Sports
Stampeders aim to improve defense in rematch against Alouettes
Nov 8, 2025; Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Montreal Alouettes wide receiver Tyson Philpot (6) runs with the football during warm up before the start of the Eastern Final against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Hamilton Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images It’s a simple proposition for the Calgary Stampeders. Improve defensively or languish around .500 this year.
Heading into a rematch Saturday against the visiting Montreal Alouettes, Calgary (2-3) is permitting 35.2 points and 433.8 yards per game. Even with points and yardage up across the league, those figures aren’t good enough.
“When you let them score that many points, it proves a bigger challenge,” said defensive end Folarin Orimolade. “We’re giving up a few more explosive plays and we’re giving up a few more touchdowns.”
Some of those happened last week in Montreal, where the Als outscored the Stamps 37-30. Montreal quarterback Davis Alexander has thrown for 1,779 yards, second only to Toronto’s Chad Kelly, and receiver Tyson Philpot already has 719 yards — 240 more than anyone else.
Calgary coach Dave Dickenson said playing the same opponent in consecutive weeks makes preparation easier.
“You kind of start trying to predict,” he said. “It’s like, ‘OK, if they did this, what is the counterpunch to that?’ But sometimes, it’s actually counterproductive to do that.”
While the Stamps aim for a split, the Als (4-1) try to keep rolling behind their pitch-catch combination. Philpot riddled Calgary for nine catches, 132 yards and a touchdown. It was his fourth straight 100-yard game.
If Philpot can continue at this pace for 18 games, he would finish with 2,588 yards, obliterating the CFL record of 2,036 set by Calgary’s Allen Pitts in 1994. Philpot also has 45 receptions, putting him on pace to break the 28-year-old mark of 160 that Derrell Mitchell achieved for Toronto in 1998.
“When I hear my number called, all I think about is making a play for these guys,” Philpot said. “As long as I keep doing that, I’ll continue having my number called. It’s in my DNA. I’ve done this since I was a young kid. In my mind, the guy across from me can’t guard me.”
Like the Stamps, Montreal is seeking better defensive performance. Even though they’re tied for the league’s best record with Edmonton and Saskatchewan, the Als are yielding 30.8 ppg.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Legal inquiries into FIFA's ticket practices won't end when World Cup does
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport of New Jersey said her investigation into World Cup ticketing practices will go on. While the 2026 World Cup officially comes to a close on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., the attorney general of New Jersey won’t stop her investigation into FIFA and its ticketing methods when the final whistle sounds.
In a report published Friday, New Jersey AG Jennifer Davenport told The Athletic that her office will continue to look at concerns that she and her New York counterpart, Letitia James, raised in May about the ways FIFA conducted the ticket-buying process for the eight matches hosted at MetLife Stadium during the 39-day tournament.
Those eight matches include the Sunday final, which pits Argentina against Spain.
In a joint news release issued in May, the attorneys general said they were looking into reports that FIFA allegedly hiked prices, changed ticketing maps after selling tickets to the public and created artificial scarcity.
Davenport addressed her continuing mission to protect consumers with The Athletic.
“For the initial ticket sales, FIFA seat maps divided the stadium into four zones, categories one through four,” Davenport said. “The category one seats were the most desirable. But after fans had already bought tickets, FIFA created new zones, which included a front row in a category, made up of the most desirable seats within the categories.
“We saw the reports indicating that there were fans who bought the tickets before these new zones were introduced but were then excluded from the seats and instead assigned less desirable seats. We also saw reports that some fans didn’t receive the tickets in the category they paid for.”
New Jersey and New York aren’t the only places where FIFA’s ticketing practices have come under fire. Officials in California and Texas also have been investigating claims regarding the 2026 World Cup.
In Frankfurt, Germany, on Tuesday, a court called FIFA’s practices on ticket resale outlet Ticombo “manipulative” and issued an injunction designed to force FIFA to stop selling tickets there. Per Newsweek, the court threatened to fine and/or imprison FIFA president Gianni Infantino and secretary general Mattias Grafstrom if they do not comply.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mauro Schmid claims first Tour de France win on hilly Stage 13
Mauro Schmid won Stage 13 of the Tour de France from Dole to Belfort on Friday. Switzerland’s Mauro Schmid conquered the longest stage of this year’s Tour de France to collect his first stage win on Friday.
Schmid, 26, outdueled Colombia’s Harold Tejada at the finish of hilly Stage 13 to complete the 205.8-kilometer race from Dole to Belfort in four hours, six minutes and 58 seconds.
Aside from Schmid, the big winner Friday was Grreat Britain’s Tom Pidcock, who climbed from 10th to fourth in the overall standings. He slashed his deficit from 11:49 to 4:15 as he finished third in the stage.
Four-time champion Tadej Pogacar remained in control of the yellow jersey. The Slovenian maintained his 3:36 lead over Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard. Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel, Pidcock and Spain’s Juan Ayuso complete the top five.
In the wake of Thursday’s crash at the finish, two riders did not compete in Stage 13. Colombia’s Francisco Gaviria and Belgium’s Jenno Berckmoes dropped out due to broken collarbones.
For Saturday’s Stage 14, the riders will stay in the mountains during a 155.3-kilometer trek from Mulhouse to Le Markstein Fettering.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mauricio Pochettino to decide future with USMNT in coming weeks
July 6, 2026; Seattle, Washington, U.S.; U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino gives instructions to Alex Freeman. Mandatory Credit: Albert Gea-Reuters via Imagn Images Argentina’s Mauricio Pochettino is weighing whether to coach the United States Men’s National Team for the next four years, which would include the 2030 World Cup hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain.
Pochettino has been engaged in contract talks to stay with the USMNT side that reached the round of 16 in this World Cup. His current deal expires when the World Cup final is played Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
Pochettino provided a general timetable for his decision on Thursday during a Zoom interview with Spanish outlet Cadena Cope.
“Look, we’re there. We’re watching. We’re analyzing,” Pochettino said in Spanish. “I received an offer for continuity and we’ll see. … In the coming weeks, we’ll make a decision.”
Pochettino, who will be in Barcelona when Argentina and Spain meet in Sunday’s final, suggested the final is a “50/50” proposition.
“Perhaps Spain’s organization and possession game might control the position and the match a little more in the spaces,” Pochettino said. “But I believe Argentina is a team that handles the timing very well, has a lot of patience throughout the match and has that aura that (Lionel) Messi gives off.
“Even at almost 40 years old, he continues to have and continues to impose that charisma, that respect that his opponents have for him, and I think that makes them a fearsome team.”
–Field Level Media
Legal inquiries into FIFA's ticket practices won't end when World Cup does
Mauro Schmid claims first Tour de France win on hilly Stage 13
