THE UNITED STATES WINS 11TH CONSECUTIVE PRESIDENTS CUP | TOURNAMENT HIGHLIGHTS

 

BELGIUM THRASH HOST USA 4-1 TO REACH FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 QUARTER-FINALS

 

SEATTLE – Belgium secured a place in the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after crushing the United States 4-1 in their Round of 16 clash, eliminating the host nation from the tournament.

Belgium took an early lead in the ninth minute through Charles De Ketelaere. The United States responded in the 31st minute when Tillman found the net to level the score at 1-1. However, Belgium restored their advantage just two minutes later as De Ketelaere scored his second goal of the match, giving his side a 2-1 lead at halftime.

Belgium extended their lead 12 minutes into the second half when Vina Ken capitalized on an error by the American goalkeeper to make it 3-1.

Despite trailing by two goals, the United States continued to push forward in search of a comeback, but they were unable to break through Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who produced a series of important saves.

Veteran striker Romelu Lukaku sealed Belgium’s victory with a fourth goal in stoppage time, confirming a convincing 4-1 win and a place in the quarter-finals.

The match followed controversy surrounding US forward Folarin Balogun. Reports said Balogun received a red card during the Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 2 and was handed a one-match suspension under FIFA regulations.

Ahead of the Round of 16 match against Belgium on July 7, his suspension was lifted following a recommendation from US President Donald Trump, a decision that sparked controversy.

Despite Balogun’s availability, the United States was unable to avoid elimination.

- Muhammad Mahmood

THE WORLD'S TOP CHESS NATIONS

 

TEHRAN LAMBASTS US 'OBSTRUCTION' OF IRAN'S WORLD CUP TEAM AS PLAYERS LAND IN MEXICO

 

Members of the Iran soccer team arrive in Tijuana

TEHRAN — Iran’s soccer team touched down in Mexico’s northwestern city of Tijuana on Sunday as Tehran criticized Washington over its visa restrictions ahead of the World Cup this summer.

The Iranian federation negotiated at the last minute to move the team's base camp from Arizona to Tijuana near the US border in Mexico, due in part to uncertainty over whether they would be granted visas to enter the United States.

The US awarded visas to all the players on June 5, just 10 days before their first match, but several members of the support squad were not yet given visas, including "key managerial and administrative members," according to Iran's football federation.

The president of Iran’s football federation, Mehdi Taj, said Sunday that the Iranian soccer team had been granted permission to enter the US for the tournament, but “only one day before the match,” according to semi-official Iranian media, sparking accusations of unfair treatment.

“We do not know how far the Americans’ obstructionism will continue,” Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) cited Taj as saying. “What the United States is doing reflects malice and a lack of equality among teams.”

A US administration official told CNN that the visas necessary for Iran to compete in the World Cup, including those for athletes and necessary support staff, have been issued. The two nations remain at war with no sign of an immediate breakthrough in peace negotiations.

“We will not allow the Iranian team to abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretenses,” the official said.

Soccer is more than just Iran’s most popular sport. Public support for the national team cuts through social, regional and political lines, making it a uniting force for millions of Iranians.

As a result, qualifying for the World Cup has long been a source of national pride. But the US and Israel’s war with Iran, alongside recent economic and political turmoil at home, has turned the soccer pitch into a stage for soft power, drawing attention away from the game itself.

Iran is scheduled to face New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21, and Egypt in Seattle on June 26, according to FIFA, the governing body that organizes the World Cup. Those matches are expected to be shown in cinemas across Iran, subject to the “necessary approvals,” Iranian state media organization IRIB said Sunday.

This is the first World Cup since the tournament’s inception in 1930 in which a host nation is set to receive a country with which it is actively at war, according to Reuters.

On Sunday, the team touched down in Tijuana, Mexico – just across the border from San Diego, California – several Iranian outlets reported. Last month, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Iranian squad would stay in Mexico between the matches.

A spokesperson for the Iranian football federation said this weekend that the team would travel to the US using a multiple-entry visa, entering one day before the first match and two days before each of the next two matches, Iranian semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.

