How will Todd Monken boost the Cleveland Browns in the offseason as their new head coach? Yahoo Sports’ Andrew Siciliano is joined by Carolina Panthers long snapper J.J. Jansen, and The Athletic’s Austink Monk join the show to talk all things coaching cycle, Hall of Fame eligibility, Super Bowl and more! Check out today’s episode to get caught up the latest news and notes from around the league.
LeBron James scored 11 points Wednesday night in a 129-99 loss to the Cavaliers in what could be his final game in Cleveland, where the Akron native spent a total of 11 seasons across two stints earlier in his legendary career.
As for James, it didn’t take long for him to get on the board. The Lakers came in averaging 14.3 fast-break points per game but scored eight of those in the first quarter.
Advertisement
Coming off his second game this season with at least 45 points and 12 assists, Luka Dončić set the tone in transition, finding James with throw-ahead passes for back-to-back buckets.
But then, a bit more than four minutes into the game, Dončić had an injury scare. While watching his 3-point attempt fly through the air and then bounce off the rim, he scooted back on one foot, his left one.
Dončić went too far, dropping off the edge of Rocket Arena’s elevated court, where the five-time All-NBA first-teamer then sat in discomfort as play continued. He received medical attention during the following Lakers timeout prior to limping to the locker room.
Dončić checked back in with 1:32 left in the frame and made a pair of free throws to help L.A. take a 28-24 lead into the second quarter. He finished with 29 points and six assists while shooting 12 of 20 from the field in just three quarters of action, as he rested in the fourth.
Advertisement
Allen matched his season averages with 13 points and eight rebounds in the first half. Two of those points came on an alley-oop dunk served by Tyson, who already had three 3s by intermission.
Cleveland began the third quarter 7 of 8 from the field, stretching its lead to 76-63. Tyson dished a behind-the-head pass to Allen, who finished at the cup with a left-handed layup. Mitchell hit back-to-back 3s, then hung in the air to deliver a bounce pass to Dean Wade for the first of his two triples early in the frame.
Tyson gave a national audience a look inside his bag during the second half. To complement his outside shooting, he attacked the rim. Following up on an and-1 floater earlier in the third quarter, he drove baseline and dropped in a one-handed dunk.
Advertisement
Ultimately, after a trio of De’Andre Hunter 3s, the Cavaliers closed the third quarter having outscored the Lakers 42-22.
Cleveland cruised to victory in the fourth, during which James appeared to roll his left ankle while landing on the foot of Lonzo Ball on his way down from a field-goal attempt.
James remained in the game but had little impact. With 8:23 to go and L.A. trailing by 28 points, Bronny James took the court. He slammed home a one-handed jam off a steal late in the blowout and then added two 3-pointers soon after, giving him eight points.
LeBron James was previously 9-3 as a visitor in Cleveland. And in his 24 prior games against the Cavaliers, he had averaged 28.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 7.1 assists.
Advertisement
He didn’t have his best stuff in this homecoming, but he felt all the emotions and cracked a smile when his son threw down a highlight-reel dunk on the break to the tune of a celebratory crowd in an arena the four-time league MVP and four-time NBA champion started building his legacy.
The first of them came forward Wednesday, a day after news broke that the New England Patriots legend had missed out on making the Hall. That would be Kansas City Star columnist Vahe Gregorian, the representative of the Kansas City Chiefs media contingent.
Advertisement
In a column published at the Star, Gregorian explained his reasons for not supporting Belichick. And they had nothing to do with Spygate and Deflategate, the scandals that have been widely reported to be a major reason for Belichick’s exclusion.
Hall of Fame voter thinks Bill Belichick belongs in the Hall of Fame, but didn’t vote for him
From the beginning, Gregorian says he actually does think Belichick belongs in the Hall of Fame.
To be fair, some other anti-Belichick voters might agree. It was initially suggested in the ESPN article breaking the news that Belichick missed out on the honor because some felt he should simply have to wait a year as penance for his cheating scandals. However, Gregorian said the matter of Spygate and Deflategate didn’t affect his vote at all:
ESPN’s piece heavily suggests that Deflategate and Spygate and “politics” led to this situation, and it quotes a veteran Hall voter as saying, “The only explanation (for the outcome) was the cheating stuff. It really bothered some of the guys.”
Perhaps that affected some voters, perhaps not. I can’t and won’t try to speak for others, and it’s a condition of being a voter to not divulge the deliberations.
But the so-called “cheating stuff” is not at all the only possible explanation. Because it certainly didn’t ultimately influence my vote.
So why didn’t Gregorian vote for Belichick?
Advertisement
He said he simply had other people he was worrying about making the Hall, with too few votes to go around. Some thought this might be the case.
You can learn more about the matter here, but the situation breaks down as Belichick being one of five non-modern player candidates up for a vote. The other four were Patriots owner Robert Kraft, in the contributor category, and three senior player candidates: Ken Anderson, Roger Craig and L.C. Greenwood.
The rub for Gregorian and other voters was that due to recently instituted Hall of Fame rules, voters could only vote for, at most, three of those five, creating a situation where five men each needed 40 votes from a room where there were only 150 total votes to go around.
Obviously, Belichick had a strong case to receive a full third of those votes.
We’re slowly learning why Bill Belichick wasn’t voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
The way Gregorian puts it, he was much more concerned about the trio of senior players, whom he said have been “snubbed for decades” and might not get another chance at the ballot due to a backlog of senior players. So he voted for the three players, with the assumption that Belichick will be back next year and they won’t:
All of that went into why I felt duty-bound to vote for the richly deserving seniors, who most likely won’t ever have a hearing again as more senior candidates enter the pool and fresh cases get made for others.
Meanwhile, Belichick is inevitable soon … as he should be. At the risk of contradicting my own vote, really, he shouldn’t even have to wait. I understand why people are offended that he isn’t going in the first moment he can.
In the end, though, I felt more compelled by what I perceive to be last chances and looming lost causes within the system as we have it — a system I hope the Hall will see fit to change now.
It’s not quite that simple, though. Belichick sure seems like a lock to make it next year, especially after this firestorm, but that will be at the expense of another contributor and set of senior players. Pushing back Belichick in favor of Anderson, Craig and Greenwood simply kicks the can down the road.
