Month: March 2026

In what was likely his final home appearance for Argentina’s national squad, Lionel Messi scored a goal and provided an assist in a 5-0 rout of Zambia on Tuesday night in a farewell friendly ahead of the World Cup. The 38-year-old Messi set up Julian Alvarez in the fourth minute and then scored in the 43rd at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires. The crowd gave him a standing ovation and pleaded with him to help Argentina win another World Cup. The global tournament kicks off June 11 in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Nicolas Otamendi and Valentin Barco also scored for Argentina. The defending world champions raised some concern after their lackluster performance last Friday in a 2-1 victory over Mauritania. In the lead-up to the Zambia friendly, coach Lionel Scaloni had warned that if the team didn’t improve its performance he would take drastic measures regarding the 26-man World Cup squad, which must be submitted by May 30. For the last home game before the World Cup, Scaloni started with a lineup similar to that one that defeated France in the 2022 final, with the notable exclusion of midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, who is recovering from a muscle injury and performed poorly against Mauritania. Argentina, which also won the World Cup in 1978 and 1986, will open against Algeria on June 16 in Group J, followed by games against Austria on June 22 and Jordan on June 27. Reporting by The Associated Press.

Aaron Wan-Bissako and Congo DR now know their path to glory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final after learning their group stage opponents, which stadiums they will play at, and the times for the games. When is the World Cup? How to Watch? The World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The FOX family of networks and the FOX Sports app are your complete home for World Cup content, including live matches, complete highlights, commentary and analysis, and full-match replays. What is Congo DR’s Group and Who are the Opponents? Congo DR will be in Group K. Its opponents will be: What is Congo DR’s World Cup Schedule? The team’s three group-stage games will be as follows:

Chances are, if you follow college basketball, you saw the clip. In the immediate aftermath of UConn freshman Braylon Mullins knocking down a memorable 35-foot 3-point shot to give the Huskies a 73-72 lead with just 0.4 seconds left in their Elite Eight showdown with Duke, the broadcast cameras caught something almost as jarring as the shot itself. UConn head coach Dan Hurley walked away from the bench and appeared to briefly bump heads with official Roger Ayers. Within minutes, the moment exploded across social media, arguably eclipsing the sheer brilliance of Mullins’ shot itself, which will be remembered as one of the single greatest shots the sport has ever witnessed.Naturally, the internet did what it does best: speculate and dissect … every single frame. But according to Hurley, the moment wasn’t meant to be confrontational. Instead, it was actually meant to be celebratory. Appearing on the “Triple Action” podcast with FOX Sports’ Rob Stone, Mark Ingram and Urban Meyer, Hurley downplayed the bizarre interaction when asked about it. “Really, at that point in the game, we had it won,” Hurley told Ingram. “And he [Ayers] is such an easy guy to work with during the game, that I thought he was coming over to chest-bump me to celebrate the shot.” That explanation might not sit well with everyone, as a number of college basketball pundits immediately questioned why no technical foul was assessed to Hurley. In fact, it was a debate that lit up social media timelines, arguably as quickly as the highlight itself.But Hurley was very quick to insist that there was no bad blood between himself and Ayers. In fact, quite the opposite, as Hurley went out of his way to describe Ayers as a “cool-ass ref,” adding they had positive interactions throughout the entire game. “It’s not like that for me with him,” Hurley said. “My experience with him has been — we haven’t won every game, I haven’t agreed with every call. But in no way was that me and a ref that I had been at their throat the whole game. “There were other points in the game where I had my arm around him, walking out of a timeout. We were cracking jokes and laughing.” Then, there is the other side of the internet debate. As Stone suggested, they might have actually been sharing a spontaneous celebration. But Hurley clarified that Ayers was trying to communicate how much time was remaining on the game clock. “He was just coming up to tell me there was 0.3 [seconds]—‘I think there’s going to be 0.3 or 0.4 on the clock,’” Hurley said. “And I was still so hyped from the shot going in.” Lost somewhere in the viral video is the reality that the Huskies pulled off one of the most stunning comebacks in NCAA Tournament history, punching their ticket to the program’s third Final Four in four years under Hurley. UConn trailed by as many as 19 points in the second half, but slowly chipped into Duke’s lead before taking the lead in the final second. Next up, Hurley’s UConn team will take on Illinois at 6:09 p.m. ET Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium. Chances are there will be another viral moment on Saturday night. So whether it’s a game-changing shot, an eyebrow-raising stare down, or something in between, you probably won’t want to look away.

