Category: Sports

Here’s what’s happening this week Inside The Garage: DETROIT — Josef Newgarden had this look of pain on his face. But this wasn’t from his foot. It was for the award he was about to receive for the driver who gained the most positions during the race. For Newgarden, that’s just a reminder that he qualified poorly. In some races, it would also be a little bit of a reminder of what could have been. But on Sunday in Detroit, it at least was a sign of perseverance that he went from struggling early in the race to finishing 10th on a weekend where he walked with a crutch and a walking boot on his left foot, which was injured in a crash in the Indianapolis 500. “I think a top-15 would have been a miracle today, so where we ended up, you’ve got to take that for sure,” Newgarden told me and other reporters following the race. “I feel bad. I feel like the opportunity that the team put in place for this car was podium potential.” The Team Penske No. 2 driver has not talked specifics of the injury, which was termed as “minor” by the INDYCAR doctor following the crash a week prior in Indy. But it hurt bad enough that the team had its IMSA driver Felipe Nasr prepared to get in the car if needed, as he wore a firesuit and had his helmet for the opening practice Friday. The two-time INDYCAR champion Newgarden admitted he was not at his best and in a moment of blunt honesty, saying Nasr possibly could have performed better. But like most drivers, Newgarden badly wanted to race and if the team wanted him to race, he was going to put on the firesuit and go. Newgarden said if the team told him they were putting Nasr in the car, he would have understood the decision. “If they didn’t want me to drive, I would have accepted that,” he said. “If they wanted to win the race, you put Felipe in this car. … He was ready to rock. “I wasn’t going to be sitting out [voluntarily]. But this is not my team, so you’ve got to be open to it.” Newgarden could thank his team’s pit strategy that gave him some track position and then his ability to just stay out of trouble. That wasn’t easy because his competitors knew he wasn’t 100 percent. “It was like everybody got the memo out there to use me up is what it kind of felt like, whenever they could — I felt like I was in just defense mode most of the race,” Newgarden said. “And certainly at the end I was just defense mode, just trying to protect the car more than anything.” “But the team did just an amazing job to let me get in it and drive, and they did a great race. The only reason we finished where we did is because what the team did. Great strategy, great pit stops.” [INDYCAR TAKEAWAYS: Alex Palou Wins Detroit Grand Prix Slugfest] Having driven with a broken clavicle and wrist in 2016, Newgarden said the race Sunday was more difficult. “This was worse,” he said. “This is definitely a less advantageous situation. … I knew it wasn’t going to be good. And it wasn’t. I don’t want to speak on [the pain] too much. “It is what it is.” With another race this weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway (Gateway), Newgarden hopes the oval (and a week of therapy/rest) won’t be as much of a pain. “We were here, we were in the race, and now we can go to the next one. … I’m mixed [on Gateway],” he said. “I’m excited, but I’m in two minds right now.” Heim Time, Finally Corey Heim finally will have a full-time Cup ride in 2027 as 23XI Racing announced he will drive the No. 35 next season, replacing Riley Herbst. The organization started the third car for Herbst but also with an eye on the highly touted Heim having an established team for his rookie season. Heim, the defending truck series champion, has patiently waited while under contract for the full-time Cup ride, running a mix of trucks and Cup this year. “I just always felt like this is the most prepared race team I’ve ever worked with, and it just felt like a home to me and everyone felt like they were very welcoming and motivated,” Heim said in a news conference Saturday at Nashville. “When I ran my first race with these guys, and their preparation was just top-notch. I felt confident going into that race and everyone was firing on all cylinders. So to me, it was an easy decision to proceed to work with them for the long term.” Preece’s Appeal Denied In a 2-1 decision, a NASCAR-appointed appeals panel upheld a 25-point, $50,000 penalty to Ryan Preece for intentionally wrecking Ty Gibbs at Texas. Preece had indicated on his team radio earlier in the race that he would wreck Gibbs. Later in the race, Gibbs tried to cut in front of Preece and Preece didn’t lift — whether that was intentionally wrecking Gibbs or just not cutting him a break appears to be in the eye of the beholder. The appeals panel stated: “”Although not a unanimous decision, NASCAR and RFK Racing presented competing interpretations of common data. Neither side clearly proved their point, but Mr. Preece’s comments showed that he chose to not cut his competitor any breaks.” Preece and RFK Racing won’t appeal the decision to the final appeals officer. Preece is two points out of a Chase spot with 12 races left in the regular season. The burden of proof on an appeal from the rulebook: “The Appeals Panel must determine whether NASCAR has shown that it is more likely than not that a violation occurred based on the NASCAR Rule Book, special rules, bulletins or any applicable agreements to which NASCAR is a party cited in the penalty notice.” Preece tried to have some humor but make a point with this social post: Ford: No O’Reilly There are no Ford teams in the O’Reilly Series at the moment, so where does that put Ford’s development program for its NASCAR Cup teams? Ford Racing global director Mark Rushbrook had this response when I asked him about it as he met with a group of reporters Saturday in Detroit: “We’re looking at our driver development program more broadly these days. There’s a strong focus on sports car. We see that as a potential path. … There is the possibility to certainly go straight from trucks to Cup as some drivers have done before.” Rushbrook said they would only get back into the O’Reilly Series if there is the right program. He said the Cup has relevance with the Mustang and the trucks have relevance with the F-150. “Right now, none of our [Cup] teams are in O’Reilly,” Rushbrook said. “It has to make sense for Ford and our teams in terms of a place to race.” In The News –Conor Daly, fresh from his Indy 500 start, will be in the Kaulig Racing No. 25 “free agent” truck at Lucas Oil Raceway (Indianapolis Raceway Park) next month. –Mick Schumacher was named the Indy 500 Rookie of the Year by a voting panel of media members following the Indy 500. He was the best-finishing rookie in the race with an 18th-place finish. Social Spotlight They Said It “What an unbelievable day — starting first, going to last, and back to first.” — Denny Hamlin following his NASCAR win at Nashville. In Inside The Garage, Bob Pockrass takes us behind the scenes of the motorsports world the way only he can.

