INGLEWOOD, Calif. — As motorized carts drove back and forth inside SoFi Stadium late Friday night, their noise interrupting a postgame news conference, U.S. men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino did not try to hide his annoyance.

“Call FIFA,” he told a moderator.

It was, remarkably, about the only thing that did not go his way during an otherwise dream debut coaching the U.S. in its first World Cup on home soil since 1994.

In a dominant 4-1 win over Paraguay, the U.S. scored its most goals in the World Cup. Folarin Balogun became the first U.S. men’s player since 1930 to score multiple goals. And the winning margin of three goals tied for the largest in U.S. men’s history.

“It was a great match, was amazing for our fans to see, to watch this type of game,” Pochettino said. “I am so proud, and we are so proud, because I think we are winning a lot of fans.”

Pochettino, a 54-year-old Argentine, may have gained a few more among the U.S. fanbase himself, too. Although he had been on the job for 20 months, Friday’s game was unquestionably his biggest opportunity to make an impression on a wider fanbase tuning in to watch the U.S. for the first time.

That exposure, however, cut both ways. With no other World Cup games taking place at the same time, the entire soccer world would be scrutinizing the play of the U.S.

“I don’t think I’m surprised,” said Christian Pulisic, who set up the first two goals with his attacking down the left side of the field. “Today the effort, everything was there. To me, not a huge surprise but the things were definitely clicking.”

Pochettino isn’t the first foreigner to coach the U.S. national team. In fact, he’s the 22nd to attempt to take a lifetime of soccer knowledge learned abroad and improve the U.S. But like every predecessor in his role, his results had been mixed, with a record of 15-10-1 heading into the World Cup. Before this tournament, Pochettino’s biggest test with the U.S. was last year’s Gold Cup. The U.S. made it to the final, but lost to Mexico.

Coaching in the spotlight is nothing new for Pochettino. He coached Tottenham to the 2019 Champions League final, managed worldwide superstars Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé while at Paris Saint-Germain, and coached one of England’s largest clubs in Chelsea.

Yet in those jobs, Pochettino could spend long stretches of the club season around his players. Coaching a national team, in contrast, requires maximizing what little time they have during international breaks. Last fall, Pochettino felt the U.S. had begun developing an identity during wins over Paraguay and Uruguay, but also felt the momentum was gone by the spring. He mixed and matched lineup combinations, assessing 67 different players before landing on a final 26-man roster.

When the U.S. team gathered in May to prepare for the World Cup, it represented one of its longest, most uninterrupted stretches together of Pochettino’s tenure — a critical few weeks of preparation that would show whether the U.S. was ready for this tournament.

“That is why we were desperate one year ago to work with the whole team, and we didn’t have the possibility,” he said. “We know very well that if you have the possibility to work three, four weeks with a whole group, that you believe ... these type of things can happen.”

He continued: “I think they need to know us, we need to know them, to understand what we expect from them. When you only have a few days to reunite and to play, you only select players, but you cannot coach. Only in this type of tournament, the World Cup, because you have a preparation two, three, four weeks, I think that is the only moment that we can coach.”

As the U.S. beat Senegal in a late-May friendly, and lost to Germany in its final World Cup tuneup last week, Pochettino stressed to players that “the key was to translate all that expectation and pressure” into energy.

They translated it Friday into a one-sided performance against a Paraguay team that had ranked among the stingiest defenses during World Cup qualifying, beating reigning champion Argentina and perennial contender Brazil.

“This is a team that is complex because they have answers to every element you throw at them,” Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro said, through an interpreter.

A lack of offense has long been a concern for the U.S. men, but from the opening minutes Friday the U.S. kept the ball on Paraguay’s half of the field, surveying until they found weaknesses. The first score was an own-goal, a deflection off a Paraguay defender. But the next three were all of U.S. creation, from Balogun’s high-arcing, left-footed shot into the upper left corner to lead, 2-0, to Gio Reyna’s trivela, off the outside of his foot in the final minute.

Former U.S. national player Alexi Lalas, who is often critical of the U.S. team, was effusive with his praise, saying on Fox that the 3-0 halftime lead was “the greatest half of group play from a men’s team at a World Cup in history.”

Pochettino cautioned multiple times that Friday was just one of three games in the group stage. But this is also the same coach who has not been shy about his confidence in the team. During a podcast appearance, he recalled a conversation he’d had with President Donald Trump in December.

“He asked me, ‘Do you think coach, that we can win?’” Pochettino said. “I say, ‘Of course.’ Why not?”

There was almost nothing at fault in the U.S. men’s national team’s opening game of the 2026 World Cup.

All the stars shone, Mauricio Pochettino’s tactical gambles paid off and even the crowd made some noise in a rampant 4–1 win over Paraguay on Friday night.

However, if there was to be one nagging negative, it came in the form of Christian Pulisic’s halftime substitution. The first-half’s outstanding player did not return for the second 45 minutes after taking a blow to the leg, instead making his way to the Friends and Family section of the stands to watch his teammates ease towards the largest win in the nation’s men’s World Cup history.

While both player and manager downplayed the significance of the injury, Pochettino did admit that Pulisic “could not walk” before trying to return to the pitch for the second half after his muscles had seized up during the interval.

What Injury Does Christian Pulisic Have?

“I just got a bit of a kick in the first half,” Pulisic revealed after the final whistle once he had regained function in his lower body, “so I’m really hoping that it’s nothing.” The USMNT star clarified that it was a blow to his left calf which was the problem area.

As Pochettino revealed in his postmatch press conference, Pulisic had sustained a similar issue in training a few days before the grand LA opening against Paraguay. Getting a whack during one of his many wriggles towards goal aggravated that issue, which was exacerbated by 15 minutes sat down during the interval.

“When it [Pulisic’s body] start to get cold, he cannot walk,” Pochettino told reporters, revealing that his withdrawal for Sebastian Berhalter was a “last minute” decision.

Will Christian Pulisic Be Fit for USMNT’s Next World Cup Game?

Both Pulisic and Pochettino were at pains to frame his removal as nothing more than a heightened level of wariness. After all, the U.S. was 3–0 up at the break without conceding a single shot on target. If ever there was a time to rest the team’s star player, it was then.

As Pochettino told Fox immediately after the final whistle: “We didn’t want to take any risks.”

“Taking a little bit of precaution today,” Pulisic echoed, “but I’m hoping I’ll be fine the next few days.”

The winger has a full week to prepare for the USMNT’s next World Cup posting, which will be against Australia in Seattle on Friday, June 19. If he is to return with the same frightening fizz and verve, the Socceroos will be hoping for a delayed recovery timeline.

READ THE LATEST WORLD CUP NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

How would the population cap work?

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Folarin Balogun stood at the podium and flashed a bright smile.

“It’s a dreamy night,” he said to the dozens of news media looking on.

Teammates and fans would say that, too.

Friday’s performance — two goals in the U.S. men’s national team’s 4-1 World Cup opener win against Paraguay — solidified why the program spent years working to sway him from signing with England.

Balogun was born in Brooklyn but moved to London when he was only one month old. He spent his entire childhood in the U.K. and, as a dual citizen, played on national youth teams for both countries. In 2001 he was called up to the England under-21 squad, leading many to believe he would join “The Three Lions” long term.

But in 2023 Balogun stunned many by agreeing to join the U.S. for the remainder of his international career. It was a monumental result for the Americans, who not only added a desperately-needed scoring threat but also beat out one of the world’s soccer powers for his services.

At the time, Balogun cited the incredible love fans showed him leading up to his choice and the thought of being a focal point for the Americans on the biggest stage.

Three years (and only one World Cup game) later, he’s already accomplished just that.

“I’ve always said the fans gave me so much motivation. They showed me so much support,” he said postgame. “For me, the most important thing has always been to repay that. Today is a great opportunity, and I just want to show the fans I made the right decision.”

After an own-goal by Paraguay put the U.S. up 1-0 in the seventh minute on Friday, Balogun extended the lead on a beautiful one-timer in the bottom right of the net from a Christian Pulisic pass.

Moments before halftime, Balogun struck again. He was fed the ball just outside the box, gained control, juked one defender and side stepped another before drilling a shot past the goalkeeper to push the U.S. lead to 3-0. Fans went wild, chanting “U-S-A, U-S-A” as the whistle blew.

When Balogun was subbed off in the 71st minute, he received a standing ovation from the U.S. fans. It was more than deserving considering he became the first American with multiple goals in a World Cup match since 1930.