Taj called it “truly strange” that Washington was interfering in the administration of the sporting event, adding that the Iranian football federation would submit a protest to FIFA. CNN has reached out to the governing body for comment.

The federation president also speculated that the US might try to interfere with the team’s entry to the country while appearing to link Washington’s decision-making to the ongoing war.

“We do not know what kind of mischief they might create at the airport. They were defeated in some areas by the resistance of the people, and they are now trying to make up for those defeats and vent their frustrations on the football field,” ISNA cited Taj as saying.

- Saudi Gazette

UNITED STATES VS. SPAIN | FULL FINAL GAME | FIBA 3X3 CHAMPIONS CUP 2026

 

INDIA FAVOURITES AS T20 WORLD CUP TO BEGIN AFTER CHAOTIC BUILD-UP

Co-hosts India are the defending T20 World Cup champions (Indranil Mukherjee) (Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/AFP)

Cricket's T20 World Cup begins Saturday after an acrimonious build‑up overshadowed by political turmoil, with Bangladesh kicked out and Pakistan refusing to face arch-rivals and co-hosts India.

When the first ball is finally bowled after a chaotic lead-in, Pakistan will open the tournament against the Netherlands in Colombo.

Defending champions and tournament favourites India will make their tournament bow in the night match on day one against the United States in Mumbai, carrying the hopes of a billion-plus home cricket supporters.

Led by Suryakumar Yadav, India will start as firm tournament favourites and are expected to ease into the Super Eight stage from Group A.

But they will be wary of the United States, who are looking to take down another cricketing powerhouse, having shocked Pakistan to make the Super Eights in 2024.

Former champions Australia and England are also strong contenders to lift the trophy and deny holders India the title for a record second straight time.

The 2021 winners Australia have been hit hard by the absence of pace spearhead Pat Cummins, who was ruled out with a lower back injury.

Pace bowler Josh Hazlewood will miss the early stages as he recovers from hamstring and Achilles injuries.

Led by Mitchell Marsh, the Australians should still ease into the next round from Group B against Ireland, who they play first on Wednesday, plus co-hosts Sri Lanka Oman and Zimbabwe.

Harry Brook's England, full of confidence after a 3-0 T20 series win in Sri Lanka this week, are expected to make the Super Eights from a Group C that also features two-time winners West Indies, debutants Italy, Nepal and Scotland.

Brook, under intense scrutiny after having to apologise for an incident with a night club bouncer in New Zealand last year, takes charge at a global tournament for the first time since he replaced Jos Buttler as white ball captain.

England, who start with a match against Nepal on Sunday in Mumbai, won the tournament in 2010 and 2022.

Scotland, after their 11th-hour call-up to replace Bangladesh, will take guard on the opening day when they face the West Indies in Kolkata.

Football powerhouse Italy will make an appearance at a cricket World Cup for the first time, and will kick off against the Scots in Kolkata on Monday.

South Africa, the runners-up in 2024, have never won a white ball World Cup, but are buoyed by winning the World Test Championship last year.

They will be a threat but must first emerge from a tough-looking Group D that contains dangerous opponents in New Zealand and Afghanistan.

They begin against Canada on Monday in Ahmedabad, with the UAE the other team in that group.

The top two teams from each of the four groups of five teams will advance to the Super Eights, with the top four making the semi-finals.

- Politics, pullouts -

There will be relief at the weekend when the action gets under way finally after weeks of political posturing that has dominated the build-up to 10th edition of the showpiece tournament.

Bangladesh refused to play in India, citing security concerns, as relations between the two countries soured and were kicked out by the International Cricket Council (ICC) from England's Group C.

The ICC is led by Jay Shah, the former Indian cricket board secretary and son of the powerful Indian home minister Amit Shah.

Pakistan, who had backed Bangladesh's plea to have their games moved to Sri Lanka, were cleared to play by the Islamabad government but they ordered the team not to play the marquee group clash against fierce rivals India on February 15.

According to media reports, the ICC is still waiting formal communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board on the boycott, leaving the door slightly ajar for a last-minute deal to get the game on.

If India are awarded a walkover, Pakistan will lose two points and take a big hit to their net run rate.