Advertisement
Gregorian’s reasoning reflects a critical issue with the new Hall of Fame voting, in which voters don’t vote “yes” or “no” on a candidate so much as “this guy” or “that guy.” He’s not alone in having an issue.
Some Bill Belichick voters agree Hall of Fame voting needs fixing
Some of them are annoyed the result got leaked. Some of them are understandably annoyed about being harassed for something their colleagues did. And some of them are annoyed with the new rules that created this situation.
Advertisement
A sample of the latter:
Ultimately, Belichick’s snub has said far more about the Hall of Fame than Belichick’s legacy. It’s hard to imagine this isn’t going to cause the Hall to re-evaluate its rules when it comes to coaches.
Some voters definitely went against Belichick due to Spygate
While Gregorian had his reasons, it should be noted there were definitely voters who voted against Belichick due to Spygate. We simply haven’t had any of them come forward yet.
Clearly, there were multiple reasons to go against Belichick. Most observers just don’t think they are good reasons. Some have even speculated there might have been some grudges against Belichick in the room, though rejecting him out of revenge for being grumpy with the media would be spectacularly self-defeating considering how much more heat is on the voters right now.
The Los Angeles Chargers are bringing back Chris O’Leary to fill their last open coordinator position.
The Chargers struck a deal with O’Leary to make him their next defensive coordinator on Wednesday night. O’Leary, who was most recently the defensive coordinator at Western Michigan, spent the 2024 campaign as the Chargers’ safeties coach under Jim Harbaugh.
O’Leary will replace Jesse Minter, who left last week to take over as the Baltimore Ravens’ next head coach. Minter will replace Harbaugh’s brother, John, who split with the Ravens after 18 seasons running that franchise.
Advertisement
O’Leary got his coaching start at Notre Dame, where he first worked as a graduate assistant before working his way up. After his single season in the NFL with the Chargers, O’Leary went back to the college ranks and took over as Western Michigan’s defensive coordinator last fall. The Broncos went 10-4 last season and picked up a MAC title. They finished second in scoring defense in the league, too.
O’Leary is now the second new coordinator Harbaugh has picked up in recent days. The Chargers hired Mike McDaniel as their next offensive coordinator after he was fired as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. The Chargers went 11-6 last season but just missed out on the playoffs in Harbaugh’s first campaign leading the franchise.
Advertisement
While the Chargers will have two new faces running things next season, and this will be O’Leary’s first stint as a defensive coordinator in the league, Harbaugh is clearly comfortable enough with him to hand over the reins.
Jessica Pegula’s pursuit of her first Grand Slam win is going to have to wait a little longer. Despite once again playing some excellent tennis, Pegula fell short of winning her first major, losing in straight sets (6-3, 7-6) to Elena Rybakina in the semifinals at the 2026 Australian Open.
It was a familiar story for Rybakina, who has used a dominant serve to power through opponents at the event. She managed six aces vs. Pegula, which was actually a disappointing result after Rybakina put up 11 aces against Iga Swiatek and 10 aces against Elise Mertens en route to the semis.
Advertisement
But those aces — along with a few mistakes from Pegula — proved to be enough to push past the American.
It marked the second time in her career that Rybakina has reached the Australian Open final. She accomplished that feat back in 2023, where she fell to Aryna Sabalenka.
During her career, the 26-year-old Rybakina has one Grand Slam win under her belt. She picked up that victory at Wimbledon in 2022, where she defeated Ons Jabeur in the final.
While it’s been an impressive tournament for Rybakina so far, she indicated that she might try and get some time away from the court ahead of Saturday’s final.
Advertisement
For Pegula, the loss marks yet another late exit in a major. Since 2021, Pegula has played some of her best tennis. Over that period, she’s reached six quarterfinals, two semifinals and one final at majors. She’s peaked as high as No. 3 in the singles rankings … but is still seeking her first Grand Slam title.
Pegula has reached the semifinal round at each of her last two majors, so perhaps the third time will be a charm when she participates in the French Open in May.
Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open final once again
Another year, another appearance in the Australian Open final for Aryna Sabalenka. The Belarusian punched her ticket to the final for her fourth-straight year, taking down Elina Svitolina in straight sets (6-2, 6-3) Thursday.
Advertisement
There was a moment early on when it looked like Sabalenka could be thrown off her game. With the first set 2-1 in favor of Sabalenka, she was called for hindrance after making a noise following one of her returns.
While Sabalenka had a few words with the umpire about the call, it didn’t distract her from her ultimate task. She was able to get back on track, making quick work of Svitolina in the semis.
With the win, Sabalenka will now attempt to win her third Australian Open in the past four years. She won the event in both 2023 and 2024, but fell to American Madison Keys in the 2025 final.
Sabalenka’s opponent this time around should be familiar, however, as the two have met in the Australian Open final before. In 2023, Sabalanka took down Rybakina in a match that went the full three sets. Sabalenka was actually down in the match, dropping the first set to Rybakina, but was able to rally and win the final two sets to secure her first Australian Open title.
Advertisement
Picking up a repeat win in the final could prove tough for Sabalenka. Despite being the women’s No. 1, Sabalenka has struggled against Rybakina in the past. In 14 head-to-head matches, Sabalenka holds a narrow 8-6 record against Rybakina.
That should set up an exciting match when both players take the court for the women’s final Saturday.
There was never any real doubt the PGA Tour would welcome back LIV Golf’s alpha dogs like Brooks Koepka with Rose Bowl parade-level celebrations. What’s interesting is that the Tour has also just outlined a pathway back for the rest of the LIV field, and that could have a dramatic impact on the suddenly reignited rivalry between the two golf tours.
Tucked deep inside a letter to PGA Tour membership on the occasion of Patrick Reed’s return, there’s a significant line meant for any LIV player who might be thinking of defecting. In the letter, Tour chief competitions officer Tyler Dennis and chief player officer Jason Gore note that Reed is eligible to rejoin the Tour one year after playing in his most recent unauthorized (i.e. LIV) event.
Advertisement
The final LIV event ended Aug. 24, 2025, and thus Reed is eligible to begin playing in PGA Tour events on Aug. 25, 2026. Three other former LIV players also have begun the process of working their way back toward the Tour: Kevin Na, Pat Perez and Hudson Swafford.
