While the U.S. Men&#8217;s National Team doesn&#8217;t play on Wednesday, there are multiple outcomes that Americans should be cheering for during the remaining group stage games to clear the way for a deep U.S. run in the 2026 World Cup.
The United States officially clinched Group D after its 2-0 victory over Australia last week, securing a spot in the knockout round. However, America&#8217;s opponent in the Round of 32 is still uncertain. With 24 games remaining in the opening round of tournament play, the potential bracket is changing with every match result.
The United States finishes its group stage on Thursday night against Turkey, but the outcome will not affect the team&#8217;s standing or path in the knockout round. In the next round, America will take on the 3rd place finisher in Group B, E, F, I, or J, which will be decided in the coming days. 
If America wins in the Round of 32, it would face Egypt or Belgium. While all of this is subject to change, the route to America&#8217;s first quarterfinals since 2002 has never looked easier.
Games starting as early as Wednesday have major implications for who the United States will face in the next round.
The first and arguably most important match is Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar. The main thing to root for is that the match does not end in a draw. Both teams sit at one point apiece in Group B after a draw and a loss in their first two games. If either team comes away as a winner, it would set them up to play the United States in the following round. If they draw, however, both teams will likely be eliminated, and the most likely opponent for Team USA would become Senegal, a much stronger competitor.
If there is a draw, Americans should pull for Czechia or South Africa to win later on Wednesday to decrease the odds of playing Senegal. 
Moving onto a potential Round of 16 opponent, the United States would play the winner of Group G or a handful of third place teams. As it stands, the current matchup between Egypt and Czechia is the most likely and still very favorable for America.
Another scenario to keep an eye on is Uruguay vs. Spain on Friday night. If Uruguay were to beat Spain, Spain would move to the other side of the bracket and America would have an even easier potential quarterfinal matchup against Uruguay.

USA v Australia: Group D – FIFA World Cup 2026

America Doesn’t Play Today – But Here’s Who You Need To Root For In The World Cup

Soccer

U.S.

World Cup

The UFC and Meta announced a new partnership Monday afternoon that revolutionizes the current fighter ranking system that has been in place since 2013.
The multi-billion dollar mixed martial arts organization partnered up with the artificial intelligence company to use their technology to evaluate the athletes based on a specific algorithm using advanced metrics such as quality of win and recency. UFC President and CEO Dana White took to Instagram to declare the new collaboration.
“I’ve been unhappy with the rankings and always believe there had to be a better way,” White said. “We’ve always been a company that runs toward technology and innovation and now we’ve worked with Meta to integrate it directly into our rankings system. I’m excited to see how this innovation can help change the sport for both the fans and the athletes.”
White has publicly expressed his disdain for the media voting panels in recent years, so the change in rankings did not come as much of a surprise to anyone. It was especially heightened in 2024 after Khalil Rountree Jr. almost beat the light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, yet stayed at number eight in the rankings.
“The morons strike again,” White complained. “The morons keep him at number eight. Literally this week, I have a meeting to try and fix the rankings and get all of these know-nothing, do-nothing motherf*ckers out of it.”
“I just can’t handle incompetence. I can’t take it anymore. It’s driving me crazy,” White <a href="https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2024/10/15/ufc-rankings-dana-white-change-media-ai/75696927007/">continued during a post-fight press conference</a> just a few days later. “I can’t let people that I don’t believe know what the f*ck that they’re talking about deal with the rankings anymore. I have to figure out a solution.”
The new deal with Meta fixes White’s issues with the media panel that voted for the top 15 fighters in each division and an overall top ten “pound-for-pound” fighter list. What was once affected by popularity now uses an algorithm created by the engineering team at Meta.
The algorithm factors in how a fighter wins, whether it’s dominant or a split decision, opponent quality, and activity of the fighter. The rankings update the Monday after each UFC event.
The first “Meta UFC Rankings” released Monday, June 22, with many fans and fighters alike giving mixed reactions to the now unranked fighters and athletes who jumped rankings and benefitted from the change.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
What am I lookin at 😆 
This 💩 gotta be a joke
Somebody playin I can’t take none this serious 😆 <a href="https://t.co/bLnzzMsvql">pic.twitter.com/bLnzzMsvql</a>
— Charles &#8220;InnerG&#8221; Johnson (@innerGmma_ufc) <a href="https://x.com/innerGmma_ufc/status/2069174064544137388?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2026</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
For the first time this bullshit ranking is right
— Renato Moicano (@moicanoufc) <a href="https://x.com/moicanoufc/status/2069176060889968793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2026</a></blockquote>
The “Meta UFC Rankings” appear to be here to stay despite the backlash.
“By introducing these advanced metrics, the Meta UFC Rankings deliver the most consistent and clear assessment of fighter placement available today,” the company <a href="https://www.ufc.com/news/ufc-and-meta-unveil-meta-ufc-rankings">stated on the announcement on their website</a>. “This consistent, data-informed approach is designed to foster greater fan engagement and debate, providing a neutral and sophisticated benchmark for comparing the world&#8217;s best athletes.”

