Pittsburgh Steelers wideout DK Metcalf’s appeal of a two-game suspension was denied Tuesday. Before the league issued its ruling, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said he could not condone Metcalf’s actions that drew the suspension but he supported his star wide receiver.
When asked about the incident — which saw Metcalf take a swing at a Detroit Lions fan in the front row at Ford Field during Sunday’s game — Tomlin said he spoke to the wideout, who explained why he reacted the way he did. Tomlin added, however, that he didn’t agree with Metcalf’s behavior in the moment, per Pro Football Talk.
“He did explain to me why he did what he did, and I certainly don’t condone the behavior, but I support DK. And I really don’t have a lot to add other than what I just told you,” Tomlin told reporters at his midweek news conference.
The head coach didn’t want to say much else about the incident due to “legal ramifications.”
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There’s been no confirmation of a lawsuit against Metcalf just yet, only speculation based on the incident.
While Metcalf has not addressed the issue, an NFL Network report emerged early Monday suggesting the fan used a derogatory term when speaking about Metcalf’s mother and referred to Metcalf as “something we both know you don’t call a Black man.”
On Monday, a lawyer representing the fan — a man named Ryan Kennedy — put out a statement calling those allegations “completely false.”
A portion of that statement read:
“Ryan Kennedy categorically denies using the “N-word,” the “C-word,” or any racial, misogynistic, or hate-based slur during the incident that occurred on December 21, 2025 at Ford Field during the Pittsburgh Steelers-Detroit Lions game.
“These allegations are completely false.”
Because of that, some have wondered whether the fan will issue a lawsuit against Metcalf for the incident. That hasn’t happened yet, but Tomlin is clearly being cautious about the possibility.
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Metcalf stands to lose quite a bit if the suspension is upheld. He would not only miss the final two games of the regular season, but would be at risk of losing $45 million in guaranteed money thanks to a clause in his contract.
He risks losing even more money if a lawsuit eventually comes.
Welcome back to the world’s most perfect NBA power rankings.
The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder dropped two games in a three-outing span, losing to the Western Conference rival San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves. It is their first sign of weakness — or, at least, the first sign that they are mortal — since the Indiana Pacers forced a Game 7 of the NBA Finals. It still is not enough to drop OKC from the top spot.
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Meanwhile, the New York Knicks won the third annual NBA Cup, their first title since 1973 (even if it wasn’t The Big One), surging since the last time we sorted all 30 teams into a perfect order.
(Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports Illustration)
The Knicks must be the favorites in the East, given the Cleveland Cavaliers’ struggles and the relative playoff inexperience of the Detroit Pistons. But the 2024 champion Boston Celtics — with Jayson Tatum rehabbing his torn left Achilles tendon well ahead of schedule — are lurking.
Still, can anyone in the East challenge the West, where the Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and the Wolves are all serious challengers (or, at least, threats to the Thunder’s supremacy)? This edition of the power rankings indicates they can …
Previous rank: 30
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Poor Khris Middleton. “It’s hard in this league,” the veteran said of his leadership role, “especially when you lose so many games in a row before you win a game, and then [next game] you lay an egg. That’s not what you want to see. That’s not how you get better as a group, so come in tomorrow, and we get to look at this film, and we get to look at ourselves.”
Previous rank: 25
Is Malik Monk confused about being benched? “1,000%,” he said. “But it’s not my job to try to figure out why I’m not playing because I deem myself more than the whole. … Everybody knows I want to be out there, especially playing in front of this crowd in Sac, but there ain’t s*** I can do about it.” A new slogan in Sacramento, where no coach’s seat is hotter than Doug Christie’s.
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Previous rank: 29
The Pacers are searching for answers after a blowout loss to New Orleans. “I just don’t think there was much fight,” said T.J. McConnell. Added coach Rick Carlisle. “I gotta look at what’s happening with the starters. We can do better there. We can do better there. A lot of times in this world small adjustments can make a significant difference. I gotta see what those might be.”
Previous rank: 28
The Pels won five in a row, more than doubling their season total for victories. “Pleased, but never satisfied,” said interim coach James Borrego. “That’s the mentality right now. … I’m pleased with the progress, and I’m pleased with these four games. I’m proud of the group. They are putting in the effort. This is not [the time] to pat ourselves on the back and be satisfied.”
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Previous rank: 20
As trade rumors fly, Giannis Antetokounmpo likened his agent to his wife. “I can’t control her,” he said. “She’s a grown-ass woman. I can’t control what she does. So, same thing with my agent. I can’t control the conversations they’re gonna have.” Either he does not understand player-agent relationships, or he is laying a trade request at his agent’s feet, but it sounds like he wants out.
Previous rank: 21
In an early-season effort to coalesce the Clippers, Chris Paul reportedly “hosted a Halloween party for players and staffers in a club at the Intuit Dome,” where “only a handful of players” attended, before the team proceeded to lose six straight games. A metaphor for these Clips, whose coach, Tyronn Lue, is now challenging them to finish .500. How expectations have fallen.
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Previous rank: 24
“If you want to pull out wins even when you are not shooting well, you’ve got to rely on your defense,” said Hornets coach Charles Lee. “I think that’s got to be a mindset for our group going forward as we continue to build winning habits. It’s not all about offense. There are other ways to impact the game, and the defensive side of the ball gives us a great chance to win games.”
Previous rank: 27
A message to 19-year-old Egor Demin, the No. 8 overall pick — and to all of Brooklyn’s rookies, really — from Nets coach Jordi Fernandez: “I need him to play with better readiness and better physicality. And this is not the way that the team needs him to play. So he’s got to be better. Otherwise, the minutes are going to go down, and somebody else will take advantage of that.”