The specifics of how, why and when each player will be eligible to play on the Tour are buried in layers of bureaucrat-ese, but here’s the key line: “To be clear, reinstatement terms are not negotiated or modified on a player‑by‑player basis.”
The implicit message is this: The rules have changed. Look carefully at the dates for the return of Reed and the rest. Note that there’s a one-year cooling-down period. And then think very, very carefully if you want to play in that LIV Golf tournament in Riyadh that starts February 4, 2026 … as opposed to the one that ended in Michigan on August 24, 2025.
The PGA Tour is striking a markedly different tone with LIV Golf now under new CEO Brian Rolapp than under his predecessor Jay Monahan. Where Monahan once went so far as to invoke 9/11 in his criticism of players who defected to LIV, Rolapp’s Tour now uses the phrase “welcoming back” — a marked difference in both tone and strategy.
After four seasons on the LIV tour, Patrick Reed is returning to the PGA Tour in August. (Warren Little/Getty Images)
(Warren Little via Getty Images)
But, of course, one can smile while pressing their advantage. The PGA Tour is now approaching the LIV Golf situation like an aggressive poker player, except instead of money — where LIV still rules by orders of magnitude — the Tour is leaning hard into its dominance in the areas of tradition, pathways to the majors, and competitive environments.
Advertisement
Barring a late shock, there won’t be any more stunning LIV defections. Gore and Dennis noted in their letter to players that outside of Koepka, the Tour doesn’t expect any more of LIV’s big guns — that would be Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Cam Smith — to return before their window closes on Feb. 2.
Smith appears more than satisfied with the way LIV is flourishing in his native Australia. DeChambeau stands to become one of the richest athletes in history with his newfound leverage. Rahm’s motivations for staying with LIV may be team-related, or they may be contract-related. He didn’t seem overly enthusiastic during LIV’s recent season-opening press conference. Perhaps that’s reading too much into his body language. Perhaps not.
The departures of Reed and Koepka don’t signal the end of LIV Golf; even if DeChambeau and Rahm pulled up stakes, the circuit would continue for the short term. LIV has quietly pivoted to a long-game strategy, focusing on international markets over American ones.
At the same time, LIV is intercepting promising young players, like Northern Ireland prodigy Tom McKibbin and 2025 NCAA champion Michael La Sasso, before they can make names for themselves on the PGA Tour.
Advertisement
Plenty of players have indicated they’re quite happy on the LIV tour, expressing much more public enthusiasm than Rahm and DeChambeau have. Not everyone hews to the Tour’s brand of tradition and management style. And LIV has also introduced a series of new competition formats designed specifically to gain the approval of the Official World Golf Rankings — announced, coincidentally enough, right when Reed tendered his public resignation from the league.
If LIV players will have a direct, rankings-dictated pathway to the majors, the allure of a life-changing paycheck is that much more compelling to young players and journeymen. But for now, LIV players who are considering a route back to the PGA Tour know what will be required … and they know the clock is ticking to make a decision for 2026.
The final draw is complete, and we now know the group stage opponents for each of the qualified teams for the 2026 World Cup.
On Friday at the Kennedy Center in Washington, United States president Donald Trump, Mexico president Claudia Sheinbaum and Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney, along with Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge and Shaquille O’Neal, assisted in the draw process to shape the 12, four-team groups that will compete next summer in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Advertisement
The United States, having automatically qualified as one of the tournament hosts, was already slotted into Group D. It will begin its tournament June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles against Paraguay. The Americans will then play Australia before finishing the group stage against the winner of European playoff C, which could be Türkiye, Romania, Slovakia, or Kosovo.
Canada has been placed into Group B and will open against the winner of European playoff C — one of Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina — June 12 at BMO Field in Toronto. Its final two group stage games will be against Qatar and Switzerland.
Mexico gets the honor of hosting the opening match of the World Cup on June 11 against South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The co-hosts will also face Korea and the winner of European playoff D — Denmark, North Macedonia, Czechia, or Ireland — in Group A.
World Cup 2026 format
Overall, there will be 16 teams from Europe, nine teams from Africa, eight teams from Asia, six teams from North America, six teams from South America and one team from Oceania taking part in the 2026 World Cup.
Advertisement
There have been 12 qualifiers so far from Europe, leaving four places up for grabs during the March playoff matches. The Intercontinental Playoffs, also in March, will feature two teams from North America, one from Asia, one from Africa, one from South America, and one from Oceania vying for two spots.
Teams will play against one another in three group games to determine the countries that will advance to the knockout round stage.
There will be 32 teams advancing to the knockout round following the group stage. The top two teams from each group will move on along with the eight best third-place teams. Tiebreakers will consist of (in order) goal differential, goals scored, head-to-head play, fair play record and then drawing of lots.
For this World Cup, FIFA has made tweaks. In the pursuit of competitive balance, two pathways have been created to the semifinals that will prevent the two highest-ranking teams from meeting before the final should they win their respective groups. As an example, Spain is the highest-ranked team in the tournament, with defending champion Argentina ranked second. Those two nations will be drawn into opposite pathways. The same will go for France (No. 3) and England (No. 4) so the top four teams, should they win their groups, will not meet until the semifinals.
Advertisement
As with all World Cups, teams from the same confederation (example: Brazil and Uruguay) were unable to be drawn into the same group, except for those from Europe.