UFC 257: Press Conference

UFC And Meta Team Up To Reinvent Fighter Rankings

Washington Commanders v Green Bay Packers

How An Epstein-Linked PR Firm Helped The Washington Commanders Go Woke

Jeffrey Epstein

Sports

Washington Commanders

Woke Culture

Monday&#8217;s World Cup matches featured the biggest names in the sport scoring multiple goals each for their second consecutive group stage games.
Argentina, France, and Norway all took the field Monday in hopes of clinching their spot in the round of 32. Their superstars did all the work in pushing their countries to victory, creating an exciting race for the Golden Boot, the award given to the leading goal scorer in the tournament.
Argentina started the action off with a 2-0 win over Austria, and Argentine star Lionel Messi <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-messi-sets-all-time-record-for-world-cup-goals">made history</a> by scoring his 17th career World Cup goal, tying the all-time record. The goal came in the 38th minute after he missed a penalty kick earlier in the first half.
Messi added to the all-time total when Argentina made the best of a chance late in the second half, resulting in Messi putting the ball into the back of the net following chaos in front of the goal. His second goal also pushed him past Brazilian female star Marta Vieira da Silva, who held the record for World Cup goals for the women at 17.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
MESSI WITH THE BRACE TO PASS MARTA FOR THE MOST-EVER GOALS, MAN OR WOMAN, IN A FIFA WORLD CUP 🇦🇷 <a href="https://t.co/Ww5Wz9FnHk">pic.twitter.com/Ww5Wz9FnHk</a>
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) <a href="https://x.com/FOXSports/status/2069133596292427842?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2026</a></blockquote>
France took on Iraq in the second game of Monday’s action, as it looked to build off its dominant opening-game victory over Senegal. Just 14 minutes into the game, France’s Kylian Mbappé picked up where he left off, scoring from 26 yards out. 
This game also featured the first weather delay, as lightning and wind in the area delayed the second half by an hour after France took a 1-0 lead into the break when the rain started to pour in.
When play finally resumed, France and Mbappé did not seem fazed by the long wait. After a miscommunication and a massive mistake by Iraq, Mbappé scored his 16th career World Cup goal and fourth this tournament. Another goal from fellow star Ousmane Dembélé secured the win for France.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A MASSIVE mistake at the back for Iraq and Mbappé capitalizes 🇫🇷
France lead 2-0! <a href="https://t.co/8sf1hwd6mD">pic.twitter.com/8sf1hwd6mD</a>
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) <a href="https://x.com/FOXSports/status/2069211684862890253?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2026</a></blockquote>
The goal ties former all-time leader Germany’s Miroslav Klose, whom Messi passed just a few hours prior. Mbappé and Messi are battling for that top goal scorer spot in tournament history, but Norway’s Erling Haaland is right with them in the race for this year&#8217;s Golden Boot.
The Norwegians took down Senegal’s national team 3-2. Marcus Holmgren Pedersen started things off for Norway, scoring just two minutes before the first half ended to take the 1-0 lead.
Haaland came to play in the second half, scoring both of his goals within 10 minutes of each other at the 48th and 58th minutes.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
ERLING HAALAND BAGS A BRACE TO MAKE IT 3-1 NORWAY! 🇳🇴
Truly unreal goalscoring prowess from the Norwegian striker <a href="https://t.co/WEWtTWdmtr">pic.twitter.com/WEWtTWdmtr</a>
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) <a href="https://x.com/FOXSports/status/2069228658246463587?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2026</a></blockquote>
Despite two goals on the other side from Ismaïla Sarr, Senegal lost its second straight group stage match, putting its hopes of advancing on life support.
After the domination from the stars, Algeria and Jordan took the pitch in the final game of the day in a back-and-forth affair. Jordan took a surprising lead after Nizar Al-Rashdan scored in the 36th minute. Algeria finally responded late in the second half, thanks to Nadhir Benbouali netting one in during the 69th minute, and Amine Gouiri scoring the game-winning goal for Algeria in the 82nd minute.
This loss eliminates Jordan from advancing to the knockout stage, but keeps Algeria alive as it is now tied with Austria in second place in Group J.
Groups L and K take the field later today with Colombia and England looking to continue their winning ways against the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ghana. Portugal will look to rebound against Uzbekistan, and Croatia seeks its first win of this year’s tournament against Panama.

