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FIFA's Gianni Infantino sets deadline to approve funding plan

Argentina forward Lionel Messi (10) shakes hands with FIFA President Gianni Infantino following Argentina’s loss to Spain during the FIFA World Cup 2026 final between Argentina and Spain at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, July 19, 2026, in East Rutherford, NJ.Argentina forward Lionel Messi (10) shakes hands with FIFA President Gianni Infantino following Argentina’s loss to Spain during the FIFA World Cup 2026 final between Argentina and Spain at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, July 19, 2026, in East Rutherford, NJ.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has given the organization’s 211 member federations until Sept. 19 to support a private investment proposal that could provide each association with up to $40 million in funding.

Infantino outlined the deadline in a letter promoting the creation of FIFA Forward Enterprise, a subsidiary valued at approximately $20 billion that would handle commercial operations connected to the World Cup, Club World Cup and other FIFA competitions.

Outside investors could purchase a stake of up to 20%, while FIFA would retain majority ownership and control over sporting and governance decisions. Thrive Capital, founded by Joshua Kushner, has been linked to the prospective investor group.

Under the plan, FIFA says it could make $10 billion available for development beginning in 2027. Each federation would be eligible for up to $20 million in one-time Fast Forward funding, in addition to $20 million through the regular FIFA Forward program during the 2027-30 cycle.

Without approval, FIFA projects a smaller development package totaling approximately $2.7 billion.

The proposal requires support from more than half of the member associations and approval from the FIFA Council.

UEFA has strongly opposed the plan, criticizing FIFA for setting a deadline before conducting broader consultations. CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation have also raised concerns about transparency and the limited opportunity for stakeholders to study the proposal.

European officials are expected to discuss possible responses, with a boycott of FIFA competitions reportedly among the options being considered.

–Field Level Media

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Colton Cowser caps 7-run comeback as Orioles stun Tigers in 12

Jul 29, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jeremiah Jackson (82) and Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday (7) congratulates each other after scoring in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn ImagesJul 29, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jeremiah Jackson (82) and Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday (7) congratulates each other after scoring in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Jackson Holliday drove in three runs, Colton Cowser knocked in the winning run and the visiting Baltimore Orioles rallied from a seven-run deficit for a 10-9, 12-inning win, spoiling what may have been Tarik Skubal’s last start as a Detroit Tiger on Wednesday.

Cowser’s two-out single off Drew Sommers (0-2) drove home Taylor Ward after the teams each scored twice in the 11th.

Coby Mayo reached base four times and scored two runs while driving in two more. Ward added two RBIs.

Grant Wolfram (4-2) collected the win and Andrew Kittredge got the final out for his fourth save.

Skubal recorded his 1,000th career strikeout and shut the Orioles out through the first six innings. The subject of constant trade rumors all season, Skubal departed in the seventh with a six-run lead but the bullpen couldn’t hold it. He was charged with three runs and four hits with one walk and six strikeouts.

Yohel Pozo’s sacrifice fly and Holliday’s RBI single put Baltimore ahead 9-7 in the 11th. Spencer Torkelson then knotted the game again with a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning.

Javier Baez had two hits, two runs scored and two RBIs for Detroit. Matt Vierling had two hits and scored a run before exiting with a leg injury.

Baltimore starter Trevor Rogers gave up seven runs, four earned, in six innings with six strikeouts.

Skubal recorded his 1,000th strikeout against leadoff hitter Ward.

The Tigers scored three runs in the third inning and pushed the advantage to 5-0 in the fifth.

Baltimore’s defense allowed the Tigers to stretch the edge to seven runs in the sixth. Riley Greene and Eduardo Valencia reached on errors and scored on Zach McKinstry’s double down the right field line.

The Orioles got on the board against Skubal in the seventh on Leody Tavares’ two-out, run-scoring single up the middle. Kyle Finnegan then entered and walked Jeremiah Jackson to load the bases before giving up a two-run single to the pinch hitting Holliday. Ward bounced an opposite-field single to bring home two more runs.

Baltimore evened the score at 7 on Mayo’s two-run triple in the eighth against Drew Anderson.

–Field Level Media

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Torrey Pines added to PGA Tour's new Championship Series in 2028

Feb 1, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Justin Rose gives a thumbs up to the crowd on the 18th hole during the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course - South Course. Mandatory Credit: Abe Arredondo-Imagn ImagesFeb 1, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Justin Rose gives a thumbs up to the crowd on the 18th hole during the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course – South Course. Mandatory Credit: Abe Arredondo-Imagn Images

The PGA Tour’s yearly tournament at Torrey Pines will become part of the new Championship Series when the circuit introduces its redesigned competitive structure in 2028.

