t lose focus as the stakes are high.

WHAT YOU SHOULD READ NEXT

Here’s how the course was built for this weekend in Washington, D.C.

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In November 2019, during a Chicago-area high school football playoff game, a 14-year-old Carnell Tate couldn’t be stopped.

Starring for Marist High School, the freshman receiver caught eight passes for 92 yards against Loyola Academy, a perennial national power and the defending Illinois state champions. When Tate scored the late touchdown that helped Marist push the game out of reach, his teammates went crazy.

But not Tate.

“Our senior wide receiver came up to me and he’s like, ‘He won’t even celebrate!,'” Matt Shalvis, Marist’s offensive coordinator, told me.

“He was humble, so it was hard to get him to react at all out there. He was like a robot — just out there playing the game, consuming everything. Great teammate — not like he was shut off to his teammates — he just didn’t like to boast or celebrate his touchdowns or anything. … You could tell he was excited, but he just didn’t want to show anybody up or show it.”

Nearly seven years later, not much has changed. For the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, equanimity appears to be a defining attribute.

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

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Tate has stayed emotionally neutral throughout his first training camp with the Tennessee Titans. It doesn’t matter how big of a play he makes. He even kept his cool during a physical, chippy joint practice with the San Francisco 49ers last week. 

“You got to know how to control your emotions and not let your emotions control you,” Tate said after a few weeks of his first NFL camp. “When you’re able to do that, you’re able to consistently play at a high level.”

That’s what the Titans will need from Tate, of course. He is expected to develop into a No. 1-caliber wide receiver, one who will accelerate second-year quarterback Cam Ward’s development as Tennessee’s franchise quarterback.  

After a catch-less preseason debut last week against San Francisco, Tate will look for his first NFL reception when the Titans host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night (8 p.m. ET on FOX). 

“I thought he was very physical in the run game,” Titans coach Robert Saleh said of Tate’s performance in the preseason opener. “… He played physical, he played fast. He was winning his one-on-ones when he was getting those opportunities. As time goes, we’ll find ways to give him the ball.”

‘That’s The Level Of Expectations He Has’ 

During his time at Ohio State, former Buckeyes offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Brian Hartline would point out “MAs” — missed assignments — when his receivers blocked the wrong guy. 

But Tate took it a step further. Hartline’s MA for him also included blocking the right guy … but using the wrong kind of leverage or the wrong shoulder. If Tate didn’t make contact with the proper play-side leverage, then he didn’t know the play. So that’s a mental mistake.

Now the head coach at the University of South Florida, Hartline explained that Tate was simply holding himself to a higher standard.  

“That’s the level of expectations he has,” Hartline told me. 

Before transferring to Florida’s IMG Academy, Tate got straight A’s as a freshman at Marist. Every day, he made the long commute from home on the west side of Chicago to Marist, a private Catholic school on the south side.

“He was up early, and he was taking buses by himself and putting in that work to make sure he was there,” Titans rookie offensive lineman Pat Coogan, Tate’s teammate at Marist, told me.

Added Ron Dawczak, his coach at Marist: “There was no detail too small.”

Tate catches a touchdown pass for Marist High School during his 2019 freshman season. (Photo by Ed McGregor)

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During Tate’s freshman year at Ohio State, there was one game week when one of the Buckeyes’ top receivers, current Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Emeka Egbuka, was sidelined due to injury. Tate was up to fill the void in the slot — a position he’d never played to that point. But Hartline watched him fit into the offense seamlessly, a testament to the preparation he’d done to understand the entire scheme. 

When Tate entered the Buckeyes’ loaded wide receiver room, which included Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr., he peppered his older counterparts with questions — about Ohio State, playing college ball and football at large. He was a willing blocker. Hartline always knew he could count on Tate in any given play call.

No matter if he was banged up or out of gas, Tate had a way of compartmentalizing any feelings that took away from his ability to perform. He embraced constructive feedback and applied it to the field almost immediately. 