World Cup 2026 groups, match schedule
(all times Eastern)
GROUP A 1. Mexico 2. South Africa 3. Korea Republic 4. European playoff D winner (Denmark/North Macedonia/Czechia/Ireland)
Thu, June 11, 3 p.m. (FOX): Mexico vs. South Africa, Estadio Azteca (Mexico City) Thu, June 11, 10 p.m. (FS1): Korea Republic vs. European playoff D winner, Estadio Akron (Guadalajara, Mexico) Thu, June 18, 12 p.m. (FOX): European playoff D winner vs. South Africa, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) Thu, June 18, 9 p.m. (FOX): Mexico vs. Korea Republic, Estadio Akron (Guadalajara, Mexico) Wed, June 24, 9 p.m. (FOX): European playoff D winner vs. Mexico, Estadio Azteca (Mexico City) Wed, June 24, 9 p.m. (FS1): South Africa vs. Korea Republic, Estadio BBVA (Monterrey, Mexico)
Advertisement
GROUP B 1. Canada 2. European playoff A winner (Italy/Northern Ireland/Wales/Bosnia and Herzegovina) 3. Qatar 4. Switzerland
Fri, June 12, 3 p.m. (FOX): Canada vs. European playoff A winner, BMO Field (Toronto) Sat, June 13, 3 p.m. (FOX): Qatar vs. Switzerland, Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California) Thu, June 18, 3 p.m. (FOX): Switzerland vs. European playoff A winner, SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California) Thu, June 18, 6 p.m. (FS1): Canada vs. Qatar, BC Place (Vancouver) Wed, June 24, 3 p.m. (FOX): Switzerland vs. Canada, BC Place (Vancouver) Wed, June 24, 3 p.m. (FS1): European playoff A winner vs. Qatar, Lumen Field (Seattle)
GROUP C 1. Brazil 2. Morocco 3. Haiti 4. Scotland
Sat, June 13, 6 p.m. (FS1): Brazil vs. Morocco, MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey) Sat, June 13, 9 p.m. (FS1): Haiti vs. Scotland, Gillette Stadium (Foxboro, Massachusetts) Fri, June 19, 6 p.m. (FOX): Scotland vs. Morocco, Gillette Stadium (Foxboro, Massachusetts) Fri, June 19, 9 p.m. (FOX): Brazil vs. Haiti, Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia) Wed, June 24, 6 p.m. (FOX): Scotland vs. Brazil, Hard Rock Stadium (Miami) Wed, June 24, 6 p.m. (FS1): Morocco vs. Haiti, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Mauricio Pochettino, head coach of the United States, attends the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Dec. 5, 2025, in Washington. (Photo by Hector Vivas – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
(Hector Vivas – FIFA via Getty Images)
GROUP D 1. United States 2. Paraguay 3. Australia 4. European playoff C winner (Türkiye/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo)
Advertisement
Fri, June 12, 9 p.m. (FOX): United States vs. Paraguay, SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California) Sat, June 13, 12 a.m. (FS1): Australia vs. European playoff C winner, BC Place (Vancouver) Fri, June 19, 12 a.m. (FS1): European playoff C winner vs. Paraguay, Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California) Fri, June 19, 3 p.m. (FOX): United States vs. Australia, Lumen Field (Seattle) Thu, June 25, 10 p.m. (FOX): European playoff C winner vs. United States, SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California) Thu, June 25, 10 p.m. (FS1): Paraguay vs. Australia, Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California)
GROUP E 1. Germany 2. Curaçao 3. Ivory Coast 4. Ecuador
Sun, June 14, 1 p.m. (FOX): Germany vs. Curaçao, NRG Stadium (Houston) Sun, June 14, 7 p.m. (FS1): Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador, Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia) Sat, June 20, 4 p.m. (FOX): Germany vs. Ivory Coast, BMO Field (Toronto) Sat, June 20, 8 p.m. (FS1): Ecuador vs. Curaçao, Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, Missouri) Thu, June 25, 4 p.m. (FS1): Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast, Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia) Thu, June 25, 4 p.m. (FOX): Ecuador vs. Germany, MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey)
GROUP F 1. Netherlands 2. Japan 3. European playoff B winner (Ukraine/Sweden/Poland/Albania) 4. Tunisia
Advertisement
Sun, June 14, 4 p.m. (FOX): Netherlands vs. Japan, AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas) Sun, June 14, 10 p.m. (FS1): European playoff B winner vs. Tunisia, Estadio BBVA (Monterrey, Mexico) Sat, June 20, 1 p.m. (FOX): Netherlands vs. European playoff B winner, NRG Stadium (Houston) Sat, June 20, 12 a.m. (FS1): Tunisia vs. Japan, Estadio BBVA (Monterrey, Mexico) Thu, June 25, 7 p.m. (FS1): Japan vs. European playoff B winner, AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas) Thu, June 25, 7 p.m. (FOX): Tunisia vs. Netherlands, Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, Missouri)
GROUP G 1. Belgium 2. Egypt 3. Iran 4. New Zealand
Mon, June 15, 3 p.m. (FOX): Belgium vs. Egypt, Lumen Field (Seattle) Mon, June 15, 9 p.m. (FS1): Iran vs. New Zealand, SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California) Sun, June 21, 3 p.m. (FS1): Belgium vs. Iran, SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California) Sun, June 21, 9 p.m. (FS1): New Zealand vs. Egypt, BC Place (Vancouver) Fri, June 26, 11 p.m. (FS1): Egypt vs. Iran, Lumen Field (Seattle) Fri, June 26, 11 p.m. (FOX): New Zealand vs. Belgium, BC Place (Vancouver)
GROUP H 1. Spain 2. Cape Verde 3. Saudi Arabia 4. Uruguay
Advertisement
Mon, June 15, 12 p.m. (FOX): Spain vs. Cape Verde, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) Mon, June 15, 6 p.m. (FS1): Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay, Hard Rock Stadium (Miami) Sun, June 21, 12 p.m. (FOX): Spain vs. Saudi Arabia, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) Sun, June 21, 6 p.m. (FS1): Uruguay vs. Cape Verde, Hard Rock Stadium (Miami) Fri, June 26, 8 p.m. (FS1): Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia, NRG Stadium (Houston) Fri, June 26, 8 p.m. (FOX): Uruguay vs. Spain, Estadio Akron (Guadalajara, Mexico)
GROUP I 1. France 2. Senegal 3. Intercontinental Playoff winner 2 (Iraq/Bolivia/Suriname) 4. Norway
Tue, June 16, 3 p.m. (FOX): France vs. Senegal, MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey) Tue, June 16, 6 p.m. (FOX): IC Playoff winner 2 vs. Norway, Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Massachusetts) Mon, June 22, 5 p.m. (FOX): France vs. IC Playoff winner 2, Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia) Mon, June 22, 8 p.m. (FOX): Norway vs. Senegal, MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey) Fri, June 26, 3 p.m. (FOX): Norway vs. France, Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Massachusetts) Fri, June 26, 3 p.m. (FS1): Senegal vs. IC Playoff winner 2, BMO Field (Toronto)