Odell Beckham Jr. is going back to his first professional home. The wide receiver has agreed to a deal with the New York Giants, according to multiple reports. The terms of Beckham’s deal with New York are unknown, but he visited the Giants on Monday. New York also reportedly agreed to terms on a contract with wide receiver Braxton Berrios earlier in the day. Beckham’s return to the Giants had been months in the making. New Giants head coach John Harbaugh, who coached Beckham for a season with the Ravens, told reporters at the owners meeting in March that the team was open to signing Beckham. In those comments, Harbaugh also shared that he and Beckham had remained in contact even after the wide receiver left Baltimore at the end of the 2023 season. A few weeks later, Beckham had a workout with the Giants and underwent a physical for the team. While a deal didn’t culminate then, it was apparent that New York’s interest in reuniting with Beckham was real. This past week created an urgency for the Giants to add at wide receiver. Wide receiver Gunner Olszewski tore his Achilles during New York’s organized team activities (OTAs) session on Friday, thinning the Giants’ depth at the position. Star wide receiver Malik Nabers is returning from an ACL tear that ended his second season early, and Darius Slayton is rehabbing from a core injury. New York also lost productive wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson in free agency this offseason, but signed veterans Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin. The Giants used a third-round pick on Notre Dame wide receiver Malachi Fields as well. Beckham, 33, didn’t play in the NFL in the 2025 season, remaining unsigned for the entire year following a stint with the Miami Dolphins, as he was also suspended six games for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. However, he had expressed an interest in playing again multiple times this offseason. Beckham emerged as one of the NFL’s top receivers during his Giants tenure. After being taken by New York with the 12th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Beckham quickly set Giants and NFL records. He won Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2014, logging 1,305 receiving yards and making his memorable one-handed grab that season. He also tied Lance Alworth for the NFL record for the fewest games needed to reach 4,000 career receiving yards, as he had at least 1,300 receiving yards in each of his first three seasons. But Beckham’s dominance never translated into consistent success for the Giants. They reached the postseason only once in his five-year tenure with the team, causing the Giants to trade Beckham to the Cleveland Browns in 2019 as part of a rebuild. Now, Beckham will join a rebuilding Giants squad that is hoping to get back into the postseason for the first time in four years.

Admittedly, Denny Hamlin has not executed the best on restarts this season, so winning Sunday in a race that was a nail-biter down the stretch certainly made for a satisfying night. Hamlin led 57 of the 115 laps of the final stage at Nashville Superspeedway but stole the win from Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Christopher Bell after a late caution set up a four-lap dash to the finish. “We had a few [races] where we were the best car this year, and we didn’t win because of restarts,” Hamlin said in his post-race news conference following his second victory of the year. “It felt really good to get one back that we certainly shouldn’t have on speed. “The 20 [of Bell] had us covered. I think he passed us about three or four times. But I just learned from my mistakes earlier in the season and how I approach restarts.” Here are my takeaways: 1. Worst To First For Hamlin Much like the track going from dry to wet to dry, Hamlin went from first to suddenly worst to methodically getting back to first. Hamlin started from the pole but was penalized for jumping the restart by mashing the throttle well ahead of the restart zone. It was a pretty clear violation of the restart rules for Hamlin, who didn’t question the call at the start of the race, which was delayed by 80 minutes because of rain. “Usually, as the leader, you can dictate when to go, but it was way too close to Turn 4 and not close enough to the start-finish line,” Hamlin said about restarting well ahead of the zone that is on the frontstretch. “No arguing it or anything like that. It was certainly the right call.” From there, he just had to be patient over the 300-lap, 400-mile race on the 1.33-mile concrete track. He obviously knows how to rally as he won for the 62nd time in his Cup career. 2. Bell Loses Another One A week after he could blame the rain, Bell could only blame himself for not winning. He had a better car than Hamlin and was in position to win until a late caution set up the dash to the finish. He could never get clearly ahead of Hamlin as they battled along with JGR teammate Chase Briscoe for the top three spots. The finishing order ended up being Hamlin-Bell-Briscoe, extending Bell’s winless streak to 21. He has led 398 laps this year without a win. “I’m just disappointed in myself,” Bell said in a Toyota news release. “[My team] brought a great race car and I didn’t get the job done.” 3. In The Dumps Nine cars ended up retiring from the race because of damage in accidents (another three were damaged in a crash just past the finish line) and only 15 cars finished on the lead lap in a race filled with wrecks. It had drivers feeling frustrated, with possibly Bubba Wallace feeling it the most, as he dropped to 15th in the standings, just 34 points ahead of the current playoff bubble. “I’m tired,” he said in his interview on Prime following his exit. “It’s hard to be in the same boat constantly every week. You’ve got to figure out how to put it behind you and show up. I somehow become the bad guy the days following this, but I’ve got to figure out how to be better and learn from it. “It’s really hard when you are driving your best and trying to just make progress throughout the race, and you get wiped out.” 4. Impressive SVG Shane van Gisbergen is known for his road-course dominance but he had a solid day at Nashville with a fifth-place finish. The race showed he is getting the hang of the ovals. “I really enjoyed myself,” “van Gisbergen said in a Chevrolet news release. “I learned a lot. I learned to be comfortable moving around in (Turns) 1 and 2, which I’ve never been able to do before.” 4 ½. What’s Next The NASCAR Cup Series goes to one of the fastest tracks on the circuit as it heads to the 2-mile Michigan Speedway for a 400-mile Sunday afternoon race. ARCA (Friday) and trucks (Saturday), both on FS1, are also on the weekend lineup. That race could very well be another JGR intra-team battle, but with it being near the homes of Chevrolet and Ford, this race often carries extra emphasis for the teams.