France v Iraq: Group I – FIFA World Cup 2026

Soccer’s Biggest Stars Steal The Show In Latest World Cup Action

Argentina

France

Lionel Messi

Norway

A WNBA coach expressed disappointment with her team after failing to win for &#8220;the gays&#8221; on Pride Night.
&#8220;We should’ve done it for the gays,” Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve joked after the team lost 84-79 to the Washington Mystics on Sunday night. “We didn’t get it done.”
Reeve made the remarks during a <a href="https://www.fox9.com/sports/cheryl-reeve-after-lynx-pride-night-loss-we-shouldve-done-gays">post-game press conference</a> after a reporter explained that Minnesota had a near-sold-out crowd of close to 12,000 fans. The Lynx were one of twelve teams to host a “Pride Night” during the 2026 WNBA season, with each franchise scheduled to host one at some point throughout the end of the month.
For many sports fans, Reeve&#8217;s comment highlights how deeply identity politics have become embedded in professional sports. In March, the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nba-team-drops-player-over-gay-pride-comments-sparks-backlash-from-christian-athletes?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=NBA+Team+Drops+Player+Over+Gay+Pride+Comments%2C+Sparks+Backlash+From+Christian+Athletes">NBA dropped a player</a> after he declared the league&#8217;s LGBT celebrations as &#8220;unrighteous.&#8221; 
“The world can proclaim LGBTQ, right?” Jaden Ivey <a href="https://x.com/CollinRugg/status/2038738011270316391" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “They proclaim ‘Pride Month’ in the NBA. They proclaim it. They show it to the world. They say, ‘Come join us for Pride Month to celebrate unrighteousness.’ They proclaim it. They proclaim it on the billboards. They proclaim it on the streets. Unrighteousness.”
Recently, major and minor league baseball teams hosted “Pride Nights&#8221; that were met with controversy. 
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Landen Roupp stood up for his Christian faith by inscribing a Bible verse in silver next to the rainbow logo on his cap, The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/giants-pitcher-refuses-to-hide-christian-faith-during-pride-night">reported</a>.
“The rainbow is a symbol of God’s covenant with us, and we as believers stand firm in that … There’s no hate at all,” Roupp told reporters. “It’s just what I stand for and what I stand in, I believe in God.”
The York Revolution, a minor league team, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/baseball-team-forfeits-game-over-pride-jerseys">forfeited</a> its game after players declined to participate in Pride Night.
Minnesota currently sits atop the WNBA standings at 13-4, with the loss to the Mystics being its second since May 17, 2026.