If any of their other three Group A games are lost to the weather then it could make it almost impossible for Pakistan to qualify.

Pakistan's pullout will result in a loss of millions of dollars in revenue for broadcasters, and will be a huge letdown for fans on both sides.

The crisis was triggered last month when India's cricket board ordered the IPL's Kolkata Knight Riders to drop Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, a move that deepened political strains between the neighbours.

The tournament will conclude with the final on March 8 in Ahmedabad or Colombo, depending on whether Pakistan go that far.

- Faisal KAMAL

SEPP BLATTER BACKS CALLS FOR FANS TO AVOID US MATCHES AT 2026 WORLD CUP

• Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has backed calls urging fans to avoid travelling to the US for the 2026 World Cup, citing security and immigration concerns

• Blatter’s comments come amid wider debate over the 2026 World Cup after Donald Trump last year questioned ‘safety’ in several US host cities

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter attending an event in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on 28 April 2010 – Photo by Richard Juilliart

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has backed calls urging football fans to avoid travelling to the United States for matches at the 2026 World Cup, according to multiple media reports, citing concerns over security, immigration enforcement and the country’s political climate.

Blatter voiced his support for comments made by Swiss lawyer and anti-corruption expert Mark Pieth, who warned that fans should “stay away” from World Cup matches in the US. Pieth worked with FIFA on governance reforms during Blatter’s presidency

“I think Mark Pieth is right to question this World Cup,” Blatter wrote in a social media post, endorsing Pieth’s advice to supporters.

The 2026 tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July, with the majority of matches scheduled to take place in the US.

Pieth cited domestic developments in the United States, including aggressive immigration enforcement and recent deaths linked to clashes involving federal authorities, as reasons for discouraging travel. He warned that fans could face heightened scrutiny at US borders and risk being denied entry or deported if they fail to comply with officials, adding that supporters may be “better off watching on television.”

Concerns have intensified following the expansion of US travel bans affecting several countries whose national teams have qualified for the World Cup. Fans from Iran and Haiti are expected to be barred from entering the United States, while supporters from Senegal and the Ivory Coast face restrictions unless they already hold valid visas.

Concerns over safety have also entered the political debate, after US President Donald Trump suggested that World Cup matches could be moved away from host cities he considers “unsafe,” comments that drew criticism from local officials and organisers, according to separate reports.

Criticism has also emerged from within European football. Oke Göttlich, a vice-president of the German football federation, said the idea of a boycott should be “seriously considered.”

Blatter, who resigned as FIFA president in 2015 amid corruption investigations and was later acquitted alongside former UEFA chief Michel Platini, has remained a vocal critic of FIFA’s current leadership under Gianni Infantino. Infantino dismissed the concerns, insisting fans would continue to attend in large numbers.

- the macao news 

FIFA PARTNERS WITH MARRIOTT AS HOTEL PARTNER FOR 2026 WORLD CUP

 January 8 – Marriott Bonvoy has been announced as the Official Hotel Supporter in North America of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the tournament comes to the region for the first time in more than three decades.

With matches spread across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, the scale of the tournament is massive, and Marriott Bonvoy plans to meet that moment by turning its hotel empire into a home base for fans as they follow their countries across borders and cities.

Throughout the tournament, Marriott Bonvoy has said that members and guests can expect more than just a room, with the company rolling out immersive hotel experiences, special fan activations, and exclusive Marriott Bonvoy Moments tied directly to the World Cup.

“For millions, soccer is a shared language, connecting families, communities and cultures across generations,” said Peggy Roe, Chief Customer Officer at Marriott International. “In much the same way, travel shapes who we are, with the connections we create staying with us forever. Through Marriott Bonvoy, travellers gain access to experiences that deepen these bonds, turning meaningful moments into lasting memories for our members.”

Roe added, “The FIFA World Cup 2026 is without question going to be one of those landmark moments for so many people, and as a lifelong travel partner, Marriott Bonvoy will welcome fans throughout this historic tournament with the warmth of our properties and the power of our travel program, showing up as your travel companion every step of the journey.”