Last season might not have been the Rams’ season, but it was surely Matthew Stafford’s season. For the first time in his 17-year career, Stafford took home the league’s most prestigious individual hardware: regular-season MVP. How will he follow up that MVP season? Let’s check out the odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of June 1. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Matthew Stafford 2026 NFL odds Regular-season passing yards Over 3,999.5: -110 (bet $10 to win $19.09 total)Under 3,999.5: -110 (bet $10 to win $19.09 total) Regular-season passing touchdowns Over 30.5: -105 (bet $10 to win $19.52 total)Under 30.5: -115 (bet $10 to win $18.70 total) Stafford has long been regarded as one of the game’s top flamethrowers. However, the accolades have rarely followed. In addition to winning MVP last season, he was named first-team All-Pro for the first time in his career. He also earned just his third Pro Bowl appearance. Seems a bit odd for a guy with the sixth-most passing yards in NFL history, right? The only names ahead of him on that list are Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, all of whom are remarkably decorated. It could have to do with the fact that during the first 12 years of Stafford’s career, all with the Detroit Lions, he only took the franchise to the playoffs three times and never won a playoff game. However, since arriving in L.A., he’s been to the postseason four times in five years, winning the Super Bowl with the Rams in 2021 and making it to the NFC Championship Game last season. In terms of stats, Stafford is expected to throw for around 4,000 yards next season, a mark he’s reached more often than not in his career. In those 17 professional seasons, he’s thrown for 4,000 yards or more 10 times. He’s also expected to throw around 30 touchdowns, a mark he’s reached only four times in his career. Last season, his MVP season, he blasted past both of those numbers, finishing the regular season with 4,707 passing yards and 46 TDs.

There is always baseball happening — almost too much baseball for one person to follow themselves. Don’t worry, we’re here to help you by figuring out what you missed but shouldn’t have. Here are all the best moments from last night in Major League Baseball: The Phillies came back late on Saturday to secure a 4-3 win in this 2025 NLDS rematch, but otherwise, this weekend’s series between them and the Dodgers was all Los Angeles. That felt especially true on Sunday in the rubber game, as the Dodgers scored early and did not let up — the memory of Saturday’s late loss was erased in a hurry. With Los Angeles already up 2-0 in the fourth, left fielder Ryan Ward went deep to make it 3-0: that was the rookie’s first career home run, as he was playing in just his third game and first since mid-April. Second baseman Alex Freeland would follow shortly after with a solo shot of his own to make it 4-0, and that was far more cushion than starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto needed against Philadelphia. Yamamoto lowered his ERA for the season to 2.86 thanks to 5 ⅓ scoreless innings with four scattered hits and 10 strikeouts against just two walks. The Dodgers didn’t give up a run until the ninth, when Jonathan Hernández finally allowed one — by that point, Los Angeles was up 9-1, however. Third baseman Max Muncy helped with that, hitting his 14th homer of the year in the bottom of the seventh. Munch, Freeland and Shohei Ohtani all had two hits on the day, while Freeland also had two runs and RBIs a piece. The Dodgers didn’t get the sweep, no, but they slowed the surging Phillies and have now won 14 of their last 17 games — Los Angeles is now 5.5 up on the Padres in the NL West, as San Diego has been scuffling a bit of late, including a series loss to the upstart Nationals to close out their own May. Mets’ left fielder Juan Soto went yard again — he has hit nine of his 13 homers in his last 15 games — and this time, it was a grand slam. If 13 homers for Juan Soto by June 1 doesn’t sound like that many, remember, he missed considerable time already with an IL stint thanks to a calf strain — he’s played in just 42 of the Mets’ 59 games. Soto has been on fire of late, as he’s hit .382/.469/.873 over that 15-game stretch, and the Mets are looking better as a result. New York still has a ways to go, as 26-33 and fourth place in the NL East isn’t exactly inspiring, but his was a team that had the worst record in MLB not that long ago, and was also swept by the Marlins to drop back into last place in the division, too. This time around, it was the Mets with brooms in hand, as they scored 25 runs against Miami’s nine, seven of which were scored in the first game of the series. Starter Nolan McLean looked a little off for New York in Sunday’s finale, allowing five walks while striking out just two, but his control issues were not also command ones, and he limited the Marlins to two hits and just one run. David Peterson followed with a four-inning scoreless save, and New York had a sweep. Again, New York is under .500 and in fourth, but the Mets are also just 5.5 back of a wild-card spot, which is somehow 2.5 games closer than they were when May kicked off. April was really, really bad for the Mets, but it’s two months back now, as well. Bats flying out of a players’ hands isn’t all that uncommon, but said bat getting not just stopped by a protective net, but caught in it like a bug in a spider web? That’s a lot more unusual. Sadly for Jakob Marsee, that net was the only thing the center fielder’s bat made contact with all day, as he went 0-for-3 with a walk in the loss. On the one hand, the Mariners are in first place in their division. On the other, Seattle is just 31-29 on the season — the American League West has been a mess this year. The M’s have now won six games in a row, however, as they followed up a sweep of the formerly first-place Athletics with another of the Diamondbacks. This was a close one, as the Mariners would end up winning just 3-2. Seattle’s Bryce Miller threw five scoreless innings with six strikeouts, one walk and just one hit allowed, while Arizona’s Merrill Kelly struggled more — eight hits, two walks, just two strikeouts — but held Seattle to two runs across 5 ⅓ all the same. The Mariners would score their second run of the game after Miller had already departed, off of Kelly, when DH Dominic Canzone hit his second homer in as many games to make it 2-1. The D-Backs would answer back in the eighth to tie things up, with Ketel Marte — playing DH on Sunday — hitting a sac fly to score pinch-hitter Gabriel Moreno, who singled before being bunted over to second. Arizona played for one run, and that’s how many they got. Which ended up being unfortunate in extra innings, when the Mariners — at home — got a chance to walk it off. Which they did. Designated hitter Victor Robles, who had entered the game earlier as a pinch-runner, came to the plate with one out and runners on second and third. All he needed was a single to win it, and that’s what he got. The Mariners are now 2.5 up in the West, which isn’t a huge lead but is their largest of the season so far. Considering they