The college basketball season is winding down, but for many teams the offseason has already started. The coaching carousel has changed the landscape, and while the transfer portal doesn’t officially open until April 7, many players have expressed their intentions. Let’s take a look at some of the top players who are set to hit the transfer portal. Mouhamed Sylla plans to enter the transfer portal Georgia Tech’s 6-foot-10 freshman center plans on entering the transfer portal, per Joe Tipton. He had a solid freshman season. He averaged 9.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks each game. South Florida’s Wes Enis seeks the transfer portal upon opening Wes Enis will be entering the transfer portal with a ‘Do Not Contact’ tag, per On3. During the American Conerence tournament, he was averaging 21.5 points and 2.5 steals, also collecting a spot in the All-AAC First Team. Overall, he averaged 16.4 points, 2.4 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game, showing increased aggression on the boards. South Florida’s former coach Bryan Hodgson went to Providence, so Enis’ DNC could indicate he is following him there. Georgetown guard intends to enter transfer portal Malik Mack plans to enter the transfer portal after his second season with Georgetown. He had a solid season with 13.6 points and 4.1 assists. He also played for Harvard during his freshman year, averaging 17.2 points, 4.8 assists and 1.3 steals. Georgia’s star rim-protector plans to enter transfer portal Somtochukwu Cyril has plans to enter the transfer portal after leading the SEC in blocks per game with 2.3. This defensive-heavy season also included 9.3 points on the other end and 5.4 boards per game. Brant Byers plans on entering the transfer portal After stepping into a larger role this season with Miami (OH), he decided it was time to part ways. Byers will be entering the NCAA transfer portal. He averaged 14.2 points on an impressive 47.8% field goal percentage and 4.1 rebounds. He was also named ALl-MAC after his breakout season. Thomas Dowd plans to leave Troy The 6-8 junior is reportedly planning on entering the transfer portal. He had a great season, averaging 14.4 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.3 blocks each game, making the first team All-Sun Belt. Buffalo’s Star intends to hit the transfer portal Daniel Freitag plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal. This past season, he averaged 19.8 points per game, dishing out 3.8 dimes a game and grabbing 4.3 boards each game. Though his first season with Wisconsin didn’t go to plan due to an ankle injury, he came back and had a stellar season with the Bulls. Georgia Tech’s Baye Ndongo intends to enter transfer portal The 6-9 forward plans to enter the transfer portal, per Draft Express. He spent the last three seasons with the Yellow Jackets, averaging 12.6 points, 8.5 boards, and 1.1 blocks. This season, he was the second-leading scorer on the team behind senior forward Kowacie Reeves. Isaiah Harwell plans to leave Houston The No. 14 recruit coming out of high school spent a season with Houston and decided it was time to leave. He plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal after a lackluster season. In 2024, he tore his ACL, greatly affecting his ability to play at the highest level, as this season he averaged only 3.6 points and 2.0 rebounds. He did show flashes of success, having a 20-point performance against Jackson State. Sananda Fru plans to enter transfer portal The 6-11 center from Berlin, Germany, will be entering the transfer portal. The German center was ranked among the ACC’s top offensive rebounders and shot-blockers. He started 29 of his 35 games, delivering 9.0 points and 6.1 rebounds, all while shooting 75.3% from the field. Anthony Robinson plans to leave Missouri The 6-3 junior plans to enter the transfer portal. Starting over half of his 33 games played, he contributed a solid 8.9 points, 3 assists and 1.6 steals per game. His steal numbers earned him a spot in the SEC All-Defensive team last year. Georgia’s Jeremiah Wilkinson plans to enter transfer portal Georgia guard Jeremiah Wilkinson plans to enter the transfer portal. The 6-1 sophomore had a stellar season offensively, delivering 17.4 points, starting 