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Previous rank: 26
It’s been two weeks since Jazz coach Will Hardy implored his team, “I’m tired of f***ing doing this every game. F***ing play harder,” and the viral video has not gotten old. He is quietly (or now loudly) the best quote in the game. And maybe it worked. Utah is 4-6 in its last 10, including 2-3, with a pair of hard-fought losses, since Hardy kindly asked his team to meet his standards.
Previous rank: 16
Bulls coach Billy Donovan saw through his team’s three-game win streak. “I’m happy we won the game, I’m happy with a lot of things that we did do, but I always try to look at the things that we’ve got to really, really control and take some ownership of,” he said. “Those are the things that can come back and hamstring you. I always say — you let luck come back in with that.”
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Previous rank: 15
A new motto for the once-proud Warriors, via coach Steve Kerr: “There is something beautiful in the quest. Because we love it so much, because we love what we do, there really is a beauty in the collaboration, the journey, the quest to hang in there and maybe reach the mountaintop one more time. You just can’t quantify it. But we all know inside what that journey means to us.”
Previous rank: 19
“I’m just happy they’re stepping up every game,” said Blazers coach Tiago Splitter. “Shaedon [Sharpe] is getting better every night. Deni [Avdija] is getting better at point guard every night. DC [Donovan Clingan] is protecting the rim. Guys are having more confidence out there. Toumani [Camara] shooting the ball. So it’s good to see them developing and getting better.”
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Previous rank: 23
Cooper Flagg celebrated his 19th birthday. Nobody but LeBron James and Kobe Bryant scored more points in the NBA at so young an age. “He’s playing high-level basketball at the age of 18,” said Mavericks coach Jason Kidd. “Through Duke and his first couple of weeks here, he’s been playing extremely well, and we believe at the age of 19 it’s just going to get better.” Watch out.
Previous rank: 13
Trae Young is back, and the Hawks are struggling again, giving up 152 points to the Bulls. Atlanta is the equivalent of the league’s worst defense when Young is on the court and a top-10 outfit when he’s not. “It’s kind of tough winning games when you give up 80 points in the first half,” said Jalen Johnson. “It’s embarrassing, in a sense. So we just gotta get better soon.”
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Previous rank: 10
The Heat have hit the skids, losing seven of their last eight, but coach Erik Spoelstra trusts his process. “We’re developing a competitive, collective will,” he said. “Our guys care in the locker room, but it’s got to be another level. It’s not enough. It’s got to be more. This league is a savage league. It’s survival of the competitive toughest, and that’s where we’re going to get.”
Previous rank: 22
“The deep end is the best teacher. Comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there.” Deep thoughts, by Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo, whose injury-riddled charges are, for the most part, responding to his hard coaching, winning nine of their last 13. “That competitive edge has really developed, and the team believes we can win together with whoever we have.”
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Previous rank: 6
Coach Kenny Atkinson is downplaying his Cavs’ struggles. “I call it ‘the dip,’” he said. You’ve got to manage the dip. It’s really important. Very rare does [the season] just go [on an upward trajectory]. Maybe OKC this year; that’s one team in this league. … Everybody else, we’re going through the ups and downs; kinda normal in an NBA season.” (This is not normal for Cleveland.)
Previous rank: 7
“You fight for respect every day,” said Suns coach Jordan Ott. “This league changes too fast. Too many things can happen. LeBron is still out there fighting. Every day we get out there, we’re trying to be the best we can and really challenge ourselves to grow, and the only way to do that is to be in the arena. The only way to get better is to be in the heat, and our group enjoys it.”
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Previous rank: 9
“He brings the energy every single day,” Brandon Ingram said of Raptors coach Darko Rajaković, an early Coach of the Year favorite. “He’s the leader of our team. He makes sure we bring it to practice, to games, to shootarounds. He makes sure we have it every time we step on the floor. That, for me, is the best part about being here: a coach who is present every day.”
Previous rank: 14
The Magic own a top-10 offense for the first time in forever, and the defense — since a 4-6 start — is back to being stout, rating in the top 10 ever since. “A lot of guys are out right now,” said Wendell Carter Jr. “We’re at Game 27, so we’re still trying to figure each other out. It’s not perfect, but these last two days were something that we really needed. We’re in a good spot.”
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Previous rank: 17
Tyrese Maxey continues to perform at an All-NBA level, while the Sixers continue to wait on something from Joel Embiid, whose contributions are crucial if Philly wants to win in the playoffs. Meanwhile, “We’re starting to turn it around a little bit, little by little,” said Andre Drummond. “So, we’ll take the small victories and progress that we’re making and continue to build on it.”
Previous rank: 18
The latest (insane) inspiration from Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, a Coach of the Year candidate: “I’m trying to convince my wife to get a wolf that roams the area of our house, as an extra layer of inspiration. Apparently the trainer said that another guy had one and it turned on him in the middle of the night. And I was like, ‘[The wolf] didn’t have a good enough relationship with him.’”
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Previous rank: 12
Wolves coach Chris Finch was run by the officials from their win over the Thunder, but his outburst, which spurred Minnesota to the upset, could be the motivation this team needed to recapture its back-to-back Western Conference finals juju. “I’ve never seen him run on the court,” said Naz Reid. “I’ll take it. It got us going, flipped the script. It was exciting to see.”
Previous rank: 5
LeBron James has a pretty good idea of why the Lakers are so good. “It’s Luka Magic,” he said. “He’s just so damn good. It’s ridiculous.” And coach JJ Redick has a pretty good idea of what it takes to succeed around James and Luka Dončić. “Defend and shoot 3s,” he said. Now, to contend, the Lakers need more players who can do both. Maybe they will fall into their laps, too.