Lionel Messi and Argentina are the reigning World Cup champions after defeating France in the 2022 final. (Photo by Daniel Jayo/Getty Images)
(Daniel Jayo via Getty Images)
GROUP J 1. Argentina 2. Algeria 3. Austria 4. Jordan
Advertisement
Tue, June 16, 9 p.m. (FOX): Argentina vs. Algeria, Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, Missouri) Tue, June 16, 12 a.m. (FS1): Austria vs. Jordan, Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California) Mon, June 22, 1 p.m. (FOX): Argentina vs. Austria, AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas) Mon, June 22, 11 p.m. (FS1): Jordan vs. Algeria, Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California) Sat, June 27, 10 p.m. (FOX): Jordan vs. Argentina, AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas) Sat, June 27, 10 p.m. (FS1): Algeria vs. Austria, Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, Missouri)
GROUP K 1. Portugal 2. Intercontinental Playoff winner 1 (Congo/Jamaica/New Caledonia) 3. Uzbekistan 4. Colombia
Fri, June 17, 1 p.m. (FOX): Portugal vs. IC Playoff winner 1, NRG Stadium (Houston) Fri, June 17, 10 p.m. (FS1): Uzbekistan vs. Colombia, Estadio Azteca (Mexico City) Tue, June 23, 1 p.m. (FOX): Portugal vs. Uzbekistan, NRG Stadium (Houston) Tue, June 23, 10 p.m. (FS1): Colombia vs. IC Playoff winner 1, Estadio Akron (Guadalajara, Mexico) Sat, June 27, 7:30 p.m. (FOX): Colombia vs. Portugal, Hard Rock Stadium (Miami) Sat, June 27, 7:30 p.m. (FS1): IC Playoff winner 1 vs. Uzbekistan, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
GROUP L 1. England 2. Croatia 3. Ghana 4. Panama
Advertisement
Fri, June 17, 4 p.m. (FOX): England vs. Croatia, AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas) Fri, June 17, 7 p.m. (FS1): Ghana vs. Panama, BMO Field (Toronto) Tue, June 23, 4 p.m. (FOX): England vs. Ghana, Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Massachusetts) Tue, June 23, 7 p.m. (FOX): Panama vs. Croatia, BMO Field (Toronto) Sat, June 27, 5 p.m. (FOX): Panama vs. England, MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey) Sat, June 27, 5 p.m. (FS1): Croatia vs. Ghana, Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
2026 World Cup odds
According to BetMGM, Spain is the favorite to lift the World Cup trophy at MetLife Stadium on July 12. The 2010 champions — and 2030 co-hosts with Morocco and Portugal — are +400 to win the tournament for the second time.
England is next at +600, followed by France (+650), Brazil (+750) and reigning champion Argentina (+800).
Advertisement
The United States is currently listed at +6600 to win the 2026 World Cup.
Who is in this year’s ‘Group of Death?’
Look no further than Group I for the 2026 edition of the “Group of Death.” France, Senegal, Norway and one of Bolivia, Suriname or Iraq will battle it out to advance to the knockout stage.
There are some interesting matchups in Group I. For starters, France and Senegal will meet in the opening match for both countries, which will bring back memories of when these two met at the 2002 World Cup, which saw Senegal secure a stunning 1-0 win.
Erling Haaland will lead Norway in its first World Cup since 1998 and will provide tough opposition when it goes up against Kylian Mbappé and France in a battle of global superstars.
Advertisement
Group L will provide stiff competition with England, Croatia, Ghana, and Panama.
Who is likely to advance from each group?
Group A: Co-hosts Mexico are the favorites and Korea Republic have advanced out of the Round of 16 twice since 2010. But what could change the complexion of this group is which European team emerges from the playoff.
Group B: Host countries traditionally fare well and Canada has to be happy with its draw. Italy or Wales qualifying for this group could make things interesting and potentially a tougher time if only two knockout stage spots are available.
Group C: Brazil are overwhelming favorites to win the group, but after a proud showing in 2022, it will be interesting to see how Morocco has developed after a semifinal run in Qatar. The Scots qualified in dramatic fashion and should be buoyed by a fanbase that’s been waiting since 1998 to get back to a World Cup.
Advertisement
Group D: The U.S. loves its draw, facing two teams it beat in friendlies this fall. They last faced Türkiye in June, a 2-1 defeat, but Ay-Yıldızlılar have to get through a playoff that features Romania, Slovakia and Kosovo.
Group E: Germany is looking to move past two straight disappointing World Cups where they failed to advance out of the group stage. The last time they did that was in 2014 when they beat Lionel Messi and Argentina in the final.
Group F: The Dutch reached the quarterfinals in 2022, but exited at the hands of eventual champion Argentina after penalties. They should not struggle here. The fun will come as Japan, Tunisia and playoff qualifier Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, or Albania battle it out for the second, and maybe a third, knockout round spot.
Group G: Belgium may not longer have a “golden generation,” but they still have plenty of talent to make a run. Mohamed Salah and Egypt are back at the World Cup after last participating in 2018. They’ve only advanced out of the group stage once — 1934.
Advertisement
Group H: After Spain and Uruguay were drawn first, this had “Group of Death” vibes. But with Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde rounding out the group, this will likely come down to whether a third team can qualify.
Erling Haaland and Norway will take part in the country’s first World Cup since France 1998. (Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)
(Image Photo Agency via Getty Images)
Group I: The “Group of Death?” Most likely. France should get through, but they will be challenged by Erling Haaland and Norway and Senegal, who famously beat them in 2002.
Group J: Argentina should not have a problem getting their title defense off to a good start here. Austria and Algeria will likely be the countries fighting to see who joins Lionel Messi and Co. in the knockout round.
Advertisement
Group K: Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal have an easy path to the Round of 32. Colombia, after a strong showing in CONMEBOL qualifying, should be fine, leaving Uzbekistan and one of Congo, Jamaica or New Caledonia on the outside.
Group L: Another potential “Group of Death” has England and Croatia fighting it out for the top spot, but don’t discount Ghana, who always provide a tough test after making four out of the past five World Cups.