Tate became vocal in the meeting room with seniority, not afraid to call out players at other positions. 

“He’s a quiet kid at heart,” Ohio State wide receiver Brandon Inniss told me. “But when he opens his mouth, people listen because they see his potential and abilities on the field.”

Brandon Inniss (1) celebrates with Carnell Tate (17) after catching a touchdown pass against the Wisconsin Badgers last October. (Photo by Ross Harried/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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Hartline describes Tate as “very purposeful.”

“He doesn’t like to watch people do half-assed things,” Hartline explained to me. “Carnell doesn’t do well with stupidity. Carnell doesn’t do well with laziness. Carnell doesn’t do well with lack of excellence from people, like coaches. It doesn’t matter. If you’re talking and it’s not good, he’s gonna tell you it’s not good. If you’re playing football and you’re on his team and it’s not good, he’s gonna tell you it’s not good.

“He just calls a spade a spade. He’s got his boys. He’s really tight with his boys. But when it comes to work and football, it’s just more of a matter of fact. He doesn’t need the [pat] on the back.”

‘He Really Doesn’t Drop Nothing’ 

During a two-minute drill near the end of Monday’s practice, the Titans’ offense faced a fourth-and-long near midfield. 

Ward connected with Tate deep down the right sideline to move the chains. It was an impressive catch for the rookie receiver, who stretched his arms wide to make the grab and held on despite a mid-air collision with Titans safety Kevin Winston Jr. It added to Tate’s growing list of highlight-worthy plays since the offseason program. 

He’s been a primary target for Ward on third downs and other got-to-have-it situations. 

“He really doesn’t drop nothing,” Ward said in May. 

That was the case at Ohio State, too — he didn’t register a drop last season, according to Pro Football Focus.

The 6-foot-2, 192-pound Tate is a sure-handed, crafty route runner who glides in and out breaks. He’s smooth. He’s a ball tracker and proficient at making contested catches. Whatever he lacks in suddenness, he makes up for with long speed that enables him to get behind the defense at a high rate. 

“No, he doesn’t have 4.2 speed, and he doesn’t have a 40-inch vertical,” Egbuka told me. “But when it comes to making separation, running clean routes and catching the ball, he does all those things at a very, very high level. And that’s what we get paid to do.” 

Statistically, Tate was Ohio State’s second option behind Jeremiah Smith last season. Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin didn’t see it that way, though.

“I like to tell people we had two number ones when he was here,” Sayin told me. “When you’re a quarterback, you have a lot of trust in him.”

It’s not like being Ohio State’s No. 2 or even No. 3 receiver has prevented anyone from becoming an NFL star, either. 

Egbuka, who was 62 yards short of 1,000 receiving yards as an NFL rookie last year, was the Buckeyes’ No. 2 option to Smith in ‘24. New York Jets star Garrett Wilson, the NFL’s 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year, and New Orleans Saints All-Pro Chris Olave ranked second and third for Ohio State in receiving yards, respectively, in their last college season in 2021. The Buckeyes’ wide receiver room is regularly filled with guys who, because of all the talent, never get to show what they’re fully capable of in college. 

The Titans are counting on Tate to add to that list. 

But at the moment, he’s not actively seeking out the guidance of former Ohio State receivers starring in the NFL. Instead, he’s zeroed in on being the best possible receiver for Titans OC Brian Daboll’s offense. 

“I’m leaning on the guys who’ve been around Dabes,” Tate said earlier this month. “Like, Wan’Dale [Robinson] has been with him with the Giants. So I’m trying to learn as much as possible from Wan’Dale. He’s played every position in Dabes’ offense. He’s been with Dabes the past four years. And then Rid [Calvin Ridley] is familiar with the offense as well. I just be trying to learn from those two guys.”

So Tate is focused. You could even say purposeful.