“Not much else to say. The kid is insane,” Pulisic said about Balogun’s World Cup debut. “He’s lethal right now in front of the goal. We’re really lucky to have him. Let’s hope it keeps going like this.”

Pulisic added that Balogun provided more than just scoring for the USMNT against Paraguay.

“Everyone will look at the goals,” Pulisic said, “but the way he’s fighting against these center backs, holding up the balls, getting fouls …”

Balogun wasn’t the only star, however. Pulisic was exceptional all night, weaving past defenders and creating scoring chances. Gio Reyna had an incredible goal using the outside of his foot in the 79th minute to secure the victory.

New USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino said it was a total team effort, calling the team “amazing.” Pulisic went a step further.

“All and all an incredible start,” he said. “But there’s a lot more that we have to do.”

The USMNT will next travel to Seattle for their second match next Friday against Australia before returning to Los Angeles to face Turkey. The top two teams of the group will advance to the knockout stage.

Depending on how they fare, the U.S. could be playing for more than a month against the best nations in the world. But after Friday’s victory, they’ve earned some downtime.

Asked what his plans were after a legendary debut, Balogun thought for a second before answering.

“To be honest, I think I’ll probably just watch some Netflix.”

The 2026 California track and field season didn't make it easy on voters.

From national leaders and state records to all-time performances across nearly every discipline, the Golden State produced one of its deepest collections of talent in recent memory. Sprinters flirted with historic barriers, throwers climbed into the national record books, and distance runners delivered breakthrough campaigns that reshaped state rankings.

When High School on Sports Illustrated readers were asked to vote for California's Boys and Girls Track and Field Athletes of the Year, however, two names emerged above the rest.

Loyola senior Ejam Yohannes earned the boys honor, while San Jacinto Valley Academy sophomore Kaahliyah Lacy claimed the girls award following a season that transformed her from rising prospect into one of the nation's premier hurdlers.

The fan poll was never intended to serve as an official championship designation. Instead, it provided an opportunity for communities across the state to rally behind athletes who defined the 2026 season. In the end, voters gravitated toward two competitors whose accomplishments extended well beyond popularity.

For Yohannes, the recognition serves as the final chapter of one of California's most impressive senior campaigns. He said this regarding what it took to achieve his level, "Everybody works hard, everybody has good coaches, everybody’s mom is praying for their kid to win the difference between dreams and reality is mentality, what are you willing to risk. I risked it all."

The Loyola standout entered high school as a developing quarter-miler still searching for consistency. Four years later, he left as one of the fastest 400-meter runners California has ever produced.

His defining moment came at the CIF State Championships in Clovis, where he delivered a career-best 45.73 to capture the Division I state title and become the first Loyola athlete to win a state championship in the event. The performance capped a season in which Yohannes consistently established himself as the state's top quarter-miler and broke into the top 10 all-time in CA history in the event.

Throughout the spring, he repeatedly delivered when competition was strongest. He opened eyes with a 46.24 state-leading performance early in the season, then spent the championship stretch running times few California athletes have ever matched.

What made Yohannes particularly unique was his versatility.

While the 400 became his signature event, he demonstrated range rarely seen among elite quarter-milers. He ran 1:51.04 in the 800 meters, 20.85 in the 200 and 10.83 in the 100, showcasing speed and endurance that allowed him to contribute across multiple events for Loyola.

That versatility became a major part of his appeal during voting.

The boys ballot featured no shortage of worthy candidates. Athletes such as Cy Lugo, Benjamin Harris, Bo Ausmus and Maximo Zavaleta all authored exceptional seasons and helped make the final voting highly competitive. Yet Yohannes represented something different: an athlete who combined historical significance, consistency and championship success over the course of an entire season.

His final race ultimately became the perfect summary of his high school career. With a state title on the line, Yohannes produced the fastest performance of his life and secured his place among California's all-time greats.

If Yohannes' season was defined by steady progression, Lacy's was characterized by explosive emergence. It will be a delight to watch what he can accomplish as he heads to Stanford to continue his academic and athletic careers.

Entering the spring, the San Jacinto Valley Academy sophomore was viewed as one of the state's top young talents. By the time the season ended, she had become one of the most talked-about athletes in the country.

Her breakout performance arrived at the Arcadia Invitational.

Competing against one of the strongest fields assembled all season, Lacy stormed to a stunning 40.81 in the 300-meter hurdles. The performance not only established a new national lead, but also announced her arrival on the national stage.

For many athletes, a race like that would represent the highlight of an entire season.

Lacy followed it up a week later with something even better.

At the Mt. SAC Relays, she lowered her national-leading mark to 39.93, becoming just the second California girl in history to break the 40-second barrier in the event. Only Morgan Herbst's state record of 39.64 stands ahead of her on California's all-time list.

The achievement was remarkable not only because of the time itself, but because of who accomplished it.

Lacy spent the season competing for a small Inland Empire school rarely mentioned alongside California's traditional track powers. Yet week after week, she forced herself into the center of the conversation through sheer performance.

Her success wasn't limited to the 300 hurdles.

Lacy also emerged as one of the state's premier sprint hurdlers, finishing second at the CIF State Championships in the 100-meter hurdles while posting a wind-legal best of 13.59. She added sprint credentials with marks of 11.55 in the 100 and 25.20 in the 200, demonstrating the speed that has made her such a difficult matchup for competitors.

What stood out most was her consistency.

Many athletes produce one headline-worthy performance. Lacy spent the entire season reinforcing that her breakthrough was no accident. Multiple races under 42 seconds in the 300 hurdles, strong championship performances and national-level marks across several events made her one of the most complete athletes in California regardless of classification.

The girls ballot was loaded with accomplished candidates.

Jaslene Massey delivered the greatest throwing seasons in state history. Braelyn Combe dominated the distance events. Clara Adams and Saniah Varnado helped lead Long Beach Wilson to national prominence in the relays.

Any of them would have represented deserving selections.

Instead, voters chose the sophomore whose season felt impossible to ignore.

In many ways, the results reflected the broader story of California track and field in 2026.

The state continues to produce elite talent across every event group, but the athletes who ultimately captured fans' attention were those who consistently elevated themselves when expectations were highest. Yohannes finished his career by becoming a state champion and one of California's fastest-ever 400-meter runners. Lacy established herself as one of the nation's most promising young hurdlers before even reaching her junior season.

Different events. Different journeys.

But when California fans looked back on the performances that defined 2026, they landed on two athletes whose accomplishments already belong among the state's most memorable seasons.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — U.S. men’s soccer star Christian Pulisic was substituted off at halftime of the team’s World Cup opener Friday against Paraguay after he could not loosen up his left calf, U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said.

Pochettino said Pulisic had been kicked two days before Friday’s 4-1 victory, in which Pulisic played superbly during the first half, including an assist on a goal by Folarin Balogun. But at halftime, Pulisic could not warm up and the U.S. team substituted him as a precaution while holding a 3-0 lead.

“Hope that is not a big issue,” Pochettino said. “That was so rushed, because (it) was in the last minute that we need to change and to do the substitution. But now I think it’s better, and hope for the next game he will be available.”

Friday’s game was the first World Cup game held on U.S. soil since 1994. The U.S. next plays Thursday against Australia in Seattle.

“I just got a bit of a kick in the first half, so I’m really hoping that it’s nothing,” Pulisic said. “Taking a little bit of a precaution today but I’m hoping I’ll be fine in the next few days.

“I’ve had similar things before and yeah, I’m staying positive. I don’t think it’s anything at all.”

Two years after being swept by North Carolina in the super regionals, the West Virginia Mountaineers will get another shot at the Tar Heels as the two will square off in the winner's bracket game on Sunday evening. West Virginia beat Troy in its first game of the College World Series 7-5, and North Carolina got some late insurance with a three-run homer in the 8th, eventually beating Ole Miss, 6-2.

Here is everything you need to know ahead of Sunday's battle.