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Previous rank: 4
Rockets coach Ime Udoka didn’t mince words when his team blew a game to Sacramento after a big win over Denver the night before. “We had a game yesterday that we were much more motivated for,” he said. “Just to let the [Kings] hang around the way that we did was a lot due to us. … I’ve got to do a better job of getting them motivated in games against lesser opponents.”
Devin Vassell issued a word of warning to the NBA for whenever Victor Wembanyama — playing his way back from a calf strain — returns to his regular workload for the Spurs, who have won six straight (save for the Cup final): “The impact he has on both ends of the floor is just amazing. And to see that he’s doing it on a minutes restriction, the league is in trouble.”
Previous rank: 11
Still fresh from an MVP effort in the NBA Cup, Jalen Brunson showed out in another win over Miami. “You want to have an MVP on your side,” said Knicks coach Mike Brown. “For him to score 47 points, 15 for 26 from the field, 6 of 13 from 3, 11 of 11 from the line, and dish out eight assists … that’s what MVPs are supposed to do.” And, yes, Brunson is in that conversation.
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Previous rank: 3
Nikola Jokić submits a new entry into the MVP discussion every night. In fact, Jokić — already a three-time winner of the award — has been so good, so consistently, that David Adelman is running out of ways to characterize the planet’s best player. “The efficiency has been through the roof,” the Nugs coach said. “He’s just having a hell of a season, man. That’s all I can say.”
Previous rank: 1
Meanwhile, the league’s reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, continues to be a killer, even as his team lost two games in three outings for the first time all season. They are still on pace to match the 2015-16 Warriors’ record of 73 wins. As Gilgeous-Alexander said, as cool as ever, “All I can do is play basketball and that’s all I focus on, trying to win games and championships.”
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which begins in June 2026, is the biggest tournament ever. The field has expanded from 32 to 48 teams, with a total of 104 games scheduled across the U.S., Canada and Mexico over the course of the month-long tournament. And while it’s a huge commitment for fans from all over the globe to travel to North America to see the action, match ticket prices are outrageously expensive to boot. Since tickets were made available the cheapest group round tickets have hovered around $1,400. (Tickets for the quarterfinals start around $3,000 each and go up significantly from there.)
Now that the final draw has determined team groupings, there’s been an unsurprising surge in demand for tickets. While there are some less expensive seats out there, they’re only available to those lucky enough to have been selected in the official ticket lottery which over 20 million people (and counting) have reportedly entered. Access to the final random selection draw, as the lottery is called, will remain open through January 13, 2026. Adults who are 18 and over can register for the draw on the FIFA site, and the good news is that fans can apply for single-match tickets for specific games during the group stage. (You can see the complete schedule with match pairings below.) If you’re lucky enough to be chosen for the random selection draw, you’ll be notified by email (and, it’s important to note, you’ll be automatically charged for any requested tickets) some time in February. (You can also browse the resale market to search out deals — there are likely to be more available once the lottery tickets have been disbursed.)
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If you’re interested in attending the 2026 World Cup, here’s everything you need to know about purchasing individual game tickets, signing up for the final lottery, pricing and more. Oh, and if you’re planning to attend, don’t forget to buy your parking pass in advance!
How to get tickets to the 2026 World Cup:
World Cup tickets are not cheap (a fact that fans are not thrilled about – though there was enough fan backlash that FIFA has reduced the price of a limited number of tickets). Currently, the average price for a group stage match is about $1,500-2,000 per ticket; you can browse available seats on the FIFA website. Additionally, 2026 World Cup hospitality packages are available. These guarantee fans seats to a set number of matches, a group of matches all at the same venue, or for a single team’s early games — if you’re hoping to watch one of the host nation’s games, this is the best way to guarantee yourself a seat.
These tickets cost significantly more than a regular single-game ticket, starting at $6,750, with some packages priced at $8,275 (prices and availability vary greatly depending on the team and venue). Fans interested in purchasing a multi-match package for multiple games at different venues or who would like to request VIP seating can sign up for a special registration list. (More information about ticket prices and tiers, accessibility and more can be found here.)
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To enter the random selection draw, a random lottery that provides some fans with the opportunity to purchase cheaper tickets, fans with an existing FIFA ID should log in to the FIFA site and then enter the drawing, even if they have previously entered prior ticket draws. For those without an existing FIFA ID, an account must be created on FIFA.com/tickets to enter. Oh, and if you think you’ll be able to show up to a match and buy tickets in person, you might want to rethink that plan, there will be no over the counter ticket sales at any World Cup matches.
The 2026 World Cup begins June 11, 2026, and runs through July 19, 2026.
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Where will 2026 World Cup games be held?
There are 15 host cities for the 2026 World Cup throughout the U.S., Mexico and Canada. They are:
United States
Atlanta – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Boston – Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
Dallas – AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Kansas City – GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
Los Angeles – Sofi Stadium, Inglewood, Calif.
Miami – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla.
New York/New Jersey – MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.
Philadelphia – Lincoln Financial Field
San Francisco – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif.
Mexico
Mexico City – Estadio Azteca, Coyoacan
Monterrey – Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon
Guadalajara – Estadio Akron
Canada
2026 FIFA World Cup Groups:
Group A:
Group B:
Group C
Group D
Group E
Group F
Group G
Group H
Group I
FIFA Play-Off Tournament 2
Group J
Group K
FIFA Play-Off Tournament 1
Group L
How to get 2026 World Cup tickets:
Individual match tickets are available to purchase through the FIFA website. To purchase tickets that are part of a multi-game or hospitality package, you can sign up here to receive more information. In addition, the random selection draw is now open and fans will be able to submit applications for specific matches to try and grab a limited number of lower-priced tickets at select matches. This lottery is now open and will accept entries through January 13, 2026. All successful ticket applicants will be notified via email and will be automatically charged for their tickets in February.
