Sports
Continuing tradition, fans of Japan clean up postgame
June 14, 2026; Arlington, Texas, U.S.; Japan fans inside the stadium before the match. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images Fans of Japan’s World Cup soccer team might be forgiven for acting a little raucous following their squad’s 2-2 draw against the Netherlands on Sunday in Arlington, Texas.
Instead, as is their custom, they spent their time post-match picking up trash at AT&T Stadium in large plastic bags.
Daichi Kamada knotted the score in dramatic fashion, positioning for a deflection off a Koki Ogawa header to rescue a point against the much larger Netherlands squad.
The two highest-ranked squads in Group F settled for the draw, though for Japan, which trailed twice in the second half, it no doubt felt like more of a victory to draw even.
Fans caught in the euphoria of the moment did not forget to engage in what has become a tradition for the side supporting Japan. Eight years ago, at the World Cup in Russia, Japan fans went viral for picking up litter, even after a difficult loss that ended their stay at the event.
Four years later at Qatar, Japanese fans were likewise documented picking up their surroundings, though those circumstances were positive rather than negative — Japan won Group E with victories against Germany and Spain.
“For Japanese people, this is just a normal thing to do,” Hajime Moriyasu, coach of the 2022 team, told The Athletic. “When you leave a place, you have to leave it cleaner than it was before.”
On Sunday, fans even had help from an unlikely source, NFL quarterback Jameis Winston, covering the event as a correspondent for FOX.
Japan fans clean up after the game with the help of @Jaboowins! pic.twitter.com/JufyGy3Yn2
— FOX 4 NEWS (@FOX4) June 14, 2026
The spirit of humbleness on display was fully captured by the New York Giants backup signal-caller, though he didn’t limit his interactions only to Japan. Winston also participated in a pregame chant and singalong with Dutch supporters outside the stadium.
Jameis Winston is having the time of his life with the Oranje Army ???? pic.twitter.com/LLvcCeXhuf
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) June 14, 2026
–Field Level Media
Sports
Ryan Kreidler's late-game heroics guide Twins past Cardinals
May 30, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Minnesota Twins outfielder Ryan Kreidler (5) at the batting cage before the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Ryan Kreidler’s RBI double with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning made the difference for the Minnesota Twins in their 5-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals Sunday in Minneapolis.
The two-bagger off Cardinals reliever George Soriano (3-1) hit the wall in left center to cap a brief but successful day for the shortstop, who singled as a pinch-hitter in the seventh. Kriedler also made a diving play on a sharp grounder by Jose Fermin to start the ninth. Fermin initially was ruled safe, but that was overturned when the replay showed Kriedler’s throw beat Fermin by a half-step.
Byron Buxton enjoyed a 3-for-5 day while Kody Clemens and Josh Bell both went 2-for-4 for the Twins, who took the rubber match of the three-game series. Victor Caratini added a two-run homer.
Buxton and Royce Lewis hit RBI singles in the seventh to level the game for the Twins.
Andrew Morris (2-2) allowed just one hit in the eighth inning and struck out three to keep the game tied. Yoendrys Gomez pitched a perfect ninth for his sixth save.
JJ Wetherholt went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs for the Cardinals. Nathan Church went 2-for-3 and scored a run, and Alec Burleson homered to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games.
Burleson gave the Cardinals the early lead with his 13th home run, a solo shot off Twins starter Taj Bradley in the fourth. However, Caratini went deep off Michael McGreevy in the latter half of the inning to put Minnesota up 2-1.
Bradley lasted 6 2/3 innings. He struck out seven against five hits and a walk, but the Cardinals got to him for all four runs.
Wetherholt’s two-run homer in the sixth allowed St. Louis to reclaim the lead. After the Cardinals chased Bradley in the seventh with back-to-back two-out singles, Wetherholt singled off reliever Anthony Banda to give them a 4-2 lead.
McGreevy threw six innings, allowing just the two runs on Caratini’s homer. He gave up seven hits and two walks while striking out two. However, the bullpen could not secure his first victory since May 8.
Soriano struck out three in 1 2/3 innings, but he allowed three hits in addition to the go-ahead run.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Uruguay travel to Miami delayed by administrative issues
Nov 28, 2022; Lusail, Qatar; Uruguay defender Jose Gimenez (2) reacts following the loss against Portugal in the group stage match in the 2022 World Cup at Lusail Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-Imagn Images The Uruguay national team hadn’t arrived in Miami as of early Sunday night for its Monday match against Saudi Arabia in the World Cup and was blaming FIFA for the troubles, according to published reports.
The flight reportedly was delayed for hours due to administrative issues, including some missing paperwork, and had officials scrambling to line up a new flight.
The Athletic reported that a member of the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) said FIFA was responsible for the traveling snafu.
FIFA is in charge of all travel related to the 48-team World Cup.
Uruguay is training in Playa del Carmen, Mexico and held a practice on Sunday. When the traveling delegation reached the airport in Cancun, approximately 45 miles away, they learned the group was not authorized to enter the United States.
The AUF said that a second plane from South Florida was en route to pick up the squad, while players waited at a resort outside Cancun for further information.
The match between Uruguay and Saudi Arabia is slated for 6 p.m. ET.
“Due to problems beyond the control of the AUF, the departure from Mexico has been delayed,” the AUF said in a statement. “The squad is resting at the hotel. The new departure time set by FIFA is 4.15 pm.”
The issue certainly ranks as a logistical nightmare for Uruguay with it occurring the day before the game.
Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa and team captain Jose Maria Gimenez missed Sunday’s scheduled press conference in South Florida due to the issue. The festivities were pushed back to 8 p.m. ET and the AUF reportedly could face sanctions by FIFA if the press conference doesn’t take place.
Uruguay and Saudi Arabia will play their first match of Group H at Miami Gardens, Fla. The other members of the group, Spain and Cape Verde, will play Monday in Atlanta.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rays avoid sweep with 5-run eighth vs. Angels
Jun 14, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (13) celebrates as he scores a run after hitting a two-run home run during the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images Junior Caminero’s 15th home run of the season triggered a five-run eighth inning as the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Los Angeles Angels 8-3 on Sunday afternoon in Anaheim, Calif.
Victor Mesa Jr. also stroked a two-run homer in the eighth for the Rays, who snapped a 3-3 tie to avoid being swept in the three-game series. The Angels saw their season high-tying four-game winning streak come to a close.
Right-hander Kevin Kelly (4-2) struck out three in two innings to earn the win. He was the third of the Rays’ six pitchers in a bullpen game.
Los Angeles took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on Denzer Guzman’s two-out single that drove in Jo Adell.
With one out and the bases loaded in the third, the Angels lost starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez to lower back tightness. Chandler Simpson hit a two-out, two-run single off reliever Chase Silseth to give the Rays a 2-1 lead.
Tampa Bay’s Ben Williamson hit his first home run of the season in the fourth to push the lead to 3-1.
Donovan Walton’s first home run as an Angel made it 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning, then Adell made it 3-3 with an RBI single. Left-hander Ian Seymour was charged with both runs.
After Caminero’s home run in the eighth, Hunter Feduccia’s single rove in Richie Palacios and Mesa’s second home run of the season made it 8-3. All five runs in the inning were charged to Angels right-hander Sam Bachman (1-1).
The Angels threatened in the bottom of the eighth against Craig Kimbrel when Adell was hit by a pitch and Nolan Schanuel walked to open the inning. Nick Madrigal walked with one out to load the bases.
Reliever Garrett Cleavinger came on and struck out pinch hitters Trey Mancini and Oswald Peraza to end the threat.
–Field Level Media