WHAT YOU SHOULD READ NEXT

Carnell Tate is the latest former Buckeyes WR poised to break out.

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A federal appeals court on Friday temporarily halted a court order that would have granted thousands of athletes who left college after last season an extra year of eligibility.

The lawsuit was filed by players who graduated high school in 2022, whose college eligibility ended last season and who were not included in the NCAA’s controversial new rule that grants most players five years of eligibilty, beginning next season.

After winning a ruling in district court last month, many of those players were trying to figure out how to return to their former schools to play another year. Football season opens over the next two weeks.

This 2-1 ruling from a panel of the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver puts that on hold until the appeal can be heard in total. It could tamp down the chaos from a series of rulings in courts around the country that had cleared the way for players to come back.

Kellan Wyatt had planned to return to the defending champion Indiana Hoosiers. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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A big portion of the case rests on the idea that some athletes were trying to regain spots on rosters that had already been locked in. The plaintiffs argued it was a matter of fairness: They shouldn’t be restricted from a fifth year — and the educational and NIL compensation opportunities that go along with it — that a player one year younger was entitled to.

But, the NCAA countered in its legal filing, “fairness is in the eye of the beholder.”

“Countless student-athletes already on campuses, and schools who built their rosters in reliance on the rules the NCAA’s membership wrote and agreed to follow, do not believe it is fair for thousands of formerly-ineligible athletes to return to competition at the start of the 2026–27 season,” it said.

Among those planning returns were defensive linemen Kellan Wyatt and Stephan Daley, both members of the national champion Indiana roster from last season.

The ruling is not a guarantee to end the confusion across college sports. The NCAA is on the losing end of a number of lawsuits filed in other state and federal courts over essentially the same issue, and it’s hard to tell how this case will impact those.

Making headlines this week was the return of former Ole Miss starters Dae’Quan Wright, Zxavian Harris and Wydett Williams, who won rulings from a state court in Louisiana giving them another season of eligibility even though they’d signed with NFL teams this summer. The NCAA could still directly appeal this ruling, making the participation of these players no sure thing, either.

College Football Related Stories

Basketball teams have longer to figure this out — no team wants a player on the roster who might later be declared ineligibile. Gonzaga, for one, recently added Dayton’s Javon Bennett and Florida State’s Chauncey Wiggins, each of whom won eligibility lawsuits in different courts. Former St. John’s player RJ Luis, who signed as an undrafted free agent with the NBA’s Boston Celtics before being waived and then signing with the Utah Jazz, has also filed suit to return to college basketball.

“Some of us coaches told the NCAA over and over again, if they waited longer to announce this, they probably wouldn’t have this issue,” Zags coach Mark Few said in a recent interview. “So I don’t know why anybody would not be open to it. Maybe you don’t need it, but if you do … these are good guys.”

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has been vocally opposed to allowing pros to return to college sports, saying that it “fuels disruption,” per ESPN. “These rules are grounded in the principle that athletics are an integral part of the academic experience. The rules align the time permitted for college athletics with the pursuit of an undergraduate education and further the important purpose of preserving opportunities for future student-athletes to participate in college sports.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Soccer is back, just not the World Cup. The English Premier League begins today and new users on DraftKings can bet $5 and get $150 instantly in bonus bets. 

Arsenal begins its title defense against newly promoted Coventry City, making the match one of the biggest games of the opening weekend. Arsenal enters the campaign looking to repeat as Premier League champions, while Coventry gets its first opportunity to make an early statement against the defending titleholders.

The opening weekend also features several other marquee matchups as Premier League clubs begin their campaigns. Manchester City starts a new era under Enzo Maresca following Pep Guardiola’s departure, while Chelsea and Liverpool also enter the season with new managers in Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola.