were five games under .500 about six weeks ago, that’s not such a bad turnaround, especially with slugging backstop Cal Raleigh either not actually slugging or sitting on the IL, depending on when in the season you’re talking about. Ronald Acuña Jr. had a fairly slow start to the season for the otherwise red-hot Braves, but after coming back from a hamstring strain on May 19 he’s looked a lot more like Ronald Acuña. On Sunday, he hit his fifth homer in 12 games since returning from injury, and is batting .256/.429/.628 in that stretch. Acuña didn’t just hit a homer, though. He absolutely blasted one, 438 feet, off of Reds’ starter Nick Lodolo. It was the right fielder’s fourth-straight game with a long ball, to boot. Sadly for the Braves, it was just a solo shot to lead off the game, and not a portent of things to come. Atlanta would end up losing, 6-4, but the Braves made it to the very last day of May before losing their 20th game of the season. They lead the majors with 40 wins — for all the winning the Dodgers have been doing of late, Los Angeles is at 38 — and took the series against the Reds despite the L, so the more important thing here is that it’s looking like Acuña is back. The Angels lost to the Rays 5-2 on Sunday, but it could have been much worse. Look at left fielder Jose Siri out there robbing Tampa Bay of a grand slam, for instance. Wait a second. Computer, enhance. Alright, Siri saved four runs and the outfield buffet from certain doom. And while it would have been hilarious to see whatever disaster came out of a baseball striking a bunch of food plates at high velocity, more important is that lunch was salvaged. Maybe next time don’t line it up near where baseballs might land, though. Credit to the ump’s reflexes on that one. The Giants crushed the Rockies, 19-6, and the performance that stood out the most in all that scoring was that of right fielder Jung Hoo Lee. He had his first-ever five-hit game, singling in the first to give the Giants their first lead of the day, doubling in the fifth, singling again later in the fifth — San Francisco scored seven runs in that frame — singling again in the seventh and then hitting another single in the eighth. In between that first hit and the rest of the game were 18 other Giants runs, including four on one swing from shortstop Willy Adames, which made it 11-3 in the fifth and made this game feel out of reach for the Rockies. Giants’ starter Robbie Ray didn’t even pitch particularly well — he went just four innings and allowed seven baserunners and three runs — but Tanner Gordon gave Colorado even less to work with over three innings with four runs allowed, and then the bullpen gave up another 15. Zach Agnos wore the bulk of them thanks to that seven-run fifth, but the next two pitchers after him each gave up three, and Brett Sullivan allowed another two to close things out, as well. It has not been a great season for the Rockies to this point, but seeing what was already the league’s worst run differential get that much worse all in one afternoon is rough. And to the Giants, too, who are all of 1.5 up on the basement-dwelling Rockies in the NL West right now. A seven-run inning is big, but the Yankees did the Giants one better. In fact, they scored 10 runs in the third inning against the Athletics in the third inning on Sunday before an out was recorded. New York would pile on another three runs to make it a 13-run third inning, which included DH Ben Rice hitting a triple and a double in the same frame. Just as incredible as this 13-run outburst is that it was the only inning in which the Yankees scored. They were up 13-3 at this point, and ended up defeating the A’s, 13-8: the Athletics tried chipping away at the lead over the remaining innings, but despite the Yankees seemingly giving them plenty of opportunities to catch up, the 10-run deficit that stood after the third proved too much. Jacob Misiorowski looked impressive in 2025, but he also didn’t have the greatest command nor control of his high-end velocity, resulting in a 4.36 ERA as a rookie despite striking out 11.9 batters per nine: Miz still walked 4.2 per nine and allowed eight homers in 66 innings, so there were clear weaknesses to his game. Good luck finding those weaknesses in 2026. The 24-year-old right-hander, who stands an imposing 6-foot-7 even before he steps on the rubber, has found both command and control. He has more than halved last season’s home run rate, is down to 2.4 walks per nine, and has increased his strikeout rate to 13.7 per nine: he’s striking out just under 40% of the hitters he faces. The result? A May to remember. Seriously, though, what are you supposed to do when he can locate 102 with pinpoint control all of a sudden? Same as the rest of us, apparently. What a month for Misiorowski.

Last week, Phillies phenom Cristopher Sánchez completed a flawless May with his fifth scoreless outing of the month, increasing his scoreless streak to a franchise-record 44.2 consecutive innings. But Sánchez isn’t the only pitcher enjoying an incredible start to the 2026 season. Jacob Misiorowski wrapped up a similarly extraordinary May with the Brewers (0.23 ERA). Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani allowed one run over six hitless innings last Wednesday and actually saw his miniscule season ERA (0.86) rise in the process. Also last week, second-year Reds right-hander Chase Burns fired his eighth straight start of two runs or fewer, and Braves veteran lefty Chris Sale recorded his eighth straight start allowing two earned runs or fewer. Clearly, Pirates star Paul Skenes will have a lot of competition this year in what should be a thrilling National League Cy Young race the rest of the way. In this week’s Power Rankings, we take a look at every team’s best starting pitcher to this point of the season. Until Chase Dollander returns from injury, it might be best to skip this one. Tomoyuki Sugano has been the most consistent of the group with a 4.01 ERA over 11 starts. With Tarik Skubal down, Casey Mize has become the de facto ace. He has a 1.45 ERA over his past seven starts, but he can’t fix a Detroit offense that ranks 29th in runs scored. Michael Wacha leads Royals starters in ERA, strikeouts and wins, but that hasn’t been enough for a Kansas City team that has lost 16 of its last 19 games. José Soriano saw his ERA rise from 0.84 to 2.65 in May, but he still deserves recognition here. Keep an eye on Reid Detmers, though. His ERA starts with a 4, but he leads the team in strikeouts, and a week ago he fanned 14 in a start against the Rangers. Landen Roupp is the only Giants starter with an ERA under 4.00. His consistent production has been important for a San Francisco starting rotation that ranks 28th in ERA. Offseason additions Ranger Suárez (3.38 ERA) and Sonny Gray (3.06) have both pitched well, but the lowest ERAs in the Boston rotation belong to 24-year-old Connelly Early (2.95) and 23-year-old Payton Tolle (2.61). Among all MLB starters who’ve thrown at least 40 innings this year, Tolle ranks sixth in WHIP and fourth in opponents’ batting average. With much of the attention this year on Sandy Alcantara and Eury Perez, it’s