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When do 2026 World Cup tickets go on sale?
Tickets for the 2026 World Cup are now on sale. Groups were determined during the final draw on Friday, Dec. 5, and specific team matchups are listed on the schedule below.
Currently, individual tickets for the 2026 World Cup run anywhere from $1,400 to $4,300 (if you’re searching for tickets for matches in Mexico or Canada, don’t be scared off by their higher price tags — they’re all in the same price range after adjusting for conversion rates). Tickets for the group stage, knockout rounds and the bronze final are currently available. It’s important to note that FIFA is employing a dynamic pricing strategy, so prices may fluctuate as we get closer to the tournament, depending on demand. For those lucky enough to enter and be selected in the random selection draw, prices are significantly less — they’re broken out into four categories based on seating, and range from $60 to $620, but these prices are not available to the general public; you have to be selected in the draw.
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Hospitality packages, which guarantee entry to multiple matches, are also on sale now and start at $5,300. (Note that depending on the venue and package you select, some of these packages can cost up to $68,000 per person, and while that price includes food, drinks and premium seating, it doesn’t include travel expenses or accommodations.)
Tickets are also available through FIFA’s own resale marketplace and third-party resale sites like StubHub and Gametime already have single-game matches available, with some starting around $350 per seat and going up from there, depending on the game and venue.
The 2026 World Cup will begin on Thursday, June 11, 2026, and the final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, 2026. You can take a look at the existing schedule below; updates can be found on the FIFA site.
Group Stage
June 11 – June 27, 2026
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Group A: Mexico vs. South Africa – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City (3 p.m. ET)
Group A: South Korea vs. UEFA playoff winner D (Czechia, Republic of Ireland, Denmark, North Macedonia) – Estadio Akron, Guadalajara (10 p.m. ET)
Friday, June 12, 2026
Group B: Canada vs. UEFA playoff winner A (Wales, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Northern Ireland) – BMO Field, Toronto (3 p.m. ET)
Group D: USA vs. Paraguay – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles (9 p.m. ET)
Group D: Australia vs. UEFA playoff winner C (Slovakia, Kosovo, Türkiye, Romania) — BC Place, Vancouver (12 a.m. ET)
Saturday, June 13, 2026
Group B: Qatar vs. Switzerland — Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif. (3 p.m. ET)
Group C: Brazil vs. Morocco — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J. (6 p.m. ET)
Group C: Haiti vs. Scotland — Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass. (9 p.m. ET)
Sunday, June 14, 2026
Group E: Germany vs. Curaçao – NRG Stadium, Houston (1 p.m. ET)
Group F: Netherlands vs. Japan — AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas (4 p.m. ET)
Group E: Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (7 p.m. ET)
Group F: Tunisia vs. UEFA playoff winner B (Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, Albania) — Estadio BBVA, Monterrey (10 p.m. ET)
Monday, June 15, 2026
Group H: Spain vs. Cape Verde – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (12 p.m. ET)
Group G: Belgium vs. Egypt — Lumen Field, Seattle (3 p.m. ET)
Group H: Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla. (6 p.m. ET)
Group G: Iran vs. New Zealand — SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles (9 p.m. ET)
Group J: Austria vs. Jordan — Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif. (12 a.m. ET)
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Group I: France vs. Senegal — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J. (3 p.m. ET)
Group I: Norway vs. FIFA playoff winner 2 (Bolivia, Suriname, Iraq) — Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass. (6 p.m. ET)
Group J: Argentina vs. Algeria — Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City (9 p.m. ET)
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Group K: Portugal vs. FIFA playoff winner 1 (New Caledonia, Jamaica, DR Congo) — NRG Stadium, Houston (1 p.m. ET)
Group L: England vs. Croatia — AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas (4 p.m. ET)
Group L: Ghana vs. Panama — BMO Field, Toronto (7 p.m. ET)
Group K: Uzbekistan vs. Colombia — Estadio Azteca, Mexico City (10 p.m. ET)
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Group A: South Africa vs. UEFA playoff winner D (Czechia, Republic of Ireland, Denmark, North Macedonia) — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (12 p.m. ET)
Group B: Switzerland vs. UEFA playoff winner A (Wales, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Northern Ireland) — SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles (3 p.m. ET)
Group B: Canada vs. Qatar – BC Place, Vancouver (6 p.m. ET)
Group A: Mexico vs. South Korea – Estadio Akron, Guadalajara (9 p.m. ET)
Group D: Paraguay vs. UEFA playoff winner C (Slovakia, Kosovo, Türkiye, Romania) — Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif. (June 19, 12 a.m. ET)
Friday, June 19, 2026
Group D: USA vs. Australia – Lumen Field, Seattle (3 p.m. ET)
Group C: Scotland vs. Morocco — Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass. (3 p.m. ET)
Group C: Brazil vs. Haiti — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (9 p.m. ET)
Group F: Tunisia vs. Japan – Estadio BBVA, Monterrey (12 a.m. ET)
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Group F: Netherlands vs. UEFA playoff winner B (Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, Albania) — NRG Stadium, Houston (1 p.m. ET)
Group E: Germany vs. Ivory Coast — BMO Field, Toronto (4 p.m. ET)
Group E: Ecuador vs. Curaçao – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City (8 p.m. ET)
Sunday, June 21, 2026
Group H: Spain vs. Saudi Arabia — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (12 p.m ET)