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EPL Season Opener

*Odds may differ each site*

Arsenal vs. Coventry 

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• Draw +650
• Coventry +1400

Goalscorers Odds

Viktor Gyokeres	+350	−105	+475
Kai Havertz	+400	+100	+600
Gabriel Jesus	+450	+125	+700
Christos Tzolis	+500	+145	+800
Bukayo Saka	+600	+185	+1100

Team Total Goals

0.5	−3300	+750	+105	−150
1.5	−342	+219	+520	−1260
2.5	−107	−134	—	—
3.5	+237	−377	—	—

English Premier League Champions

*Odds may differ each site*

• Arsenal: +115
• Man City: +370
• Liverpool: +550
• Chelsea: +800
• Man United: +900
• Tottenham: +2200

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This time last year, the Penn State Nittany Lions were widely considered viable national title contenders.

Coming off a trip to the College Football Playoff semifinals, where they lost a heartbreaker to Notre Dame, Penn State seemed poised for another deep run into late January after being a play away from the title game in 2024. 

However, after a 3-0 start, the Nittany Lions lost in double-overtime to Oregon, and a couple of weeks later, the team fired head coach James Franklin, as the once-promising season quickly turned into a disaster in Happy Valley. 

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The loss to Oregon was the first of six consecutive defeats. Penn State finished 6-6 and did not even play in a bowl game. After the disappointing season, the Nittany Lions hired head coach Matt Campbell away from Iowa State, and Campbell brought with him a number of his former players. 

Could 2026 see a resurgence and possibly a return to the College Football Playoff? 

The schedule certainly makes it possible. 

Oregon, Ohio State, and Indiana are viewed as being the best teams by far in the conference and Penn State plays none of the three. 

Penn State’s new head coach has the task of righting the ship in Happy Valley (Ron Jenkins/Getty Images).

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The bottom six teams in the conference, according to the odds, are Minnesota, Maryland, Michigan State, Northwestern, Rutgers and Purdue. 

Penn State plays five of those six teams. 

The Nittany Lions also get a favorable non-conference schedule and should cruise to a 3-0 start before Big Ten play begins, as they play Marshall, Temple and Buffalo to start the year.  

One of their tougher games is against USC, but Penn State hosts that game and USC has been notorious for struggling on the road since the conference expanded. 

Penn State is currently +360 to make the Playoff, and it has a very realistic path to a 10-2 record that would almost certainly get the Nittany Lions in. 

They might not be one of the 12 best in the country in terms of talent, but the path to the College Football Playoff is there and is well worth a bet at +360 odds.

Will Hill’s Pick: Penn State to Make College Football Playoff (+360)

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New users on Polymarket can enter promo code FOX to unlock a $20 bonus and trade on some of the biggest sports events this weekend.

The new EPL season kicks off today as defending champions Arsenal face newly promoted Coventry City. Arsenal begins its title defense with an early opportunity to set the tone for the campaign.

The preseason continues today with three games, including Jets vs. Steelers, Broncos vs. Packers and the Jaguars taking on the Panthers. More games follow Saturday, giving fans plenty of opportunities to trade on NFL markets as teams evaluate rookies and roster battles.

UFC Fight Nights takes place as Anthony Hernandez returns to take on Gregory Rodrigues after Hernandez’ loss to Sean Strickland in February. Hernandez had won eight straight fights before that setback and looks to get back on track.

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EPL Opener: Arsenal vs. Coventry

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Coventry	6%	6¢	95¢
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FIFA banned three Argentina players on Friday, including a 10-match suspension for midfielder Leandro Paredes, for striking Spain opponents after losing the World Cup final.

The ban for Paredes — who grabbed Spain’s Eric Garcia by the throat and pushed Gavi to the ground — ranks with the FIFA sanctions for Uruguay forward Luis Suarez in 2014 as among the most severe in World Cup history.

Argentina defender Nahuel Molina was handed a seven-game ban while Thiago Almada was given a one-game suspension. FIFA imposed fines of $90,000 on Paredes and Molina, and $30,000 for Almada.

