Sport

• 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.