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FIFA likely to increase funding, fees for teams

Soccer: FIFA Club World Cup 2025-Group Stage-CF Monterrey at CA River PlateJun 21, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; The FIFA Club World Cup logo is seen before the game between CF Monterrey and CA River Plate during a group stage match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-Imagn Images

In response to requests by European teams to increase prize money and to assist with costs associated with their participation this summer in the World Cup, the world governing body and World Cup organizer is set to fulfill those wishes — for all 48 participating countries.

FIFA has had discussions with national associations to boost funding, and the proposals are expected to be approved at the FIFA Council meeting April 28 in Vancouver.

The World Cup, which will run from June 11 to July 19, is expected to bring in revenue in excess of $11 billion.

UEFA, European football’s governing body, contacted FIFA after hearing from several of its member associations regarding the costs of participating in the World Cup, including travel, operations and taxes, particularly in the United States. Canada and Mexico are the other host countries this summer.

FIFA in December announced a record World Cup prize fund of $727 million, with the winner taking home $50 million and each team receiving at least $10.5 million. Since that December announcement, FIFA and national associations have engaged in talks and aim to resolve the issue before April 30, when the FIFA Congress meets.

Last month, The Athletic reported that FIFA had trimmed more than $100 million from its World Cup operating departments, causing concern for host cities and their plans, which had already been scaled down due to budgeting issues.

Among U.S. host cities, only Houston and Philadelphia are going ahead with their original plans for the 39-day-long festival.

“Ahead of a FIFA Council meeting in Vancouver, Canada, on 28 April 2026, FIFA can confirm it is in discussions with associations around the world to increase available revenues,” a FIFA spokesperson told The Athletic.

“This includes a proposed increase of financial contributions to all qualified teams for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and of development funding available to all 211 member associations.”

–Field Level Media

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Despite 2-1 series deficit, Golden Knights not panicking vs. Mammoth

NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Vegas Golden Knights at Utah MammothApr 24, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Rasmus Andersson (4) skates with the puck against Utah Mammoth center Nick Schmaltz (8) during the third period in game three of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

After an unlikely Game 3 victory, the Utah Mammoth will try to secure their third straight win over the visiting Vegas Golden Knights on Monday in Salt Lake City during Game 4 of their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series.

Vegas secured a 4-2 home win in Game 1, but the Mammoth erased the Knights’ home-ice advantage by winning Game 2. Utah then took command of the series with a 4-2 victory Friday in the first-ever NHL playoff game in Salt Lake City.

The Mammoth won Game 3 despite being outshot by a 32-12 margin. Utah became the eighth team since 1974 to win a playoff game with 12 or fewer shots, while the Golden Knights lost despite allowing the second-lowest shots total in any game (regular season or playoffs) in Vegas franchise history.

Sunday’s practice saw the Knights deploy some new line combinations and new power-play units. Vegas has gone 2-for-9 on the power play in the series and 5-for-6 on the penalty kill, though coach John Tortortella felt “we lost the special teams battle in the first three games.”

While the lineup may have some new looks in Game 4, Tortortella said neither his coaching staff or his veteran players have any panic.

“We’ve made some adjustments, as you do in (the) playoffs. Not crazy stuff, but when you get down in a series and you lose a couple in a row, it’s belief,” Tortortella said. “It’s believing in what we’re doing, belief in how we’re preparing. This is mental. This is where I feel very comfortable with this team. … We can draw as much stuff as we can on the board x’s and o’s-wise, this is belief. I think we have that in that room.”

Utah defenseman MacKenzie Weegar said his team also has a few new tricks in mind for Game 4.

“We expect a really good response from a really good opponent over there, so we’re going to need to be focused and prepared,” he said.

As efficient as the Mammoth were with their shots in Game 3, Weegar knows that level of production won’t normally win games.

“We’re definitely going to make some corrections for the next game, which will I think build a little bit more speed and we’ll get a little more offense going.”

Twelve different Mammoth players have at least one point in the series, and five players share the team lead with three points apiece. Weegar, Dylan Guenther, Lawson Crouse, and Logan Cooley each have two goals and an assist, and Kailer Yamamoto has three assists.

Playing in his first career playoff games, Karel Vejmelka has risen to the occasion with a 2.36 goals-against average and .916 save percentage in the series. The numbers are a step beyond Vejmelka’s solid 2.75 GAA and .897 save percentage in the regular season.

Mark Stone, Ivan Barbashev (each with two goals and one assist) and Jack Eichel (one goal, two assists) all have three points in the series, sharing the Vegas team lead.

Though Carter Hart allowed four goals on 12 shots in Game 3, he’ll be back in the Vegas net on Monday. Hart went 7-1-0 with a .932 save percentage over his last eight starts spanning the end of the regular season and first two postseason games.