Leandro Paredes will essentially miss an entire year of Argentina games due to his 10-game suspension. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)

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The ban for Paredes is effectively a one-year expulsion from the Argentina team as the FIFA calendar for national team schedules includes 10 games through June 2027.

All of those games could be friendlies with no competitive games currently scheduled.

Spain’s Gavi also banned for game vs England

Gavi also was banned for one game, which is a Nations League match for Spain against England at Wembley on Sept. 26.

An Argentina coach, Roberto Ayala, also got a three-game ban and $30,000 fine.

The Argentine Football Association was fined $110,000 for a range of incidents during the World Cup including players carrying a political banner about the Falkland Islands after the semifinal win against England, and discriminatory chants by fans.

AFA also was ordered by FIFA to spend $100,000 on anti-racism projects. Argentina received $34 million in World Cup prize money from FIFA.

Argentina expected to appeal

AFA can appeal the longer sanctions and fines to FIFA, and likely after at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“The AFA legal department will, in a timely manner, request from FIFA the grounds for the reviewable rulings in order to file appeals with the governing body’s appeal committee, while retaining the future option of appealing to the CAS as a final recourse,” the federation said in a statement.

Suárez and Simunic cases

In 2014, Suárez was banned from all soccer for four months, including for his new club Barcelona, and eight more competition games for Uruguay for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini in a World Cup group stage game in Brazil.

Argentina Related Stories

Paredes’ 10-game ban equals that in 2013 for Josip Simunic of Croatia after winning a World Cup qualifying playoff. Simunic used a megaphone to lead fans chanting a slogan used by the country’s pro-Nazi regime during World War II.

The on-field clashes at last month’s final in East Rutherford, New Jersey — which were charged by FIFA as assault cases — came after Argentina lost a testy final to Spain where it was mostly outplayed and barely created a scoring chance.

Spain forward Ferran Torres scored the only goal in the second period of extra time, after Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez was sent off.

FIFA disciplinary judges also ordered Argentina to play its next home game in a stadium limited to 50% of capacity. FIFA deferred a second stadium sanction and a $100,000 for probationary periods.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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WASHINGTON — Roger Penske casually sat on the pit road wall Friday at a race course that he probably thought would only exist in his imagination.

The chairman of Penske Entertainment Corp. soaked in the atmosphere as INDYCAR officials prepared to ring the bell for the New York Stock Exchange from pit road. One turn away, Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser was getting into a two-seater INDYCAR for a ride around the 1.7-mile course.

INDYCAR is just two days away from what is expected to be an epic Freedom 250 race on the streets of Washington. The race is the result of a President Donald Trump executive order that allowed the fast-tracking of permitting and use of federal lands, a spend of millions and millions of INDYCAR dollars and plenty of hours of sweat and hustle from INDYCAR and its partners.

“To think about just months ago that we came together with FOX and the president — obviously with his executive order — to be able to have an event in the nation’s capital is outstanding,” Penske told me Friday. “It’s iconic.

“I think there would be something that can’t be demonstrated anywhere else in the world, and to have it here in the United States and to think INDYCAR is a premier event here. It’s terrific.”

Founder and Chairman of the Penske Corporation Roger Penske spoke during an event earlier this week ahead of Sunday’s Freedom 250.

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The 89-year-old Penske has chaired Super Bowl committees and owns the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (in addition to owning INDYCAR). But from when the executive order was issued in late January to today, he has seen a street race come to fruition much quicker than normal. 

Penske said the bipartisan support from the mayor’s office as well as from cabinet officials has been key.

“I can tell you the complexity here has been amazing. We have to deal with so many different opportunities within the city that we need to cover, that we need to have them in alignment,” Penske said. “The Super Bowl, obviously, is really an event that’s worked on for three or four years. Here, we’ve had four or five months to get ready.

“So I would say this is very, very difficult [to do].”