Max Meyer who has been the best starter in the Marlins’ rotation. Even after surrendering six runs to the Mets over the weekend, Meyer is 5-0 on the year with a 2.97 ERA that is by far the best mark among Miami starters. He won’t get the same attention as other starters while pitching for the middling Twins, but Joe Ryan ranks in the top 10 among all qualified MLB starters in WHIP, opponents’ average and fWAR and has a 1.97 ERA over his past six starts. Someone needed to step up with all the injuries in the Astros’ rotation, and Spencer Arrighetti answered the call. He’s 7-1 with a 1.34 ERA in eight starts. Until he fractured his fibula last month, Clay Holmes had been the one consistent piece of the volatile Mets rotation. They need at least one of Nolan McLean (4.21 ERA) and Freddy Peralta (3.55) to go on a run quickly. The A’s are trending the wrong way, but it has been a career year for 2020 second-round pick J.T. Ginn, who took a no-hitter into the ninth inning on May 18 in Anaheim and leads A’s starters with a 2.87 ERA. Even after a few May clunkers that made Jacob deGrom’s ERA climb to 3.77, he is still the best pitcher in the Rangers’ rotation. But keep an eye on MacKenzie Gore, who has lowered his ERA from 5.18 to 3.96 over his past four starts. Orioles fans would probably hope the answer here would be Shane Baz, who just signed a $68 million extension, or Trevor Rogers. But it’s Kyle Bradish who has started the most games and has the most strikeouts and lowest ERA of anyone in the Baltimore rotation. Baz, however, has started to pick up some steam. Dylan Cease is currently on the shelf, but his hamstring injury appears minor. That’s a big relief as the Blue Jays try to claw their way into contention. Cease has lived up to the expectations of an ace after receiving a $210 million deal in Toronto, ranking first among qualified AL starters in strikeout rate. The Cease-Kevin Gausman duo atop the Toronto rotation is one of the best in the league. Chase Burns (7-1, 1.96 ERA) is one of just five qualified MLB starters with an ERA under 2.00. His work has been especially vital in a Reds starting rotation that has a 4.54 ERA as a group. The Nationals are one of the stories of the season. They just picked up impressive series wins against the Guardians and Padres, and former first-round pick Cade Cavalli is finding his form. Since April 18, he ranks eighth in the majors in strikeouts. The Diamondbacks’ pitching staff figured to be an issue this year, but veterans Eduardo Rodriguez (5-1, 2.31 ERA) and Mike Soroka (7-2, 3.25) are lifting the rotation. Even if the underlying numbers suggest regression ahead, Rodriguez currently ranks in the top 10 among qualified MLB starters in ERA. That’s a significant turnaround after he logged an ERA over 5.00 in each of his first two seasons in Arizona. The fact that you could make an argument for Braxton Ashcraft here says something both about Ashcraft’s season and Paul Skenes’ year so far, but the answer is still Skenes. His 2.89 ERA is about a run worse than either of his past two seasons, but his expected ERA is the best of his career, his walk rate is the lowest of his career, and his underlying numbers are all exceptional. Injuries have ravaged this rotation — Edward Cabrera, Matthew Boyd, Justin Steele and Cade Horton are all on the injured list — which helps explain Chicago starters’ 4.71 ERA. Ben Brown only joined the rotation in May, but since then he has been the star of the group with a 1.73 ERA over his last five starts. The Cubs desperately need Shota Imanaga to get back on track. Starting pitching isn’t the reason the Cardinals have stayed competitive in what is surprisingly the best division in baseball, but the group has been better than expected. Michael McGreevy’s expected ERA (5.63) is about double his actual ERA (2.98), but he’s the lone member of the rotation with an ERA under 4.00. Losing Munetaka Murakami to a hamstring strain hurts, but it’s not just power that has gotten the South Siders to this point. They’ve won 15 of their last 21 games with the help of a rotation that now ranks 11th in ERA. That group is led by Davis Martin, who has allowed one or no runs in eight of his past 10 starts. As Cristopher Sánchez continues to rack up scoreless outings, he’s now the NL Cy Young favorite. The Phillies southpaw just wrapped up a month of May in which he totaled 45 strikeouts and three walks without allowing a run over 39 innings, and he leads the majors in ERA and fWAR. That’s more like it. The Mariners have now won six straight games after sweeping the A’s and Diamondbacks, which was enough to move them to the top of the lowly AL West. Any one of Bryan Woo (3.44 ERA), George Kirby (3.77), Logan Gilbert (3.69) or Emerson Hancock (2.78) could claim the title as team ace this year, but it’s worth singling out Hancock’s consistent contributions to this point, especially as the team struggled early in the year. He has allowed three runs or fewer in all but one of his 11 starts and has the lowest ERA of the group. The Guardians’ momentum slowed last week with series losses to the Nationals and Red Sox, but their pitching still has them atop the AL Central. The Cleveland rotation ranks sixth in ERA led by rookie Parker Messick (6-1, 2.21 ERA), who could get both Rookie of the Year and Cy Young consideration. The regression appears to be starting now for a Padres team that has stayed well above .500 despite what is now a negative run differential. Michael King leads the San Diego rotation in every major category and will continue to be a critical piece for a team lacking pitching depth. It has been a remarkable year for 35-year-old veteran Nick Martinez, who has done far more than just solidify his role as an MLB starter. Martinez ranks third among all qualified MLB starters in ERA (1.62) and has not allowed more than two runs in any of his 11 outings this year. Cam Schlittler, the American League Cy Young favorite, leads the AL in both ERA (1.50) and WHIP (0.85). He has allowed three runs or fewer in every start and two runs or fewer in each of his past eight starts. Over six starts in May, Jacob Misiorowski allowed just one run and struck out 57, the most by any pitcher in any calendar month in franchise history. He leads all qualified starters in strikeouts (108), WHIP (0.79) and opponents’ average (.150). No other pitcher has 100 strikeouts. Among qualified starters, Cristopher Sánchez has the lowest ERA in MLB (1.47). But lower the minimum to 50 innings, and Shohei Ohtani’s mark (0.82) is about half of that. Ohtani won’t end up with the same number of innings as other top pitching contenders in his first full season on the mound in three years, but he looks like a potential Cy Young winner every time he takes the ball. The Braves have two of the top 10 qualified starters in ERA in Chris Sale (2.01) and Bryce Elder (2.50). At age 37, Sale remains one of the best pitchers in the game and should be in the Cy Young conversation as long as he stays healthy. Among all qualified MLB starters, Sale ranks seventh in ERA and fifth in both WHIP and opponents’ batting average. He’s also throwing harder this year than he did last year.