21 of his 31 games played. He played one season with the Bulldogs after spending his freshman year at Cal. He also had a solid offensive season there, averaging 15 points per game for the Bears. Andrew McKeever intends to enter transfer portal The 7-3 sophomore plans to enter the transfer portal after averaging 8.2 points and an impressive 9.2 rebounds coming off the bench. McKeever becomes the latest Saint Mary’s player to leave the school after head coach Randy Bennett took the job at Arizona State. Devin Royal plans to leave Ohio State The 6-6 junior forward will be entering the transfer portal. Devin Royal spent three seasons with the Buckeyes, averaging 10.6 points and 4.9 rebounds across his time with Ohio State. Kentucky’s Jaland Lowe plans to enter transfer portal Lowe will be entering the transfer portal when it opens. The 6-1 junior played only one season with the Wildcats, and only played nine games until he suffered a season-ending injury to his left shoulder. Though a limited sample size, he had eight points and 2.4 assists coming off the bench for the majority of his games because of lingering injuries. Fifth-year senior Frankie Collins intends to enter transfer portal Entering his last potential season of eligibility, Frankie Collins will need a medical hardship waiver to be available as a playe. He would be going into his sixth season as a college basketball player, previously playing with Michigan, ASU, TCU, and most recently, Vanderbilt. He averaged 7.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists, until the 9th game of the season where he suffered a torn meniscus. Isaiah Johnson plans to enter transfer portal The 18-year-old breakout star has announced his desire to enter the transfer portal. Receiving an All-Big 12 Honorable mention, and leading all the Power-4 freshman guards in scoring efficiency, he’ll be a coveted target for teams looking for a new point guard. He averaged 16.9 points, one steal, and three assists a game, all while starting only 15 of his 32 games played. He also broke Colorado’s all-time freshman scoring record with a staggering total of 540 points. SDSU’s Miles Byrd intends to enter transfer portal The 6-6 junior has declared his intention to transfer. Miles Byrd is entering his final year of eligibility after three seasons with the Aztecs. He contributed solid numbers, averaging 10.4 points, 2.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds, starting every game. SDSU finished the season 14-6, placing second in the Mountain West Conference tournament, just barely missing the NCAA tournament. Karson Templin plans to leave Utah State The Mountain West Conference’s sixth man of the year, Karson Templin, has announced his intention to enter the transfer portal. The 6-9, 230-pound forward added much-needed intensity off the bench and played a crucial role in their conference championship, as well as NCAA tournament qualification. He poured in 8.8 points and 4.2 rebounds, shooting 50.2% from the field. Utah State coach Jarrod Calhoun left for Cincinnati, which certainly impacted Templin’s decision, but it’s possible he returns to Logan. LSU’s Dedan Thomas Jr. plans to enter transfer portal Upon its opening, Dedan Thomas Jr. will be entering the transfer portal. The 6-1 junior averaged 15.3 points, 6.5 assists on 45.9 from the field. This season was cut short due to a left-foot injury causing him to play only 16 of the 31 games with the Tigers. Center Olivier Rioux intends to leave Florida Rioux is entering the portal, according to The Field of 68. The redshirt freshman, who’s listed as the tallest basketball player in the world at 7-foot-9, appeared in 11 games for the Gators this season, playing just 1.5 minutes per contest. After earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, Florida was eliminated by the Iowa Hawkeyes in the second round of the tournament. Virginia Tech’s Avdalis plans to enter transfer portal After starting every game for Virginia Tech his freshman season, Neoklis Avdalis will be entering the transfer portal. The forward averaged 12.1 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.1 rebounds in his debut with the Hokies. Avdolis, who was born in Greece, previously played internationally, for Greece’s HEBA A1 League. Twice in the 2025-2026 season he scored 30 points, and he was named ACC Rookie of the Week on two occasions, as well. Williams leaving Iowa State for portal In addition to the other Iowa State players already sent to enter the transfer portal, junior guard Jada Williams is also planning to leave the team for a new one next season. Per USA Today, Williams, who averaged 15.