“We are delighted to welcome Marriott Bonvoy as our Official Hotel Supporter for the FIFA World Cup 2026,” said FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström. He pointed to Marriott’s footprint across all three host nations as a key advantage for the record number of fans expected to travel during June and July.

Marriott Bonvoy will also collaborate with Visa to deliver global customer experiences tied to the tournament. Together, they aim to connect travel, payment, and fandom into a more rewarding journey for supporters wherever they are coming from.

- Inside World Football 

LALIGA PULLS OUT OF MIAMI FIXTURE CITING 'UNCERTAINTY' IN SPAIN

 

October 21 – Spain’s LaLiga has officially cancelled its proposed Villareal-Barcelona regular season match in Miami on December 20 after “conversations” with its US promoter Relevent Sports, and citing “uncertainty that has arisen in Spain over the past few weeks”.

Opposition to playing the game in Miami had met with widespread condemnation from football’s stakeholders globally and in the last few days from the Spanish player’s union and individual players who said the match would have damaged the competitive integrity of the league in favour of Barcelona as Villareal is a tough away game for any team in the league.

In a remarkable attack on the governing bodies of countries outside Spain, LaLiga said: “The project fully complied with all federative regulations and did not affect the integrity of the competition, as confirmed by the competent institutions responsible for ensuring compliance, which opposed it for other reasons.”

The statement is at best a mis-leading half truth, in that the game was never fully sanctioned. While the Spanish FA (RFEF) meekly gave its sanction and UEFA ‘reluctantly’ did the same, neither the US Soccer Federation (USSF)or Concacaf, the two most important governing bodies covering the game in the US, where LaLiga and Relevent needed local permission to play, had not given their go-ahead.

LaLiga president Javier Tebas had said to the world’s media at a conference 10 days ago that getting the sanctions was purely an administrative process.

His comment was immediately met with a terse statement from Concacaf saying that the application had to go through due process and that it was conducting a review that involved consulting all of its stakeholders, as well as those in other regions. That process would be completed before any decision would be made, said Concacaf.

While the USSF had remained silent on sanctioning, Concacaf had neither declined or approved the application but had remained focussed on football’s eco-system both in its own region and member nation, where focus is on growing domestic leagues, their clubs and regional club competition. Thought was also being given to the impact and future consequences for stakeholders outside the Concacaf region.

UEFA’s decision to sanction the match was made on the basis that FIFA’s rules lacked legal clarity and hence felt pressured into sanctioning a game they didn’t want to. FIFA is currently undergoing a legal review of its statutes in this respect.

In its statement LaLiga also pointed the finger at the Premier League and UEFA and its Champions League (for which UEFA currently has Relevent as its new sales partner), saying that they “continue to expand their reach and ability to generate revenue, initiatives like this are essential to ensure the sustainability and growth of Spanish soccer.”

The difference is that neither the Premier League or UEFA are trying to play games in the US backyard for commercial gain. LaLiga is essentially admitting that it has been unable to compete on an equal footing commercially with its own product in the broadcast media market.

“Holding an official match outside our borders would have been a decisive step in the global growth of the competition, strengthening the international presence of clubs, the positioning of players, and the visibility of Spanish soccer in a strategic market such as the United States…” said LaLiga.

“Renouncing such opportunities hinders the generation of new income, limits clubs’ capacity to invest and compete, and reduces the international projection of the entire Spanish soccer ecosystem.”

LaLiga had put tickets on pre-sale for the December fixture. No figures have been released on how many tickets have been sold, but the assumption is that it is not enough to continue to battle through the discontent of football’s North American and global opinion.

Renouncing such opportunities hinders the generation of new income, limits clubs’ capacity to invest and compete, and reduces the international projection of the entire Spanish soccer ecosystem.

In a separate statement, Relevent said it had informed La Liga of the need “to postpone” the match, arguing that the uncertainty in Spain had left “insufficient time to properly execute an event of this scale”.