Washington Mystics v Minnesota Lynx

WNBA Coach Bummed After Letting Down ‘The Gays’

WNBA

Argentina’s Lionel Messi became the all-time leading World Cup goal scorer on Monday, passing Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the new record holder with 17 goals. 
Messi scored in the 38th minute in his second game of the group stages against Austria with an assist from Facundo Medina. In the opening minutes of the game, Messi missed an opportunity for the record after he was awarded a penalty kick, which went wide right.  
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The GOAT stands alone.
MESSI BECOMES THE ALL-TIME LEADING GOALSCORER IN MEN’S FIFA WORLD CUP HISTORY 🇦🇷 <a href="https://t.co/aWY9thIuUG">pic.twitter.com/aWY9thIuUG</a>
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) <a href="https://x.com/FOXSports/status/2069113349954998775?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2026</a></blockquote>
After securing a hat-trick in his country’s opening group stage match against Algeria last week, Messi skyrocketed from fourth place to a first-place tie for most career goals in the tournament’s history. He also became the first player to appear in six different World Cups for his country, with his first coming in 2006.
The greatest of all time, as some declare him, also has the most Ballon d’Or trophies and Golden Ball trophies. He also holds the most goal contributions during the World Cup, and most goals with a single club.
With four goals and counting through two games, Messi is also on pace to win his first ever World Cup Golden Boot, which is awarded to the highest goal scorer during the tournament. In 2022, Messi finished as the runner-up behind France’s Kylian Mbappé.
Later in the match, Messi scored his second goal in the fifth minute of injury time of the second half, increasing the record to 18.
Messi will look to increase the record as Argentina aims to win back-to-back World Cups, a feat that hasn’t been done since Brazil accomplished it in 1958 and 1962. Argentina will take on Jordan in their final match of the opening round of the tournament.

Argentina v Algeria: Group J – FIFA World Cup 2026

WATCH: Messi Sets All-Time Record For World Cup Goals

The second weekend of the 2026 World Cup saw the tournament favorites get back on track and set themselves apart from the rest of the field, while Cape Verde continued its fairytale run.  
Friday afternoon was also highlighted by the United States <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/team-usa-takes-major-step-forward-in-home-field-world-cup-run?author=Drew+Berkemeyer&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=25&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Team+USA+Takes+Major+Step+Forward+In+Home-Field+World+Cup+Run">securing</a> Group D and advancing to the knockout round after its 2-0 win against Australia. America&#8217;s opponent in the following round has yet to be determined. 
After surprising draws in their opening matches, Brazil, the Netherlands, and Spain proved why many predict them to win the tournament. 
Brazil followed its disappointing 1-1 tie against Morocco in its opening game with a hot first half against Haiti. Matheus Cunha scored the first two goals at the 23rd and 36th minutes, setting the tone for what would be a dominant first half. Brazil’s star Vinícius Júnior scored in the third minute of injury time in the first half for his second goal of the young tournament, and Brazil defeated Haiti 3-0.
The Dutch have not lost in regulation or extra time since the 2010 World Cup final against Spain. On Saturday, the Netherlands continued its record of consecutive World Cup matches without a loss by picking up its 14th straight against Sweden in a commanding way. 
Led by two goals in the first 20 minutes of the first half from Brian Brobbey and two in the first 10 minutes of the second half by Cody Gakpo, Netherlands won 5-1, propelling them to the top of Group F with Japan.
Coming off a 7-1 win, Germany struggled against Ivory Coast, who led the powerhouse 1-0 at the end of the first half following Franck Kessié’s goal in the 30th minute. The German national team was saved when Deniz Undav was substituted into the game with 30 minutes remaining in regulation. 
Undav, who came off the bench and scored in their last game, scored two goals to pull off the comeback against Ivory Coast, one of them coming in the fourth of six minutes of stoppage time in the second half.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT? 🤯
GERMANY TAKES THE LEAD IN STOPPAGE TIME! <a href="https://t.co/hVrMbRwxFx">pic.twitter.com/hVrMbRwxFx</a>
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) <a href="https://x.com/FOXSports/status/2068453457523032554?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2026</a></blockquote>
Sunday’s slate started off with Spain’s dominance. After tying 0-0 against Cape Verde and Vozinha’s heroics in goal, the Spaniards got back on track against Saudi Arabia.
The 18-year-old phenom Lamine Yamal made his presence felt in his first career World Cup start, scoring just 10 minutes into the game for his first goal of what is presumed to be many for Spain.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
LAMINE YAMAL MAKES HISTORY WITH HIS FIRST-EVER FIFA WORLD CUP GOAL! 🇪🇸
In just the 10th minute of his first start, the 18-year-old finds the scoresheet for Spain <a href="https://t.co/lCRbt56lo5">pic.twitter.com/lCRbt56lo5</a>
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) <a href="https://x.com/FOXSports/status/2068728884355289195?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2026</a></blockquote>
Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal kept the scoring going with two goals in three minutes to give them a 3-0 lead at halftime, and the Spaniards eventually won 4-0.
Fan-favorite Cape Verde continued its magical run in arguably the best game of the weekend against Uruguay. After putting up a clean sheet in its last time out, Cape Verde got on the board quickly thanks to a deep free kick from Kevin Pina for the country’s first-ever World Cup goal.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
ABSOLUTE GOLAZO FOR CAPE VERDE&#8217;S FIRST-EVER FIFA WORLD CUP GOAL 🇨🇻
Kevin Pina with a historic moment for his country! <a href="https://t.co/yHUEczi56z">pic.twitter.com/yHUEczi56z</a>
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) <a href="https://x.com/FOXSoccer/status/2068822091885883586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2026</a></blockquote>
Uruguay responded at the end of the first half, with Maxi Araujo and Agustín Canobbio each scoring within seven minutes of each other to take a 2-1 lead heading into the half. Cape Verde’s Helio Varela miraculously tied things up after goalkeeper Fernando Muslera left the goal in a disastrous moment for Uruguay.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
EMPTY NET GOAL 🚨
Cape Verde equalizes after Muslera gets caught in no man&#8217;s land! <a href="https://t.co/wI6Y4iRAbf">pic.twitter.com/wI6Y4iRAbf</a>
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) <a href="https://x.com/FOXSoccer/status/2068838395829276922?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2026</a></blockquote>
This tie keeps Cape Verde alive in the group stage with one game remaining. If Cape Verde wins its final game against Saudi Arabia and Spain beats Uruguay, it will advance to the knockout stages for the first time in World Cup history.
With a ton of action this past weekend, Monday’s matches feature potential historic moments and offensive powerhouses on display.
Argentina takes on Austria in their second game of group play. Lionel Messi, coming off his first career hat-trick during this tournament, will look to become the all-time leading goal scorer in World Cup history with his next goal. France’s Kylian Mbappé, who is quickly rising up the same list, and Norway’s Erling Haaland will look to build on their two-goal performances.

