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FIFA scraps second-half hydration break in France vs Iraq after two-hour weather delay
FIFA dropped the scheduled second-half hydration break in France's World Cup group game against Iraq after a lightning storm at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia forced a delay of more than two hours to the restart.
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France vs Iraq resumes after two-hour weather delay halts World Cup 2026 match at half-time
A severe thunderstorm forced a two-hour 15-minute suspension of France vs Iraq at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, with France leading 1-0 through a Kylian Mbappé strike at the break.
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Tuchel confirms Saka fit to start against Ghana but keeps England guessing on selection
Bukayo Saka has recovered from his Achilles injury and is available to start England's friendly against Ghana in Boston on Tuesday, Thomas Tuchel confirmed, though the manager refused to reveal his lineup amid fierce competition on the right wing.
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Rice hails Kane as a generational talent after England's winning World Cup opener
Declan Rice has lavished praise on Harry Kane following England's opening World Cup victory, saying the Bayern Munich striker is so special he will tell his children he got to play alongside him.
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UFC and Meta launch data-driven rankings system to replace media voting
The UFC has officially unveiled a new rankings system built in partnership with Meta, replacing the old media-vote model with machine learning and statistical metrics updated every Monday after each event.
MMA -
Tuchel hails Bellingham's 'full potential' as England target fast start against Ghana
Thomas Tuchel praised Jude Bellingham's commitment and connection with Harry Kane after England's 4-2 win over Croatia, while identifying a fast start as the key challenge when the two sides meet in their second World Cup group game.
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Tuchel warns England stars one red card could end their World Cup campaign
Thomas Tuchel has urged his England players to keep calm and disciplined ahead of their World Cup clash with Ghana, warning that a single moment of poor discipline under FIFA's new strict red-card rules could prove fatal to their tournament hopes.
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Tuchel backs Barry after assistant's blunt half-time verdict on England's shaky World Cup start
Thomas Tuchel has fully endorsed Anthony Barry after his assistant publicly called England 'complicated and confusing' at half-time of their 4-2 World Cup win over Croatia in Dallas, saying he is 'so happy' when Barry speaks his mind.
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Mbappé puts France ahead before lightning forces World Cup suspension in Philadelphia
France's Group I opener against Iraq at the 2026 World Cup was suspended at half-time after lightning struck within eight miles of Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Kylian Mbappé had given France a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute before severe weather halted play.
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Messi shatters Klose's all-time World Cup goals record with 18 strikes in two games
Lionel Messi surpassed Miroslav Klose's long-standing record of 16 World Cup goals during Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria, finishing the group stage with 18 goals and a record 18 tournament victories.
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Barcelona sound out Kane as Bayern contract standoff leaves door ajar for La Liga move
Barcelona have made a discreet approach to Harry Kane's camp to gauge his interest in a move to the Spotify Camp Nou, with the striker's contract talks at Bayern Munich stalling over the length of a proposed extension. Initial feedback suggests Kane is content in Munich, though Barcelona remain alert to any shift.
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Rangnick accuses VAR of double standards after Messi double sinks Austria in Dallas
Ralf Rangnick was incensed by what he called inconsistent VAR decisions in Austria's 2-0 defeat to Argentina, claiming a clear foul on Xaver Schlager was ignored before Lionel Messi's opener. Messi's brace moved him to 18 World Cup goals, surpassing Miroslav Klose as the competition's all-time leading scorer.
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Ferrari's behind-the-scenes video captures Hamilton's emotional first win in red at Barcelona
Ferrari has released a documentary-style video chronicling Lewis Hamilton's maiden victory for the team at the 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, where the seven-time champion executed a three-stop strategy to defeat Mercedes and move to second in the drivers' standings.
Formula 1 -
Bo Nickal returns to the mats at RAF 12 to face 2026 NCAA champion Max McEnelly
UFC middleweight Bo Nickal will wrestle 2026 NCAA champion Max McEnelly at RAF 12 in Cleveland on August 22, marking his return to competitive wrestling after a knockout win over Kyle Daukaus at the UFC White House card.
MMA -
Vowles admits Williams' Barcelona flaws won't be fixed soon but maps out upgrade path
Williams team principal James Vowles has conceded that the weaknesses exposed at the Spanish Grand Prix will persist in the short term, but outlined a staged upgrade programme running through Silverstone, Spa, and beyond the August break.
Formula 1 -
Messi scores twice against Austria to become World Cup's all-time leading scorer
Lionel Messi netted his 17th and 18th World Cup goals against Austria on Monday, surpassing the all-time scoring record while steering Argentina to a second consecutive group-stage victory at the 2026 World Cup.
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Joe Hart convinced 'something is up' with World Cup ball after Mbappe and Messi baffle keepers
Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart has doubled down on his theory that the World Cup ball is deceiving goalkeepers at shoulder height, pointing to Kylian Mbappe's long-range opener for France against Iraq as the latest example of a saveable shot that wasn't saved.
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Alvarez names Barcelona as only destination, leaving Arsenal with slim transfer hope
Julian Alvarez has publicly confirmed he wants to leave Atletico Madrid and join Barcelona, effectively ruling out Arsenal despite the Gunners having already approached his camp this summer. Real Madrid had a £129m bid rejected, while Barca's £86.4m offer was also turned down.
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Blair admits Kirifi omission was tough as impressive rivals block All Blacks recall
Du'Plessis Kirifi co-captained the Hurricanes to a Super Rugby Pacific title and delivered his best personal season, yet All Blacks assistant Mike Blair confirmed the eight-Test flanker was edged out by stronger competition for loose-forward spots in Dave Rennie's 34-man squad.
Rugby -
Crusaders captain David Havili departs for Japan after 155 caps and eight titles
David Havili has confirmed he will leave the Crusaders after 15 years, 155 caps, and eight Super Rugby titles, taking up a contract in Japan. The 31-year-old, who served two seasons as captain, is the third Crusaders midfielder to announce an offshore move following the 2026 season.
Rugby