Group G: Belgium vs. Iran — SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles (3 p.m. ET)
Group H: Uruguay vs. Cape Verde — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla. (6 p.m. ET)
Group G: New Zealand vs. Egypt — BC Place, Vancouver (9 p.m. ET)
Monday, June 22, 2026
Group J: Argentina vs. Austria — AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas (1 p. m. ET)
Group I: France vs. FIFA playoff winner 2 (Bolivia, Suriname, Iraq) — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (5 p.m. ET)
Group I: Norway vs. Senegal — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J. (8 p.m. ET)
Group J: Jordan vs. Algeria — Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif. (11 p.m. ET)
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Group K: Portugal vs. Uzbekistan — NRG Stadium, Houston (1 p.m. ET)
Group L: England vs. Ghana — Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass. (4 p.m. ET)
Group L: Panama vs. Croatia — BMO Field, Toronto (7 p.m. ET)
Group K: Colombia vs. FIFA playoff winner 1 (New Caledonia, Jamaica, DR Congo) — Estadio Akron, Guadalajara (10 p.m. ET)
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Group B: Canada vs. Switzerland — BC Place, Vancouver (3 p.m. ET)
Group B: Qatar vs. UEFA playoff winner A (Wales, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Northern Ireland) — Lumen Field, Seattle (3 p.m. ET)
Group C: Scotland vs. Brazil — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla. (6 p.m. ET)
Group C: Morocco vs. Haiti — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (6 p.m. ET)
Group A: Mexico vs. UEFA playoff winner D (Czechia, Republic of Ireland, Denmark, North Macedonia) — Estadio Azteca, Mexico City (9 p.m. ET)
Group A: South Korea vs. South Africa — Estadio BBVA, Monterrey (9 p.m. ET)
Thursday, June 25, 2026
Group E: Ecuador vs. Germany — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J. (4 p.m. ET)
Group E: Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (4 p.m. ET)
Group F: Tunisia vs. Netherlands — Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City (7 p.m. ET)
Group F: Japan vs. UEFA playoff winner B (Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, Albania) — AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas (7 p.m. ET)
Group D: USA vs. UEFA playoff winner C (Slovakia, Kosovo, Türkiye, Romania) – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles (10 p.m. ET)
Group D: Paraguay vs. Australia — Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif. (10 p.m. ET)
Friday, June 26, 2026
Group I: Norway vs. France — Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass. (3 p.m. ET)
Group I: Senegal vs. FIFA playoff winner 2 (Bolivia, Suriname, Iraq) — BMO Field, Toronto (3 p.m. ET)
Group H: Uruguay vs. Spain — Estadio Akron, Guadalajara (8 p.m. ET)
Group H: Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia — NRG Stadium, Houston (8 p.m. ET)
Group G: New Zealand vs. Belgium — BC Place, Vancouver (11 p.m. ET)
Group G: Egypt vs. Iran — Lumen Field, Seattle (11 p.m. ET)
Saturday, June 27, 2026
Group L: Panama vs. England —MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J. (5 p.m. ET)
Group L: Croatia vs. Ghana — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (5 p.m. ET)
Group K: Colombia vs. Portugal — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla. (7:30 p.m. ET)
Group K: Uzbekistan vs. FIFA playoff winner 1 (New Caledonia, Jamaica, DR Congo) — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (7:30 p.m. ET)
Group J: Jordan vs. Argentina — AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas (10 p.m. ET)
Group J: Algeria vs. Austria — Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City (10 p.m. ET)
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Knockout stage matches
Round of 32: June 28 – July 3, 2026
Sunday, June 28, 2026
Group A Second-Place vs. Group B Second-Place — SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles (3 p.m. ET)
Monday, June 29, 2026
Group C Winner vs. Group F Second Place — NRG Stadium, Houston (1 p.m. ET)
Group E Winner vs. Group A/B/C/D/F Third Place — Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass. (4:30 p.m. ET)
Group F Winner vs Group C Second Place — Estadio BBVA, Monterrey (9:00 p.m. ET)
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Group E Second Place vs. Group I Second Place — AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas (1 p.m. ET)
Group I Winner vs Group C/D/F/G/H Third Place — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J. (5 p.m. ET)
Group A Winner vs Group C/E/F/H/I Third Place — Estadio Azteca, Mexico City (9 p.m. ET)
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Group L Winner vs. Group E/H/I/J/K Third Place — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (12 p.m. ET)
Group G Winner vs. Group A/E/H/I/J Third Place — Lumen Field, Seattle (4 p.m. ET)
Group D Winner vs. Group B/E/F/I/J Third Place — Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif. (8 p.m. ET)
Thursday, July 2, 2026
Group H Winner vs. Group J Second Place — SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles (3 p.m. ET)
Group K Second Place vs. Group L Second Place — BMO Field, Toronto (7 p.m. ET)
Group B Winner vs. Group D/E/I/J/L Third Place — BC Place, Vancouver (11 p.m. ET)
Friday, July 3, 2026
Group D Second Place vs. Group G Second Place — AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas (2 p.m. ET)
Group J Winner vs. Group H Second Place — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla. (6 p.m. ET)
Group K Winner vs. D/E/I/J/L Third Place – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City (9:30 p.m. ET)
Round of 16: July 4 – July 7, 2026
Saturday, July 4, 2026
TBD vs. TBD – NRG Stadium, Houston (1 p.m. ET)
TBD vs. TBD – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (5 p.m. ET)
Sunday, July 5, 2026
TBD vs. TBD – MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J. (4 p.m. ET)
TBD vs. TBD Estadio Azteca, Mexico City (8 p.m. ET)
There’s still plenty to be decided the last two weeks of the NFL season. If your team has a chance to clinch the division or a playoff berth in Week 17, here’s what they need.