Spain v Saudi Arabia: Group H – FIFA World Cup 2026

World Cup Favorites Bounce Back, And The Magic Continues For Cape Verde

Brazil

Netherlands

Spain

The Tartan Army has decided to give back to Boston charities after <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/boston-has-fully-embraced-the-tartan-army-takeover?author=Gus+Wilson&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=30&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Boston+Has+Fully+Embraced+The+Tartan+Army+Takeover">drinking their pubs dry</a> and drastically increasing revenue.
Fans of Scotland’s national team, also known as the Tartan Army, have taken over the New England area for their team’s first two matches in the 2026 World Cup. Local bars have reported “triple” the number of sales since their arrival. 
In their first act of kindness, the fans were <a href="https://x.com/1scottishbanter/status/2067301916686635123?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2067301916686635123%7Ctwgr%5Ec5bee34e271161d31d97a59ad51293d1464d3146%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailywire.com%2Fnews%2Fboston-has-fully-embraced-the-tartan-army-takeover">picking up</a> after themselves. They followed that up with thousands of dollars of donations to local organizations.
“If we can help ease the pain, it’ll make their life a little bit better, why shouldn’t we help out in some way?” a member of the Tartan Army said in an <a href="https://x.com/PeterAdamSmith/status/2067357629437935814">interview with ITV News’ Peter Smith</a>. “I hope that message spreads as well. It’s that simple.”
The tradition of donating to their hosts communities spans two decades as the army follows Scotland all over the world.
The Tartan Army visited Hasbro Children&#8217;s Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, where they later donated $10,000 for cancer research. Sarah Frost, the hospital&#8217;s president, even met up with the fans to personally thank them for the five-figure donation.
“The energy, the excitement, the love, the passion that you all bring, you know Providence is a smaller community, but you have won the hearts and minds of everyone here,” Frost told the fan in the interview.
“Job done,” the fan replied with a smile.
The fans made their next stop at Horizons for Homeless Children in Roxbury, a Boston neighborhood. Members of the army toured the center, played bagpipes for the children, and capped it off with a $1,200 contribution.
“All we were seeking to do was to come with the Tartan Army, spread a little peace, hope, and goodwill and make a difference to the American people,” a Tartan Army “soldier” <a href="https://x.com/kumoriRaver/status/2067386250298789958">told NBC10 Boston</a>. 
Scotland’s last match in Boston takes place June 19, 2026, against Morocco. The Tartan Army will follow the national team to Miami for their final group stage match, where they will surely continue the tradition of donations and drinking bars dry.

