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There are five to know on Friday
- Mexico kicks off the World Cup with a win, and the United States looks to follow suit tonight. The 2026 FIFA World Cup has been announced! Yesterday’s opening ceremony in Mexico and the 2-0 victory for El Tri that followed did not disappoint from an entertaining perspective. Raúl Jiménez led Mexico to victory over South Africa in a match that saw more goals (three) than goals (two). Two other host nations begin play today with Canada taking on Bosnia and Herzegovina at 3 p.m. and the United States taking on Paraguay at 9 p.m.
- The Knicks are playing for the NBA championship on Saturday night. Everyone is still moved to the core – including Tyler Adams and several USMNT stars – from the Knicks’ legendary comeback in game 4. I don’t know how the Spurs will respond in this night’s game 5, or their season is over and New York will finally return to the NBA hill. That means De’Aron Fox has a red-hot play that would cost him a streak-tying shot. And on the other hand, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns can’t let their hearts dwell on the story of the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history.
- The Hurricanes are one win away from lifting the Stanley Cup. Hours after the NHL announced its 2025-26 winners (including MVP Nikita Kucherov), the league watched Carolina move one step closer to its first championship in 20 years. Pavel Dorofeyev put the Golden Knights on the board for the first time with a power-play goal seven minutes into Game 5, but the Hurricanes flipped the stick and scored four straight in what was a 4-2 triumph. Either Vegas will keep its live season on home ice on Sunday, or Carolina will close out the weekend with the traditional Stanley Cup skate.
- UFC Freedom 250 arrives this weekend. The deadline event unfolded Sunday night on the White House South Lawn, and you can watch every moment of it exclusively on Paramoout. Ilia Topuria and Alex Pereira opened as favorites in the co-main event, but Justin Gaethje and Cyril Gane became more popular against their opponents. Personal matters got between Topuria and Gaethje, and she opened up to CBS Sports about the divorce, which came to light in the process. Meanwhile, Pereira has the chance to make history and become the first three division champion.
- There was a lot to learn from the first 16 NFL minicamps. Half of the league’s official minicamp wrapped up this week, and while live contact will have to wait until next month’s training camp, teams still got a look at how the 2026 season could shake out. This is the time of the year when newcomers make their first impressions and places are hotly contested. Take DJ Moore, for example. He shuddered at the bills with what he sought from his dealings. And as far as the quarterback competition is concerned, neither Shedeur Sanders nor Deshaun Watson has pulled away from the other on the Browns’ minicamp.
Don’t miss this: USMNT expert predictions
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The pair, four years in the making, has finally arrived. The United States returns to the World Cup stage tonight at 9 pm ET, opening play in the 2026 tournament against Paraguay. Will this be the year the USMNT finally gets kicked out? Like the stars Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Christopher Richards along with the rest of what they say is the golden generation of American soccer talent, will have the opportunity to shine on home soil this summer. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 squad.
Nothing less than the opening game tonight for the USMNT would be a disappointment, and four of the five experts on our panel are riding the Americans to open the World Cup with victory. In fact, our writers are all pretty optimistic that the USMNT will win a knock-out game for the first time in 24 years.
Here’s why Chuck Booth is planning a trip to the Round of 16:
- Both: “Until it is proven otherwise, I believe that I” Mauricio Pochettino’s background as a club manager will pay dividends in the World Cup. He had a time with the same 26-roster, and in friendships, to attack or to advance, or to advance for himself, each timid. In such a high energy system, understanding with the crowd can be the difference maker for the USMNT.
Get to know the team a little better before kickoff night in Los Angeles with these two characters;
Payton Tolle cracks the MLB rookie rankings
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The last issue of his youth was the worst, however Payton Tolle he showed enough over these first nine starts to earn a spot in our MLB rookie rankings. Six innings, four in a loss Rays. For it is shining on Earth Red Sox in which other times were wasted.
Each month, we highlight the 10 best rookies in baseball. The No. 1 spot doesn’t change in June, but if you go down the list further, you’ll find Telle and two other laughers.