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, a steal and a Big 12-leading 7.7 assists per game joins junior forward Addy Brown, sophomore guard Reagan Wilson, freshman guard Reese Beaty, sophomore guard Aili Tanke and junior center Lilly Taulelei, as was already known, along with another newly announced Cyclones player in junior forward Alisa Williams and freshman guard Freya Jensen. Five Iowa State players set to enter portal Five Iowa State women’s players, including one of its stars, Addy Brown, are planning to enter the transfer portal on April 7 per the Des Moines Register. Brown played in just 21 game this season thanks to an unnamed lower-body injury, but at the initial time of her absence she was second on the Cyclones in points, rebounds and assists per game – the versatile star was missed in-season, and the forward’s absence for her senior season will leave a hole that Iowa State must fill, as well. Brown averaged 31.5 minutes, 13.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists and just 1.8 fouls per game over her three years for Iowa State. Brown isn’t the only Cyclones player to announce her intentions to play elsewhere in 2026-2027, however. Sophomore guard Reagan Wilson, freshman guard Reese Beaty, sophomore guard Aili Tanke and junior center Lilly Taulelei will also enter the portal. All of those besides Beaty averaged 9 minutes per game or fewer in 2025-2026, but those are still openings that have to be filled by a team that will now be without the player whose absence helped to crater what had been a promising campaign. San Diego State guard BJ Davis plans to enter transfer portal After starting 31 games in his sophomore season, Davis took a step back, coming off the bench as a junior at San Diego State. With starting point guard Elzie Harrington continuing to progress, Davis plans to go elsewhere for his final season of eligibility. Saint Mary’s forward Paulius Murauskas plans to enter transfer portal After head coach Randy Bennett left Saint Mary’s for Arizona State, Murauskas was the first domino to fall. He played one season at Arizona and two at Saint Mary’s, where he led the team in scoring with 18.4 points per game this season. The Gaels made the NCAA Tournament in each of Murauskas’ two seasons. He has one year of eligibility remaining. Georgetown guard KJ Lewis plans to enter transfer portal For a second straight season, Lewis will enter the transfer portal. He played two seasons at Arizona before coming to Georgetown, and will now finish out his collegiate career at a third stop. North Dakota guard Greyson Uelmen plans to enter transfer portal After a valiant effort fell short in the Summit League Tournament title game, North Dakota guard Greyson Uelmen will enter the transfer portal. Uelmen has two seasons of eligibility remaining. Oregon stars plan to enter the transfer portal After a 12-20 season, Oregon has lost two of its top players. Forward Kwame Evans Jr. and point guard Jackson Shelstad plan to enter the transfer portal. Evans will have one year of eligibility remaining, while Shelstad will have two because he played only 12 games due to an injury to his right hand. North Dakota State guard Damari Wheeler-Thomas plans to enter the portal After three seasons at North Dakota State, Wheeler-Thomas plans to enter the transfer portal. He averaged 14.5 points in his junior season, and helped the Bison earn an NCAA Tournament automatic bid as a 14-seed. South Carolina guard Eli Ellis plans to enter portal Ellis, 6-foot, averaged 8.6 points per game, coming off the bench for the Gamecocks in his freshman season. He has three years of eligibility remaining. Robert Morris forward DeSean Goode plans to enter portal Goode averaged 15.2 points and 8.7 rebounds during his sophomore season at Robert Morris, and won Player of the Year in the Horizon Conference. He has two years of eligibility remaining.