Here’s how the 2026 World Cup draw played out via our live blog:
Live coverage is over71 updates
GROUP F
Ukraine or Sweden vs. Poland or Albania
GROUP K
Congo vs. New Caledonia or Jamaica
GROUP D
Slovakia or Kosovo vs. Türkiye or Romania
GROUP I
Iraq vs. Bolivia or Suriname
GROUP B
Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Italy or Northern Ireland
GROUP A
Czech Republic or Ireland vs. Denmark or North Macedonia
On Thursday, the Minnesota Timberwolves, fresh off a two-game winning streak, will welcome the Oklahoma City Thunder in a rematch of last season’s Western Conference finals. As a prime-time nationally televised game, Anthony Edwards and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be the draw, a clash of two of the most talented young superstars the game has to offer. A marketing dream.
But from a tactical perspective, so much of this game is centered around Wolves forward Jaden McDaniels’ defensive versatility and responsibility against a historically lethal offensive juggernaut.
Advertisement
Meetings with the reigning champs are always a progress marker — especially for title-chasing teams. A little over a week ago, the Wolves were sitting comfortably in fourth place in the West with all the makings of a legitimate contender before enduring a five-game losing streak.
(Hassan Ahmad/Yahoo Sports Illustration)
In times when the Wolves have struggled — their offense has come to a screeching halt over the last two weeks, scoring at the fourth-worst rate in the NBA, according to Cleaning the Glass — they’ve hung their collective hats at the other end of the floor, with McDaniels (and center Rudy Gobert, his partner in crime) as the bedrock of the league’s fifth-most-efficient defense.
“His defense has been there for a while,” head coach Chris Finch said. “What he’s really been able to do defensively is add nuance to his game as he’s learned to play these guys multiple times a year. Having him as a point-of-attack defender with that length is a luxury. And we’ve actually moved him off the ball a bit more this year and put him at the bottom of the floor where he can be in help and be at the rim — and that’s been massive for us.”
Advertisement
Standing at 6-foot-9 with a seven-foot wingspan, McDaniels’ sheer length puts him in a class above the average wing defender, affording him the reach to be a deterrent against pesky, smaller guards as well as hold his own against bigs. But it’s the combination of his intangibles — his motor, screen navigation, defensive IQ and processing speed — that separates him from the pack. Need McDaniels to blow up a pick-and-roll and wall off an entry post pass? No problem. Having issues around the rim and need some assistance? Check.
The advanced metrics paint McDaniels as quite the productive player, too. Estimated Plus-Minus grades McDaniels as a 96th percentile defender. According to Cleaning the Glass, Minnesota’s defense is 3.5 points per 100 possessions better with McDaniels on the floor, which puts him in the 77th percentile in on/off impact. Bball-Index gives McDaniels high marks in perimeter isolation defense, ball screen navigation, rim protection, post defense, rim disruption and off-ball chase defense.
So how does he do it?
Advertisement
McDaniels sat down with Yahoo Sports to rewatch some of his impressive game film, breaking down exactly what goes on in his mind in real time.
Defensive Concept No. 1: Screen navigation and passing lane disruption
In the clip below, McDaniels is tasked with defending a James Harden/Ivica Zubac pick-and-roll, one of the Clippers’ offensive staples. McDaniels not only is able to avoid Zubac’s screen and contain Harden, he’s able to dart toward the rim and break up what would have been an easy lob to Zubac.
McDaniels: “This is just Rudy and I having a good connection and always communicating. Earlier, you see Harden trying to go down the floor. Because I guard the best players, I know that anytime you see the best player try to go down to the bottom of the floor, he always comes back for an action.
Advertisement
“So seeing how he’s coming down and knowing he’s coming back, knowing I can’t get back in front and talking to Rudy, telling him to break off and using my length to get the deflection. That’s just something we do often, me and Rudy.”
Rudy plays a lot in drop coverage to protect the rim, and your job navigating screens is to direct traffic. How do you find the balance to help each other out, especially if he’s caught out?
McDaniels: “I just try to pursue as much as I can. There’s a mark — the hash after the free-throw line — where we know if I’m not in front by that time, it’s time to break off and I’ll go to the big man. But most of the time, because he plays in a high drop, I just try to defeat screens on my own or make sure that the defender knows I’m pursuing. I’ll be there regardless.”
Defensive Concept No. 2: Composure in broken plays and isolation defense
After a wild offensive rebound leading to a second opportunity for Sacramento, McDaniels maintains pressure on Keon Ellis, the initial ball-handler, before switching onto DeMar DeRozan at the top of the key. McDaniels avoids the screen, staying with DeRozan on the drive all the way to the rim before swatting the shot attempt.
McDaniels: “DeMar usually likes to go left. And he rejected the screen. That’s just me timing everything up at the rim. I’ll be telling (Anthony Edwards) stay home cause I know I’ll be able to get a good contest. I’m able to block it most of the time — I’m taller and longer than everybody so that’s my advantage.
Advertisement
A good chunk of advanced metrics place your rim protection in the upper percentiles. What’s the secret to being efficient in that aspect of defense? Typically you’re chasing guards around the floor — what is the mental shift from perimeter to paint?
McDaniels: “I low-key like being off the ball too! Being like a cornerback. I like being the low man because I know that I’m always going to contest. Even when I’m on the perimeter guarding, it’s something I always say to myself. Even if I get shaken, I have to contest. Being the low man or help guy, it’s fun for me trying to go block people. The switch from perimeter to bottom of the floor is pretty easy for me.”
Defensive Concept No. 3: High pickup points, ball pressure and forcing turnovers
Against Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokić, arguably the most lethal duo in the NBA, McDaniels picks up the Nuggets guard well beyond the 3-point line, delaying any pick-and-roll action, and crowds Murray’s vision, causing an errant late-game pass.
McDaniels: “I think Rudy was in foul trouble, so we had to just try to switch the screens. I know people have certain tendencies and moves. I try to know which way they like to go. Here, I already know where Jokić is and I’m playing the bottom hand. Really just pressuring (Murray) and containing him without reaching. Not doing anything to where I get a foul and overpressure, and he ended up turning it over himself. That’s what I mean by plays that don’t show up on the stat sheet. I don’t get the steal, but I made most of that stuff happen.”
Advertisement
Where did you develop your stance from? The wingspan takes up so much space naturally, but how did the rest come about?
McDaniels: “Probably in high school. We used to go hard on defensive drills. There were days where we didn’t touch a basketball. That’s what really made me believe in defense.”
Defensive Concept No. 4: Timely switching and post defense
After successfully sending Gilgeous-Alexander toward Gobert’s orbit, McDaniels switches back onto Chet Holmgren on the wing. From there, McDaniels is expected to generate a quality defensive stop on Holmgren as the OKC big man works his way to the post.