Everything can change in one offseason in the NFL. Just take a look at what happened last year. The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots went head-to-head in Super Bowl LX after missing the playoffs in 2024. In fact, they were two of six teams (Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers) to make the postseason in 2025 after failing to make the playoffs the year prior. That was just the latest sign of the year-to-year parity we see in the NFL, which the league takes great pride in. While two non-playoff teams from the prior meeting in the Super Bowl isn’t the norm, seeing a handful of new teams make the postseason each year certainly is. The NFL has an unbelievable streak of 36 seasons in which at least four teams that missed the playoffs the year prior make the postseason the next year. So, who could make up that group in 2026? Let’s rank the 18 teams that missed the playoffs in 2025 who have the best chances to make the postseason in 2026, with odds courtesy of BetMGM. Odds to make playoffs: +1500 It’s not just that the Arizona Cardinals went 3-14 last year and are moving forward with Jacoby Brissett as their starting quarterback, but they also play in the toughest division in the NFL. The other three teams in the NFC West made the postseason in 2025, and all three appear to be in strong shape to make it to the playoffs again in 2026. The Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers are all in the top eight or so in most power rankings. Rookie running back Jeremiyah Love is exciting and new coach Mike LaFleur can start to move Arizona in the right direction, but if that amounts to more than six or seven wins this year, they’ll be one of the better turnaround stories in the league as they aren’t favored in the early point spreads in any of their 17 games. Odds to make playoffs: +1100 The Miami Dolphins went 7-10 last season, but much of the past year has been shedding big contracts — wide receiver Tyreek Hill, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, edge rushers Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb — to where there’s clear expectations of a major step back as they rebrand with a new quarterback (Malik Willis), new head coach (Jeff Hafley) and new general manager (Jon-Eric Sullivan). No team has more 2027 salary cap space than the Dolphins do, and they’ll look like it in 2026 as they set themselves up for a high draft pick and rebounding from there. On top of that, the Dolphins have the second-toughest strength of schedule this season. Odds to make playoffs: +550 There’s excitement around rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza, but he’ll go from a 16-0 perfect season at Indiana to maybe winning a third of his games this first year with the Las Vegas Raiders. New coach Klint Kubiak also has Kirk Cousins, so he doesn’t have to go to Mendoza immediately, but a No. 1 overall pick is a huge investment that you want to see on the field fairly quickly. They’ll improve from a league-worst 14.2 points per game in 2025, but even if you add a touchdown to every score from last season, that doesn’t get you to .500. Odds to make playoffs: +800 After a 3-14 season in 2025, the Jets underwent significant roster changes this offseason. They’ve got eight new starters on defense for Aaron Glenn’s second season as head coach, seeking to improve a unit that finished 31st in points allowed last season. Moving into the middle third of the league in that stat would be a vast improvement. But with Geno Smith as the starting quarterback, it’s hard to see a significant improvement from last season’s record. Getting wide receiver Garrett Wilson healthy for a full season and seeing what rookie pass catchers Kenyon Sadiq and Omar Cooper add to the offense are all good things, though. Odds to make playoffs: +450 The offensive line is completely revamped, but realistically, who’s the quarterback, and can he throw more than the 16 touchdowns the Cleveland Browns managed in 2025? Can new head coach Todd Monken get more out of the offense to match what could be a top-10 defense? Even with uncertainty in the division, they’ll do well to finish third, which would require either the Pittsburgh Steelers taking a big step back with their first-year head coach, or another quarterback injury in Cincinnati or Baltimore. Odds to make playoffs: +325 Last season wasn’t a good one for the Tennessee Titans. They finished in the bottom five in scoring offense and defense en route to a 3-14 record. On top of that, new head coach Robert Saleh will have at least six new starters on defense, with rookie receiver Carnell Tate potentially helping quarterback Cam Ward make a jump in his second season. The Titans had nine double-digit losses last season, matching the most in the NFL, so there’s much ground to make up to get the franchise back to .500, let alone playoff contention. Odds to make playoffs: +240 The Atlanta Falcons tied for the best record in the NFC South last year, going 8-9 in as close a division as you’ll find from top to bottom. Yet, the oddsmakers have them on the outside looking in for what would be a ninth straight year of missing the playoffs. Can head coach Kevin Stefanski take the offense to another level with Tagovailoa or Michael Penix at quarterback? Can the defense continue its progress under coordinator Jeff Ulbrich? The division is wide-open, but that’s probably the easiest sell for why the Falcons could end their postseason drought. Odds to make playoffs: +260 How much better can John Harbaugh make the New York Giants in 2026? Add in a healthy Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers on offense, rookie edge rusher Arvell Reese on defense, and the NFC East has four teams all in flux. How much will they miss star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence up front? Who knows, but they got a top-10 pick to beef their offensive line when they traded Lawrence, using the selection on Miami (Fla.)’s Francis Mauigoa. The final three-week stretch is a tough one. They travel to face the Detroit Lions on the Monday after Christmas and hit the road again to take on the Dallas Cowboys the following week. They’ll leave those matchups with the hopes of having something to play for when they finish the regular season at home against the Philadelphia Eagles. Odds to make playoffs: +175 Last season didn’t start well for the New Orleans Saints, but they closed strong. They were 2-10 before winning four of their last five, although two of those wins came against the Jets and Titans. Still, was that late surge a sign of how the Saints can rally around quarterback Tyler Shough? Head coach Kellen Moore got valuable additions to his offense in running back Travis Etienne and rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, suggesting that they’re buying into Shough entering Year 2. But can their