Argentina's 2026 World Cup round of 32 matchup against Cape Verde isn't like David versus Goliath. It's not even FCS Appalachian State looking to upset Michigan back in 2007.As far as college football is concerned, the comparison is what would happen if we played a 48-team College Football Playoffwhere the third-best team in the WAC received a berth against an undefeated defending national champion with a Heisman Trophy winner returning at quarterback. Lionel Messi, considered by many to be the greatest soccer player of all time, is the leading goalscorer in men's FIFA World Cup history. The college football equivalent is 2004 Heisman winner Matt Leinart, who led USC to a perfect 13-0 season and a national championship. Imagine the 2005 Trojans facing Louisiana Tech, which finished third in the WAC with a 7-4 record and lost by 38 points the last time it played a top-10 opponent. That's the task facing Cape Verde. Even Appalachian State's famous 34-32 upset win over Michigan in 2007 falls short as a comparison because Cape Verde simply isn't as good as Appalachian State turned out to be. The Mountaineers entered the 2007 season fresh off back-to-back FCS national championships. They posted a 14-1 record the previous year, with their only loss coming against NC State. And 2007 was just as much of a banner year for Appalachian State, as it once again won the FCS national title and posted a 13-2 record. During an eight-year run from 2005-12, Appalachian State won seven conference championships and captured three straight national titles. The only college football program more dominant than the Mountaineers during that time was Nick Sabans Alabama teams. Cape Verde isn't that. This is a nation with fewer people than the state of Wyoming. It's a team that has won just one of its last nine matches in international competition excluding friendlies and hasn't left a match victorious in international competition since October 2025. This is a team that built its World Cup reputation on its ability to defend and timely goalkeeping rather than overwhelming talent. In fact, when Cape Verde goalkeeper Jos vora Dias or Vozinha, if you prefer was asked about the chance to face Argentina and possibly the best player who has ever lived, his answer was quite humbling."It would be really special to face [Argentina] because Lionel Messi is the greatest of all time," Vozinha said. "And I honestly would love the chance to play against Lionel Messi because maybe I'll get Lionel Messis jersey." That's what makes this matchup feel less like Michigan-Appalachian State and more like what would happen if a Group of 5 team snuck into an expanded playoff and drew the defending national champion. In many ways, Argentina-Cape Verde is the exact matchup college football fans have spent years arguing about. Those in favor of expansion want more access for the outsiders and the underdogs. Everybody wants to play Alabama until Alabama shows up to beat them like they stole something. We all love a good Cinderella story, and a victory by Cape Verde over Argentina would extend the legend of this Blue Sharks team as one of the games greatest fairytales. But read another way, Cinderella is just a lady who lost her slipper and rode into the ball in a carriage made quite literally of hopes and dreams. Remember this: Cincinnati got its shot against Alabama in 2021 and found out what it meant to get rocked by a mean stepsister. Boise State went up against Penn State in 2024 and was pummeled back down the palace steps. Tulane and James Madison got their chance in 2025 and then Ole Miss and Oregon, respectively, smashed them like pumpkins. It's what happens when you extend the field. Teams that would never have gotten into the tournament in years past gladly become cannon fodder for the true powers among them. But, hey, they get to say they made the tournament, that they won their way into the knockout stage. Good on you, Cape Verde: Worst case, your only loss in the World Cup would be against the defending champions when the matches matter most. Is that worth celebrating? You're damn right it is.