Scotland Fans – FIFA World Cup 2026

After Drinking Boston Dry, Tartan Army Leaves Behind A Massive Surprise

After Drinking Boston Dry, Tartan Army Leaves Thousands For Local Causes

Scotland

The New York Knicks celebrated their long-awaited NBA Finals win with a parade on Thursday, and fans couldn’t help but notice a glaring mistake at City Hall.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani&#8217;s administration hung banners for each player on the team, showcasing their last names and jersey numbers — and fans quickly noticed that something was amiss. Dillon Jones, who wore number one for the Knicks this season, had the number 33 on his banner, which has been retired for 23 years in honor of Hall of Famer and Knicks legend Patrick Ewing.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Dillon Jones <a href="https://t.co/Hmkp0fMwMC">pic.twitter.com/Hmkp0fMwMC</a>
— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) <a href="https://x.com/sny_knicks/status/2067577129055768781?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
Pictures of each banner were posted by SportsNet New York on social media. Fans not present for the parade were stunned by the mistake associating Ewing’s legendary 33 with Jones, who has not worn the number since his preseason stint with the Washington Wizards last year. 
That was the only time in Jones’ young career he wore the number, and didn&#8217;t wear it in a regular season game because he was cut by the Wizards before opening night.
Ewing’s number was retired by the Knicks in 2003 in honor of his Hall of Fame resume and his 15 years with the franchise. He was responsible for the Knicks’ championship appearances in 1994 but was injured, and he missed their last appearance in 1999.
Ewing was also in attendance for multiple of the Knicks’ playoff victories on their championship run, and sat court-side for the series-clinching Game 5. 
Jones appeared in fewer than forty minutes of championship play in 2026, but is now a two-time NBA champion after playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder last season. With the Thunder, Jones wore the number three.

