Sport

• Indian shuttler Dhyan Santosh secured a major victory by upsetting sixth seed Punnatat Prempunpong at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships. • The match took place as part of the competitive circuit reported in ESPN's Indian sports updates on July 1, 2026. • This win highlights the rising competitiveness of young Indian athletes heading into a critical sporting year.

• Only two AFC teams have advanced to the knockout rounds of the current World Cup, highlighting a significant performance gap between Asia's elite and the rest of the region. • Major contenders including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, and hosts Qatar finished last in their groups, while South Korea and Iran were also eliminated in the first round. • The disappointing results led to the resignation of South Korea's coach, Hong Myung-bo, on Sunday.

• South Korea has crashed out of the 2026 World Cup, leaving the national football program in a state of crisis. • Internal turmoil plagued the camp in June, including a boycott of domestic media after personnel were caught mocking captain Son Heung-min's military exemption. • The failure is compounded by the aging squad, as star player Son turns 34 in July and may soon retire from international competition.

• The 2026 World Cup Round of 32 has concluded its first knockout stage, featuring a series of high-stakes matches across various global regions. • Key results include Argentina dominating Cape Verde 4-0, Brazil edging out Japan 2-1, and Croatia advancing past Portugal via penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw. • Other notable victors include France, Germany, and the United States, who secured wins against Sweden, Paraguay, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, respectively.

• India secured a spot at the ENC 2026 after a series of high-stakes matches in the UB and LB brackets. • After an initial loss to Japan, India rebounded by defeating Pakistan 13-9 and Mongolia 13-10 to reach the LB Final. • In the decisive qualification match, India beat Hong Kong 2-0, winning the maps 13-10 and 13-6.

Justices upheld laws in West Virginia and Idaho, boosting similar restrictions in 25 other statesTransgender youth athletes have vowed to keep playing sports and fighting for equal access to teams after the US supreme court ruled in favor of laws banning their participation.The court’s conservative supermajority on Tuesday upheld laws in West Virginia and Idaho prohibiting trans girls from participating in women’s teams, finding the laws were constitutional. Continue reading...

• Brazil advanced after a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Japan, securing the winning goal in the sixth minute of injury time. • Germany and the Netherlands were also eliminated from the tournament following losses in penalty shootouts during a volatile day of action. • Tournament favorites France, led by Kylian Mbappé, are scheduled to face Sweden at 5 p.m. ET at the New York/New Jersey Stadium.

• Harry Kane is expected to extend his contract with Bayern Munich, while Manchester City is reportedly planning a major squad rebuild. • Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha, 25, has reportedly rejected interest from Newcastle United in favor of a potential move to Manchester United. • Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise, 24, is attracting interest from Real Madrid and Paris St-Germain based on his World Cup performances for France.

• Germany, Italy, and Spain have collectively won nine World Cups but are currently struggling, with none of the three nations winning a knockout stage match since 2014. • This trend highlights a significant decline in the dominance of these traditional European football giants on the global stage. • The lack of deep tournament runs underscores a systemic failure to translate historical success into modern victory during high-pressure elimination rounds.

Justices voted to overturn judgements issued by lower courts in favor of trans students who sued after being barred from competing in West Virginia and IdahoUS supreme court decisions – live updatesThe US supreme court has upheld laws in two conservative states excluding transgender girls and women from competing in female sports in a far-reaching ruling certain to impact trans rights throughout the US.The court’s nine justices voted to overturn previous judgements issued by lower courts in favor of two trans students who had sued after being barred from competing in West Virginia and Idaho respectively. Continue reading...

• Sportsbook operators report that betting on the 2026 World Cup has surged past expectations, setting new records for the event. • The surge is driven by the tournament being hosted in North America, which allows U.S. audiences to attend and watch matches live. • High expectations for the U.S. national team and the presence of global stars like Lionel Messi are fueling increased wagering activity.

• The U.S. Department of Justice has seized over 400 web domains used to illegally stream matches for the 2026 World Cup. • This action follows a separate operation by the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment and three other groups that shut down 44 domains linked to a piracy ring generating 950 million annual views. • These illegal services heavily targeted viewers in Latin America, specifically Mexico and Colombia, as well as audiences in Spain and the United States.

• Sportsbook operators are reporting record-breaking betting activity for the 2026 World Cup, with volume surging past initial expectations. • The surge is driven by the tournament being hosted in North America, which allows U.S. audiences to attend and watch matches live. • Increased interest is further fueled by high expectations for the U.S. national team and the presence of global stars like Lionel Messi.

• South Korea has crashed out of the 2026 World Cup, leaving the national football program in a state of crisis. • Internal turmoil plagued the team, including a boycott of domestic media duties after staff were caught mocking star player Son Heung-min's military exemption. • The situation marks a potential turning point for the squad as 33-year-old Son may retire from international football following the tournament.