Already clinched a playoff spot: Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers; Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers.
Patriots win + Bills loss or tie, OR Patriots tie + Bills loss
Pittsburgh Steelers
What’s at stake
AFC North title
How it could happen
Steelers win or tie, OR Ravens loss or tie
Jacksonville Jaguars
What’s at stake
AFC South title
How it could happen
Jaguars win + Texans loss or tie, OR Jaguars tie + Texans loss
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Houston Texans
What’s at stake
Playoff berth
How it could happen
Texans win or tie, OR Colts loss or tie, OR Texans clinch strength of victory tiebreaker over Colts (Ravens win + Bills win + Chiefs win + 49er win + Falcons loss + Dolphins loss
Denver Broncos
What’s at stake
AFC West title, AFC No. 1 seed
How it could happen
AFC West
Broncos win + Chargers loss or tie, OR Broncos tie + Chargers loss
AFC No. 1 seed
Broncos win + Chargers loss or tie + Patriots loss + Bills loss or tie + Jaguars loss or tie
Chicago Bears
What’s at stake
NFC North title
How it could happen
Bears win, OR Packers loss, OR Bears tie + Packers tie
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Green Bay Packers
What’s at stake
Playoff berth
How it could happen
Packers win or tie, OR Lions loss or tie
Carolina Panthers
What’s at stake
NFC South title
How it could happen
Panthers win + Buccaneers loss or tie, OR Panthers tie + Buccaneers loss
Seattle Seahawks
What’s at stake
NFC West title, NFC No. 1 seed
How it could happen
NFC West
Seahawks win + Rams loss or tie + 49ers loss or tie, OR Seahawks tie + Rams loss + 49ers loss
The High Score 100 — the top-100 players in Yahoo’s newest fantasy basketball format — is a running reflection of year-to-date performance and trending production. Each weekly update captures who’s actually delivering value and who’s fading.
Here’s a breakdown of the biggest risers and fallers through the ninth week of fantasy basketball — with the complete High Score 100 at the bottom of the article. I’ll be updating my rankings every Tuesday throughout the fantasy basketball season.
Kevin Porter Jr. – G, Milwaukee Bucks: 75th overall (⬆️ 31)
Porter is soaring from No. 106 to No. 75 on the back of an extended hot streak. He’s played in just 10 games this season; however, he’s averaging 48.3 fantasy points per game, which ranks 17th overall. Instead of ranking him in the top 20, I thought 75 was appropriate given he’s clearly surging, but let’s keep it in context. KPJ’s putting up 20-5-7 without one of the top-five players in the league (Giannis Antetokounmpo) in the lineup. Giannis (calf) hasn’t been given a formal return date, but he was seen at practice over the weekend. The Bucks are 2-10 without Giannis and the further they move away from contention, the more we’ll likely hear about a potential Giannis trade. So, if you have KPJ, you can ride the wave or cash in on that sell-high window with a pretty hefty haul in a trade when factoring in his production in December. For now, he’s a must-start guard across all formats.
Kon Knueppel – G/FC, Charlotte Hornets: 78th overall (⬆️ 11)
Knueppel continues to close the gap on the rookie class’s elite. Over the past two weeks, he’s upped these numbers to 25.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.2 stocks per game. He ranks 32nd over that span, averaging 44.2 fantasy points per game, tied with Victor Wembanyama. I broke down his efficiency last week, but he’s been outstanding in most facets of fantasy, performing as a top-85 option across formats through 29 games. Knueppel’s chemistry with LaMelo Ball has elevated Charlotte’s half-court offense — and his mix of shooting, rebounding and playmaking translates perfectly in High Score’s balanced format.
Jalen Brunson – G, New York Knicks: 17th overall (⬆️ 8)
I underrated Brunson outside of the top 20, so here is the course correction. With an NBA Cup title in hand, plus a few heroic performances over the past 14 days, Brunson is moving up. He’s been a top-five player in his last five games, posting 55.8 fantasy points per contest, while averaging 33.8 points, 4.6 boards and 7.2 assists. Brunson’s an offensive engine who morphed into one of the most tactical scorers in the league. On pace for a career-best 29 points per game, he’s entered the elite guard tier in High Score.
The biggest drop of the week belongs to Mathurin, falling from No. 69 to No. 99. It’s a bit aggressive. However, his numbers across Week 8 and 9 were not it — 11.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game, 23.8 fantasy points per game. He certainly needs to be benched after registering just one 30+ point performance since Dec. 12. His volume is down (12.8 attempts) and he is converting on just 32.8% of his shots over that span, and with basically no stocks or assists, he’s tumbling down the rankings. Now that he nearly ranks outside of the top 100, he’s moving more towards a drop than a hold.
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Chet Holmgren – FC, Oklahoma City Thunder: 60th overall (⬇️ 8)
Holmgren takes a slight dip because in his last four games spanning Weeks 8 and 9, he ranks 94th overall at 33.5 fantasy points per game in High Score. It’s not anything to get concerned about, as the Thunder are rolling over opponents. Still, Holmgren had a third-round ADP in the preseason and fantasy managers will need him to perform at that level at least once per week. His numbers look better in December than in November, so there could be a small buy-low opportunity, as he missed his last game because of a back injury and put up 14 points with 5 rebounds and 2 blocks the game before.
