Sports
Host Mexico looks 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
Kimi Antonelli back on pole ahead of Ferrari at British Grand Prix
May 3, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli (12) reacts after winning the Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Kimi Antonelli earned his fifth pole position of the season, recording the fastest time Saturday in qualifying for Sunday’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire, England.
After setting the provisional pole time, the 19-year-old Mercedes driver landed the top spot with a time of 1 minute, 28.111 seconds around the 5.891-kilometer circuit.
Antonelli questioned why he was first on the track to complete qualifying but brushed off what he considered a slight disadvantage.
“I was a bit stressed because I never really like going first for the last run,” Antonelli said. “But yeah, the last lap was very tidy, I have to be honest. It all came together. It was very tricky with the wind because it was very gusty and unpredictable. But yeah, we built our way through qualifying, and to bring home pole is very satisfying.”
Ferrari landed the second and third spots behind Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, respectively, while Antonelli’s Mercedes teammate George Russell was fourth. Isack Hadjar of Red Bull was fifth, Lando Norris of McLaren was sixth and Max Verstappen of Red Bull was seventh.
Norris won last year’s British Grand Prix.
Antonelli also was on the pole at the Chinese Grand Prix, Japanese Grand Prix, Miami Grand Prix and Monaco Grand Prix. The Italy native has won five times in his breakout season and leads the drivers’ championship standings by 43 points over Russell.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Veronica Burton nets 21 as Valkyries continue domination of Dream
Jul 4, 2026; College Park, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Dream guard Jordin Canada (3) dribbles against Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton (22) during the first half at Gateway Center Arena at College Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images Veronica Burton scored 21 points on Saturday afternoon to help lift the visiting Golden State Valkyries to an 88-83 victory over the reeling Atlanta Dream in College Park, Ga.
Gabby Williams added 19 points and Janelle Salaun had 14 for Golden State (14-7), which won its fourth straight game and its third over Atlanta in the last 10 days.
Allisha Gray’s 22 points led Atlanta (12-9), while Rhyne Howard scored 19 and Angel Reese posted a 17-point, 13-rebound double-double. Reserve Madina Okot chipped in 11 points for the Dream, who dropped their fifth consecutive game.
Gray scored half of her points from the free throw line, hitting 11-of-16, but only converted 5-of-17 shots from the field.
Facing a seven-point halftime deficit, Atlanta began the third quarter on a 7-0 run, evening the score at 42 apiece on Reese’s layup. After Williams’ 3-pointer put Golden State ahead by three, Howard’s triple and Jordin Canada’s layup gave the Dream their first lead of the second half at 47-45.
Williams made consecutive 3-pointers to put the visitors ahead 55-52, before Okot scored seven straight to return the lead to Atlanta. The Dream led 59-57 after three quarters.
With just over four minutes remaining, Burton’s layup gave the Valkyries a 74-72 advantage. Reese then scored five in a row to give Atlanta a three-point edge with 3:16 remaining.
But Williams’ three-point play was followed by a Burton layup and Kaila Charles added a triple to stamp the critical 8-0 Golden State run. The Valkyries led 82-77 with 64 seconds remaining.
After Howard’s three-point play sliced the deficit to two, Williams’ mid-range floater doubled the margin with 37.7 seconds left. Burton’s steal and ensuing free throws gave the Valkyries a six-point lead with 20.2 seconds remaining.
But the Dream would not go down quietly. Howard’s fourth 3-pointer pulled the hosts to within three. After Charles’ turnover, Howard missed a potentially game-tying triple with 9.1 seconds left. Charles then drilled a pair of game-sealing free throws.
Golden State jumped out to an early 12-2 lead on Cecilia Zandalasini’s three-point play. Atlanta answered with an 11-0 run to grab its first lead.
Okot’s layup beat the first-quarter buzzer to give the Dream a 22-19 edge entering the second.
The Valkyries outscored Atlanta 23-13 in the second quarter. Salaun finished the first half with a personal 6-0 spurt to help Golden State take a 42-35 halftime lead. Salaun’s 11 first-half half points all scorers, while Reese’s nine led the Dream.
Atlanta misfired on 40-of-66 field goal attempts (39.4%), 18-of-26 shots from 3-point range (30.8%) and 10-of-33 (69.7%) from the free throw line.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reds activate RHP Hunter Greene for season debut
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Hunter Greene (21) walks back to the dugout in the sixth inning between Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Sept. 7, 2025. The Cincinnati Reds activated right-hander Hunter Greene from the injured list in advance of his season debut Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles.
In corresponding moves, the Reds optioned right-hander Chase Petty to Triple-A Louisville, while outfielder Will Benson was designated for assignment.
Greene, 26, has been on the injured list since the end of March when he had surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow.
When healthy, Greene has been one of the National League’s best pitchers over the last two seasons, posting a 16-9 record with a 2.76 ERA over 258 innings with 301 strikeouts. However, he made only 45 starts as he lost time to a groin strain and elbow injuries.
Greene made two starts for Triple-A Louisville to prepare for his return. In his last start, he threw 6 1/3 innings in a 3-0 win, retiring the last 16 batters he faced while throwing 82 pitches.
Petty, 23, is 1-1 with a 4.37 ERA in 10 appearances (two starts) for the Reds this season.
Benson, 28, batted .188 with three home runs and six RBIs in 51 games for Cincinnati this season. In five seasons with the Cleveland Guardians (2022-23) and Reds, he is a career .221 hitter with 40 home runs and 124 RBIs in 405 games.
–Field Level Media
Kimi Antonelli back on pole ahead of Ferrari at British Grand Prix
Veronica Burton nets 21 as Valkyries continue domination of Dream