defense improve without linebacker Demario Davis in the middle? A last-place schedule hooks them up with games against the Raiders and Cardinals, as the Saints have the second-easiest strength of schedule in 2026. Facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers twice in the final four weeks could be very pivotal. Odds to make playoffs: +170 If the Minnesota Vikings had found ways to put up more points last season, they would’ve made the postseason for a second straight year. They had a top-10 defense with coordinator Brian Flores, going 7-2 in games where they scored 20 points or more. That suggests if the offense can get back to 2024 levels, they could be a surprise team in the NFC North. However, big questions loom. Will Kyler Murray prove to be a bargain on a league minimum prove-it deal? Can rookie defensive tackle Caleb Banks show he wasn’t a first-round reach and offset the loss of edge rusher Jonathan Greenard? Can wide receiver Jauan Jennings find himself again as a potent 1-2-3 with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison? Odds to make playoffs: +140 Just like the Vikings, a few big questions linger for the Indianapolis Colts entering 2026. The first that must be answered is when Daniel Jones will be healthy and back, and whether he comes close to the 8-2 start he had with the Indianapolis Colts last year? Without many notable additions, can head coach Shane Steichen keep up with the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars, who both look like solid bets to return to the playoffs? The Colts lost their final seven games last season, but five were one-score games as 44-year-old Philip Rivers came out of retirement to quarterback them down the stretch. So their hopes are built around Jones staying healthy and the defense being much better, especially with cornerback Sauce Gardner getting healthy, too. Odds to make playoffs: +225 The optimism of a bounce-back year starts with a healthy Jayden Daniels, but the bigger deal might be a defense with seven new starters, including first-round pick Sonny Styles. They won five games in 2025, with two coming against the Giants and one against Eagles backups. Can the defensive overhaul get them back to the excitement of 2024, when they went 12-5 and won two playoff games? Dan Quinn needs two first-time coordinators — David Blough on offense, Daronte Jones on defense — to figure things out quickly. Odds to make playoffs: +100 Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys’ offense had another productive season in 2025. However, the defense was so bad last year, giving up a league-high 30 points a game. So, Christian Parker takes over on that side of the ball, becoming Dallas’ defensive coordinator with what looks to be six new starters, including promising rookie safety Caleb Downs. Even with their sluggish defense a year ago, the Cowboys were 6-5-1 after beating the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving, but then lost four of five to finish the season. Their success may hinge on a new secondary with Downs and safety Jalen Thompson leading the way. December looks daunting with trips to Seattle and Los Angeles before hosting the Jaguars, so the Cowboys might need to have a strong record through the first three months of the season. Odds to make playoffs: -155 The Cincinnati Bengals’ defense has been enough of a liability to negate a prolific passing game with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, keeping them out of the playoffs three years in a row. Zac Taylor likely won’t survive as the head coach with a fourth year like that. So, can big swings for Lawrence and edge rusher Boye Mafe get the Bengals to at least an average defense? Over the last two years, the Bengals have had four games in which they scored 38-plus points and lost — the rest of the NFL combined has had five such games. They’re favored to win 15 of their games, which is the second-most in the NFL, and have the third-easiest schedule based on their opponents’ combined winning percentage from last season. Odds to make playoffs: +125 It took a collapse in the second half of the season for the Buccaneers to even appear on this list. The Bucs were 6-2 last year before going on a nosedive, losing seven of eight games and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019. The offense was scuttled by injuries along the offensive line and at receiver down the stretch. While they should enter the year healthier (running back Bucky Irving is expected to be ready for training camp), this is a team that lost two franchise icons in receiver Mike Evans (signed with 49ers) and linebacker Lavonte David (retired), so finding new leadership will be a must. There’s excitement surrounding rookie edge rusher Rueben Bain, who wasn’t expected to fall to them at No. 15 and highlights a tougher, new-look defensive front. Odds to make playoffs: -235 Patrick Mahomes as an underdog? That’s what we have as the Kansas City Chiefs look to rebound from a 6-11 season, with Mahomes working to return from a torn ACL. He’s not the only Super Bowl MVP in the backfield now, either, as the team signed running back Kenneth Walker from Seattle. They lost Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson in the secondary, so first-round cornerback Mansoor Delane becomes a crucial piece. Eric Bieniemy is back as offensive coordinator. Can the Chiefs get back to the juggernaut they were just two years ago? Odds to make playoffs: -220 The Detroit Lions lost both coordinators from 2024 last year and took a step back, losing four of six to finish the year and missing the playoffs. There are big changes on the offensive line, with Penei Sewell flipping from right to left tackle. They also have newcomers in center Cade Mays and rookie right tackle Blake Miller. The schedule closes with a nasty stretch, with three division games on the road in the final four weeks of the season. If they don’t stockpile wins early, they’ll need a very strong finish in cold conditions to stay in contention. Luckily for the Lions, they have a last-place schedule this year, though, giving them the sixth-easiest schedule in 2026. Odds to make playoffs: -340 Those odds have an implied probability of 77% that the Baltimore Ravens make the playoffs, with a first-time head coach in Jesse Minter and a 30-year-old first-time play-caller in offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. Last year’s Ravens opened 1-5 amid a ton of injuries and couldn’t dig themselves out of that hole, costing Harbaugh his job. Getting defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike back is huge for the defense, and edge rusher Trey Hendrickson doesn’t hurt either. They close with four straight division games, including both Steelers games, so the AFC North will be decided in that stretch, as the Ravens have the ninth-easiest schedule this year.