McDaniels: “That’s just me being patient. I always tell the younger guys on my team like Jaylen Clark — ‘cause he says he can guard — be patient and be the second jumper. That’s something I learned early. People have game! (Holmgren) got a lot of fakes and pivot moves, it’s just being the last jumper and always getting a contest. That’s just one of the rules I go by to make sure I contest everything.”
Advertisement
Bonus — Offensive Concept No. 1: Floor spacing, relocation and moving without the ball
With all of that in mind, it would be one thing if McDaniels was an elite defender that was a liability at the other end of the floor. In recent years, that specialist role has diminished in value, as defenses have gotten smarter at scheming and exploiting weaknesses.
McDaniels has developed consistently as a shooter, connective playmaker and overall scoring threat. According to Stathead, there are only three players in the NBA averaging at least 1 block, 1 steal, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 defensive win shares per game, while shooting 40% from 3 and averaging at least 14 points per game: Kevin Durant, Edwards and McDaniels.
Advertisement
McDaniels is shooting a career-high 42.3% from beyond the arc, nearly a 10% jump from last season — all while essentially maintaining the same volume. In the play below, once McDaniels notices Bones Hyland moving toward the rim, he relocates from the corner to the wing, allowing Julius Randle to drive, knowing he’ll be there for a release.
McDaniels: “I’m already knowing they’re going to help on Julius and I’m ready to play up and shoot. By that time, I already hit like two or three (3s) so I was feeling good and let it go. Extreme confidence playing.”
What about your relocation has improved recently? Defenses will naturally be somewhat compact when Randle or Edwards has the ball.
Advertisement
McDaniels: “Knowing teams put two on Ant or Julius, I used to just stand in the corner and that wasn’t a good outlet. Really just wanting other opportunities and getting the ball, so just coming up in space. Whatever I do from there, just being confident and attacking.”
Each NFL season comes with a handful of offenses that lack fantasy football star power. The question of the offseason becomes, which of those offenses showed enough positive signs at the end of the year to give hope in 2026? Fantasy analyst Joel Smyth chooses three offenses that he believes have the best shot at a bounce-back season.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints offense can continue to rise with an old-fashioned growth path. The core will stay put; Tyler Shough at quarterback, Kellen Moore as head coach and Chris Olave as their No. 1 wideout. The offense is built to score fantasy points, and any added weapons can join the rise in New Orleans. The Saints offense went from the 31st-ranked scoring offense through 13 weeks to the 14th over their final five games, including 12th in total offense. Moore maximizes the talent of his offenses, and his high volume and high pace of play increases the fantasy ceiling. Over those last five matchups, the Saints ranked ninth in fantasy points scored as their pace of play was the fastest in the NFL. The difference in pace from the Saints to the second-fastest team is the same as the difference from the second-fastest team to the 10th.
Advertisement
Look for the Saints to build around Shough in Year 2, adding talent at the receiver position and bulking up the offensive line. Moore’s track record in providing fantasy production speaks for itself. The Eagles dropped from ninth to 24th in their first year after his departure, as Moore’s second-ranked scoring offense of 2024 was his fourth top-six offense in his six years as an offensive coordinator. Olave and any added skill positions are set up well for 2026.
Las Vegas Raiders
The best thing about the Raiders offense is that it will be nothing like it was in 2025. After scoring 14.2 points per game last season, the lowest in the NFL, it’s hard to find the light at the end of the tunnel. The positive comes from being a top-heavy offense when it comes to talent. TE Brock Bowers and RB Ashton Jeanty are not only the two best players on the offense by a staggering amount, but also are one of the best at their respective positions in the entire NFL. They were drastically held back by their team in 2025, yet still managed to post notable fantasy numbers over the final 10 weeks of the season.
Advertisement
Once returning from their Week 9 bye, Jeanty went on to score 15.2 fantasy PPG in PPR leagues, while Bowers returned from injury to score 16.6 per game. Disfunction all around, and the young stars would still slide in as the TE3 and RB13, respectively, in the second half of the year. The confidence outside of the talent comes in with a new coaching staff, a new quarterback and, hopefully, a rearranged offensive line. It can only go up from here after a disaster season.
If Las Vegas adds QB Fernando Mendoza in the draft and a new head coach, such Seahawks playcaller Klint Kubiak (who’s rumored to be considered for the role), the Raiders’ talent can turn into fantasy superstars.
Tennessee Titans
In the first half of 2025, the Titans scored 12.2 offensive points per game, the second-lowest of any team in the last five seasons. Through 10 games, they failed to reach 24 points in a single game. Then out of nowhere, they went on a tear. The Titans scored 24+ points in five of their next six contests and averaged 22.4 points in their final five games of the season. The combination of a rookie quarterback in Cam Ward and a fired head coach in Brian Callahan usually equals lots of growth opportunities in Year 2.
With Robert Saleh entering as head coach, it’s important for Ward to have an experienced offensive coordinator and QB coach in Brian Daboll. The new Titans playcaller is best known for coaching and developing Josh Allen in his early years in Buffalo and successfully utilizing Giants rookie QB Jaxson Dart this past season. Tennessee’s top weapons, whoever they end up being, will be drafted late in fantasy drafts in August, but I wouldn’t be shocked if one of them became one of the top values of the season. This could include notable rookie WRs Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike, as well as TE Gunnar Helm.
When the World Cup draw concluded on a December afternoon in Washington, revealing with great fanfare the groups and match venues for the soccer spectacle taking place across North America this summer, teams and their traveling supporters learned where they would be headed.
For the German federation, the news fast-tracked planning for games in Houston, Toronto and Greater New York.
Advertisement
It also set the stage for another trip to a decidedly quieter destination: Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
While World Cup matches will take place in 16 big cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada, teams will spend most of their time at base camps sprinkled around the continent — some in uncommon places, such as prep schools, college campuses and small cities with otherwise no ties to the five-week, 48-nation tournament.
FIFA has yet to verify camp selections, but some teams have already announced their picks and many others reportedly have finalized plans.
Brazil said it has chosen Red Bull New York’s Major League Soccer training center under construction in northern New Jersey. Croatia will practice at a boarding school near Washington. Spain is planning to set up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, while Norway chose Greensboro, North Carolina.