Freeman, a highly touted transfer from Syracuse, underwent season-ending knee surgery

Argentina may have been expecting to see South American rival Uruguay or even fellow title favorite Spain in the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup, but manager Lionel Scaloni insists his team is fully focused on its actual opponent this round, shock knockout round qualifier Cape Verde.The World Cup debutants drew all three of their group match, stunning Spain and then matching Uruguay in a 2-2 contest and playing out a scoreless stalemate with Saudi Arabia. While the Blue Sharks are yet to enjoy a first World Cup win, Scaloni said Argentina must be alert to the danger the African side poses."Its a team that hasnt lost, even in some games it I think against (Saudi) Arabia they deserved to win, against Spain and Uruguay they suffered a bit more but they defended well. They stop interior passes well and then counter strongly," Scaloni said. "Its a good team. Weve seen them, not just because we play them now but we scouted them as a possible opponent."They got through, and it doesnt surprise us, sincerely. It's a good team. Its not coincidence theyre here. You have to respect them, and thats what well do."The message seems to be getting through, even though midfielder Rodrigo De Paul admitted he was expecting a South American showdown against neighbor Uruguay with a vibrant crowd in Miami."Its true that when the draw came out, in the group we were set up to face there were two champions of the world national teams with important players who play in great leagues, but also as years go by and understanding these tournaments, thats soccer. It can happen," De Paul said. "I think were up against an opponent who did very, very well in the group stage, its not easy to play the national teams they played."Cape Verde now heads into the contest needing a first-ever World Cup win and needing it to come against Lionel Messi, De Paul and Co. While their posture has been defensive so far and is likely to remain so against an Argentina team that loves having the ball and passing around to create chances, Cape Verde manager Bubista noted that his team will try to do what it takes to win the game and has the confidence it can hang with Argentina."Of course we believe. We are working hard, we believe in ourselves, in our strength, in the work we are doing, we believe in our players, in our team," Bubista said. "Of course we know this will be a hard game, a very difficult one against a team that is able to win against anyone but we believe we can play a great match, play a great match and we also can hurt our opponent. So, we understand, as I said, hardships ahead of us but we are brave, we are ambitious and we want to play to win."The winner of the round of 32 matches moves into the round of 16 with a matchup against the winner of Egypt vs. Australia, which takes place earlier in the day in Dallas.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Argentina manager not surprised to see Cape Verde in World Cup round of 32 showdown

The 2026 World Cup marked the first tournament that FIFA incorporated hydration breaks. But why did this tournament become the starting point for hydration breaks? Jenny Taft spoke with FIFA President Gianni Infantino on the decision to officially include them. "I know there's a lot of talk around these hydration breaks, and the truth of the matter is that last year, we organized the FIFA Club World Cup here in the U.S., the first edition, and with the hydration breaks, as it was seen at the time, only for those matches where it was particularly hot. It was around 60% of the games," Infantino told Taft. Hydration breaks are mandatory three-minute stoppages at the midpoint of each half, allowing the current lineup to regroup on the sideline for water. Different from the FIFA Club World Cup, every game in this tournament requires hydration breaks, no matter the temperature or environment. Additionally, FIFA is aiming to avoid match congestion, especially with the expanded format of the tournament with 104 games compared to the previous format with 64 games. "So, we determined well before the tournament, and we communicated this as well that every game should have hydration breaks," Infantino said of the decision. "Why? So that every team throughout the tournament has exactly the same conditions. This is a tournament that lasts 39 days. If you want to win it, you have to play eight games. It's a lot for these top professional players." While the breaks could be seen as an inconvenience to teams looking to build momentum throughout the half, Infantino addressed the breaks as a way to conserve the overall health of the players. "To rest for three minutes ... it gives a lot of energy back. We see it in these games as well, especially in the last 20 minutes of the game," Infantino said. "They're played at an intensity that we've never seen before, in any game whatsoever. So, I think all of this helps a lot." However, following the tournament, hydration breaks will be evaluated by FIFA to determine if they benefited the flow of the game or not. "We, of course, will analyze after the World Cup, whether it was good or bad. But the flow of the game, the intensity of the game, has definitely increased a lot," Infantino said.