Game Information

Current Records: West Virginia (46-15, 21-9) vs. North Carolina (51-12-1, 22-8)

Where: Omaha, NE — Charles Schwab Field (35,000)

Dates/Times: Sunday, June 14th, 7 p.m. ET

TV/Streaming: ESPN

Radio: Mountaineers Sports Network (Radio affiliates and frequency listed below)

Beckley: 97.9 or 100.7
Bluefield: 104.5
Charleston: 100.9, 1300 (AM), 1340 (AM), or 1410 (AM)
Chester, VA: 92.7
Chester, PA: 103.3
Clarksburg: 104.9
Colliers: 94.9
Cumberland, MD: 100.1, 1230 (AM), or 1390 (AM)
Fairmont: 94.3 or 920 (AM)
Fisher: 101.7, 103.7, OR 690 (AM)
Gocchland, VA: 100.5
Hinton: 102.3
Huntington: 102.3
Keyser: 1390 (AM) or 100.1
Kingwood: 96.7
Logan: 101.9 or 1290 (AM)
Martinsburg: 106.5 or 740 (AM)
Morgantown: 100.9 OR 95.7
Moundsville: 97.7 or 1370 (AM)
Mullens: 92.7
New Martinsville: 93.1 or 99.5
Parkersburg: 94.7, 103.1, or 1050 (AM)
Pittsburgh: 98.7, 910 (AM),107.5, or 1480 (AM)
Philadelphia: 740 (AM)
Richmond, VA: 107.7 or 820 (AM)
Ronceverte: 103.1
Ripley: 98.3
Spencer: 104.7 or 1400 (AM)
St. Mary’s: 92.9 or 630 (AM)
Summersville: 92.5
Sutton: 1490 (AM)
Sutton/Craigsville: 92.1
Sutton/Gassaway/Flatwoods: 96.5
Sutton/Summersville: 97.1
Weirton: 94.9 or 1430 (AM)
Wheeling: 98.1 or 1600 (AM)

Projected Pitchers

Ryan Lynch (North Carolina): Lynch gave up four runs on six hits in 5.2 innings of work in the Tar Heels' loss to USC in game one of the supers. He was dynamite against VCU in the regional, which was a pleasant sign for Scott Forbes after he had given up a combined nine runs in 7.1 innings in the two starts against NC State and Pitt.

Maxx Yehl (West Virginia): The Big 12 Pitcher of the Year will get the ball for the Mountaineers on Sunday and will be looking for his third straight solid start since the hiccup against Kentucky in game two of the Morgantown regional. In his last two outings (vs. Kentucky, Cal Poly), Yehl has allowed a combined two runs on seven hits over 10 innings.

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

As you would have guessed, the Tar Heels are indeed the favorite for this one, checking in at -175 on the moneyline, while West Virginia is +135. UNC is -1.5 (-110) on the run line, and the over/under is currently sitting at 10.5.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

TORONTO — Canadian men’s national team winger Ali Ahmed had read the rumors. Online, a small Instagram account had gone viral with a report that 30,000 Bosnian and Herzegovinian fans were set to descend upon Toronto’s BMO Field at Canada’s first-ever men’s World Cup game on home soil. 

It was believable. For generations, Canadian soccer has been too welcoming. Teams would arrive, only to be greeted by home-like atmospheres. Games in Toronto often felt like days away in hostile environments—and a game in Edmonton once even invited Caribbean drums to welcome the opposition. 

So when news began trickling out about the potential of a Bosnian insurgency, it was more than plausible, even for a World Cup game and even with a Canadian team that manager Jesse Marsch had praised as the “best-ever,” a far cry from when they ranked 122nd in the world back in 2014. 

Turns out, it was all fake. Instead, Friday saw a sea of red, with just a splash of blue, as Canadian fans pushed their men’s national team towards a historic first point at the World Cup, securing a 1–1 draw with Bosnia, after previously losing all six games in their previous tournament appearances in 2022 and 1986. 

“The energy was electric, we loved it, and it helped push us forward and keep us going,” Ahmed told Sports Illustrated after the match. “This is what we want from Canada. We want passionate fans who want the game to grow in Canada, so it was nice to see it, and it’s what I imagined it was going to be, especially in a city like Toronto.”

On the pitch, Canada, headlined by Juventus star Jonathan David, struggled to finish key chances, and it felt as though a disheartening loss was in the cards, despite an energetic performance that had created moments of promise. 

Yet, Marsch made bold changes in the second half, setting the stage for Cyle Larin—the nation’s second all-time leading scorer, but a player out of international form—to score his first goal for Les Rouges since 2024. Canada, for the first time, would walk away from a World Cup game in relative celebratory fashion. 

“It was an amazing feeling, just to score a goal at home, and I haven‘t scored in a while, but I knew it was coming...It is special for the fans, especially for getting a point at home,” Larin said.

“Just to feel the energy was amazing...I think that‘s the first time it felt like a home game for us, because a lot of times the teams come, their country has more [fans], but it was amazing, and they pushed us on to the end.”

An Early Start for The Voyageurs

The day began early for Canadian supporters, led by a group called ‘The Voyageurs’, who gathered at Trinity Bellwoods Park for a 30-minute walk up the road. As early as 10 a.m., fans began gathering for the 3:00 p.m. kickoff, with the red and white growing like a beating heart in the park, before pumping through the streets of Toronto.

Chanting and dancing to the tune of “Oh When the Saints,” the group blossomed with every drumbeat and clap as it gathered thousands, with flares, smoke bombs and flags outlining the path towards the stadium, which featured two expanded stands, bringing the capacity to over 43,000. 

When they arrived, they formed walls of red. Rumors of a Bosnian takeover were quickly dashed as away chants were drowned out by the passionate cry of the Canadian crowd. 

“How awesome it was to look around and see all those red jerseys and the sea of red in the stadium,” Marsch told reporters post-match, after calling for a “red-out” in March. 

“[The crowd] pushed the team. From the start of the match, it made them feel loved, made them feel confident, and really made them feel the home crowd. I think that was a big factor in why we were able to get the point today.”

Canada Finally Embraces Itself

The scenes ahead of the game had been remarkable. For a country of 41 million, built on its immigrants and multiculturalism, the march showcased Canada embracing itself as a soccer nation, with fans no longer solely supporting their countries of heritage. 

For hours before in the stadium, one could barely hear themself think. Any moment the Canadian team touched the ball during warm-ups, the crowd erupted. Yet, in some ways, it all felt grounded. 

Many fans, no doubt, had jumped on the World Cup bandwagon—for others, though, it was the peak of a journey, having seen the team in the doldrums of the world’s game. 

“We talked a lot about it, and we were aware of it,” Marsch said of preparing for a moment under the world’s spotlight. “A home World Cup is a different occasion, and it‘s a different feeling. The stadium even feels different, right? It's bigger now, and so it doesn't even feel like the same BMO Field that it's been over time.”

And as much as the crowd buzzed, it fell silent as Vancouver’s Michael Bublé serenaded the fans, before Ottawa’s Alanis Morissette belted out “O Canada” in both English and French. 

“I remember being here in 2010,” said Steven, a supporter from Peterborough, Ontario, who held a fake World Cup trophy and wore a red beret. “Watching this team play in front of no one, losing to countries I hadn’t heard of, it’s wild that this is even real.”

Canada’s identity shines within its national team and the fanbase. A fan amid the march donned a Stephen Eustáquio kit from his days representing Portugal’s youth teams—yet on Friday, Eustáquio lined up with Canada at his second World Cup, illustrating how the country’s fabric of cultures represents itself as much in the team as it does with its fans. 

It’s part of what makes Marsch so proud to lead the team, and it has allowed him to earn the group’s trust, paving the way for challenging decisions like the ones he faced in team selection and substitutions on Saturday. 

“This team is a second-generation Canadian, Portuguese, French, Jamaican, Colombian, Scottish, you go around the room,” Marsch said ahead of the match, when asked what he has enjoyed most from the role to this point. 

“What always impressed me is that Stephen feels a lot of Portuguese in his heart, man, is he Canadian! Every one of these boys is incredibly Canadian... I think they‘re the best representation, they‘re impeccable in their character, they‘re impeccable in their work ethic and commitment to each other, that‘s what we want to show.”

A Hopeful Start Before Vancouver

After experiencing the emotions of Toronto’s World Cup opener, Canada is feeling hopeful. From coast-to-coast-to-coast, fans excused themselves from work to catch the matches in overflowing bars and viewing parties, with momentum now only building towards the rest of the tournament. 

With the first point secured, there’s an added excitement to what the rest of Group B action could bring. The next match comes against Qatar on June 18, before the group stage finale against Switzerland on June 24. 

Both matches will be in Vancouver at the 54,000-seat BC Place, where the team hopes to secure more landmark moments and win out the group, which would allow them to stay in Canada for the round of 32 and round of 16. 

Vancouver, too, with the city’s Science World decked out as the official matchball and embedded cultural and historic passion for soccer, should serve as a remarkable host.