For Relevent it is perhaps a fortunate end to what was increasingly looking like an uncomfortable problem, and a potentially growing conflict of interest, taking into account their new Champions League contract with UEFA

- Paul Nicholson 

TYRES AVAILABLE FOR RACE | UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX 2025

 

2026 WORLD CUP | QUALIFIED TEAMS

 

UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX | CIRCUIT

 

FIFA WORLD CUP HOSTS

 

S KOREA TO FACE U.S., MEXICO IN AWAY FOOTBALL FRIENDLIES

SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will face two of the three host countries of the next FIFA World Cup in away friendly matches this fall, the sport's national federation said Wednesday.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) said South Korea, coached by Hong Myung-bo, will play the U.S. team at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, at 5 p.m. on Sept. 6 (6 a.m. on Sept. 7, Korean Standard Time). Then South Korea will play Mexico on Sept. 9 at a venue to be determined later.

The United States and Mexico will be co-hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, along with Canada.

These will be the first set of away friendly matches for South Korea since they played Wales and Saudi Arabia in Wales and England in September 2023.

Members of the South Korean starting lineup pose for photos before taking on Jordan in their Group B match in the third round of the Asian World Cup qualification at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on March 25, 2025. Top row (L to R): Hwang In-beom, Park Yong-woo, Cho Yu-min, Kwon Kyung-won, Jo Hyeon-woo and Son Heung-min. Bottom row (L to R): Lee Dong-gyeong, Lee Tae-seok, Hwang Hee-chan, Lee Jae-sung and Seol Young-woo. (Yonhap)
 

South Korea last played the U.S. in February 2014, when the Americans prevailed 2-0. The U.S. are No. 16 in the current FIFA rankings, seven spots ahead of South Korea. But South Korea hold the all-time edge with five wins, three draws and three losses.

The previous meeting between South Korea and Mexico came in November 2015 in Austria, where Mexico had a 3-2 win. South Korea have had four wins, two draws and eight losses against Mexico, currently world No. 17.

South Korea are on the verge of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. In the ongoing third round of the Asian qualification, they are leading Group B with 16 points with two matches to go, three points ahead of Jordan and four better than Iraq. And with the top two teams booking their tickets to the World Cup, South Korea can grab one with at least a draw against Iraq in their next qualifying match on June 5.

The final qualifying match will be at home against Kuwait on June 10.

The KFA said Hong will announce his squad for those matches May 26.

South Korea have played in every World Cup since 1986, including as a co-host alongside Japan in 2002.

- Yoo Jee-ho

 

 

MIAMI GP'S EYE-POPPING FOOD AND DRINK PRICES ON MENU INCLUDING STAGGERING COST OF A BEER 🍺

F1 fans are having to dig deep at this weekend's Miami Grand Prix, where steak sandwiches and pizza cost around £20 each.

A weekend at the Miami Grand Prix isn't cheap for fans (Image: Getty)

The staggering costs of food and drink at the Miami Grand Prix this weekend have been revealed. Formula 1 is making its first of three trips to the United States this year, with the US Grand Prix in Austin and the Las Vegas Grand Prix set to follow later in the season.

Despite the Hard Rock Stadium circuit, home to the Miami Dolphins, not being a favourite among drivers, the glitzy location draws in A-list celebrities and wealthy individuals. This trend is set to continue for the foreseeable future after F1 extended its contract with the Miami GP until 2041, marking it as the longest race agreement in the sport. Race-goers are facing steep prices for refreshments from the numerous vendors around the 3.3-mile circuit. For instance, a steak sandwich will cost you a hefty $30 (£22), while the 'budget option' turkey sandwich comes in at $18 (£13.50). Want a side of fries? That'll be an extra $6 (£4.50).

Pizza enthusiasts can expect to pay $29 (£22) for an Arroz Verde with chicken, while a basic cheese pizza is priced at $22 (£16.50). Chicken aficionados will need to fork out $29 for a three-piece 'Make it Fancy' dish topped with caviar.

Customers will need to dig deep into their pockets for a Chicken Royale with cheese, priced at $24 (£18), while an Ultimate Game Day hot dog is slightly more affordable at $14 (£10.50).

If you're looking to quench your thirst with a Heineken, be ready to fork out $13 (just under £10) for a 16oz serving, while a domestic beer will set you back slightly less at $12 (£9). For those needing to beat the Florida heat, a Frozen Margarita or Strawberry Daiquiri comes with a steep price tag of $20 (£15).