The San Diego-area event will be known as The Sentry beginning in 2027 under a new title sponsorship agreement. The first edition under that name is scheduled for Jan. 27-30, 2027.

The Championship Series is expected to feature 23 or 24 events for the tour’s leading players between February and August. The schedule will include the four major championships, The Players Championship, a redesigned postseason and the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup.

The Sentry joins the Travelers Championship and a new Sompo-sponsored tournament as regular-season events already confirmed for the Championship Series. The remaining tournaments and complete 2028 schedule will be announced later.

A Challenger Series with at least 20 events will run concurrently with the Championship Series. Players can move between the two levels through a promotion-and-relegation system.

The tournament began as the San Diego Open in 1952 and has been held at Torrey Pines since 1968. It was called the Farmers Insurance Open from 2010 to 2026.

Torrey Pines has also hosted two U.S. Opens, including Tiger Woods’ playoff victory over Rocco Mediate in 2008.

Englishman Justin Rose won the final Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines on Feb. 1, finishing at a tournament-record 23 under for a seven-shot victory.

–Field Level Media

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Final major could be extra special for Nelly Korda or Haeran Ryu

Jun 26, 2026; Chaska, Minnesota, USA; Nelly Korda hits her tee shot on the 11th hole during the second round of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn ImagesJun 26, 2026; Chaska, Minnesota, USA; Nelly Korda hits her tee shot on the 11th hole during the second round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Nelly Korda and Haeran Ryu combined to win the first four majors of the season.

It’s only fitting they are paired together, along with LPGA Hall of Famer Lydia Ko of New Zealand, for the first two rounds of the AIG Women’s Open. The final major of the season begins Thursday at Royal Lytham & St Annes in Lytham St Annes, England.

Either Korda or Ryu could become the first woman since South Korea’s Inbee Park in 2013 to win three majors in one year. Korda collected the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open for a brilliant start to 2026, and Park’s countrywoman Ryu prevailed at the Women’s PGA Championship and the Evian Championship.

“I have a lot of confidence,” Ryu said. “I got a lot of confidence after two major champion, and then but this is another golf course and another golf, so I just keep working hard with my team.”

Ryu won the Evian earlier this month in France by shooting a record 60 in the third round and going on to defeat Canada’s Brooke M. Henderson in a playoff the next day. The 60 was the lowest round ever shot at a major, men’s or women’s.

Ryu, who took time off afterward and did not play the Women’s Scottish Open, called herself “still (a) rookie” on links courses, which is exactly the test Royal Lytham & St Annes presents. It is a par-71 layout measuring 6,601 yards this week.

World No. 1 Korda finished 2 over par at the Scottish two weeks after her first missed cut of the year at the Evian.

“Evian is just a funky golf course. I didn’t play that bad actually, if I’m being honest,” Korda said. “You know, it’s golf. You’re going to — just because you’re playing well doesn’t mean you’re invincible and you’re going to make every cut and be in the top 10 every single week.

“I feel like I’ve done this long enough where I’ve missed enough cuts that it’s just about the bounce-back.”

On the topic of links play, Korda said her approach is about controlling the controllables.

“Sometimes with links golf you can kind of get pretty agitated with the bounces that you get,” she said. “You hit a good shot, get a bad bounce, end up in a pot bunker, have to pitch out unfortunately and save par.”

The defending champion is Japan’s Miyu Yamashita, who prevailed by two shots at Royal Porthcawl last year as a rookie.

At just 24, Yamashita has collected 16 wins worldwide, mainly on the LPGA of Japan Tour. She’ll try to be the first back-to-back winner at the Women’s Open since Taiwan’s Yani Tseng in 2010-11.

“Yani Tseng winning in 2011 was of course an amazing achievement,” Yamashita said. “To be here again, to have the chance to be the defending champion, is something I really look forward to, and just got to focus on the golf and my performance this week.”

Royal Lytham & St Annes last hosted this major in 2018, marking the most recent time an English player won the title. Georgia Hall earned her first and only major trophy that week and is now in a very different stage of life: She’s returning to Lytham for her first competitive round since giving birth to her first child, Conor, five months ago.

“I first picked up a club … six weeks after giving birth,” Hall said. “I was in Ireland and went to a local driving range. I was really excited because I didn’t know how I was going to hit it and thought I might top it or something, but I actually hit it pretty good, but my rotation, like there is no rotation at all.

“Yeah, I went there for an hour and I was pleasantly surprised. I was leaving that thinking, ‘OK, let’s see if I can get back to Lytham.’ Yeah, it was good. I enjoyed the progress coming back.”

–Field Level Media

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