“You could feel [the fans] cheering louder... pushing the group, whether it was a corner or a free kick, or being hard on the referee when maybe he gives a soft foul or whatever, that‘s what we need,” Marsch said. “The fans in Vancouver... I know that it‘s a football city. I know they love their Vancouver Whitecaps, and I know they love their national team, so I expect a full stadium again, red jerseys everywhere.”

Before Friday’s historic meeting, Canada wasn’t sure what a home World Cup really meant and whether it would just be another day for other nations to show out. By the final whistle, with a first-ever point secured, they knew Canada had arrived. Like so many others, finally, a soccer country.  

READ THE LATEST WORLD CUP NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

Christian Pulisic ran the show for the U.S. men’s national team against Paraguay and collected his third-career World Cup assist, already one more than what all-time great Cristiano Ronaldo has managed in his illustrious career on the global soccer stage.

The USMNT dismantled Paraguay 4–1 in its 2026 World Cup debut in arguably the greatest performance the Stars and Stripes have ever produced in the tournament. Pulisic came out with a point to prove and was sensational, starting the action that led to the early opener and then assisting Folarin Balogun’s first of the night.

In only his fifth-career World Cup appearance, Pulisic has already recorded more assists than Ronaldo, who will feature in his record-setting sixth World Cup this summer. The Portugal star man will have a chance to go back level or even overtake Pulisic in a few days’ time, yet, it’s incredible it’s taken “Captain America” just a handful of appearances to move ahead of the soccer legend.

Ronaldo - Pulisic Career World Cup Stats Snapshot

After either scoring or assisting all three of the USMNT’s 2022 World Cup goals, Pulisic assist against Paraguay is his fourth goal contribution in the competition, matching what USMNT legend Clint Dempsey accomplished in his career and getting within one of Landon Donovan.

Nevertheless, Pulisic’s majestic performance lasted only 45 minutes, as Mauricio Pochettino replaced him for Sebastian Berhalter at halftime, raising concerns about a potential fitness issue.

Pochettino, Pulisic Share Update On Injury Scare

Pulisic mysteriously getting hooked at halftime instantly raised alarms of a potential fitness problem. Following the match, Pochettino confirmed a minor issue, but eased some concerns stating that the decision to withdraw the attacker was mostly precautionary.

“He received a kick in his calf,” Pochettino revealed post-match. “On the end of the first half he started to feel tight [his calf] and we didn’t want to take any risk, and it was difficult for him to walk. But we hope it’s not a big issue, and he can be ready for the next one.”

Pulisic also commented on his situation after the match.

“I just got a bit of a kick in the first half,” Pulisic said. “So I'm really hoping that it's nothing. I'm taking a little bit of precautions today, but I'm hoping I'll be fine in the next few days. My calf area. But I've had similar things before, and yeah, I’m staying positive.”

The USMNT enjoyed a dream start to its 2026 World Cup campaign, but Pulisic’s presence is required for the team to reach peak performance moving forward, as evidenced by what he has been able to achieve in his short World Cup career thus far.

Up next for the USMNT is a clash with Australia on Friday in Seattle, where Pulisic will look add to his already impressive World Cup resumé and lead his side to another convincing win.

READ THE LATEST USMNT NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

On the eve of Brazil’s 2026 World Cup debut, Carlo Ancelotti shared some insight on the fitness status of La Seleçao superstar Neymar Jr.

Brazil’s quest to conquer a sixth World Cup title starts with a difficult match against 2022 semifinalists Morocco, a game Ancelotti unsurprisingly confirmed Neymar will miss due to a calf injury he’s been recovering from since the start of Brazil’s pre-tournament camp.

Neymar has yet to train alongside the rest of Brazil’s squad, but Ancelotti is confident the national all-time leading goalscorer will rejoin the rest of the team very soon.

“Neymar is working very hard to recover as quickly as possible,” Ancelotti said in his pre-match press conference on Friday. “The expectation is that he can rejoin the group [training] next week.”

The Italian decided not to withdraw Neymar from Brazil’s squad despite his injury, passing on the opportunity to replace him with a fully fit player, such as Chelsea star João Pedro. Ancelotti revealed Neymar’s place in the team goes beyond what he can offer on the pitch.

“When we called up Neymar, we did it not just because of his technical quality, which is undeniable,” Ancelotti said. “But also because of his experience, the example he could represent for the younger players on the team.”

Could Neymar Miss Entire World Cup Group Stage?

Despite Ancelotti’s positive update, Brazilian outlet UOL Esporte reports that Neymar’s availability for the entire group stage is in doubt.

When Neymar’s grade two calf injury was officially diagnosed by Brazil’s medical staff, a two to three week recovery timeline was set. The No. 10 being fit for the bout against Morocco seemed unlikely, but all signs pointed at him being ready for La Seleçao’s bout against Hati on July 19.

Now, though, UOL suggest Neymar could also miss Brazil’s second match. Even if he returns to training, the attacker will still be battling to get his back into playing shape considering he hasn’t competed since May 17. Neymar’s recent injury history suggests that rushing him back to the pitch could lead to the issue resurfacing again, so Brazil may be extra cautious with his recovery.

When Neymar will make his 2026 World Cup debut remains unclear, but him taking the pitch in Brazil’s No. 10 shirt for the first time in almost three years is one of the most highly-anticipated moments of the tournament this summer.

READ THE LATEST WORLD CUP NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

In this handout photo provided by Vatican Media, Pope Leo XIV is accompanied by King Felipe VI of Spain as he deplanes after a technical problem at Tenerife Norte-Los Rodeos International Airport in Tenerife, Spain, Friday, June 12, 2026. Vatican Media via AP hide caption

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Vatican Media via AP

SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Spain — Even popes have travel delays. Lucky for Pope Leo XIV, King Felipe VI offered a way out, and a way home.

Leo's Iberia charter, due to take him back to Rome after a weeklong visit to Spain, was grounded by a technical problem Friday, prompting Spain's king to offer his private jet instead.

Felipe escorted Leo to his Falcon on the tarmac at the airport in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in the Canary Islands. Leo and members of his delegation boarded the plane and took off, more than three hours after he was originally due to leave.

The glitch marked an unusual end to an otherwise successful trip to Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands. Leo pressed his migration message and also inaugurated the new tower of the Sagrada Familia basilica.

The Iberia pilot said the engine had failed to start after Leo had boarded. Initial efforts to fix it failed, forcing all passengers to disembark. Iberia said it was sending another plane from Madrid to fetch the Vatican officials and journalists who were not with Leo on the Falcon. The Spanish archipelago is closer to Africa than the Iberian Peninsula.

It was the first time in decades that a papal flight had experienced a problem so serious that it required the pope to change planes.

Journalists attend into the papal flight after takeoff was delayed at Los Rodeos International Airport, at the Canary Islands, Spain, Friday, June 12, 2026. Alessandra Tarantino/AP hide caption

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Alessandra Tarantino/AP

Veteran Vatican reporters, some of whom were on the Iberia plane, recalled a few plane-related incidents during the pontificate of St. John Paul II. During a 1986 return trip from India, John Paul's plane was forced to land in Naples because of a snowstorm in Rome. The passengers and pope took a special train back to Rome.

In 1988 en route to Lesotho, bad weather forced John Paul's plane to land in South Africa, a country he had excluded from his African trip at the time because of apartheid. He was later driven into the kingdom.

Typically on papal trips, the Italian national carrier ITA Airways brings the pope to his destination and that country's national carrier brings him home, with ITA sometimes doing the round trip if the voyage is particularly long or to a place that doesn't have the capacity.

The flights are charters, with the pope, Vatican delegation and security occupying the front of the plane and the 70 or so journalists seated in coach.

Iberia had proudly provided video earlier in the trip of Leo seated in the cockpit, smiling broadly as the plane carried him from Madrid to Barcelona, and then Barcelona to the Canary Islands. In both cases, Spanish military aircraft provided an airborne escort, a sign of respect for visiting dignitaries, and in one clip of the video Leo is seen waving to the escorting pilot.

A Ukrainian national who completed U.S. Air Force officer training was recently convicted of five counts after authorities intercepted illegal gun parts from China and uncovered a "ghost gun" 3D printing operation inside his home.

