Sports
Host Mexico look to make history vs. England
June 30, 2026; Mexico City, Mexico; Mexico’s Julian Quinones is thrown in the air in celebration by teammates after the match as Mexico qualify for the round of 16 stage of the World Cup. Mandatory Credit: Eloisa Sanchez-Reuters via Imagn Images A plethora of challenges face England as they battle host Mexico on Sunday night in what will surely be a raucous atmosphere at Mexico City.
The World Cup group of 16 match will be played at 7,200-foot altitude in possible treacherous weather that nearly led to the match being pushed up six hours.
There also is fear of not getting a good night’s sleep as Mexico fans staged a crazy noisy scene complete with fireworks outside Ecuador’s hotel the night before Mexico’s 2-0 victory on Tuesday.
Then there’s this: Mexico’s national squad is 70-2-17 all-time at Estadio Azteca since it opened in 1966.
“It is maybe one of the most beautiful fixtures, the most exciting fixtures that you can have, to play against Mexico in the Azteca,” England coach Thomas Tuchel said. “And there will be a lot of obstacles waiting for us, not to mention the altitude will be, of course, a big disadvantage because we cannot physically adapt to it in four days. It’s just impossible.”
England is coming off a tightly-contested 2-1 win over DR Congo on Wednesday in Atlanta. The Three Lions are taking aim at reaching at least the quarterfinals for the third straight World Cup.
Mexico have their sights on reaching the quarterfinals for just the third time. They also advanced that far in 1970 and 1986.
But after outscoring opponents 8-0 over four World Cup matches, El Tri are optimistic the familiar surroundings can be the deciding asset.
“It’s a match everyone dreamed of — facing England in the Round of 16 in this stadium,” Mexico midfielder Alvaro Fidalgo said. “It’s probably one of the biggest games we are ever going to experience as players. We know they have good players; we know how they play. Their midfield is highly physical, above all. They have great players in every position. They are going to be great opponents.”
The Mexico defense will have to be keenly aware of Harry Kane’s whereabouts at all times.
The English star forward has scored five goals in this World Cup, tied for third with Norway star Erling Haaland entering play on Saturday. Argentina’s Lionel Messi leads the way with seven and France’s Kylian Mbappe is second with six.
Kane is aware the pursuit of victories only gets tougher the deeper you advance in the World Cup. He said it’s time for the club to dig down deep.
“There are still things to work on for sure and these rounds are just about getting through,” Kane said. “We are in the part of the tournament when you have to grind wins out, and that’s what we have done.”
Midfielder Jude Bellingham (two goals, one assist) is also enjoying a strong tournament.
Mexico doesn’t have a megastar like Kane but forwards Julian Quinones (three goals, one assist), Raul Jimenez (two goals) and Roberto Alvarado (three assists) are leading El Tri’s strong run.
“Our team is complete and competitive,” Quinones said. “We know what our goal is and we believe we can do it.”
Mexico coach Javier Aguirre sharply criticized officials on Friday for considering moving up the time so he’s surely happy that the night-time kickoff stayed put.
But Tuchel and his club still need to worry about getting some sleep on Saturday night amid a possible loud congregation.
“We will expect that but what can we do?” said Tuchel, indicating earplugs will be part of the sleeping regimen.
The winner faces either Brazil or Norway in the quarterfinals.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Twins blast 6 HRs, as Yankees continue skid
Jul 4, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Minnesota Twins designated hitter Josh Bell (56) hits a two run home run in the eighth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Kody Clemens lifted a three-run homer with nobody out in the first inning for the Minnesota Twins, who raced out to a six-run lead and hit six homers in their 11-4 victory over the host New York Yankees on Saturday afternoon.
On a 95-degree day, the Twins hit three of their homers off New York rookie spot starter Brendan Beck.
Clemens homered for the fifth time in eight games when he followed a walk by Trevor Larnach and a double by Byron Buxton with a drive to right-center off Beck’s full-count slider.
Luke Keaschall and Alex Jackson hit back-to-back homers in the second. Keaschall slugged a 2-2 fastball to right-center and Jackson ripped a 2-2 slider into the left field seats.
Larnach hit a 2-1 sinker into the right field seats off Tim Hill in the fourth. Josh Bell homered in consecutive at-bats to left off Ryan Yarbrough and Camilo Doval in the seventh and eighth.
Minnesota won for the eighth time in its past 11 road games and hit six homers for the first time since Sept 4, 2023. The Twins also slugged six homers against the Yankees for the second time in franchise history and first instance since June 26, 2016.
Minnesota starter Zebby Matthews exited with two outs in the fifth because of a lacerated right foot. He exited following a walk to Ben Rice and allowed four runs on three hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Taylor Rogers (4-3) worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth and was awarded the win.