With an estimated crowd of $140,000 each day and Trump expected to attend and wave the green flag, Penske hopes the celebration of the country’s 250th birthday and the buzz of the event will boost INDYCAR’s visibility. FOX coverage begins at 11:30 a.m. ET with the race green flag at 1:13 p.m.

“It’s going to give us visibility that we’ve never had before, and you put this in the same class as the Indy 500 from the standpoint of national presence and worldwide TV audience,” Penske said. 

“It’s a super, super opportunity for us to showcase our sport.”

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INDYCAR’s Freedom 250 is here, and the trophy is just as unique as the race itself.

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No player has arguably been better than their peers at their respective position than Fred Warner since the turn of the decade. But as the San Francisco 49ers’ star returns from a gruesome ankle injury that ended his 2025 season prematurely, is Warner still the NFL’s best linebacker ahead of the 2026 campaign? 

We ranked the 10 best linebackers in the league as we prepare for the new year. Warner, a four-time first-team All-Pro, was one of two players to receive first-place votes in our rankings, with the Detroit Lions’ Jack Campbell and the Baltimore Ravens’ Roquan Smith among those vying for the top spot. 

Here’s a full look at our top 10 linebackers entering the 2026 season. 

Devin Lloyd had a Pro Bowl year with the Jaguars in 2025, landing him a rich deal with the Panthers. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

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Greg Auman: Can takeaways be what takes Carolina’s defense from bad to good? In defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero’s first year in Charlotte in 2023, the Panthers had an NFL-low 11 takeaways, improving to 17 in 2024 and 21 last year. Lloyd signed a three-year, $42 million deal after a breakout Pro Bowl year with the Jacksonville Jaguars, in which he had five interceptions to help his former team record 31 takeaways, second-most in the NFL. 

It’s concerning that Jacksonville let Lloyd walk from the middle of its defense, but he and edge rusher Jaelan Phillips are two high-dollar additions to Carolina’s defense as they try to improve enough to repeat as NFC South champs. Lloyd is 27 and needs to show last year’s splash plays — notably absent his previous two years — can continue as a defensive spark.

Nick Bolton recorded over 100 tackles for a second straight season in 2025. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)

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Ben Arthur: Bolton has been one of the NFL’s most steady off-ball linebackers since entering the league in 2021, helping the Chiefs win two Super Bowls. The former second-round pick is coming off his second straight season of 100-plus tackles, six pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble. In 2025, he tied for third in run stops (86) and 10th in hustle stops (15) among linebackers, according to Next Gen Stats. 

With Kansas City’s secondary undergoing a makeover this offseason, Bolton will take on a more pronounced role in Steve Spagnuolo’s back-seven as the green dot. Pass coverage is an area for improvement, though. Opposing quarterbacks had a 93.8 passer rating when targeting him in coverage last season, the third time in five seasons he’s allowed a 90-plus passer rating, per NGS. 

Ernest Jones IV earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2025. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

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Eric D. Williams: Only 26 years old, Jones has won two Super Bowl rings in six NFL seasons. Since Seattle made a midseason trade for the South Carolina product with the Tennessee Titans in 2024, Jones has been the green-dot playcaller and a leader for one of the best defensive teams in the NFL. Jones finished with a career-high five interceptions (a franchise record for a linebacker) and 126 combined tackles in 2025, earning second-team All-Pro honors for the first time in his NFL career.

Jones has finished with at least 100 tackles for four straight seasons. Jones spent his first three seasons in the league with the Los Angeles Rams, setting a single-season franchise record with 145 tackles in 2023, including a career-high 4.5 sacks.

Azeez Al-Shaair was named a Pro Bowler for the first time in his career in 2025. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

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Arthur: Once in the shadows of Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw in San Francisco, Al-Shaair has come into his own as a star linebacker the last couple of years. His aggressive play style sets the tone as the green dot of the Texans’ juggernaut defense. In 2025, the former undrafted free agent registered his third 100-tackle season and posted career-highs in interceptions (two) and pass breakups (nine) to make his first Pro Bowl. 