–Field Level Media

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Spurs dominate 2nd half to go up 3-1 on Trail Blazers

NBA: Playoffs-San Antonio Spurs at Portland Trail BlazersApr 26, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) celebrates a three point basket by guard De’aaron Fox (4) during the first half of game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

De’Aaron Fox scored 28 points and Victor Wembanyama had 27 in his return from concussion protocol, helping the visiting San Antonio Spurs to a 114-93 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 4 of their Western Conference first-round series on Sunday.

Fox sank 11 of 17 shots from the floor and drained four 3-pointers to aid the Spurs in overcoming a 19-point deficit to seize a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 5 is Tuesday in San Antonio.

After sitting out Game 3, Wembanyama showed why he was the NBA’s first-ever unanimous Defensive Player of the Year by recording 11 rebounds, seven blocks and four steals.

Stephon Castle collected 16 points and eight assists while dealing with both an injured left hand and foul trouble.

Devin Vassell added 11 points for the Spurs, who outscored the Trail Blazers by a 73-35 margin in the second half.

Deni Avdija scored 26 points, Jrue Holiday had 20 and Jerami Grant added 17 off the bench for the Trail Blazers.

Tied at 74 entering the fourth quarter, the Spurs opened the period on a 27-7 run. Castle set up Wembanyama for a trio of alley-oop dunks before Fox sank a pair of jumpers and a 3-pointer to give San Antonio an 87-77 lead with 7:47 left. Sixth Man of the Year Keldon Johnson converted from beyond the arc and added a pair of driving buckets to extend San Antonio’s lead to 101-81 with 4:31 remaining.

Tempers flared after Castle pushed the ball into the chest of Avdija. A shoving match ensued, resulting in a technical foul on both parties.

Portland held a two-point lead after the first quarter before extending that advantage to 19 points at 58-39 after Donovan Clingan’s 3-pointer with a minute left.

San Antonio cut into the deficit by scoring the last two points of the second quarter and the first 13 of the third, highlighted by 3-pointers from Justin Champagnie, Fox and Vassell on consecutive possessions. The Spurs seized a 64-62 lead after a pair of jump shots from Vassell and then Wembanyama added a dunk in the final second to forge the tie at the end of the third quarter.

–Field Level Media

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Brotherly love: Matt, Alex Fitzpatrick capture meaningful Zurich win

PGA: Zurich Classic of New Orleans - Third RoundApr 25, 2026; Avondale, Louisiana, USA; Matt Fitzpatrick hits tee shot on hole 2 during the third round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Brothers Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick of England birdied the final hole after their three-stroke lead vanished on the back nine Sunday, leading them to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans at Avondale, La.

The birdie on the par-5 18th hole gave them a 1-under-par 71, pushing their tournament total to 31-under 257 at TPC Louisiana in the PGA Tour’s only team event.

Matt is a PGA Tour winner on back-to-back Sundays after winning the RBC Heritage a week earlier. As for Alex, a DP World Tour player, he’ll receive a PGA Tour card through 2028 and a number of exemptions, including into the PGA Championship.

Sitting in a three-way tie going to the last hole, Alex’s approach went into a bunker in front of the 18th green for the team’s second shot, but on the next swing Matt put the ball within 2 feet of the cup and they avoided a playoff.

Alex Smalley/Hayden Springer (68) and the Norwegian pair of Kristoffer Reitan/Kris Ventura (65) shared second place at 30 under.

Reitan and Ventura pulled even with an eagle 3 at the 18th. Reitan’s shot onto the green left Ventura less than 7 feet for the putt.

Smalley/Springer were tied atop the leaderboard until a bogey on No. 17. They recovered to forge a three-way tie at the top when Springer’s approach shot on the 18th left Smalley a tap-in for birdie.

The Fitzpatrick team still had two holes to finish and they cashed in on the final one.

The Fitzpatrick brothers, who began the day with a four-shot lead, played the first 11 holes in a bogey-free 3 under. Then a double bogey on the 12th — initiated with Matt’s tee shot into the rough and taking a stroke for a drop — and a bogey on the 14th suddenly wiped out their advantage.

The Fitzpatricks set a tournament record by posting 57 in Saturday’s four-ball competition.

Ben Martin/Trace Crowe (66) and the Danish tandem of Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen/Jacob Skov Olesen (66) tied for fourth place at 28 under. Martin/Crowe had eight birdies but two bogeys, while Neergaard-Petersen/Skov Olesen did not make a bogey.

There was a three-way tie for sixth place at 27 under with Billy Horschel/Tom Hoge (68), Eric Cole/Hank Lebioda (68) and Doug Ghim/Jeffrey Kang (70).

The start of the final round was delayed a couple of hours because of morning storms. That led to adjustments with groups beginning on Nos. 1 and 10.

–Field Level Media

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