SportsLine's Martin Green reveals his Croatia vs. Portugal best bets for their knockout stage match in the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Thursday

With singer Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce getting married this weekend, the couple is set to stop traffic literally.After getting engaged last August, Swift and Kelce are going a little bit bigger than paper rings for the nuptials: The pair is hosting a private wedding ceremony inside New Yorks Madison Square Garden on Friday evening. As a result of the elaborate indoor venue, some streets around Madison Square Garden will be closed all day Friday.The festivities will begin on Thursday night with a small rehearsal dinner, before the wedding itself starts at 5 p.m. ET on Friday, according to a schedule obtained by the Associated Press. The wedding itself is set to go as late as 4 a.m. early Saturday morning.But the logistics to pull off the event are somewhat staggering. Crews spent Thursday morning loading in various things for the wedding and building an entrance tent, measuring 12 feet by 60 feet, to the south of the stadium, per the AP, which reports that the street closure permits were approved by the city Wednesday night.NYPD released additional details about street closures on Thursday, via Politicos Chris Sommerfeldt. The surrounding streets will all be closed off to vehicle traffic, and parts of 7th Avenue (to the east of the stadium) and 33rd Street (north of the stadium) will be closed to pedestrian traffic. Other streets will have managed access.All of these closures will be put in place starting at 1 p.m. on Friday, four hours before the event begins and two hours before guests start arriving. NYPD also said that cards parked on 33rd Street after 11:15 p.m. on Thursday will be towed.NYPD just released details on the street closures around Madison Square Garden tomorrow for Taylor Swift's wedding.This reads like it might shut down an even bigger slice of the area around MSG than the NYPD did during the NBA Finals. pic.twitter.com/ANNBnnJaQE Chris Sommerfeldt (@C_Sommerfeldt) July 2, 2026Madison Square Garden is situated directly on top of Penn Station, one of the busiest train stations in all of North America. LIRR (Long Island Railroad), one of the rails that operates out of Penn Station, told commuters Thursday that certain entrances into the station will be closed at the request of the NYPD. The post did not mention Swift, Kelce, or the event.Penn Station will be open with regular LIRR service on Thursday, July 2 and Friday, July 3, but there will be access restrictions at the request of the NYPD.Customers traveling through Penn Station should use the 34th Street and 7th Avenue entrance. There will be no entry from LIRR (@LIRR) July 2, 2026For the wedding itself, the home of the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers has been transformed into something a bit more bejeweled, with the help of grass, carpets, canopies and other decorations, per People. Initially there were reports that a castle was being built inside the venue, but People reports that this is not true. The outlet also cited a source saying that with the transformation, it looks like a place where you'd get married.NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch had hinted at the possibility of a Swift-Kelce wedding in MSG in mid-June, with both indicating that the wedding comes at a busy time in the city. In addition to Fourth of July weekend, there is also a Round of 16 match happening in New Jerseys MetLife Stadium on July 5.The event evokes the elaborate security measures put in place early last month when President Donald Trump attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. Fans, employees and even players underwent TSA-like screenings and waited in hours-long lines to enter the arena; fencing was put around the perimeter of the stadium, and nearby streets were closed to cars and pedestrians.

If Cape Verde, the 64th-ranked team in the FIFA World Rankings, beat Argentina on Friday in the round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup, the Blue Sharks may very well top this list. Cape Verde is making its first-ever World Cup appearance and advanced to the knockout stage after getting results against Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia in the group stage. Eliminating Argentina and Lionel Messi in a win-or-go-home scenario, though, is a next-level proposition. There have been amazing Cinderella runs across sports since the turn of the century, from international soccer to March Madness and the NFL. Here are the top 10, with the top of the list showing you just how unlikely Cape Verde advancing is. Honorable Mentions Dusty May's coaching career took off during Florida Atlantic's 2023 March Madness run. Entering the tournament as a No. 9 seed, the Owls stunned the college basketball world by upsetting Tennessee and Kansas State to reach the program's first Final Four. It