A federal jury found Yaroslav Vishnevski, 33, of Harrisburg, Illinois, guilty of receipt or possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle; manufacturing a National Firearms Act (NFA) weapon without paying special occupancy tax; receipt or possession of an unregistered short-barreled shotgun; receipt or possession of an unregistered silencer; and possession of an Atlas Arms 12-gauge short-barreled shotgun with an obliterated serial number, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Illinois.

The investigation was triggered on April 22, 2024, when U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers intercepted a package shipped from China that contained two suspected firearm silencers, according to a criminal complaint obtained by Fox News Digital.

SECOND AMENDMENT FIGHTS GROW ACROSS SEVERAL STATES OVER 3D-PRINTED GUN LAWS

Officials said multiple guns were in the suspect's possession illegally. (U.S. Attorney's Office)

The parcel was addressed to Vishnevski's home in southern Illinois.

On May 2, 2024, an undercover agent with the Illinois State Police (ISP) dropped the package off on Vishnevski's front porch and watched as Vishnevski retrieved the package and brought it inside, according to court filings.

Shortly after he left the house without the package, marked ISP units pulled him over in a traffic stop while a SWAT team executed a search warrant inside the home.

Authorities shared photos of apparent 3D printers found inside the home. (U.S. Attorney's Office)

MARYLAND MAN ON THE RUN AFTER POLICE ALLEGEDLY FIND MASSIVE STASH OF ILLEGAL GHOST GUNS IN HOME

Inside the house and a camper parked outside, federal and state law enforcement allegedly discovered a highly active, illegal weapons workshop. 

Court documents note authorities seized three 3D printers and a "Ghost Gunner" desktop CNC machine — a tool commonly used to mill untraceable "80%" firearm receivers.

Investigators reported finding a massive haul of illegal and untraceable weapons, including numerous 3D-printed silencers and firearm frames; privately made, untraceable short-barreled rifles lacking serial numbers; an Atlas Arms 12-gauge short-barreled shotgun with an obliterated serial number; and a Glock 19X modified with an aftermarket stock and vertical foregrip.

Authorities shared photos of guns seized inside the home during a search warrant. (U.S. Attorney's Office)

Federal law requires short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns and silencers to be registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and manufacturers must pay a special occupancy tax. 

Vishnevski had no such registrations, according to court filings.

Following his convictions, U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft told Fox News Digital there is a clear line between criminal enterprises and legal gun ownership.

CIVIL LIBERTY ADVOCATES SUE BLUE STATE OVER 'SHOW YOUR PAPERS' GUN LAW

"The real world contains nuance, and two things can be true at the same time: We staunchly defend the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans, while simultaneously recognizing that machine guns, short-barreled rifles, silencers illegally imported from China, and untraceable ghost guns present obvious dangers," Weinhoeft said. "The Department of Justice strikes this balance each day aggressively enforcing the criminal laws passed by Congress, while vigorously defending the constitutional rights of responsible gun owners in court."

Officials said a slew of evidence was recovered from inside the home, showing the stash was not possessed legally. (U.S. Attorney's Office)

Vishnevski, who is reportedly a U.S. citizen, told Capitol News Illinois he thought the government was surveilling him prior to his arrest because he was born in Ukraine and lived there until the age of 6, before immigrating to the U.S. a year later.

He told the outlet he completed Air Force officer training and enrolled at the St. Louis University School of Medicine under orders to serve as an Air Force physician after graduation, but left the program early and transferred to the Individual Ready Reserve.

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Following his arrest, Vishnevski told the outlet an agent with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had questioned him about his views on Ukraine and any associations with its citizens.

The U.S. Air Force and DHS did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.

After a first half for the ages, USMNT fans got a scare when star Christian Pulisic did not return for the second half of the United States' World Cup opener against Paraguay.

The Hershey, Pennsylvania, native, who plays club soccer for AC Milan, assisted on the United States’ second goal, scored by Folarin Balogun, and was one of the team’s most noticeable players throughout the first half.

However, when the team emerged from the tunnel, it was revealed that Pulisic had been subbed out in favor of Sebastian Berhalter, son of former USMNT player and coach Gregg Berhalter.

WATCH THE WORLD CUP FINAL ON FOX ONE

USMNT star Christian Pulisic was subbed out before the second half of the team's World Cup opener against Paraguay. (Gary Vasquez-Imagn Images)

The thing was, the team did not give any reason for why the change was made.

It was reported during the FOX Sports broadcast that Pulisic had indicated to family in the stands that he was OK.

After the United States capped off its 4-1 victory, USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino shed light on why the star was substituted. Per The Athletic's Tom Bogert, Pochettino said Pulisic took a kick to the calf that caused some tightness, and the decision to remove him was purely precautionary.

FOX ONE’S NEW WORLD CUP VIEWING EXPERIENCE

Some of the concern from fans stemmed from Pulisic's recent injury history. He sat out last summer's Gold Cup to rest after playing 50 club matches with AC Milan.

The following season, he dealt with several injuries. Most recently, according to ESPN, he missed a match last month because of a lower-back issue.

Christian Pulisic had an assist in the first half of the USMNT World Cup opener against Paraguay. (Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images)

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Pulisic is a key piece of the USMNT, and his absence was noticeable in the second half.

While Pochettino said the substitution was purely precautionary, American fans will likely remain uneasy until Pulisic is back on the field and fully healthy.

Folarin Balogun scores twice as the USA begin their World Cup campaign with a convincing 4-1 victory over Paraguay at the Los Angeles Stadium.

MATCH REPORT: USA 4-1 Paraguay

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The number of uncommitted prospects in the 2027 recruiting cycle is beginning to dwindle.

A large portion of these prospects made their college decisions before taking visits, many of whom were five-stars. Rivals currently reports that only a quarter of all five-star prospects in the class are uncommitted.

Linebacker Kaden Henderson is among the precious few uncommitted five-star prospects in the class. The 6-foot, 225-pounder from Tampa, Florida, ranks as the No. 1 linebacker, No. 4 prospect in Florida and No. 26 prospect in the class, per Rivals.

In three seasons of high school football, Henderson has registered 219 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, nine sacks, nine pass breakups, five forced fumbles, a pair of fumble recoveries and a trio of interceptions. Henderson was a participant in both the 2026 Under Armour All-America Game and Polynesian Bowl.

247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins noted that Henderson "plays a violent brand of football as he strikes and finishes" and highlighted his ability to "stalk ball carriers from the shelf and cut off run paths" in a scouting report from January.

The race for Henderson's commitment took a new turn on Friday when Zach Blostein of 247Sports reported that Miami bowed out of his recruitment. Four-star linebackers AJ Randle Jr. and Noah Glover and three-star linebacker Jayvon Dawson all committed to the Hurricanes in May.

With that development, Henderson is officially down to three finalists in his college recruitment.

SEC programs in pursuit

LSU was the first of Henderson's official visits back on April 23. The Tigers offered Henderson in late March of 2025, and he maintained interest in them despite the coaching change from Brian Kelly to Lane Kiffin.

Many of LSU's early commitments are from offensive prospects, but it made a splash earlier this month on the defensive end. Four-star prospect KJ Green, the No. 9 defensive end in the class, committed to the Tigers on June 7.

Henderson's other official visit to an SEC program was at Texas A&M on June 5. The Aggies offered Henderson in January of 2025 and have hosted him on a pair of official visits over the past year.

Texas A&M's class is currently the strongest in the country, boasting commitments from four five-star prospects and 10 four-star prospects.

However, none of those blue-chippers play linebacker; three-star Aston Whiteside, the Aggies' lone linebacker commit, announced his decision on June 1.

Notre Dame

Henderson's visit to the Fighting Irish on June 19 will mark his final official visit of the cycle. Notre Dame offered Henderson in March of 2025, and he has gone there for a pair of unofficial visits.

The Fighting Irish hold 13 four-star commitments and are looking to add another blue-chip linebacker to their 2027 class. Four-star Amarri Irvin, the No. 25 linebacker in the class, committed to Notre Dame on Nov. 26, 2025.

Milwaukee Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski just delivered one of the most dominant pitching performances baseball fans will likely see all season.

The 24-year-old twirled an absolute gem against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, pitching a complete game shutout with 15 strikeouts. Misiorowski only gave up one hit and needed just 95 pitches to finish off his nine scoreless innings in Milwaukee's 6-0 win over Philadelphia. The young right-hander even hit 104.5 mph in the first inning and was regularly firing off his triple-digit fastball throughout the night.