Quentin Grimes – G/FC, Philadelphia 76ers: 90th overall (⬇️ 6)
Grimes, one of the top reserves in the league, falls to 90th overall after losing some traction. While Grimes has mostly maintained his rebounding and assist numbers, the scoring dropped considerably to 10.9 per game in December, primarily due to shooting 37% from the field (he was at 45% in November). With the Sixers getting healthy again, Grimes’ role has narrowed to a 3-and-D specialist — valuable to Philly, but a tough sell to hold onto in High Score lineups.
Complete High Score 100 rankings
The High Score 100 is a running reflection of year-to-date performance and trending production.
Stay tuned for the next look at the High Score 100!
It took Ryan O’Hearn a few years to get back on track after an excellent rookie season. But the veteran blossomed after leaving the Kansas City Royals, culminating in an All-Star season in 2025.
Now, O’Hearn is getting paid. The 32-year-old first baseman reportedly agreed to a two-year, $29 million deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday, according to reports.
While not an exorbitant amount of money, it represents a massive increase for O’Hearn, who made $3.5 million with the Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres last season. The details of O’Hearn’s new contract have yet to be released, but he’ll average roughly $14.5 million per season on his new deal.
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O’Hearn looked like a budding superstar early in his career. As a 24-year-old rookie, he hit .262/.353/.597 with 12 home runs in his first 170 plate appearances with the Royals. With expectations sky-high, however, O’Hearn collapsed over the next two years, hitting a combined .195/.287/.351 in 502 plate appearances and essentially working his way out of the Royals’ future.
After another poor offensive year in 2022, O’Hearn was traded to the Orioles ahead of the 2023 MLB season. Something seemed to click in Baltimore, as he posted a combined .275/.329/.450 slash line in his first two years with the team.
He got off to an even better start in 2025, hitting .283/.374/.463 with the Orioles — and earning his first All-Star nod — before being traded to the Padres at the deadline. O’Hearn saw his power production drop in San Diego, but he continued to post a solid batting average and on-base percentage with the team in the playoff hunt.
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The Pirates are certainly hoping their team can find itself in the running for a postseason spot in 2026. After going 71-91 last season, Pittsburgh has been active this winter. The team traded for power-hitting second baseman Brandon Lowe, defensive stalwart Jake Mangum and 23-year-old outfielder Jhostynxon García, who played in the Futures Game last season.
While those moves should help, the O’Hearn deal will likely have the biggest impact on the club in the immediate future. The Pirates apparently felt strongly that was the case, as O’Hearn is the first free agent the team has signed to a multi-year deal since Ian Snell back in 2016.
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If he can retain the growth he showed in Baltimore, O’Hearn could be a solid middle-of-the-order hitter for a lineup desperately in need of production. The Pirates ranked dead last in runs, RBI and home runs last season. O’Hearn should help in all three categories and combine with Lowe, Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz to give the Pirates a few formidable names in the middle of the order for the first time since the franchise last reached the postseason in 2015.
It’s fantasy football championship week for the vast majority of leagues and, if you’ve made it this far, congratulations! It’s always interesting when you compare players who performed well early in the season to players who helped you get to the title game. Sure, you have your lineup mainstays, the players who have been there for you all season. Then, there are those few who stepped up when it mattered the most.
Let’s go over the top-10 most commonly found players on winning Yahoo fantasy football teams in Week 16.
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1. Puka Nacua, WR, Rams (Won 81.7% of matchups)
If you got blown out in your Week 16 matchup, chances are people are referring to that occurrence as getting “Nacua’d” by your opponent. On TNF against the Seahawks, Nacua posted the best fantasy score of any WR all season with 12-225-2 for over 40 fantasy points. For many, the fantasy playoff semifinals were over before they even began.
2. Chris Olave, WR, Saints (76.2%)
Olave has been pretty consistent all season despite the inconsistency on offense for New Orleans. While he always had a decent floor, the elevated play of rookie QB Tyler Shough has lifted Olave into WR1 territory. He posted a season-high 31.8 fantasy points in Week 16 against the Jets with a 10-148-2 line.
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3. Brock Purdy, QB, 49ers (72.4%)
Purdy has spent most of the 2025 season injured but for managers who held onto hope he’d return, he paid off in a big way on MNF in Week 16. The 49ers QB carved up the Indy secondary with five touchdowns and nearly 300 passing yards to finish with 31.9 fantasy points, sneaking past Trevor Lawrence for the QB1 spot on the week.
4. Chase Brown, RB, Bengals (70.5%)
Similar to Olave, Brown topped out in Week 16 against the Dolphins with a season-high 30.9 fantasy points. The Bengals decided to keep the pedal to the metal and not rest Joe Burrow the remainder of 2025. As a result, Cincy dropped 45 points and Brown’s prospects look great for the final round with a matchup against the Cardinals in Week 17.
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5. Matthew Stafford, QB, Rams (69.3%)
Nacua doesn’t get the top spot on this list without his potential MVP quarterback. Stafford benefitted from the extra time, finishing with 457 passing yards and three TDs in the OT loss to Seattle. The Rams have plenty left to play for in Week 17 against the Falcons, lining up Stafford as a great play in your title matchup.
Yahoo fantasy managers who started Puka Nacua won 81.7% of Week 16 matchups.
6. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Raiders (69.2%)
We’re beginning to sense a trend here. Jeanty is another player who has widely disappointed as a rookie this season (not necessarily because of his doing). So, of course, his second-best game came in an impossible spot against the toughest defense in the NFL. We had seen this ceiling earlier in the season, but didn’t think it would resurface against the Texans. Jeanty finished Week 16 with 31.3 fantasy points on 188 total yards and two scores. You can safely fire up Jeanty on your final, going up against the Giants.