Jasson Dominguez hit a solo homer in the fourth, and Max Schuemann hit a two-run homer in the fifth. Cody Bellinger added an RBI double in the fifth but the Yankees lost for the eighth time in nine games and allowed six homers for the first time since Aug. 15, 2019 against Cleveland.
Beck was promoted from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre to fill in for Carlos Rodon (left elbow inflammation) and allowed five runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Astros send OFs Jake Meyers, Joey Loperfido to Triple-A Sugar Land
Jun 22, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Houston Astros center fielder Jake Meyers (6) tries to catch a fly ball against the Toronto Blue Jays during the eighth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images The Houston Astros demoted outfielders Jake Meyers and Joey Loperfido to Triple-A Sugar Land prior to Saturday night’s contest against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Houston recalled utility player Zach Dezenzo and activated first baseman/outfielder LaMonte Wade Jr. from the injured list.
Meyers, 30, has batted just .206 with three homers and 11 RBIs in 52 games. He is in his sixth season with the Astros.
“He’s helped us to win a lot of games, helped us win a lot of postseason games,” Houston manager Joe Espada told reporters. “He’s part of this organization’s success, but he understood it. We’re going to help him. We’ve pinpointed some things that he’s going to be working on in Triple-A.”
Meyers has a .240 career average in 517 games. He has 36 homers, 172 RBIs and 38 stolen bases.
Loperfido, 27, is batting .216 with one homer and 12 RBIs in 39 games this season. He is in his second stint with Houston.
Dezenzo, 26, batted .191 with one homer and two RBIs in 21 games with the Astros earlier this season.
Wade, 32, was signed in early June and went 4-for-12 with a homer and four RBIs in four games before sustaining a right hamstring injury. He last played for Houston on June 8.
Wade received regular playing time earlier in his career with the San Francisco Giants (2021-25). He owns a .236 batting average with 56 homers and 189 RBIs in 564 games with four big league teams.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Stewart Cink, Padraig Harrington prepared for another U.S. Senior Open showdown
Padraig Harrington and Stewart Cink shake hands following the third round of the U.S. Senior Open at Scioto Country Club in Columbus on July 4, 2026. Stewart Cink authored a 6-under-par 64 on Saturday to rocket to the top of the U.S. Senior Open leaderboard with one round to go at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio.
Cink sits at 9 under 201 through 54 holes as he attempts to go 3-for-3 on PGA Tour Champions majors this year. He’ll begin the final round one shot ahead of defending champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland, two in front of second-round leader George McNeill and three ahead of Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez.
“I hit a lot more high-quality shots today for sure,” Cink said. “I think a lot of it has to do with a conversation I had with (caddie) Chris (P. Jones) earlier before the round about just my commitment level before the shots was a little off and just not quite there, not where it needed to be.
“Today was a day about making the choice to be committed and be willing to accept anything. That just has a tendency to free me up. When I play freed up, it’s just the results are usually a lot better, and executing is a lot better.”
Cink, 53, kicked his round into high gear with an eagle at the par-5 No. 6. That moved him to 3 under for the round. He added birdies on the ninth, 12th and 17th to seize the lead.
While Cink played bogey-free golf, Harrington shrugged a bogey at No. 4 and reeled off five birdies in a six-hole stretch to position himself for another U.S. Senior Open showdown with Cink.
Harrington and Cink shared the lead with Mark Hensby after three rounds last year at Broadmoor Country Club in Colorado Springs, Colo., but Harrington emerged with the victory by one shot over Cink and two over Angel Jimenez.
“To play Harrington, he’s such a great player, and I’ve admired his game for so long, I think we both kind of bring good out of each other,” Cink said. “I know I’ve heard him say that (to) the press. I know he probably thinks I don’t read his press, but I’ve read it before. He said that. I agree; I like playing with him. And he’s the ultimate competitor. He’s never going to take a shot off, and I don’t expect him to tomorrow, either.”
“It’s a little bit like riding a roller coaster,” Harrington said. “The further you get away from being on it, the more you think you enjoy it. Yeah, look, I’ll be out there tomorrow. I know I want to be there. I know this is why we do it, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
“But I’ll be questioning my decisions at times during it. It’s one of those things; you put yourself out there, you put yourself under pressure. You don’t want to mess up. You wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. But it’s still a tough place to be.”
Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke matched Cink’s 64 – the best scores of the tournament – to climb 36 spots in the standings. Clarke and Paul Stankowski (68) share fifth place at 3 under with four more golfers, including England’s Ian Poulter (69), sitting at 2 under.
Final-round tee times are being moved up several hours to avoid storms expected to hit Columbus in the afternoon.
–Field Level Media
Twins blast 6 HRs, as Yankees continue skid
Astros send OFs Jake Meyers, Joey Loperfido to Triple-A Sugar Land