With this masterpiece, Misiorowski became the first MLB pitcher in the modern era to toss a shutout in which he had at least 15 strikeouts, allowed just one hit, and faced the minimum 27 batters, according to OptaSTATS on X, formerly known as Twitter. The hard-throwing righty also has a 0.17 ERA over his last eight starts, as pointed out by MLB.com's Sarah Langs. No other pitcher (excluding openers) has produced a lower ERA than that during a stretch of eight starts since earned runs became an official statistic in 1913, according to Langs.

In a day and age where it's becoming increasingly more rare for pitchers to throw complete games, Misiorowski's performance is undoubtedly a highlight moment of the 2026 MLB season. And if the Brewers ace keeps throwing the ball the way he has lately, it looks like baseball fans will be treated to an intense battle for this year's National League Cy Young Award.

Multiple pitchers are staking their claims for 2026 NL Cy Young

Misiorowski's gem is the latest example of the ridiculous numbers being produced by some of the best pitchers in the National League. The Milwaukee flamethrower, for example, now has a 1.34 ERA through 14 starts this year, with a league-leading 131 strikeouts in 87 innings.

Right behind Misiorowski in strikeouts is Philadelphia left-hander Cristopher Sánchez. The southpaw has struck out 113 batters in 93 1/3 innings so far this year, while also posting a 1.54 ERA in 14 starts. He even had a stretch of 50 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings pitched earlier this year.

Then, of course, there's Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. The four-time MVP has produced a 1.06 ERA in his first 11 starts of 2026, striking out 73 hitters in 67 2/3 innings. And don't forget about the defending NL Cy Young Award winner, Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes. The 24-year-old has a 2.84 ERA to begin the season, but he still has time to try to turn in his third straight year with a sub-2.00 ERA.

Even though it's only the second week of June, it's abundantly clear that these hurlers (and others) are set to make this an incredibly entertaining year for MLB fans who love to watch dominant pitching.

Estados Unidos arrancó la Copa Mundial 2026 con una histórica goleada sobre Paraguay. Con un marcador de 4-1, la escuadra de “Las Barras y las Estrellas” consiguió su victoria más grande en este torneo, empatando un récord que llevaba intacto desde hace 96 años.

Las acciones se llevaron a cabo desde el Estadio Los Ángeles, en California. El partido comenzó con un vendaval norteamericano que empezó a tocar la puerta desde los primeros instantes. Fue así como solo tuvieron que pasar 6 minutos para que se abriera el marcador con un autogol de Damián Bobadilla, cuando este trató de detener una combinación entre Christian Pulisic y Weston McKennie, pero en su intento mandó el balón su propio arco para el 1-0 estadounidense.

Los locales continuaron atacando durante todo el primer tiempo con Folarin Balogun y Sergiño Dest como los hombres más peligrosos. Incluso, al minuto 25, el camiseta 20 de los Estados Unidos consiguió mandar el balón al fondo tras un pase filtrado de McKennie; no obstante, el tanto fue anulado por un fuera de lugar previo.

Aun así, Balogun siguió insistiendo y, al minuto 30, con una asistencia de Pulisic, remató en el centro del área para, ahora sí, marcar el 2-0. Pero no solo eso, pues justo antes del descanso, al minuto 4, el mismo Balogun recibió un balón a profundidad, ingresó al área, se quitó a dos rivales y colocó el 3-0 con un disparo al ángulo superior izquierdo.

Para la segunda parte, Paraguay emparejó el trámite por momentos y, al minuto 73, descontó para el 3-1 definitivo de los sudamericanos, producto de un gol de Gustavo Velázquez tras asistencia de Julio Enciso. Sin embargo, sobre el final, Estados Unidos volvió a pisar el acelerador y, en la última jugada del partido, tras una gran secuencia de pases, Gio Reyna sacó un derechazo de tres dedos para poner contra el poste izquierdo el 4-1 definitivo.

Lo verdaderamente llamativo de este marcador es que se ha convertido en la máxima exhibición ofensiva jamás mostrada por Estados Unidos en una Copa del Mundo,. Y es que nunca antes había anotado cuatro goles en un solo partido mundialista.

Además, con esta diferencia de tres anotaciones sobre el cuadro guaraní, el conjunto norteamericano empató su mayor margen de ventaja en una victoria en la historia de la justa. Previamente, sus dos triunfos más holgados habían sido por marcador de 3-0, uno ante Bélgica y otro, curiosamente, también ante Paraguay, ambos en la edición de Uruguay 1930.

* Uruguay 1930: Estados Unidos 3-0 Bélgica
* Uruguay 1930: Estados Unidos 3-0 Paraguay
* Norteamérica 2026: Estados Unidos 4-1 Paraguay

Entrepreneur and former presidential candidate Andrew Yang has a theory about where the next wave of startup opportunity lies, and it starts with a question most founders aren’t asking: what if the business model was giving money back instead of extracting it?

Yang was inspired by Mark Cuban. Not by his wealth, or his celebrity, but by Cost Plus Drugs — Cuban’s startup that sells pharmaceuticals at cost. Yang made a list.

“Housing, education, food, fuel, transportation, media, and wireless,” Yang told TechCrunch on a recent episode of Equity. “The things we all spend money on.”

He picked wireless and last September launched Nobile Mobile, a new mobile virtual network operator that provides cell service for a fraction of what traditional carriers charge and gives customers money back if they use less data. 

As AI threatens to compress wages and displace workers, Yang sees a business opportunity in bringing down the cost of living. Cost Plus Drugs, Noble Mobile, dumb phone makers like Light Phone, and even online grocery store Misfits Markets are early examples of an emerging business category where the startup’s value proposition is the margin it gives back to the customer.

“AI is going to suck up a lot of the value and the jobs, and then Americans are going to look up and say, ‘How do I meet basic needs?’” Yang said. He believes meeting people’s needs “less expensively” is “a very rich vein of opportunity.” 

That instinct didn’t emerge from nowhere. Yang first launched himself into the public eye during his 2020 presidential campaign, during which he advocated for Universal Basic Income as a means of combating AI-related workforce displacement and wealth concentration. The campaign didn’t succeed but the thesis has only grown more relevant.

Yang is still an advocate for UBI, arguing that the value generated by AI companies needs to be redistributed into the hands of the average American. But whether the government will be the vehicle for that redistribution, or whether it will just use any collected wealth to “plug a hole and do something not terribly productive,” Yang is less certain. 

“There is room for a direct connection between the money and the people,” he said. 

That’s where the market comes in. Where policy fails, Yang argues, market incentives can step in. Noble Mobile is his attempt to prove the point. Since its launch last September, the company has grown to “thousands and thousands” of customers and is bringing in “millions in revenue.”

“We’re unit profitable per customer, but we just share the profits with our subscribers with the idea that it’ll make you happy, you’ll stay around, and maybe you’ll tell your friends and family,” Yang said. 

The pitch is simple. Yang noted that the average monthly savings of $50, invested and compounded over 40 years, could amount to $24,000 — enough for a retirement down payment. And in this economy, who isn’t thinking about little ways they can upgrade their personal finance?

Whether investors will share that enthusiasm is another question entirely. Even if the opportunity is real, capital is concentrated heavily in AI right now, while consumer-facing businesses with thin margins and a social mission are a hard sell.

“I had at least one investor say to me around Noble Mobile, ‘Love you, Andrew, want to work with you — if you could just make this an AI company, we’ll invest,’” Yang said. 

The tide might be changing, though, simply because even the most wealthy, extractive companies need an economy in which consumers have enough buying power to purchase their products. 

“The value being concentrated in the hands of a handful of folks and firms is just bad for everybody,” he said. “There are some folks I know in Silicon Valley who are open to that for a variety of reasons…[like] they just don’t want to have to hire private security.”

Yang encouraged founders and investors to take on problems they’re passionate about and find a way to build a valuable enterprise on top of it.

“Think bigger and more broadly about trying to tackle problems and don’t subscribe so much to groupthink, because there are some valuable opportunities out there,” he said.

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Appearing on the "Run It Back" podcast, NBA legend Isiah Thomas sounded off about players refusing to admit to LeBron's greatness, calling them "jealous" of King James' basketball accomplishments.

Chandler Parsons, one of the podcast's co-hosts, mentioned to Thomas how they had several players from his generation list their top five players of all time, and LeBron wasn't on the list. He asked Thomas what the "disconnect" is between players and LeBron.

“They intentionally ignore the obvious, and when you intentionally ignore the obvious, then it has to come back to some jealousy, or some envy, or just some straight-up BS,” Thomas said.