was one of the most memorable Cinderella runs in recent memory, ending in a heartbreaking 72-71 loss to San Diego State in the Final Four. After losing 110 games in 2021, they found themselves in the World Series just two years later, fueled by a young core that shattered expectations. Led by rookie phenom Corbin Carroll, the Diamondbacks went on a true Cinderella run. They upset the NL Central champions (the Milwaukee Brewers) in the Wild Card round before beating the NL West champions (the 100-win Los Angeles Dodgers) in the Division Series and NL East champions (Philadelphia Phillies) in the Championship Series. Ultimately, Arizona lost the World Series in five games to the Texas Rangers. George Mason has set the standard for Cinderella runs, becoming one of the most memorable tournament stories in recent memory. They tied the then-record for the lowest seed (No. 11) to reach the Final Four, becoming the first double-digit seed to do so since LSU in 1986. They reached the Final Four after knocking off No. 6 seed Michigan State Spartans, No. 3 seed North Carolina Tar Heels, the defending national champions, and No. 1 seed UConn Huskies in an overtime thriller. It remains one of the most shocking Cinderella runs in tournament history. The St. Louis Cardinals won 90 games, but they caught fire at the right time after falling behind earlier in the season. They pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in history, overcoming a 10.5-game deficit in late August despite having just a 1.3% chance of reaching the postseason. They entered the NLDS as heavy underdogs against a 102-win Philadelphia Phillies team, but pushed the series to five games behind a dominant 1-0 complete-game shutout from Chris Carpenter. From there, they went on to win the World Series, defeating the Texas Rangers in six games. Little was expected of the Moroccans at the World Cup. They were in the same group as Croatia, Belgium and Canada. Morocco opened with a draw against Croatia before getting a huge 2-0 win over Belgium and dispatching Canada in its final group game. That was good enough to win the group. What happened next was one of the greatest runs in World Cup history as Morocco became the first African and first Arab team to ever reach a World Cup semifinal. In the knockout rounds, Morocco took out its two closest European neighbors in sensational fashion. First was a penalty-shootout win over Spain that saw La Roja miss all three of its attempts. Then was a 1-0 win over Portugal, with Youssef En Nesyri scoring the winner late in the first half. Morocco then gave France a run for its money before a 79th-minute goal from Randal Kolo Muani sealed a 2-0 win. It was a magical moment that captivated the entire tournament held in Qatar. It was reminiscent of South Koreas 2002 run that saw them make the semifinals with wins over Italy and Spain in the knockout rounds. One of the greatest Cinderella stories in NFL history belongs to the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles. After MVP frontrunner Carson Wentz went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 14, backup quarterback Nick Foles led them on one of the most unexpected playoff runs in history. Foles put together a playoff run for the record books. The Eagles took down the Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings with ease before beating the New England Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII, ending their historic dynasty run. Before Norway captivated the 2026 World Cup with its Viking Row celebration, tiny Iceland roared onto the scene with its own iconic chant and memorable moments at the 2016 European Championship in France. Two draws against Portugal and Hungary set up a pivotal group stage finale with Austria, in which Arnr Traustason scored a stoppage-time goal to secure a knockout round appearance. In the round of 16, Iceland pulled off one of the most unexpected wins in tournament history by taking down heavy favorite England 2-1 in which all goals were scored within the first 18 minutes. The party ended in the quarterfinals with a 5-2 loss to tourney hosts France, but Iceland captivated the fans across the globe. Two years later, Iceland became the smallest nation by population to reach a men's World Cup. Florida Gulf Coast made history as the first No. 15 seed to reach the Sweet 16 at the 2013 NCAA Tournament. Their Cinderella run featured upset wins over Georgetown and San Diego State before losing to Florida. Nicknamed "Dunk City," the program captivated the tournament with acrobatic alley-oops and powerful slams. They finished with nearly 20 dunks across three games, injecting rare swagger into a small-school underdog and proving that mid-major programs can make a lasting impact. Greece entered Euro 2004 as the No. 35 team in the world according to the FIFA World Rankings. The Greeks were the 17th UEFA team in those rankings. Two months later, they were 14th. Greece was 150-1 to win the Euros, but