On circuit, Kimi Antonelli took a surprise pole for Saturday's sprint race. The young Italian, only six rounds into his debut season after replacing Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, edged out championship leader Oscar Piastri by 0.045 seconds.

Lando Norris, Piastri's teammate at McLaren, secured third place, trailing Antonelli by 0.100 sec, with new father Max Verstappen taking fourth spot. George Russell, in the other Mercedes, rounded out the top five. Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Hamilton followed, landing sixth and seventh on the grid.

Antonelli said: "It was a very intense qualifying, and I have felt really good since this morning's practice session. The last lap was mighty.

"I pulled it all together and I am delighted to get my first pole. It will be a different feeling to start on the front row and I cannot wait to see how we do in the sprint race, and in qualifying for the Grand Prix, too."

Antonelli, who was born five years after double world champion Fernando Alonso, who qualified 10th here, became the youngest F1 driver to take a pole position – albeit it only for a sprint, rather than Sunday’s main event.

Norris, who admits he needs to kick his stuttering championship challenge into gear, will again start behind Piastri for the sprint race, where points are awarded for the top eight finishers. Meanwhile, Verstappen was back in his Red Bull cockpit for the first time as a father after he announced the birth of his first child, Lily, with his girlfriend Kelly Piquet.

BRUNSON BRILLIANCE AS KNICKS CLINCH SERIES, CLIPPERS SINK NUGGETS

Knicks advance to an Eastern Conference semi-final series against the Boston Celtics

Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks celebrates after making a three-point basket late during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons in Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 01, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan

Los Angeles, United States: Jalen Brunson scored 40 points as the New York Knicks clinched a series victory over the Detroit Pistons while the Los Angeles Clippers downed the Denver Nuggets to set up a titanic NBA playoff decider on Thursday. 

Brunson drained a game-winning three-pointer with four seconds remaining to give the Knicks a thrilling 116-113 win over the Pistons and seal a 4-2 series triumph.

In the Western Conference, the Clippers beat the Nuggets 111-105 at the Intuit Dome to level their series 3-3 and force a decisive game seven in Denver on Saturday.

James Harden led the way for the Clippers with 28 points while Kawhi Leonard finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds and five assists as Los Angeles bounced back from Tuesday's 131-115 game-five drubbing in Denver. 

In Detroit, the Pistons had also looked poised to level their best-of-seven series with the Knicks after fighting back from 11 points down to lead 112-105 with just under three minutes remaining.

But an extraordinary late rally spearheaded by Brunson saw the Knicks claw their way back into the contest to tie at 113-113 with 36 seconds left on the clock.

Detroit star Cade Cunningham missed a layup to restore the Pistons lead, and that set the stage for an ice-cold three-pointer from Brunson to give the Knicks what turned out to be the winning lead.

"I stay poised and I rely on the trust and the composure that my team-mates give me," Brunson said. "None of this happens without them."

The third-seeded Knicks advance to an Eastern Conference semi-final series against the Boston Celtics, the reigning NBA champions, with game one set for Monday.

Brunson finished with 40 points, four rebounds and seven assists, with Mikal Bridges scoring 25 points and OG Anunoby adding 22.

"Jalen's shot, what can you say?" Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said of Brunson's game-winning three. "He's at his best when his best is needed, and he's done it all year. That's what makes him special."

Cunningham led Detroit's scorers with 23 points, backed by 21 from Jalen Duren and 20 from Malik Beasley.

'Win or go home'

A see-saw first half saw the Knicks romp into a 14-point lead after the opening quarter, outscoring the Pistons 37-23 thanks to 15 points in the opening frame from Brunson.

But Detroit came roaring back in the second quarter, with the hot hand of Beasley draining five-of-eight three-point attempts to haul the Pistons back into contention and into a slender lead at half-time.

The Knicks came out for the second half with renewed focus, the defense locking in to halt the flow of Detroit points while at the other end Brunson and Bridges combined for 21 points to build a double-digit lead.

