EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ When Kylian Mbapp scored just before halftime in France's round of 32 win over Sweden at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday, the captain didn't do one of his signature post-game celebrations.Instead, he headed straight to France's bench. Mbapp (and the rest of the team) went immediately over to the sidelines to embrace France boss Didier Deschamps, who returned on Tuesday after missing the teams final Group I match against Norway, going back to France with his family following the death of his mother.Mbapp and the entire French team went straight to Didier Deschamps after scoring pic.twitter.com/G9InrfPQrR FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 30, 2026Deschamps left the team following its clean-sheet win over Iraq on Monday, June 22. Longtime France assistant Guy Stephan coached in Deschamps' spot in Les Bleus' win over Norway, which clinched Group I for the reigning World Cup runners-up. "I think that was important," France defender Malo Gusto said in the mixed zone following the game on the moment the team had with Deschamps. "I think Kylian did that to support (our) coach, too. It was a tough time for him. It was up to us to return the favor. I think we did really well tonight."Mbapp echoed similar sentiments in his post-match television interview on Fox, while mentioning it wasn't an planned celebration going into Tuesday's knockout game."It is the DNA of this group," Mbapp said. "We know that coach went through an ordeal that, unfortunately, everyone will go through, and it was very difficult. There are more important things than football. But he needs to know, and he already knows, through that gesture from the whole team that he will never be alone. ... We will support him." Mbapp and France stand by Didier Deschamps through the highs and lows pic.twitter.com/nwtr8tvcky FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 1, 2026Mbapp scored two of France's three goals on the day, giving him his third brace of the tournament. His goal in the first half gave him his ninth goal in a World Cup knockout round, which set a tournament record for an individual player. Meanwhile, his second-half goal moved him within one of Lionel Messi for the tournament's all-time scoring record. Mbapp heads into the round of 16 with 18 World Cup goals.It's the fourth consecutive World Cup that France has advanced to the round of 16, all of which have come under Deschamps, who took over the France national team in 2012. Under Deschamps, France has advanced to at least the quarterfinals of the World Cup and has one World Cup title, which came in 2018. That's the second World Cup he's brought home to France, as he won one as a player in 1998. France will now take on Paraguay in the round of 16 on Saturday, July 4 at 5 p.m. ET in Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mbappe celebrates goal with France boss as coach returns from family funeral

As the national team prepares to face the U.S. in California, band member Vedran Mujagic explains how their viral anthem united a global diaspora

The Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani will skip his scheduled pitching start Wednesday against the Athletics to get some extra rest, manager Dave Roberts said. The Dodgers are in the midst of playing 13 games in 13 days, and Roberts wanted to make sure that the Japanese sensation got a break. Ohtani is slated to pitch in San Diego on Friday. "If theres any opportunity to give him some extra rest, were going to try to take advantage of it," Roberts said. "So pushing him to Friday allows us to have him still take two starts before the break and get on two division opponents. In that vein, theres just no downside. This made too much sense." Ohtani is 8-2 with a 1.58 ERA in 13 starts this season. The four-time MVP has 82 strikeouts and 24 walks in 79 2/3 innings this season. Roberts indicated that Ohtani will be the Dodgers designated hitter for the series finale against the As on Wednesday. "Its mostly schedule-driven," Roberts said. "We talked to Shohei and he was agreeing to whatever we felt, knowing its best for him. Theres no downside with him losing starts, get more rest. That was the whole driver." Roberts said the Dodgers will go with a bullpen game in Ohtanis absence on Wednesday. Reporting by the Associated Press.

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During their NBA free agency special on Tuesday, ESPN's Brian Windhorst suggested the Cleveland Cavaliers may pursue Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown.Windhorst stated that "the league changed" when LeBron James decided to leave the Los Angeles Lakers and become a free agent. After the Celtics were willing to include Brown in a potential deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the 2024 NBA Finals MVP may no longer want to play for Boston following such rumors.While this was not directly a report by Windhorst, the NBA insider is very plugged in with Cleveland and may have made an educated guess or hint about what the Cavaliers are currently thinking:"Can the Cavs make a move for Jaylen Brown then come to LeBron and say, 'How do you feel about us now?'"@WindhorstESPN explains how the Cavaliers can try to lure LeBron in free agency pic.twitter.com/ZwOqXFGFu2 NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 1, 2026According to Windhorst, after James Harden opted out of his contract, the 2018 NBA MVP is willing to do whatever he can to help improve the roster in Cleveland. Perhaps the longtime Boston standout fills that gap. If the Cavaliers could get Brown, per Windhorst, that would grab the "attention" of the four-time NBA Finals MVP now that he will not return to Los Angeles. This article originally appeared on For The Win: How the Cavaliers emerged as Jaylen Brown suitors to lure LeBron James