NY Knicks Parade To Engulf Downtown With Fans, Cops, Confetti

Mamdani’s Office Makes Embarrassing Mistake For Knicks Championship Parade

New York City

New York Knicks

Zohran Mamdani

Wednesday’s slate of World Cup games saw more shocking outcomes and dominant performances.
One of the tournament favorites stumbled in a game many expected to be a blowout, while a second contender put on an offensive clinic. Elsewhere on the slate, a West African team snatched a win in stoppage time, and a South American team pulled away late after a tight first half.
In the first match of the day, Portugal took on the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the country’s first World Cup appearance in 52 years. Portugal, on the other hand, has competed in the tournament every year since 2002 and is still attempting to bring home the one trophy that star forward Cristiano Ronaldo is missing from his case.
Portugal scored the opening goal of the game thanks to a header from João Neves in the sixth minute, leading fans to think this might be a similar game to Germany’s 7-1 win over Curaçao. The result ended up being more comparable to the improbable result <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-goalkeeper-who-shocked-the-world-had-one-wish-after-the-match">seen</a> in Spain vs. Cape Verde.
Yoane Wissa of the DR Congo scored in the fifth minute of first-half added time for the country’s first-ever World Cup goal, leaving Portugal fans stunned and sending DR Congo fans into a frenzy, including the few watching the game in enemy territory in Lisbon, Portugal.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Look at these DR Congo fans celebrating in the middle of thousands of Portugal fans 🇨🇩 <a href="https://t.co/WtMzcBJJvw">pic.twitter.com/WtMzcBJJvw</a>
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) <a href="https://x.com/FOXSoccer/status/2067319362432930179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
These were the only two goals of the match, as both defenses stood strong, resulting in both countries only receiving one point in Group K for the tie, 1-1. Many viewers began questioning whether or not Ronaldo should continue starting for Portugal, as he has been goalless in his last 10 games in major tournaments.
“This may be the deepest Portuguese team they’ve ever had at a World Cup, but I think they’re better if Ronaldo comes off the bench,” Taylor Twellman <a href="https://x.com/SportsCenter/status/2067448681054208178">told</a> ESPN during his appearance on the Scott Van Pelt Show.
England vs. Croatia was a much higher-scoring affair, with the stars of England showing up in a 4-2 victory. 
Harry Kane, the country’s captain, started things off for England with a penalty kick goal in the 12th minute after being granted a re-kick due to the goalie jumping before Kane kicked the ball. The final 10 minutes of the first half were a back-and-forth affair. 
Croatia’s Martin Baturina tied the game up at the 36-minute mark, which was followed up by Kane’s second goal of the first 45. As the half came to an end, Petar Musa made it 2-2 right before the break.
England’s Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford helped the Three Lions pull away in the second half, scoring at the 47th and 85th minutes, respectively. The offense proved ready to potentially win England its second-ever World Cup, with the first being 60 years ago.
The most exciting moment of yesterday’s slate came in the 95th minute of the Ghana and Panama game. After a rainy, defensive game for both halves of regulation, Caleb Yirenkyi of Ghana broke the tie in stoppage time and gave them three points in Group L, putting them in first place along with England.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
GHANA SCORES ITS FIRST GOAL OF THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP IN STOPPAGE TIME! 🇬🇭
Caleb Yirenkyi puts it in the back of the net! <a href="https://t.co/CucTJ9UYjM">pic.twitter.com/CucTJ9UYjM</a>
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) <a href="https://x.com/FOXSoccer/status/2067413485072593118?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2026</a></blockquote>
Colombia pulled away from Uzbekistan late in last night’s match, helping them take sole possession of Group K with three points and a two-goal differential to put Portugal on the ropes early in group play.
Following Wednesday’s results, the second weekend of the 2026 World Cup has plenty of matches to look forward to. Tonight, the other two host countries for this tournament will play in their second group stage game, with Canada taking on Qatar and Mexico squaring off against South Korea.
Friday, the USMNT takes on Australia in a pivotal game to determine who will gain sole possession of the Group D lead. A win would give the United States six total points and a commanding lead to advance to the knockout stages. Scotland will likely continue to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/boston-has-fully-embraced-the-tartan-army-takeover">drink Boston dry</a> as they face off against Morocco, and Brazil will attempt to bounce back against Haiti after their draw with Morocco.
Saturday features powerhouses Spain and Belgium looking to avenge their surprising ties in their opening matches, while Vozinha looks to lead Cape Verde to another impressive result after his seven-save performance against Spain. Sunday’s games look to make history, as Lionel Messi is one goal away from breaking the all-time World Cup record, and France’s Kylian Mbappé is not far behind after his recent two-goal performance.

Portugal v Congo DR: Group K – FIFA World Cup 2026

Another Global Soccer Giant Stunned In World Cup

Momcozy is a top choice for mothers when they purchase a breast pump, but a potential connection with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has raised concerns about customers&#8217; personal information being harvested by the Chinese.
Since Momcozy is a Chinese-based company, it could be required to share information with the group under China’s laws. U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) — who chairs the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee — expressed his unease with Momcozy possibly sharing customers&#8217; information with the CCP.
“We have already seen cases where foreign adversaries such as China have sought to exploit U.S. laws to acquire information that could be used against individuals and our national interests,” he explained in a letter sent to Momcozy on Wednesday that was obtained by The Daily Wire.
The HELP Committee, led by Cassidy, recently launched an investigation following the U.S. Department of Education’s report revealing that foreign entities aligned with the CCP were trying to “influence American universities.&#8221; He also has looked into numerous cybersecurity lapses that put private American data at risk.
The private information that is shared with Momcozy not only puts the parents at a potential risk, but their newborns as well, according to Cassidy.
“As we consider steps to protect families from having their information misused, we must pay particular attention to protecting the safety of our children,” Cassidy wrote.
The HELP Committee sent a letter to the chief executive officer of Momcozy, Athena Pan, Wednesday afternoon to better understand how Momcozy protects the privacy of these families.
In the letter, the HELP Committee addressed three specific protocols that Momcozy follows, requesting answers to numerous questions regarding how privacy is protected. The three protocols targeted are “detailed person information” that is collected, Momcozy’s headquarters in China, where the information is “transferred” and “processed,&#8221; and products connecting to Momcozy’s app via bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
The Senate committee also raised questions regarding Momcozy&#8217;s use of information, what personal information is actually being stored, and any sharing of information with the Chinese Communist Party. 
&#8220;In the last five years, has Momcozy shared any information of individuals who reside in the United States with the Chinese Communist Party or the Chinese government?&#8221; the letter asks, adding, &#8220;What privacy and security protocols does Momcozy have in place to ensure this information is not improperly accessed?&#8221;
The HELP Committee requests answers to their questions by July 6, 2026.
Momcozy did not respond to The Daily Wire&#8217;s request to comment.