VIII. Tristan PetersCF. White Sox
VIII. Payton TolleSP Red Sox
10. Walbertus UrenaSP Angels
Why such a high billing for a pitcher who was just touched by Tampa Bay? Our Dayn Perry explains why season-long numbers tell a stronger story for The Telly.
- Perry: “His recent results have been undeniable, starting with an 11-hit effort against New York.” Yankees in the first book to start through Boston this season. Through nine starts, he posted a 2.70 ERA, and struck out 54 against 14 walks. That kind of performance means Tolle will likely be in the Botulonia rotation even after the fixture Garrett Crochethe came back.”
The best (and not so-best) of the rest
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That’s what we’re watching this weekend
Friday
⚾ College World Series: Troy vs. No. 16 West Virginia, 2 pm on ESPN
⚽ World Cup: Canada vs. 3 pm on Fox
⛳ RBC Canadian Open, second round 3 pm on the Golf Channel
⚾ Marlins at Pirates 6:40 pm on ESPN Infinity
College World Series: Ole Miss vs. No. 5 North Carolina, 7 pm on ESPN
⚾ Padres Orioles, 7:05 pm Peacock
Diamondbacks at Reds 7:15 pm on Apple TV
⚾ Braves at Mets 7:15 pm on Apple TV
Time in the Mystics; 7:30 pm on Jan
Yankees at Blue Jays or * Dodgers at White Sox; 7:37 pm on MLB Network
WWE SmackDown 8 pm on USA Network
🏃 Outdoor Track and Field Championships 8 pm on ESPN2
⚽ World Cup: United States of Paraguay, vs. 9 pm on Fox
🏀 Valkyries in the Storm, 10 in the afternoon on Jan
Flints in the classroom or * Cubs Giants; 10:30 pm on MLB Network
Saturday
Cardinals at Gemini 2:10 pm on MLB Network
⚽ World Cup: Qatar vs. 3 pm on Fox
⚾ Yankees at Blue Jays 3 in the afternoon on the Peacock
⚾ College World Series: Oklahoma vs. No. 7 Alabama 3 pm on ESPN
⛳ RBC Canadian Open, third round, 3 pm on CBS/Paramount+
Diamondbacks at Reds 4:10 pm on ESPN Infinity
Braves at Mets or * Dodgers at White Sox; 4:10 pm on MLB Network
⚽ World Cup: Mauritania vs. Brazil 6 pm on Fox
🏀 Fever to the Sun 6 pm on NBC Sports Network
⚾ Phillies at Brewers 7:15 pm on FS1
🏀 Lynx at Aces 8 pm on CBS/Paramount+
College World Series: No. 6 Texas vs. No. 3 Georgia 8 pm on ESPN
🏃 Outdoor Track and Field Championships 8 pm on ESPN2
🏀 NBA Finals: Knicks at Spurs, Game 5 8:30 pm ABC
⚽ World Cup: Haiti vs. 9 pm on Fox
Cubs of the Giants or * The rays of the Angels; 10:05 pm on MLB Network
⚽ World Cup: Australia vs. tonight on FS1″
Sunday
⚾ Marlins at Pirates 12:15 pm on NBC Sports Network
⚽ World Cup: Germany vs. 1 pm on Fox
Padres at Orioles or * Yankees at Blue Jays 1:35 pm on MLB Network
⚾ Braves at Mets 1:40 pm on the Peacock
⚾ College World Series: TBD vs. 2 pm on ESPN
⚾ Phillies at Brewers 2:10 pm ESPN Unlimited
⛳ RBC Canadian Open, final round, 3 pm on CBS/Paramount+
🏁 NASCAR at Pocono 3 pm on Prime Video
🏀 Mystics at Liberty; 3 pm on NBA TV
⚾ Giant Cubs, ABC at 3:10 p.m
⚽ World Cup: Japan vs. Netherlands 4 pm on Fox
⚽ World Cup: Ecuador vs. 7 pm on FS1
College World Series: TBD vs. 7 pm on ESPN
the story at the Red Sox 7:20 pm on NBC
🤼 UFC Freedom 250, 8 pm on Paramount +
🏒 Stanley Cup Final: Turbine at Golden Knights, Game 6 8 pm on ABC
⚽ World Cup: Sweden vs. Tunisia 10 pm on FS1