The momentum shifted once more in the fourth quarter as Detroit fought back against a Knicks team who suddenly looked out of ideas as the Pistons surged into the lead, before Brunson rescued New York at the end.

In Los Angeles, a fired-up Clippers held off a late charge from Denver to secure their series-leveling win.

A nip-and-tuck contest hinged on a huge third quarter by the Clippers, who outscored Denver 32-22 to open up a double-digit lead which stretched to 15 points with just under six minutes remaining.

Denver rallied to cut the gap to just five points with less than a minute remaining, but the Clippers held firm to set up Saturday's decider.

"It was win or go home -- and we didn't want to go home," Clippers star Harden said.

"We've got one more game in a couple of days. We've got to be better. Still a lot of mental mistakes, still a lot of execution that we can get better at. But we've got to go out there and take it."

Denver interim head coach David Adelman pinpointed the third quarter as the moment the game swung away from his team. 

"We got sped up, we didn't handle it -- we played defense but we never could come up with the 50-50 ball. That quarter absolutely killed us," Adelman said. 

"We played a really good fourth quarter, but we've got to be better throughout the whole game."

Nikola Jokic led Denver with 25 points while Jamal Murray finished with 21 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.

- AFP

SENATOR WANTS TRUMP TRAVEL POLICIES EASED BEFORE 2026 WORLD CUP

Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon has asked top Trump administration officials to reconsider policies that are impacting travelers arriving in the United States, citing upcoming sporting events like the 2026 World Cup.

Wyden, the top Democrat on the finance committee, wrote Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Friday to air his concerns over recent reports of international travelers being detained and other travel issues.

"This has turned ordinary travel into a needlessly grueling ordeal for tourists, business travelers, lawful permanent residents and U.S. citizens," Wyden wrote.

International travelers appear increasingly wary of the administration's immigration and border policies. Several countries have updated travel guidelines for their citizens planning on visiting the United States.

The travel forecasting company Tourism Economics revised its annual outlook last month to predict a 9.4% decline in international arrivals this year.

In February, a German visitor who attempted to return to the United States with his American fiancé after a road trip to Mexico was detained for 16 days. A backpacker from Britain, Becky Burke, was stopped at the U.S.-Canada border and held for nearly three weeks at a detention facility in the state of Washington, according to her father.

President Donald Trump met with FIFA president Gianni Infantino at the White House last month. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

Wyden's plea comes after the federal government's National Travel and Tourism Office released preliminary figures showing visits to the U.S. from overseas fell 11.6% in March compared to the same month last year.

That slump has financial consequences. Tourism Economics expects U.S. spending by international visitors to drop by $9 billion this year.

In addition to the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, Wyden also pointed to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The United States also will host the Club World Cup this summer in 11 cities across the country.

"Ahead of these events, your departments will experience a significant increase in travelers seeking entry to the United States, to include extraordinary athletes, support staff, government officials, journalists, business owners, and spectators," Wyden wrote. "If your harsh and unnecessary approaches to travelers continue, foreign-born athletes who have spent their whole lives training for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity may be unable to travel to the United States to participate in these games."

Border issues have already worried a number of soccer players. Venezuelan forward Deyna Castellanos, who plays in the National Women's Soccer League, did not join her national team for a pair of recent matches because of fears she wouldn't be allowed to return.

Zambia's national team did not call up four women playing in the United States for games in China out of similar concerns.

In a March meeting with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, President Donald Trump announced the formation of a task force to coordinate the federal government's security and planning for next year's World Cup.

- Associated Press

MARSHALL "MAJOR" TAYLOR | FASTEST BICYCLIST IN THE WORLD

Marshall “Major” Taylor was the fastest bicyclist in the world. 

Thousands of fans packed indoor sports arenas called velodromes to watch his high-speed races. 

Taylor won thousands of dollars as a bicycle racer and became the most famous African-American in the United States. 

He broke the international color barrier a full decade before boxer Jack Johnson.

Marshall Walter “Major” Taylor was born November 26, 1878.

#blackhistorymonth

RUGBY 🏉 | WORLD RANKINGS

 

GEORGE RUSSELL MEME | GEORGE RADIO