Sports
Spain silences Argentina to win World Cup crown
July 19, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.; Spain’s Ferran Torres celebrates scoring their first goal with Lamine Yamal and teammates. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute to lift Spain to their second World Cup title with a 1-0 win in extra time over gutsy, 10-man Argentina in Sunday’s final.
Torres’ deserved winner came 16 years and eight days after Andres Iniesta also scored in extra time to lift the Spaniards to their first World Championship with a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands.
It came on La Roja’s 20th shot on the contest against a defending champion Argentina that failed to manage any to that point and struggled to wrest possession away from their superior Iberian opponents.
That was true at even strength and became more difficult when the Albiceleste’s numbers were reduced when Enzo Fernandez’s late challenge of Pau Cubarsi left referee Slavko Vincic no choice but to produce a second caution just before the end of normal time.
Spain remain the only nation ever to win a European Championship and World Cup in successive tournaments, having now done so a second time. They are also the first World Cup champion ever to concede only once across an entire tournament.
Lionel Messi’s Argentina failed to earn a title for the first time in three major tournaments, having also captured the 2021 and 2024 Copa Americas either side of their 2022 World Cup triumph.
The 39-year-old, eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi finished the competition with eight goals and four assists, but had little time on the ball until Spain finally took the lead and never seriously looked like lifting his side to another great moment as he has so many times in the last two World Cup cycles.
Emi Martinez made 11 saves for the Albiceleste, who fell short in their bid to be the first consecutive World Cup champions since Brazil won the 1958 and 1962 titles.
What had felt so difficult for the first 105 minutes suddenly looked easy after 37 seconds of play in the second period of extra time.
Pedro Porro curled in an outswinging cross from the left to the back post, Nico Williams won the header and nodded it back into space, and Torres hammered a half-volley at last past the flailing Martinez. It was his only goal of the tournament, making him the seventh player to score during a tournament in which his side never trailed.
–Ian Nicholas Quillen, Field Level Media
Sports
Azzi Fudd lone rookie to compete in WNBA 3-point contest
Jul 20, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd (35) warms up before the game against the New York Liberty at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images Rookie Azzi Fudd is accustomed to being in the national limelight after winning an NCAA championship with UConn in 2025 and being drafted No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings last April.
On Friday night in Chicago, Fudd will be back in the spotlight as one of six WNBA players participating in the 3-Point Contest during All-Star weekend festivities.
Also competing is Atlanta Dream star Rhyne Howard, who, like Fudd, was a rookie the first time she took part in 2022. Rounding out the field are Marina Mabrey of the Toronto Tempo, Bridget Carleton of the Portland Fire, Natisha Hiedeman of the Seattle Storm, and Janelle Salaun of the Golden State Valkyries.
Only Mabrey and Howard have competed in the past.
Defending champion Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty declined to take part.
The 3-point contest is a two-round event, with all six players getting their turn in the first round. The championship round will be the top two finishers only.
The contest is set to start at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, and it will be televised by ESPN. The All-Star Game will be played Saturday night at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. Game time is 8:30 p.m.
–Field Level Media
Sports
A's place top pitcher J.T. Ginn (blister) on 15-day IL
Jul 18, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics starting pitcher J.T. Ginn (35) throws a pitch against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images The Athletics placed right-hander J.T. Ginn on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to a blister on his right middle finger.
The move is retroactive to Saturday for Ginn, who leads the team’s starters in wins (eight), ERA (3.46) and strikeouts (100) while making 22 appearances (19 starts) this season.
Ginn, 27, allowed just one hit and struck out seven batters over 6 1/3 scoreless innings in a 15-1 romp over the Washington Nationals in his last trip to the mound.
He is 13-14 with a 4.20 ERA in 53 career games (41 starts) with the Athletics.
Also on Wednesday, the A’s recalled right-hander Mason Barnett from Triple-A Las Vegas.
Barnett, 25, is 1-0 with two saves and a 4.64 ERA in 13 relief appearances with the Athletics this season. He is 3-1 with a 4.34 ERA in 10 games (all starts) with the Aviators.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jasper Philipsen wins Stage 17 of Tour de France
Premier Tech’s Jasper Philipsen reacts after winning stage 17 of the Tour de France. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/Pool Jasper Philipsen won his first Tour de France stage of 2026 and the 11th of his career on Wednesday to extend a win streak by Belgian riders.
Philipsen’s victory in Stage 17 from Chambery to Voiron followed countryman Remco Evenepoel’s back-to-back triumphs in Stages 15 and 16, the longest streak for Belgium since 1981.
Philipsen, 28, completed the flat 174.7-kilometer trek just ahead of Switzerland’s Mauro Schmid and the Netherlands’ Olav Kooij.
Four-time champion Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia maintained the overall leader’s yellow jersey. His lead over Evenepoel is 4 minutes and 32 seconds, with Mexico’s Isaac del Toro in third place.
Stage 18 on Thursday is a mountainous 185.2-kilometer journey from Voiron to Orcieres-Merlette. The 113th edition of the Tour de France concludes on Sunday in Paris.
–Field Level Media
Azzi Fudd lone rookie to compete in WNBA 3-point contest
A's place top pitcher J.T. Ginn (blister) on 15-day IL