• African football has seen significant success leading into the 2026 World Cup, contrasting sharply with a period of failure for Asian teams. • South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has demanded an investigation into the national team's poor performance, citing failures in personnel and organization. • Following the President's call for accountability, South Korea's head coach Hong Myung-bo resigned from his position after two years of leadership.

• France has joined Italy, Germany, Austria, Czechia, Spain, and the Netherlands in implementing a wave of bans and strict new laws targeting micro-mobility. • The measures specifically target the unregulated expansion of e-scooters to create safer and more predictable urban transport ecosystems. • Enforcement is being bolstered by the use of digital systems and real-time data sharing mechanisms between operators and authorities.

• Norway and France are scheduled to face off in a World Cup match, with viewing options available via cable and live streaming services. • The game is part of the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will feature a total of 48 teams and 104 matches across the group and knockout stages. • This tournament marks a significant shift in the competition's scale, including participants such as the United States, Argentina, and Uzbekistan.

Greens and David Pocock accuse industry of using programs and sponsorships to ‘build social licence’, push for parliamentary inquiryFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Greens and David Pocock have backed calls for a parliamentary inquiry into the alleged “petro-grooming” of children after an investigation exposed the extent of the fossil fuel sector’s presence in schools, sports clubs and other educational institutions.The resources minister, Madeleine King, has defended industry sponsorships of grassroots and elite sports and said it was fortunate so many companies were prepared to support clubs. Continue reading...

• The United States will co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, marking a landmark expansion of the global tournament. • This major event serves as the centerpiece of the 2026 U.S. sports calendar, complementing the nation's established annual athletic fixtures. • The hosting arrangement signifies a historic shift in the tournament's scale and accessibility across North America.

• Only two AFC teams have advanced to the knockout rounds of the current World Cup, highlighting a significant performance gap between Asia's elite and the rest of the region. • Major contenders including South Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and champions Qatar were eliminated in the group stages, with South Korea's exit leading to coach Hong Myung-bo's resignation on Sunday. • This result marks a decline from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where three Asian nations—Australia, Japan, and South Korea—successfully reached the first knockout round.

• Senegal secured a dominant 5-0 victory over 10-man Iraq, significantly boosting their chances of advancing to the World Cup knockout stages. • Substitute Pape Gueye played a pivotal role in the rout by scoring two goals to help seal the win. • The result is critical for Senegal as they fight for a spot in the next round of the tournament.

• NBC Sports is providing comprehensive tracking for the 2026 World Cup group stage, featuring full standings for all 12 groups. • This tournament represents the largest World Cup to date, necessitating a detailed breakdown of the expanded group stage format. • The coverage specifically highlights the complex rules regarding which third-place teams will advance to the knockout stage, including tiebreakers.

Democrats called plans for commemorative passports and gold coin with Trump portrait ‘more befitting a monarchy’Donald Trump’s efforts to brand the US government with his name and image advanced on Friday when the White House unveiled new images of a passport watermarked with his portrait to mark America’s 250th.The White House called it simply the “patriot passport”, while on Truth Social Trump introduced it as “The U.S.A.’s New Passport, which says, “Welcome, but be good!”. Continue reading...

• Sports fans are increasingly treating global sports tournaments as opportunities to engage more strategically with sportsbooks. • The shift is driven by the unprecedented availability of extensive statistics, player data, and historical records from diverse digital sources. • This trend transforms the fan experience from passive viewing to active research, with supporters analyzing team performances and comparing data before events.

• Kamilla Cardoso delivered a historic performance for the Chicago Sky, scoring 30 points while shooting a perfect 13-for-13 from the field. • The Sky dominated the Chicago Fire in a 124-94 victory, setting a new WNBA record for shooting efficiency in a single game. • This performance highlights Cardoso's emergence as a dominant interior force and significantly boosts the Sky's offensive momentum.

• The International Council on Clean Transportation released its May 2026 market monitor detailing new car and van registrations and manufacturer CO2 emission compliance. • Nordic countries dominated battery electric vehicle (BEV) adoption from January to May 2026, with Norway reaching a 98% share and Denmark reaching 80%. • Other significant growth was noted in France and Spain, which saw BEV shares rise to 28% and 9% respectively, marking increases of 10 and 2 percentage points.

• Norway and France are scheduled to face each other in a World Cup Group I match. • The event is part of an expanded tournament featuring 48 competing nations, including powerhouses like Argentina, Brazil, and England. • This match is a critical group stage encounter that will influence the standings and progression of both teams toward the knockout rounds.

• The Esports Foundation announced on the 26th that online regional qualifiers for the 'League of Legends' event of the 'Esports Nations Cup 2026' have concluded. • Fourteen regions secured spots, including Hong Kong, Mongolia, Lithuania, Romania, Germany, Belgium, Algeria, Tunisia, Mexico, Guatemala, Chile, Peru, New Zealand, and the Philippines. • Saudi Arabia will also participate in the main tournament as the designated host region.