Advances World

• The 2026 FIFA World Cup has commenced, with Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara serving as a key venue for matches, including those featuring Team USA. • In response to the event, the San Francisco Police Department's Special Victims Unit is coordinating with regional partners to monitor for potential sex trafficking. • While some experts argue there is limited evidence linking major sporting events to spikes in trafficking, authorities maintain that vigilance is necessary during high-traffic tournaments.

• Spain has secured a victory to win their group, while Cape Verde has successfully advanced in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. • Key match highlights from June 26, 2026, include a win for France over Norway, capped by a header from Désiré Doué. • In Toronto, Senegal dominated Iraq with a five-goal lead, featuring a standout performance by Iliman Ndiaye.

• The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be the largest tournament in history, featuring matches played across North America. • Despite being a major hub for soccer fans, Chicago has been excluded as a host city and will not hold any matches. • The event marks a significant expansion of the global game, bringing the world's top soccer stars to the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

• The United States defeated the Dominican Republic in a 2026 World Baseball Classic semifinal, with Roman Anthony hitting the go-ahead home run to secure advancement to Tuesday's championship game. • The American roster, led by NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes and featuring stars Bryce Harper and Aaron Judge, will face the winner of Monday's semifinal between Italy and Venezuela in the title game. • This marks the USA's third straight World Baseball Classic title game appearance after winning in 2017 and losing to Shohei Ohtani's Japan in 2023.

The United States beat Canada 5-3 on Friday night in Houston to advance to the World Baseball Classic semifinals, with Aaron Judge doubling and Pete Crow-Armstrong and Brice Turang each recording two hits. The Americans rebounded after an earlier 8-6 loss to Italy in pool play that had left them needing assistance to reach this stage, marking their third consecutive appearance in the WBC semifinals and fourth overall. The U.S. will face the Dominican Republic in a semifinal matchup on Sunday in Miami, with Paul Skenes scheduled to start against Luis Severino. This victory continues the U.S. team's strong international performance, following the American hockey team's 2-1 overtime gold medal win against Canada at the Milan Olympics last month.