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Ghana player, facing rape charges, denied entry to Canada

Oct 14, 2023; Charlotte, NC, USA; Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey (5) dribbles against Mexico during the first half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn ImagesOct 14, 2023; Charlotte, NC, USA; Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey (5) dribbles against Mexico during the first half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss next week’s World Cup opener against Panama after being denied entry into Canada.

The Canadian government denied a visa application for Partey, 32, who is awaiting trial in England on multiple charges of rape and sexual assault. The former Arsenal star has pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Ghana’s opening match in Group L is Wednesday against Panama in Toronto.

A statement from FIFA confirmed Friday that Partey will not be allowed to cross the Canadian border with his team, whose World Cup base camp is in Providence, R.I.

“FIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey will be unable to travel from Ghana’s team base camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their first match against Panama on Wednesday, 17 June, as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government,” read the statement obtained by The Athletic.

“FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas. As with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country.”

Partey, who currently plays for Spain’s Villarreal, has scored 16 goals in 58 career caps for Ghana, including three goals during the 2026 World Cup qualifying process.

Partey presumably will rejoin Ghana for group-stage matches in the U.S. against England on June 23 in Foxborough, Mass., and against Croatia on June 27 in Philadelphia.

–Field Level Media

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Rockies vs. Athletics Sunday June 14 Betting Pick

Jun 9, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies center fielder Cole Carrigg (16) advances in the sixth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn ImagesJun 9, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies center fielder Cole Carrigg (16) advances in the sixth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

The Sunday MLB card is loaded today with plenty of intriguing matchups to wrap up the weekend.

The Philadelphia Phillies (38-32) visit the Milwaukee Brewers (42-26) for the rubber match of their series. Philadelphia outlasted Milwaukee, 9-8 last night as ace Cristopher Sanchez heads to the mound today for the Phillies.

We’ll break down two plays for the Sunday action. Remember to monitor the odds throughout the day, as the sides and totals market is constantly changing.

Here are the free MLB picks for Sunday, June 14. Odds Courtesy of DraftKings.

Rockies (+149) at Athletics – 3:05 p.m. ET

The A’s (35-35) conclude a six-game stretch in Las Vegas today before heading back to Sacramento to host the Pirates on Monday. The Rockies (26-45) look to avoid the sweep today after dropping a pair of two-run decisions in the first two games.

Colorado has won four of Tomoyuki Sugano’s last five starts with the lone defeat coming to the Dodgers. Sugano has given up three or fewer runs in each of those outings, along with a 3.62 road ERA.

Jeffrey Springs counters for the A’s, who are 1-6 in his past seven starts. Springs started in that wild 15-14 loss in 12 innings to the Brewers last Monday, allowing five runs in five innings. The southpaw has yielded nine home runs in the past five games, as the Rockies went deep once in each of the first two losses.

Colorado looks to end a 10-game losing streak in series finales today, as they showcase the hotter pitcher against an Athletics’ squad that is 1-3 when looking to pull off a sweep.

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Guardians-Tigers series finale postponed by inclement weather

Progressive Field, home of the Cleveland Guardians, with a tarp on the field during the afternoon on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.Progressive Field, home of the Cleveland Guardians, with a tarp on the field during the afternoon on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.

The finale of a three-game series between the Cleveland Guardians and visiting Detroit Tigers was postponed Sunday because of inclement weather.

The game was rescheduled for the second half of the season with American League Central rivals now set to play a split doubleheader at Cleveland on Sept. 4.

The Guardians were poised for the three-game series sweep with a 3-2 victory Friday and a 3-1 victory Saturday. Cleveland put star third baseman Jose Ramirez on the 10-day injured list earlier Sunday with a broken bone in his hand.

–Field Level Media

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Four World Cup Teams Who Have No Real Chance of Winning It All

Mar 31, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Croatia midfielder Lovro Majer (7) celebrates after scoring a goal against Brazil in the second half during an international friendly at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn ImagesMar 31, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Croatia midfielder Lovro Majer (7) celebrates after scoring a goal against Brazil in the second half during an international friendly at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Pretty much everyone knows France and Argentina are serious World Cup contenders. We also feel pretty confident that Cape Verde and Curacao aren’t.

But some sides are coming to the 2026 tournament with vibes higher than their true chances.

Here’s four teams who definitely aren’t winning the World Cup, even though they probably think they can.

Croatia

What legendary midfielder Luka Modric and manager Zlatko Dalic engineered in helping a nation of fewer than four million people finish second at the 2018 World Cup and third in 2022 is nothing short of extraordinary.

But 2026 is where it ends.

Modric is 40. And while he is still playing the overwhelming majority of minutes for AC Milan,it was for a
Rossinieri side that failed again to reach the UEFA Champions League despite not having any European commitments in 2025-206.

But Croatia still rely on him, as they do on the 37-year-old Ivan Perisic. Their options at striker are underwhelming, their draw is tough and their schedule is brutal. They’d have to play eight matches to win the title in just 33 days, and that’s too much for a team that skews this old.

Portugal

Nov 28, 2022; Lusail, Qatar; Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo (7) reacts during the second half of the group stage match in the 2022 World Cup at Lusail Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-Imagn ImagesNov 28, 2022; Lusail, Qatar; Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo (7) reacts during the second half of the group stage match in the 2022 World Cup at Lusail Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-Imagn Images

Roberto Martinez’s Portuguese squad is not nearly as reliant on older players across the pitch, but the 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo is still the man relied on to produce goals, leading his side with five in World Cup qualifying.

That might be sustainable if Ronaldo played in more of the Lionel Messi model, where he’s guaranteed to make others on the pitch better even if he isn’t finding the net. But that’s hardly been the case with
CR7, particularly later in his career.

He’s already on the defensive with the media after two underwhelming performances in tune-up friendlies. And if circumstances force Martinez to opt for someone else on the pitch, Ronaldo’s history of not always taking such news in stride is well documented.

Germany

June 8, 2026; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.; Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann during training. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Burton-Imagn ImagesJune 8, 2026; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.; Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann during training. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Burton-Imagn Images

Yes, the Germans are tied with Italy as Europe’s most-decorated World Cup nation. But Italy has shown us how little that means. And as for the present-day Der Mannschaft, while the team is balanced with good players across the formation, it’s hard to identify anyone who is truly great in the role the national team is asking of them.

That includes Arsenal’s Kai Havertz, who perhaps qualifies among the best in the world at his natural position as a second forward or attacking midfielder, but not as much when he’s asked to lead the line as a No. 9. Until proven otherwise, it also includes Florian Wirtz, who moved to Liverpool last summer for a reported Premier League transfer fee of $117.5 million but hasn’t yet lived up to the pricetag.

This is still a strong enough team that a deep-ish run (think semifinals) is possible. But capturing the title takes a little more quality than this version of Germany has.

Uruguay

La Celeste have historically been a South American answer to what Croatia have done in recent years, but this World Cup finds the first-ever champions amid their own generational transition.

Luis Suarez retired from international play and has now been engaged in a war of words with polarizing Argentine manager Marcelo Bielsa. Darwin Nunez made the puzzling decision to head to the Saudi Pro League last summer instead of finding a way out of Liverpool that kept him in Europe.

Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde is as exceptional as he is versatile. But the rest of Uruguay’s strength is in the back half of the pitch. That’s an OK formula for getting out of the group, but it’s hard to know where
La Celeste’s moment of magic may come from when they need it.

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