there were signs that a run might be coming, like how it beat Spain to win its qualifying group. Greece beat host-nation Portugal and then drew Spain to open its group play at the tournament before getting lucky on Match Day 3 to advance. The Greeks lost to Russia, but Portugal beat Spain. Greece was tied with Spain on four points but went through to the knockout stage thanks to a tiebreaker. Greece won the title with three straight 1-0 wins in the knockout stage. The first came against a France team that included legends like Thierry Henry and Zinedine Zidane. Then, Greece took down the Czech Republic in extra time before a shocking win over in the final over Portugal in Lisbon. Saint Peters made history in 2022 by becoming the first No. 15 seed to reach the Elite Eight in the NCAA Mens Tournament. Their Cinderella run included upset wins over No. 2 seed Kentucky Wildcats and No. 3 seed Purdue Boilermakers. After beating Purdue, Saint Peters finally ran into its final obstacle, falling 69-49 to North Carolina in the Elite Eight. The loss ended their Cinderella run, but it didnt take away one of the most captivating March Madness stories in recent memory. The Cinderella story that helped launch the legendary career of New England Patriots icon Tom Brady began when starter Drew Bledsoe was injured early in the season. Brady stepped in and led the Patriots to their first Super Bowl title in franchise history. The rise was a true Cinderella story, beginning with a backup quarterback taking them all the way. Their playoff run featured the infamous "tuck rule" game against the Oakland Raiders, before they stunned the Los Angeles Rams as 14-point underdogs to win Super Bowl XXXVI. This one will be tough to top, especially because it lasted a 38-game season. Leicester City finished 17th in the previous Premier League season, barely avoiding relegation. The following season, the Foxes lifted the trophy after starting the campaign as a 5,000-1 underdog to do so. Leicester City lost three times that season, twice to Arsenal and once away to Liverpool. The dream became real when it went 9-2-0 from the start of October through Dec. 19. The Foxes also only lost once in 2016, and it took a stoppage-time winner for Arsenal to do that. There were no high-profile signings among the core of the squad. Kasper Schmeichel cost 1.5 million; Danny Drinkwater cost 630,000; Jamie Vardy joined from a team playing in the fifth division of English soccer for 1 million; NGolo Kante cost 5.8 million; Riyad Mahrez joined for just 450,000.

Donovan spent the last five seasons coaching the Bulls before stepping down in April

An eagle putt on No. 17, birdies to start and finish the back nine if the Quad Cities heat was bothering Zach Johnson he certainly didn't show it down the closing stretch of his opening round of the John Deere Classic.The 50-year-old Johnson is an Iowa native who has won twice already in his debut season on the PGA Tour Champions including the Principal Charity Classic. He's also winner at TPC Deere Run, coming back on Sunday from four shots down to force and win a playoff over Troy Matteson in 2012.He also suffered the only playoff lose of his career here to Jordan Spieth when defending the Deere crown a year later."I struggle immensely in heat," Johnson told reporters after the round. "I have a protocol that I have to stick to before the week starts in the evenings and obviously during the course of the round, honestly, just to survive. ... Just to have the energy to compete for 18 holes was a feat for me today, and I'm grateful for [to my wife and my team]. I've learned a lot and thankful for that."Johnson stopped short of calling it his most satisfied he felt walking off after a round at TPC Deere Run other than the 2012 victory, of course."It's all the cliches: It's one day, one round, there's a lot more golf," he explained. "However, given the wind conditions, it was trying. You know, there was a lot of John Deere weeks we don't get a whole lot of wind and it's pretty stagnant, and it was humming 10 to 15 at times."With all that to say and the condition of this golf course, it's very gratifying."John Deere Classic 2026: Round 2 tee times, groupings and how to watchThe second round of the John Deere Classic tees off Friday at TPC Deere Run. Here are some of the notable groupings and when coverage begins on TV. Golf Channel Staff, Golf Channel Staff,Johnson, who skipped the U.S. Senior Open to play the event he won 14 year ago, told reporters after shooting a 7-under 64 on Thursday that he would miss the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in two weeks despite being eligible."I'm not going to play four in a row," he said, noting he would be playing in the Kaulig Companies Championship at Firestone Country Club next week before taking a break for rest.On Thursday, Johnson started off the same way he ended for lack of a better term, smoking hot.He birdied the first hole, one of his three across the