The WNBA released a statement on Tuesday saying it 'vehemently condemns any and all forms of hate'

The start time for the Round of 32 match between Mexico and Ecuador has been delayed due to thunderstorms in Mexico City. The match was scheduled to kick off at 9 p.m. ET at Mexico City Stadium. However, heavy rain and active lightning warnings in the area forced the start time to get pushed back, according to FOX Sports' Rebecca Lowe. Officials announced the delay at Mexico City Stadium approximately an hour before the scheduled 9 p.m. ET kickoff. The exact duration of the postponement remains unknown, as officials must wait for the lightning to pass before clearing the match to begin. Updates will follow as the weather develops. The winner of this matchup will advance to the Round of 16 to face either England or DR Congo.

Marc Stein: And: The more crucial factor, per a league source, is that Kristaps Porziis and the Warriors have done this deal as an extension rather than a Bird Rights contract.x.comThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Kristaps Porzingis' deal with Warriors is an extension

SportsLine's Martin Green reveals his Ecuador vs. Mexico best bets for their FIFA World Cup 2026 match in the knockout round

SAN JOSE, Calif. Shrieks of laughter echoed around an empty PayPal Park. Weston McKennie playfully taunted Tyler Adams, just like he usually does. Even the normally reserved Christian Pulisic joined in on the fun. As members of the U.S. mens national team worked through a training session at the home venue of MLS club San Jose Earthquakes on Tuesday, anyone watching if they didnt know better wouldnt think that these players were barely 24 hours before what might be the biggest games of their lives. Nothing less than the legacy of what many have called a "Golden Generation" of American soccer stars led by Pulisic, McKennie and Adams is at stake on Wednesday, when the USA meets Bosnia and Herzegovina in its first do-or-die match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup at nearby San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (kickoff at 5 p.m. ET on FOX and FOX One). The stakes are enormous. And after winning its first two contests in a World Cup for the first time in almost a century en route to topping Group D, the expectations are just as high. For months, coach Mauricio Pochettino has talked up his squads potential: "Why not us?" That has been the question the former Paris Saint-Germain manager has asked his team and the USAs rapidly growing fan base again and again. Players and supporters alike have internalized that message, to the point where many are already looking past Wednesdays round of 32 contest and to next weeks round of 16 in Seattle against Belgium or Senegal or even the July 10 quarterfinal versus (probably) star-studded Spain or Portugal or Croatia. Not so fast. The Bosnians wont go quietly. And while theyre not France, the U.S. hasnt beaten a European team in its last 12 chances dating to 2021 and has lost all six of such matches under Pochettino. If that streak doesnt end in Northern California, at a World Cup on home soil, the public perception of the USAs tournament the reality will instantly swing from wild success to catastrophic failure. There is nothing in between. The players are unfazed. "We try not to think worst-case scenario," defender Chris Richards told me Monday before the Americans final practice. "For us, ultimately it's [about] going to this game with confidence, but also understanding that no things don't always go your way," he said. "So let's make sure you're prepared for everything." Besides, being stressed out wont help. "Relaxation brings concentration," Pochettino said at Mondays pre-match press conference, attributing the quote toJorge Valdano, a legendary player and coach with Real Madrid who won the 1986 World Cup with Argentina. No wonder the U.S. is choosing to look at Wednesday as an opportunity to keep its World Cup dreams kicking, rather than an obligation to. "We understand what it means: You win or you go home," Pulisic said. "So yeah, there definitely needs to be a lot of focus and attention to detail this week. But I think the vibe feels good. We've still kept it light, and we still are going to be ready to battle once the whistle blows." If not, anything could happen. Just days into the business end of this World Cup, European powers the Netherlands and four-time champion Germany are out before the round of 16 has even started. And thats not even accounting for the unexpected: red cards, own goals, injuries. Keeping the emotions in check at the line but not over it can also go a long way toward the ability to survive and advance. "Soccer," Pochettino allowed, "is an unpredictable thing. We try to reduce that." Still, the odds are on the home teams side. Another massive red, white and blue-clad crowd is expected. The U.S. comes into the match ranked 15th by FIFA while the Golden Lilles are 61st, lower than 16 nations that failed to qualify for this World Cup. Not that that matters when the game begins. "I don't believe that we are the favored team," Pochettino said. "Everyone said Germany was the favorite, but Paraguay beat them. "After the group stage, we are seeing how difficult it is for everyone," he continued. "We don't have another opportunity if we fail. [So] it's all-in, knowing that that game is the final of the World Cup. That, I think, needs to be and is our mindset."