SportsLine's Martin Green reveals his Panama vs. Ghana best bets for their FIFA World Cup 2026 match on Wednesday

Former Michigan State athletic director J Batt is getting quite the pay raise with his new job at Kentucky.Batt, who left Michigan State on Monday after only one year in East Lansing, signed a six-year, $17.85 million contract with Kentucky, according to a contract posted on X by ESPN's Pete Thamel. The contract pays Batt an extra $5.25 million compared to the six-year, $12.6 million contract he signed with Michigan State in June 2025.Batt will make $2.6 million in total compensation his first year at Kentucky, then he will make an extra $150,000 of supplemental compensation each year of the contract. His final year will see a total compensation of $3.35 million.At Michigan State, Batt made $1.85 million this past year. His compensation at Michigan State ranked him in the top 10 nationally among public university athletic directors. His pay bump at Kentucky puts him in the top four.Kentucky will also pay Batt's liquidated buyout to Michigan State, a sum of $5 million. President Kevin Guskiewicz's impending departure triggered a clause in Batt's contract that would have cut that sum in half, to $2.5 million, but Guskiewicz is still technically serving his role at Michigan State, and Kentucky didn't wait around in hiring Batt.Batt, 44, had come to Michigan State in June 2025 from Georgia Tech. In his first year, he started a number of initiatives including $1 billion capital campaign FOR SPARTA and third-party revenue generating entity Spartan Ventures. He also secured a $401 million commitment from megadonors Greg and Dawn Williams, including $100 million to seed Spartan Ventures. He also announced a $500 million plan for renovations to Spartan Stadium, to begin in November 2027.Batt's tenure was short-lived, however, after Guskiewicz announced May 27 an intention to take the same position at Clemson, citing tension with three Board of Trustees members Mike Balow, R-Plymouth; Rema Vassar, D-Detroit; and Dennis Denno, D-East Lansing. A timeline for his departure is unknown, but Guskiewicz released a statement Monday that he will assist in naming an interim athletic director before he leaves.cearegood@detroitnews.com@ConnorEaregoodThis article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Kentucky to pay former MSU AD J Batt nearly $3 million a year

The proposed golf ball rollback spearheaded by the United States Golf Association and R&A will now take place as a single-date implementation in January 2030.

Matchday seven of the 2026 FIFA World Cup got underway with Congo DR making history with a 1-1 draw against Portugal in Houston.

A newly surfaced social media video has captured a tense moment between Brunson and the officer during the New York Knicks' historic NBA championship celebration.

The mother of Cape Verde star goalkeeper Vozinha has been granted a visa to enter the United States in time for her 40-year-old son's next World Cup match, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced Wednesday.Vozinha became an early sensation of the World Cup after making key saves in a 0-0 draw with Spain, one of the tournament favorites that was expected to rout tiny Cape Verde.After the match, Vozinha said his mother had not been able to secure a visa to enter the U.S. to see him play.Jeffries said he spoke to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and asked the State Department to do everything in their power to ensure that his mother can attend Cabo Verdes next match.Jeffries said all fees have been waived and travel arrangements are being made to get her to Cape Verde's next game Sunday against Uruguay in Miami.I thank Secretary Rubio, U.S. State Department officials, the government of Cabo Verde and FIFA for working together to make this possible, Jeffries said.Vozinha made seven saves against Spain as Cape Verde delivered a stunning World Cup debut. Afterward, Vozinha said his mother had been unable to gather the money in time to secure a visa to enter the U.S.Cape Verde is among 50 countries whose citizens face bonds of up to $15,000 to secure a U.S. visa, part of President Donald Trumps broader crackdown on travelers from countries that officials said had high rates of visa overstays. The Trump administration last month suspended the requirement for ticket-holders from Cape Verde and four other World Cup nations, but critics said it was too late for many fans.The State Department had said it had no record of her ever applying for a visa, but that it was working on resolving the situation with Cape Verde authorities. The department said it had notified all players from World Cup countries affected by the $15,000 visa bond requirement that they and their families would be exempt from posting the bond.A person familiar with the situation said that the State Department believes that Vozinhas mother did not apply for a visa because she did not hold a valid Cape Verde passport, but that she is now in the process of getting one.The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential visa deliberations.___AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee contributed reporting from Washington.___AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup

The mother of Cape Verde star goalkeeper Vozinha has been granted a visa to enter the United States in time for her 40-year-old son's next World Cup match, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced Wednesday.Vozinha became an early sensation of the World Cup after making key saves in a 0-0 draw with Spain, one of the tournament favorites that was expected to rout tiny Cape Verde.After the match, Vozinha said his mother had not been able to secure a visa to enter the U.S. to see him play.Jeffries said he spoke to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and asked the State Department to do everything in their power to ensure that his mother can attend Cabo Verdes next match.Jeffries said all fees have been waived and travel arrangements are being made to get her to Cape Verde's next game Sunday against Uruguay in Miami.I thank Secretary Rubio, U.S. State Department officials, the government of Cabo Verde and FIFA for working together to make this possible, Jeffries said.Vozinha made seven saves against Spain as Cape Verde delivered a stunning World Cup debut. Afterward, Vozinha said his mother had been unable to gather the money in time to secure a visa to enter the U.S.Cape Verde is among 50 countries whose citizens face bonds of up to $15,000 to secure a U.S. visa, part of President Donald Trumps broader crackdown on travelers from countries that officials said had high rates of visa overstays. The Trump administration last month suspended the requirement for ticket-holders from Cape Verde and four other World Cup nations, but critics said it was too late for many fans.The State Department had said it had no record of her ever applying for a visa, but that it was working on resolving the situation with Cape Verde authorities. The department said it had notified all players from World Cup countries affected by the $15,000 visa bond requirement that they and their families would be exempt from posting the bond.A person familiar with the situation said that the State Department believes that Vozinhas mother did not apply for a visa because she did not hold a valid Cape Verde passport, but that she is now in the process of getting one.The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential visa deliberations.___AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee contributed reporting from Washington.___AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup

Portugal's World Cup campaign began on an emotional note, with the nation paying tribute to Diogo Jota in their opening fixture against DR Congo.The forward's parents, Isabel and Joaquim Silva, watched from the stands as guests of the Portuguese Football Federation, and became visibly emotional as screens displayed an image of their late son.Jota and his brother Andre Silva died in a car accident last year, with the former Liverpool forward being unable to play in the 2022 World Cup through injury.Every member of the Portuguese squad took to the pitch wearing commemorative bracelets bearing Jota's name alongside their own, a gesture organised by Prime Minister Luis Montenegro.TRENDINGStoriesVideosYour SayMidfielder Vitinha revealed the origin of the tribute, explaining: "Basically, the story of the wristband is, when we went to meet with the prime minister, he offered us this wristband."They made sure that it was a wristband that we could wear on the pitch. It has all the specifics for us to be able to enter the pitch with it, with the name of all the players, plus the special name of Diogo Jota."He let us choose if we wanted to use it or not, how [we use it], during the day or during the match. "We received it with a lot of affection, and we chose to use it."LATEST SPORTS NEWSWorld Cup day seven: England lineup confirmed against Croatia as DR Congo upset PortugalLigue 1 manager dies aged 58 as family issues statementPGA Tour and USGA issue key statement day before US OpenHead coach Roberto Martinez had already honoured the former Liverpool man by posthumously including him as an honorary member of the World Cup squad.At Jota's funeral last summer, numerous squad members gathered to pay their respects, though captain Cristiano Ronaldo stayed away deliberately.The record international goalscorer reportedly chose not to attend to ensure the focus remained on the service itself.Jota played 123 times for Liverpool, finding the net 47 times and contributed significantly to the club's Premier League title triumph in 2025.Scotland captain Andy Robertson, his former Anfield teammate, made a promise to Jota's widow, Rute Cardoso, that he would represent both of them at this tournament.The pair had watched the 2022 World Cup together at Liverpool's training ground, united by their ambition to play for their countries in 2026.Cardoso, the mother of Jota's three children, wrote about how Robertson should carry the pair's dream to the World Cup.The letter published by Fifa said: "I am writing to you with a heart full of longing, gratitude and, above all, pride."Diogo often spoke of you. Of the friendship you built, the battles you fought together, the challenges, the laughter, the conversations about football and about dreams."The World Cup was one of those dreams, a dream that the two of you nurtured, side by side, with the same passion with which you took to the pitch."When I heard your words and learnt what you felt on that day when Scotland qualified for the World Cup, after so many years of waiting, I realised that Diogo never truly left the pitch."By achieving that moment and securing your place at the World Cup, you won't be going alone. You'll be taking his dream with you too. And when you step on to the pitch, I know it won't just be you walking out, Diogo will be with you in your thoughts, in your steps, in your heart."So today, I want to thank you. Thank you for not forgetting him. Thank you for taking him with you. Thank you for turning the pain of loss into strength and into something so beautiful."That's how we do it here at home too. Every day. He would be, and is, incredibly proud of you. Cherish that dream, Andy. Live it for yourself and for him."Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

Harry Kane was able to give England the lead against Croatia from the penalty spot - but only thanks to the video assistant referee.