first seven holes. The only shot he gave back came at the par-4 ninth. Playing comfortably with an "everything's icing on the cake" mentality on the back nine, Johnson was freed up to card a 5-under 31 that sent him climbing up the leaderboard where he sits T-3 with Stephan Jaeger and Lee Hodges all three just a shot off Lucas Glover and Zac Blair's co-lead at 8 under."My score card I know that's an ingredient this week, but it's not everything," Johnson said. "I can't stress it enough. I'm just appreciative of having a partnership with John Deere and feeling like a long, long distance son to this area. Technically, I lived in Davenport when I was an infant. A lot of affinity, a lot of affection, and you know what, it really starts and ends with the people."Lucas Glover shares John Deere Classic lead after bogey-free opening roundWhat a difference a week makes, right? Lucas Glover opened up last weeks Travelers Championship with a 75 that had him dead last after 18 holes. He went in as the clubhouse leader at TPC Deere Run Thursday after carding an 8-under 63. Steve Coulter, Steve Coulter,

Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon has the longest shutout streak in World Cup history, breaking a 36-year-old record while blanking Austria in a 3-0 victory Thursday for his fourth consecutive clean sheet in this World Cup. Simn hasn't allowed a goal in 519 consecutive minutes across the past two World Cups. He broke the record set in 1990 by famed Italy goalkeeper Walter Zenga, who recorded 517 straight scoreless minutes and five consecutive clean sheets in his home World Cup. The 29-year-old Athletic Bilbao mainstay isn't the most famous goalkeeper in this competition or even on his own team but Simn's outstanding play at the back of Spain's superb defense has launched him into the World Cup record books. Spain has yet to allow a goal at this World Cup, and its Basque backstop has only had to make four saves none against Austria, which got none of its five shots on target. "I feel proud of him," Spain coach Luis De La Fuente said. "I feel like he is a member of my family. Im very happy for him." Simn has been Spain's first choice in net for most of the past half-decade, keeping the job despite roster competition from David Raya and Joan Garcia, the championship-winning goalkeepers in two of Europe's four biggest leagues. Simn has spent his club career on smaller stages with Bilbao, which only reached the Champions League for the first time in his career last season. Simn owes his international success to his stellar results and to his tight bond with De La Fuente, who has largely resisted calls to give more playing time to his goalkeeping options with more accomplished club careers. Simn and De La Fuente have been bonded since 2015, when the coach and his 18-year-old keeper won the European Under-19 championship in Greece. They stayed together in Spain's youth system and then reunited in early 2023, when De La Fuente took over the senior national team and promptly embarked on one of the most successful stretches in Spain's proud history. Under De La Fuente, Spain has just one loss in 37 competitive matches, going unbeaten in its last 35 straight a streak which includes a loss on penalties to Portugal in the 2025 Nations League. Spain has won the 2023 Nations League and the 2024 European Championship with Simn in net, and now it has won a World Cup knockout match for the first time in 16 years. Simn and Spain allowed just three goals in four matches at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, but still went home early. Simn's shutout streak started during Spain's 2-1 loss to Japan, and it continued through a scoreless draw with Morocco, which ultimately knocked out Spain by converting three of its four penalties against Simn. In North America, nobody has been able to beat Simn and only Uruguay has managed more than one shot on goal among Spain's four opponents. "(Simn) played a very big role in the victory, but its not just about individuals," De La Fuente said after beating Austria. "Its about the whole group coming together for that defensive effort." Early in the second half against Austria, Simn also surpassed the Spanish record scoreless streak posted by Iker Casillas across the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. His play has been more than enough to hold off two accomplished challengers as Spain moves forward to the round of 16. Raya is widely considered one of the world's best goalkeepers after winning three consecutive Golden Glove awards at Arsenal for leading the Premier League in clean sheets. He also backstopped the Gunners to their first Premier League title since 2004 and the Champions League final this year only to go back to a reserve role for Spain. Garca is one of the world's top young talents at the position after seizing Barca's starting job last season, but he's also likely to spend this World Cup as a spectator. Reporting by the Associated Press.