Overall, Al-Shaair is one of the league’s best coverage linebackers. Among qualified linebackers last season, he ranked ninth in both tight windows forced rate and coverage EPA and 20th in ballhawk rate, per NGS. 

Jordyn Brooks led the NFL in total tackles in 2025. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Auman: Brooks, 28, is the rare Dolphins star the franchise chose to keep this year, locking him up with a three-year, $48 million deal. He earned first-team All-Pro honors last year, leading the NFL with 183 total tackles, but he’s been productive for a while. Over the last five years, he has the third-most tackles in the league, with more tackles for loss (45) than anyone else in the top five. He’s aggressive at the line of scrimmage, with 3.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss last year, and he’ll need to be as part of a rebuilding Dolphins roster under new head coach Jeff Hafley. 

Can the Dolphins win enough games to stay ahead of the Jets and avoid the AFC East cellar? Brooks is a core piece in Miami that’s part of their past and part of their future as well. 

Zack Baun had another standout season in 2025 following his surprise breakout 2024 campaign. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

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Ralph Vacchiano: It is still absolutely remarkable that the Eagles viewed Baun as little more than a special teams player when they signed him away from New Orleans in 2024, and instead they got a two-time Pro Bowler and one of their best defensive starters. He was one of the best defenders in the league in 2024 and he had almost identical production last season when he had 123 tackles, 3.5 sacks and two interceptions. 

Baun’s the perfect versatile linebacker for Vic Fangio’s scheme. He’s got the speed to rush the passer and drop back in tight coverage, and he has better instincts than many linebackers in the league. Linebacker hasn’t always been a strength in Philadelphia. But thanks to the 29-year-old Baun, it is now.

Carson Schwessinger won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2025. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)

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Bucky Brooks: The second-year pro quickly established himself as a tackling machine in the middle of the Browns’ defense. Schweisinger’s instincts, range, and awareness as a “see ball, get ball” defender shrink the field for the opponents, leading to fewer explosive plays against the ultra-aggressive unit. 

With the youngster also controlling the game as the green dot wearer, the Pro Bowler’s intelligence and communication skills set him apart from others at the position.

Jack Campbell had the second-most tackles in the NFL this past season. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

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Henry McKenna: Let’s just start with last season when he had 176 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, five sacks and four pass breakups. Sort of like a quarterback whose rare arm talent allows him to use every blade of grass, Campbell has the athleticism, range and awareness to be a threat in just about every part of the field. There really isn’t a defensive phase where he doesn’t make an impact.

I’m not sure Campbell gets the love he deserves, in part because he’s a defensive playmaker and in part because his position is no longer considered “premium.” But to that point, it takes a truly special linebacker to justify the draft position of 18th overall, where the Lions got Campbell in 2023. And he has absolutely made that pick worth it.

Roquan Smith has logged at least 100 tackles in all eight seasons of his NFL career. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

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Williams: One of the most explosive linebackers in the league, Smith can make plays from sideline to sideline and is one of the best tacklers in the NFL. A four-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro, Smith has eclipsed 100 tackles in all eight of his NFL seasons. 

But Smith will have to adjust to a new system with defensive-minded head coach Jesse Minter taking over as the team’s head coach. Smith is looking to take the ball away this season after finishing with zero forced fumbles, sacks and interceptions in 2025.

Fred Warner missed the majority of the 2025 season due to a dislocated and broken ankle. (Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Brooks: The NFL’s prototype at the position displays a rare combination of size, speed, intelligence, and violence. Warner is a menacing sideline-to-sideline defender who covers ground like a gazelle, but attacks runners and pass catchers like the Lion King tracking his prey. 

Given Warner’s penchant for producing big plays as a run defender and in coverage, the All-Pro is the “Mike” linebacker that every defensive coordinator would choose as a foundational piece.

 

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