MomCozy Sunrise Echo

Leading Baby Product Company Questioned Over Potential CCP Ties

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Scottish soccer fans have settled into their new home for the first two games of their first World Cup appearance since 1998 — Boston, Massachusetts — and they are making quite an impression. 
Boston, thus far, has welcomed the Scots with open arms and even passed laws to keep their party rolling.
Members of the Tartan Army — diehard Scotland national team fans — have made themselves at home in Boston over the last week following their opening game win over Haiti, 1-0. The victory didn’t stop on the field, and businesses around the city benefited from the influx of Scots — and a well-timed change in state and local laws made just for this summer.
Sam Adams Boston Taproom, one of the more well-known bars in the New England area, was shocked by the ability of the Tartan Army to drink the entire pub dry over the weekend. Sam Adams told local news that they drank four times as much as what is normally consumed over a four-day holiday weekend.
“We’ve never seen anything like it,” Billy DeCain of the Sam Adams Boston Taproom <a href="https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/are-scottish-soccer-fans-drinking-all-of-the-beer-in-boston/3966171/">told local NBC News</a>.
Hennessy’s Bar, another famous spot in Boston, was also left in disbelief after reviewing its numbers from the opening weekend of the tournament.
“We’ve been here for over 30 years, and we’ve never seen anything like it,” Noelle Somers, chief operating officer of the bar, told the Boston Globe. “We tripled St. Patrick&#8217;s Day.”
The record-breaking sales across the city derive from what Scots are dubbing the “Tartan Army Bill.” 
Last week, the Boston Licensing Board passed a measure allowing 144 establishments to stay open an hour past the usual closing time through July 31 under a state law signed by Governor Maura Healey.
“This bill will provide more opportunities for people to celebrate with their community for the World Cup and the other exciting events we have happening this summer for MA250,” Governor Maura Healey said in a statement after she signed the bill.
Scottish fans caught wind of the measure over the weekend — dubbing it the &#8220;Tartan Army Bill&#8221; — and repaid the hospitality with a full rendition of the U.S. national anthem in a Boston bar.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
The Scots took over Boston and they belt out OUR anthem, word for word, in a pub!
The Europeans and Japanese at the World Cup have made the world appreciate America.
(Maybe they can teach the Democrats). <a href="https://t.co/zA7rhdL1cs">pic.twitter.com/zA7rhdL1cs</a>
— Buzz Patterson (@BuzzPatterson) <a href="https://x.com/BuzzPatterson/status/2066883493674754099?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
It is even being reported that a city worker said Scotland fans were leaving the areas where they were celebrating so clean that he barely had to even do his own job.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A city worker cleaning up after a Tartan Army party said around 2,000 fans had been drinking and having fun&#8230; but left the area so clean he didn&#8217;t even need help tidying up.
Party hard. Bring the atmosphere. Make pals with the locals. Leave no mess behind 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 <a href="https://t.co/4Ci4KLqkJP">pic.twitter.com/4Ci4KLqkJP</a>
— Scottish Banter (@1scottishbanter) <a href="https://x.com/1scottishbanter/status/2067301916686635123?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
European World Cup tourists across the country are falling in love with the United States, and the Tartan Army is clearly no exception.

Texas Rangers v Boston Red Sox

Boston Has Fully Embraced The Tartan Army Takeover

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Gus Wilson