Advertisement
France is going to Boston and Portugal to Miami. Belgium seems set on Seattle, and South Korea announced Guadalajara, Mexico. Four teams, including England and reigning champion Argentina, want the Kansas City area, the Kansas City Star reported.
The U.S. team — which will play two of its three Group D matches in Greater Los Angeles — is expected to train full time in Southern California.
The scramble for long-term stays, interrupted by short-term visits to match locations, began last year as teams began qualifying for the World Cup. FIFA assembled a brochure of 64 options that included pro facilities in metro areas as well as off-beat places such as Boise, Idaho; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Stillwater, Oklahoma; and Spokane, Washington.
Federations also had the option of going off the board, though selections were subject to FIFA approval. FIFA’s list offered ample and disparate candidates, but because priority was given to teams based on rank and proximity to game venues, federations ran the risk of missing out on their top choices.
Advertisement
Such was the case with Germany, which bypassed the FIFA menu and chose to train at Wake Forest University and stay at the nearby Graylyn Estate, a boutique hotel on the National Register of Historic Places.
“We are creating the best possible conditions for a successful tournament,” said Andreas Rettig, managing director of sport for the German federation (DFB). “The environment is ideal, both in sporting and infrastructural terms.”
The German Football Association chose Wake Forest University as its base camp for FIFA World Cup 2026. A general view of the Graylyn Estate where the team will stay.
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / REUTERS)
Some federations prefer a camp near a match venue. Others leaned toward the U.S. Midwest — equidistant to the coasts, where most games will take place. Some wanted urban settings, others remote locations to avoid distractions.
Advertisement
On Jan. 9, Germany became the first to go public, speaking highly of Winston-Salem’s welcome, Wake Forest’s facilities and the Graylyn’s high-end accommodations.
Recently, though, Yahoo Sports also learned what specifically went into the German decision.
Markus Löw, the national team’s head of management, and his team made several transatlantic trips to more than 40 potential base camps in the United States and Mexico. At home, DFB travel experts closely examined FIFA’s brochure online to rule out candidates.
Coach Julian Nagelsmann’s top priority was a short distance between the team hotel and training grounds. In other words, he didn’t want his team sitting on a bus 30 to 60 minutes each way almost every day of what could become six weeks away from home. The distance from the Graylyn Estate to Spry Stadium and adjacent fields is 1.9 miles.
Advertisement
Nagelsmann’s second priority was hotel exclusivity — a small facility occupied by the German delegation only. Looking like it had been plucked from 19th-century Europe, the 94-year-old Graylyn sits on 55 acres and offers 85 rooms inside its stone exterior.
The coach’s next consideration was the distance to game venues. Germany’s charter flights from North Carolina to group-stage matches are no more than a few hours. By finishing first in Group E — a clear expectation in a quartet with Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao — the pathway to the final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, would require trips to Foxborough, Massachusetts, for the Round of 32; Philadelphia for the Round of 16; Foxborough for the quarterfinal; and Arlington, Texas, for the semifinal.
Wake Forest University President Dr. Susan Wente, German head coach Julian Nagelsmann, Wake Forest University vice president and director of athletics John Currie, Director of the German national team Rudi Voller, and members of the German Football Association pose for a portrait at W. Dennie Spry Soccer Stadium.
(Wake Forest University via Imagn / REUTERS)
Unfamiliar with Winston-Salem and Wake Forest until the process accelerated, Löw visited Winston-Salem twice before accompanying Nagelsmann for a final tour in October.
Advertisement
Germany’s longstanding plans to stay there came with some uncertainty. Had the World Cup draw placed it in a group with matches in the Midwest or West, the Germans would’ve considered switching to their second choice: Austin, Texas.
With the favorable draw, they finalized their Winston-Salem plans. Löw is scheduled to return soon with Adidas representatives to begin detailed planning. In April, the DFB will begin shipping some of the 14 tons of equipment. While most of Wake Forest’s offerings met the DFB’s needs, the German staff plans to assemble a tented fitness center adjacent to the field, with equipment both shipped in and rented locally.
Due to arrive June 8 — two days after a friendly against the United States in Chicago — the full delegation will include four chefs, who will prepare meals with food mostly sourced locally. Special player requests and sponsored goods will arrive from Germany.
In weighing camp options, the DFB learned from past World Cups. At the 2018 tournament in Russia, the hotel situation was difficult and lacked the charm necessary for the team to settle in quickly. Four years ago in Qatar, the team was happy with the seaside hotel and training center but both were located an hour north of Greater Doha, where all game venues were located; only Belgium was based further away from the center of activity.
Advertisement
In 2014, when Germany won the championship in Brazil, the delegation occupied a remote seaside resort far from match venues.
“The team behind the team at the DFB has, with great precision and passion, identified the perfect base camp through an extensive process across the three host nations,” Rettig said. “Thanks to the draw, we were able to implement our preferred scenario.”
Common sense told Portugal to base itself in Houston, where it will play its first two group matches. But because those will be played indoors, coach Roberto Martinez saw no reason to train there. Instead, his team will set up in the Miami area, the site of the third match.
Croatia — a semifinalist at each of the previous two World Cups — opted for the Washington area, which, because of an inadequate stadium, wasn’t chosen as a match venue. Croatia’s group games are in Arlington, Texas; Toronto; and Philadelphia. The team will train at Episcopal, a private high school in Alexandria, Virginia, and stay in historic Old Town Alexandria, blocks from the Potomac River.
Advertisement
The Croatian delegation visited eight potential camps in the United States and Canada before submitting to FIFA its top five, led by Alexandria. Episcopal was a training venue during the FIFA Club World Cup last summer and has hosted other visiting teams over the years.
“There are many factors that make a good base camp and that we took into account – from the conditions at the training center, the quality of the hotel, geographic location, distance from the airport, privacy and surrounding,” coach Zlatko Dalić said. “In all aspects, Alexandria offers the best combination of these factors.”
Typically, visiting teams on location for weeks bond closely with their hosts. So when they’re eliminated early, there is mutual disappointment. Conversely, a deep run in the tournament brings shared joy.
“Of course, the overall impression of a camp is ultimately shaped by results,” Dalic said, “so I hope Alexandria will remain in our memories.”