“This man got every basketball record on the books and he ain’t in your top five, you’re full of [expletive],” he said.

More news: Stephon Castle Remains Confident For Spurs’ Must-Win NBA Finals Game 5

Thomas is 100% right with the assessment, and certainly has spent time on the court against several of the game's greatest of all time, including legends like Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson.

He previously battled with both players as part of the "Bad Boys" Detroit Pistons, who claimed back-to-back championships in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Despite their intense rivalry, Thomas would give MJ a nod on his all-time greatest players list with LeBron.

Many people will argue that Jordan is the all-time greatest basketball player, which is a fair opinion. Still, LeBron James appears right up there with him as a very close second due to his impressive basketball resume.

He’s a four-time NBA champion, four-time NBA Finals MVP, four-time MVP, 23-time NBA All-Star, and 13-time All-NBA First Team selection. LeBron also achieved many all-time records, including surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most points scored in an NBA career.

And King James may not be done yet, as many are speculating he will return for his 24th NBA season. It may be close to the end of his career, but he’s still playing basketball at a very high level after putting so many hours into his craft.

More news: Magic Johnson Calls Out Spurs Coach for Victor Wembanyama NBA Finals Issue

For more about the NBA, head over to Newsweek Sports.

History was made as the U.S. dropped a 4-bomb on Paraguay.

For the first time in history, the U.S. scored at least four goals in a World Cup game.

On top of that, Folarin Balogun, 24, became the first American player since 1930 to score multiple goals in a World Cup match. The 4-1 victory over Paraguay also marked the first time the United States won a World Cup game by three goals since 1930, when it also beat Paraguay. Team USA secured the historic win in its 2026 FIFA World Cup opener in Southern California on Friday night.

WATCH THE WORLD CUP FINAL ON FOX ONE

Folarin Balogun scored two goals in his first World Cup game for the US. (Getty Images)

Balogun's big night marked a historic moment in one of the more fascinating American soccer stories in USMNT history.

The U.S. raced to a 3-0 lead, scoring its first goal within the opening seven minutes, and came within one goal of matching the largest World Cup victory in program history. Even with the three-goal advantage, the Americans continued to press for a fourth goal. But after U.S. captain Christian Pulisic went down with an injury, Paraguay found the back of the net in the 73rd minute.

But then, in the final seconds, 23-year-old Gio Reyna scored the historic fourth goal to ensure the U.S. earned three points in the World Cup standings.

The American scoring barrage started when Paraguay's Damián Bobadilla scored an own goal in the sixth minute, giving the Americans an early lead in the highly anticipated group-stage matchup.

American fans packed in SoFi Stadium roared as the USMNT seized an early advantage.

FOX ONE’S NEW WORLD CUP VIEWING EXPERIENCE

Folarin Balogun of the U.S. celebrates scoring the second goal with teammates in Inglewood, Calif., on June 12, 2026, during the FIFA World Cup Group D match against Paraguay. (Gary Vasquez/Imagn Images)

Then in the 30th minute, the New York native Balogun scored his first-ever World Cup goal, pushing the lead to two.

Balogun's strike gave the U.S. a two-goal cushion in the 30th minute, the third-fastest the Americans have reached that mark in a World Cup match. The only time Team USA managed to put the ball in the net sooner was in 2002 against Portugal (29th minute) and in a 1930 meeting with Paraguay (15th minute).

Balogun's special night continued just before halftime, when he scored again, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Balogun raced onto a pinpoint pass from teammate Malik Tillman before curling a shot into the top-left corner for a standout goal.

Born in Brooklyn to Nigerian parents, but raised in London, Balogun came through the prestigious Arsenal academy. He was discovered at age eight playing in a local "Sunday League" in London and joined the youth academy for Arsenal, one of England's biggest professional clubs.

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Christian Pulisic of the U.S. celebrates with teammates after an own goal by Paraguay's Damian Bobadilla during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match in Inglewood, Calif., on June 12, 2026. (Kiyoshi Mio/Imagn Images)

He had the choice to play for the U.S. or England, and when deciding which national team to commit to, he took a vacation to the U.S. in 2023. He felt so much overwhelming support from American fans on social media that it heavily influenced his decision to pledge his international allegiance to the United States.

Now, he is America's newest star in a strong start to a World Cup that will be played on home soil for the first time in three decades.

Veteran New York news anchor Bill Ritter revealed Friday that he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease, bringing an end to his more than two-decade run behind the WABC-TV anchor desk.

Ritter, 76, who has anchored the station's 6 p.m. newscast in New York City since 2001, revealed during Friday's Eyewitness News broadcast that it would be his final night anchoring the program.

"After a series of tests, my doctors have told me I have Alzheimer's," Ritter said during the broadcast.

"It's early-stage Alzheimer's, and they say the treatments I'm getting are keeping it at bay, for now," he continued. "But there is no guarantee, because there's no cure yet for Alzheimer's."

'DUCK DYNASTY' STAR PHIL ROBERTSON DIAGNOSED WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Veteran New York news anchor Bill Ritter announced that he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease and is stepping away from the WABC-TV anchor desk. (Linda Rosier/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

"So, unless someone finds an amazing cure, and soon, tonight will be the last newscast I anchor," he added.

According to ABC7, Ritter joined WABC-TV in 1998 after an extensive journalism career that included work at the Los Angeles Times, local television stations in California and positions with ABC News.

He began anchoring the station's 11 p.m. Eyewitness News broadcast in 1999 and was added to the flagship 6 p.m. newscast in 2001. He also anchored the station's 5 p.m. broadcast for several years.

WOMAN WITH ADVANCED ALZHEIMER'S REGAINED SPEECH AND MEMORIES AFTER TAKING MAGIC MUSHROOMS

Bill Ritter has anchored WABC-TV's 6 p.m. newscast in New York City since 2001. (Heidi Gutman/Disney via Getty Images)

ABC7 reported that Ritter will remain with the station in a new role focused in part on reporting about Alzheimer's disease and other neurological conditions, as well as their impact on patients and families.

"For decades, Bill Ritter has covered and led New Yorkers through the stories that matter most," WABC-TV General Manager Marilu Galvez said in a statement.

"A defining presence at ABC7, he has done so with exceptional insight, integrity and, most of all, heart, earning the love and respect of viewers and colleagues alike," she continued.

"While he is stepping away from daily anchoring, he will continue to be an integral part of our ABC7 family, including sharing personal updates and providing resources to help others impacted by Alzheimer's better understand the disease and the resources available to them."

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Bill Ritter, Eyewitness News Anchor, WABC-TV, speaks onstage at the ROAR Forward Summit at Hearst Tower on November 19, 2024 in New York City. (Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Hearst)

"Bill is strong, brilliant, and resourceful, and we look forward to his continued reporting on Eyewitness News," Galvez added.

Ritter also noted during the broadcast that his father died from Alzheimer's disease in 1998 after battling the illness for years.

Ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft, several pro squads are interviewing or intend to interview Northwestern University Wildcats basketball legend Nick Martinelli.

Per Charlie Perlman of The Daily Northwestern, the 6-foot-7 Glenview native revealed at the NBA Draft Combine that he had already spoken with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and at that point was slated to chat to a "decent amount" of other NBA clubs, including the Dallas Mavericks and Charlotte Hornets. When Martinelli tested the draft waters after his junior season last summer, he also chatted with multiple interested parties.

“I never knew that I was going to have the opportunity, or even thought or fathomed that I would have the opportunity to work out for NBA teams, let alone make it to the NBA Combine,” Martinelli said. “If you’re disciplined and you just stay the course every single day, you get out there and roll the balls out, and it’s just like you’ve done it so many times, it just comes to you naturally.” 

Fascinatingly, one of the most prolific scorers in Wildcat history seems to have been given some fairly pessimistic feedback when it comes to his NBA prospects — not necessarily from teams, but certainly from somewhere.

“Everyone’s always told me, ‘It doesn’t look good’ or ‘You don’t pass the eye test.’ I hear it all the time,” Martinelli said. “Obviously, it gets to me a little bit, but at the end of the day, I’ve truly been blessed with gifts from God like the touch and the way that I move. I see it as a blessing; other people might see it as a curse.”

Martinelli is keenly aware that, if he goes anywhere, he'll likely be selected late into the second round of this year's draft. There's a decent chance he instead will have to prove his way onto a roster in training camp, or (more likely) will ink a two-way contract, to be toggled between the G League and an NBA team proper.