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7. Joe Burrow, QB, Bengals (68.6%)
Joey B said let’s see if we can finish this season strong and that’s exactly the type of performance he turned in against Miami. After an abysmal performance the week before, Burrow bounced back with a season-high 28.96 fantasy points on 309 yards passing and four TDs. Like Brown, the Cincy QB is lined up for another good spot in Week 17 against Arizona.
8. Saints D/ST vs. Jets (68.3%)
New Orleans’ defense loves to pick on teams from New York (really, New Jersey) this season. Back in Week 5, the Saints D/ST had 18 fantasy points against the Giants. Last week, New Orleans topped that with 19 fantasy points against the Jets thanks to eight sacks and two turnovers. This week, NOLA has another quality draw against the Titans.
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9. Jaylen Warren, RB, Steelers (67.3%)
The Steelers have been operating with two backs for most of the season — Warren and Kenneth Gainwell. While Gainwell has led the team in receptions (62) it’s been Warren getting most of the work on the ground (828 rushing yards). We had seen a decent floor all season for Warren but not this type of ceiling, rushing for 143 yards on 14 carries with two TDs in the wild win over the Lions in Week 16.
10. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jaguars (67%)
No QB has scored more fantasy points in the playoffs than Lawrence, who has the Jaguars’ passing game working at an elite level. He’s totaled 75.46 fantasy points over the past two games, scoring 31.16 against the Broncos’ tough defense in Week 16. Lawrence has a chance to help managers bring home the hardware in Week 17 against the Colts.
McCarthy’s first official NFL season has not been a smooth transition as this will be the seventh game he’s missed this year. Minnesota drafted McCarthy No. 10 overall in 2024 with the thought that he’d eventually be their next franchise quarterback. Then, during the 2024 preseason, McCarthy tore his meniscus and was forced to sit out his entire rookie campaign. Luckily for the Vikings, Sam Darnold had signed in the offseason and he led the team to 14 wins and a playoff appearance.
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Despite last year’s success, Minnesota decided 2025 would be McCarthy’s time after his return from injury and Darnold wound up in Seattle during the offseason. McCarthy’s first season as the Vikings starter has seen him miss time due to multiple injuries, with this hand fracture being the latest. Despite the ups and downs of this season, the 7-8 Vikings can still end the year with a winning record, although they have already been eliminated from playoff contention.
Brosmer will now appear in his sixth game this season and just the second start of his career under the bright lights of Christmas Day on Netflix. As an undrafted free agent, it will be the biggest stage thus far for Brosmer. In his first start against Seattle last month, Brosmer was picked off four times en route to Minnesota being shut out 26-0.
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In Week 17, Brosmer has the opportunity to redeem himself by ending rival Detroit’s slim playoff hopes. Should the Vikings be able to get the win on Thursday, the Lions would officially be eliminated from the NFC postseason picture. If your team can’t make the postseason, the next best thing is keeping a division rival out of it.
Regardless of what happens these final two weeks of the Vikings season, McCarthy’s first year as starter will be forgettable at best. Through his nine games, he’s passed for 1,450 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions with a 5-4 record. He’s only completed 57.3% of his passes as well. This next offseason will be huge for McCarthy and the Vikings.
Deshaun Watson will not be activated by the Cleveland Browns before his 21-day practice window closes, head coach Kevin Stefanski announced Tuesday. The decision means the quarterback will not play at all this season and will continue recovering from his Achilles injury suffered last season.
“He’s done a great job with everything that’s been asked of him,” said Stefanski. “I’ve gotten to see him, whether it’s in the training room, by himself with the trainers, on the practice field now for the last little bit.
“Just felt like this was the right decision for him and for us. His focus will be to continue to help this football team and continue to get healthy and stronger.”
Watson had his 21-day practice window opened on Dec. 3 and the Browns had until Wednesday to elevate him to the active roster or his chances at playing this season would be over. He will now remain on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list for the final two weeks of the regular season.
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Keeping Watson on the PUP list means that he will not be allowed to practice outdoors with the team and will instead work out on his own inside the team’s facility.
With Watson out, the Browns’ quarterback depth chart includes rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, as well as Bailey Zappe.
Sanders has played six games and made five starts this season, throwing for 1,103 yards, 6 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, while being sacked 15 times.
Next season is the last one on Watson’s fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract, or at least the final one in which he’ll be obligated to play for the team. After that come the voided years.
Per OverTheCap, Watson will carry an $80.7 million cap hit for 2026, the largest number in the history of the NFL. Still, it’s preferable to the $131.2 million in dead money they would incur by cutting him loose before June 1. If they cut him after June 1, they would still save zero money against the cap.
Watson hasn’t played in a game since rupturing his Achilles tendon on Oct. 20, 2024. After undergoing surgery, he re-ruptured it in January.
Tom Haberstroh & Dan Devine break down the NBA’s Christmas Day slate and preview Cooper Flagg’s historic holiday start at just 19 years, 4 days old. Dan then shares four little numbers for the top players to watch in each Christmas Day game: Karl-Anthony Towns’ defensive leap for the Knicks, Stephon Castle’s ascent with the Spurs, LeBron James’ shift away from predominantly creating his own shots and Jamal Murray’s elite efficiency for Denver.
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Later, Tom & Dan push for radical reform and suggest the NBA get rid of the Draft system to prevent teams from tanking.
1:23 The Big Number: Flagg’s Christmas Day debut
17:28 The Little Numbers: KAT at-rim defense
22:21 The Little Numbers: Stephon Castle a superstar?
27:35 The Little Numbers: LeBron’s assisted baskets
33:11 The Little Numbers: Jamal Murray’s efficiency
38:24 Should the NBA get rid of the Draft?
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg motions to his teammates during the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons at the American Airlines Center. Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