“As a second-round guy, you want to have somebody that’s super confident as a leader,” Martinelli said. “It doesn’t matter what type of opportunity this is for me, I just want to play the right way and respect the game every time and work my butt off.” 

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INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Enrique Rodó’s essay Ariel from 1900 pits the creative, spiritual ideals of Latin America against the primitive impulses of North America, picking apart the latter’s “trained brutality,” “insensibility to soft tones,” and “cult of bigness.” The roles were spectacularly reversed in the World Cup’s clash of Americas on Friday.

It was Paraguay who took a distinctly primitive approach to defending, clumsily bumbling around SoFi Stadium without any discernible impact on the remarkably penetrative and persistent waves of U.S. attack. “They dominated tactically, technically and physically,” Paraguay boss Gustavo Alfaro fretted after the contest.

Mauricio Pochettino demanded his roster shake off the weight of expectation and “play like they are a child.” The Stars and Stripes lived up to that brief, floating around the turf with an impish weightlessness. Paraguay took on the unwanted connotation of that message, making a series of schoolboy mistakes which undoubtedly made life easier in an impressive and historic 4–1 win few saw coming.

Christian Pulisic Comes Out With a Point to Prove

“We want to go and prove ourselves right,” Christian Pulisic declared in a rare statement with any punch on the eve of the tournament.

The face of this team has been scrutinized more than anyone else. Despite undoubtedly standing out as the most talented American player of his generation, Pulisic has struggled to live up to the lofty billing foisted upon him. The winger’s last goal in a competitive international came back in November 2024. Pulisic is still waiting to break that particular drought, but he emphatically proved himself Friday.

Pulisic played with a directness which defined the entire frontline, forever spinning towards goal each time he got the ball and barrelling directly at poor Juan Cáceres.

It was that urgency which forced the breakthrough inside seven minutes. Confronted with two blue shirts, Pulisic hopped between Diego Gómez and Cáceres as though he was jumping through a pair of closing elevator doors. A further poke between the legs of Andrés Cubas allowed Weston McKennie to stab the ball against the shins of Damián Bobadilla.

There was no need for any trickery as Pulisic burned past Cáceres half an hour into the contest, driving to the goal line to cut the ball back for Folarin Balogun’s first and the team’s second of the game.

The only lingering negative to Pulisic’s defiant display was that it lasted just 45 minutes.

Crisis? What Midfield Crisis?

There weren’t many surprises in Pochettino’s roster—even without the prolific leaks—but the one area of intrigue revolved around his midfield selections, or a lack thereof.

Tyler Adams’s availability will be key given the distinct lack of options as that deepest central midfielder, especially if Pochettino continues to line him up next to the attacking duo of Malik Tillman and Weston McKennie.

The versatility of Tillman and McKennie makes for an interesting blend of blurring stripes in front of Adams. Tillman was comfortable dropping a bit deeper or drifting wide (where he spent the entirety of the second half in Pulisic’s absence) while McKennie constantly swapped positions with Sergiño Dest, a right back/right wingback who was often neither on the right wing or at the back.

Even Gio Reyna came off the bench and impressed—although the sequence leading up to his goal once again underscored the importance of Adams. The high-profile substitute briefly threatened to lose his head after a needless collision before Adams charged onto the scene, shoving Reyna away from the scuffle and towards the penalty box, from where he bent a sumptuous fourth into the far corner.

It remains to be seen if Pochettino is as front-footed against an opponent more willing to creep out of its shell before falling 3–0 down, but it is an exciting starting trio.

All That Campaigning Paid Off

When Balogun told his mother that he had decided to represent the USMNT rather than hold out for an England call-up or represent her nation of birth, Nigeria, she replied: “What took you so long?”

Balogun himself would later describe the decision as a “no brainer” but that didn’t stop the New York-born striker from turning out for numerous England youth teams after moving across the Atlantic as an infant. There was enough jeopardy for the USMNT to actively court Balogun, who was wined and dined by the manager and several players in 2023, which included courtside seats for an Orlando Magic game.

That campaigning—akin to the type of recruitment strategy usually reserved for college teams scouting high schoolers—has paid off. The Monaco forward struck upon a rich vein of form in the second half of the club season and carried his clinical edge into World Cup play with a pair of wonderfully taken goals.

By nabbing a brace in the largest win USMNT has ever recorded in the competition, Balogun became the first American in men’s World Cup history to score twice in the same game since Bert Patenaude registered the tournament’s first hat-trick in 1930.

The No. 1 Decision

It was a decision which became helpfully masked by the attacking might in front of him, but Pochettino’s goalkeeper call was always going to be one to watch. The Argentine ultimately opted for New York City FC’s Matt Freese over Matt Turner, the first choice for the 2022 World Cup.

Turner has enjoyed an impressive MLS campaign thus far—boasting the best save prevention rate in the entire division—but his shaky showings at international level, particularly during a thumping at the hands of Belgium in March, ushered Freese to the fore.

The 27-year-old didn’t have to make a single save in the first half and still failed to record a stopped shot after the break when Mauricio’s well-placed finish comfortably bypassed his wayward dive.

There will be more testing tasks in the weeks ahead, but for now, Pochettino can bask in the success of all his decisions.

READ THE LATEST WORLD CUP NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC

The NBA Finals are still rolling, but free agency is mere weeks away from opening. While Lakers star guard Austin Reaves is one of this year’s top free agents, it’s widely presumed he’ll ink a new deal to remain in Los Angeles that comes with a much deserved payday. That doesn’t mean other teams can’t try to poach him, though.

According to a report from The Athletic’s Dan Woike on Friday, Reaves is expected to have interest from the Brooklyn Nets who could offer a deal for close to $45 million annually. Citing sources, Woike also brought up the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks as teams that are interested who can also create the space to make a competitive offer.

Reaves has a $14.9 million player option with the Lakers for next season which he’ll almost certainly decline to finally get paid. L.A. couldn’t offer their star guard anything close to his value previously since he came to the organization as an undrafted free agent. He’s coming off a career season where he averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game while connecting on 36% of his 6.4 three-point attempts per night. He emerged as the Lakers best scorer behind Luka Dončić, surpassing LeBron James in that role.

A new contract is coming at a great time for Reaves. That’s not the case for the Lakers, however, who are headed for a tricky offseason.

A look at the Lakers’ upcoming offseason

James will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason alongside Reaves. It remains unclear whether James will return to the Lakers, head elsewhere or decide to call it quits after an NBA record 23 seasons. James made $52.6 million this past season and while his potential next contract could be much less at this stage of his career, his pedigree and consistent level of excellence could still cost a pretty penny. If he decides to come back to the Lakers, he could agree to a big discount if he thinks the team is in a position to contend for a title.

The biggest predicament that leaves the Lakers in is that it’s unknown when James will make his decision and president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka likely wants to get a deal done with Reaves as soon as he can. And Reaves’s presumed big pay bump would limit the Lakers’ flexibility depending on the price James wants. That would also come into play as the team tries to retain other key free agents like Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard and Jaxson Hayes.

Maxi Kleber is another Lakers free agent, while Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart both have player options less than $10 million for next season that each will need to make a decision on. Dončić’s three-year, $160.4 million contract extension he signed a year ago kicks in next season, which makes this offseason about adding, and more importantly keeping, the right pieces around the superstar guard to make a run in the stacked Western Conference.

The Lakers need to pay Austin Reaves his money and not think twice about it

It’s no surprise that Reaves will garner serious interest on the free-agent market on a massive deal. He’s a top-20 scorer who could serve as a lead guard on most teams across the NBA, but he’s likely already in the best situation for him.

Dončić led the NBA in scoring last year with 33.5 points per game. Reaves takes pressure off the Lakers’ superstar and gives him more space to operate. His gravity pulls defenders away from Dončić which allows him to score at such a high volume. That works the other way, too, as playing next to Dončić has done wonders from Reaves. Since he stepped into the NBA five seasons ago, he’s always played second fiddle. First to James, now to Dončić. There’s no question that Reaves could thrive as another team’s primary scorer, but he’s been so good as a secondary scorer and playmaker thus far, there’s no reason to change what’s worked.

He steered his way to the Lakers as an undrafted rookie as he declined other opportunities to make his way onto L.A.’s roster. Now, he has the opportunity to choose his own path once again.

But the Lakers should make Reaves’s decision simple: Pay the man and lock in the star backcourt duo for years to come.

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