Norway and Sweden head to the pitch in a friendly ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Norway will be making their fourth appearance in the tournament while Sweden will be making their 13th. Matteo Bonetti thinks the Norwegian squad are a potential World Cup dark horse. Here’s Bonetti: “Norway is back at the World Cup for the first time in 28 years, and it arrives as one of Europe’s most in-form sides. It dominated a Euro World Cup qualifying group that included Italy and also went undefeated during the qualifying process. Another story is that striker Erling Haaland has spent his entire career watching the World Cup on television; watching the other superstars get to shine on the biggest stage. Haaland scored a mind-numbing 16 goals in qualifying in just eight matches played. Simple math shows that’s an average of two goals per game. That just doesn’t happen in this sport. Norway did not sneak through — it bulldozed through, and Haaland did it with the energy of a man who benches small cars for fun and whose hair has its own agent. Anyway, Group I features France, Senegal and Iraq. Norway needs to finish second. Beating Senegal and taking something off France is entirely doable for a squad that also includes Martin Ødegaard and Alexander Sørloth floating around Haaland. Get into the knockouts, and nobody will want to play Norway. ” Here’s everything you need to know ahead of kickoff, including how to watch. How to Watch Norway vs Sweden Norway vs Sweden Odds Norway is favored to win the match, check out the full odds below: Team Form Check out how each team have recently performed below: Norway Sweden How to Watch World Cup 2026 Stream all FIFA World Cup games on FOX One from June 11 to July 19, 2026, as 48 national teams compete across the Group Stage and Knockout rounds. FOX One gives fans access to live games, pregame coverage, highlights, expert analysis, and unforgettable moments directly to your screen. Norway World Cup Schedule Sweden World Cup Schedule

Canada and Uzbekistan face off in a friendly ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Canada will be appearing in their third tournament while Uzbekistan will be marking their historic debut. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of kickoff, including how to watch. How to Watch Canada vs Uzbekistan Canada vs Uzbekistan Odds Canada is favored to win the match, check out the full odds below: World Cup Players to Watch The Canadians will lean on Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David. After several seasons of scoring goals with French side Lille, David is now trying to break through in more elite competition for Italian giants Juventus. Other players to keep an eye on are midfielders Tajon Buchanan (who plays at Spanish side Villarreal) and veteran Stephen Eustáquio, who co-captains Canada and is a steady presence at Portuguese club Porto. Abdukodir Khusanov headlines Uzbekistan’s national team after earning a move to Manchester City following several impressive seasons at Ligue 1 club Lens. Eldor Shomurodov brings top-level experience from Serie A, with stints at Genoa, Roma and Cagliari providing a veteran presence in the attack. Husniddin Aliqulov adds further stability to the back line through consistent performances in the Uzbekistan Super League and increased involvement in the national-team setup. Team Form Check out how each team have recently performed below: Canada Uzbekistan How to Watch World Cup 2026 Stream all FIFA World Cup games on FOX One from June 11 to July 19, 2026, as 48 national teams compete across the Group Stage and Knockout rounds. FOX One gives fans access to live games, pregame coverage, highlights, expert analysis, and unforgettable moments directly to your screen. Canada World Cup Schedule Uzbekistan World Cup Schedule

The best players in the world will be on display this summer at the 2026 World Cup. So, let’s rank them. Ahead of the world’s premier sporting event, our experts ranked the 100 best stars who will likely feature at this summer’s World Cup, hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. We have officially released all 100 players on our list, and there are some serious star players here. We’ve got legends, rising names and players looking for their World Cup breakout moments. From Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo to Spain’s Lamine Yamal and Egypt’s Mo Salah, we’ve got the biggest and best players covered. So where do the legends land, and which young stars beat them out on the countdown? JUMP TO: 100-76 | 75-51 | 50-26 | 25-11 | 10-1 Without further ado, let’s get into it with insight from FOX Sports soccer analysts Maurice Edu, Stu Holden and Alexi Lalas. 2026 FIFA World Cup Top 100 Players: Nos. 100-76 Age: 28National team appearances: 52Club team: AC Milan (Italy) Estupiñán thrived in the Premier League for three seasons with Brighton before making a move to AC Milan last summer. He is one of the impressive talents that make Ecuador a potential sleeper this summer. Age: 26National team appearances: 56Club team: Liverpool (England) Isak scored 52 goals in his last two seasons at Newcastle before making a big-money move to Liverpool last summer. Injuries have limited him to just four goals and 21 games this season, but he is a constant threat to score whenever he’s on the pitch. “This is a guy who shows he oozes quality in the final third,” Edu said. “He’s a guy that can be a threat in behind, he can link up play, but more than anything else, he’s a finisher.” Age: 29National team appearances: 77Club team: Bayern Munich (Germany) Kim won Serie A with Napoli in 2023 before making a big move to Bayern Munich. He hasn’t established himself as a first-choice player for the German giants, but he will be a pillar in the Korean defense this summer. “When we redo this, maybe at the end of the tournament, and we look back, we might say, ‘I can’t believe we had Kim only at 98,’ when he comes out as one of the great center backs of the tournament,” Lalas said. Age: 23National team appearances: 18Club team: Paris Saint-Germain (France) Barcola is one of the hugely talented French attacking players who will be vying for a starting spot. At 22 years old, Barcola is one of the best young wingers in the world and plays at PSG, which won last season’s UEFA Champions League. Age: 28National team appearances: 26Club team: Manchester United (England) Martínez would start at center back for most teams in this tournament, but he’s likely going to start as the third option behind Cristian Romero and Nicolas Otamendi, who started during Argentina’s winning run in 2022. He can fill in at left back, as well, and will play a role somehow for the reigning champions. Age: 25National team appearances: 49Club team: Manchester City (England) Foden was the Premier League Player of the Season in 2023-24, but he has not built off that honor. At 25 years old, he is yet to find his footing and establish a spot in the England team. Editor’s note: Foden will miss the World Cup after not being selected for England’s 26-man squad. Age: 28National team appearances: 31Club team: Brighton (England) Mitoma is an exciting winger who broke out two years ago for Brighton. He scored the winning goal for Japan back on March 31 in a friendly against England and will be the key player in attack for his country this summer. Editor’s note: Mitoma will miss the World Cup due to a hamstring injury on May 9. Age: 28National team appearances: 33Club team: Inter Milan (Italy) Kylian Mbappé will likely lead France’s attack at the start of the tournament, but Thuram is a very good alternative. Son of former France star Lilian Thuram, Marcus has scored at least 12 Serie A goals in each of his first three seasons at Inter Milan. Age: 29National team appearances: 52Club team: Real Sociedad (Spain) A winger by trade for Real Sociedad, Oyarzabal has stepped up as a striker for the national team in the past. The best example was in the Euro 2024 final, when he scored the winning goal for Spain against England. “Just an absolute baller,” Holden said. “I think he should be so much higher than 92. He’s so underrated. He’s 29 years old, and he’s played in six finals in his career. Do you know in how many of those finals he has scored? All six. He’s scored in every final that he has played in.” Age: 24National team appearances: 24Club team: Paris Saint-Germain (France) Ramos famously replaced Cristiano Ronaldo in the Portugal lineup for a Round of 16 game against Switzerland at the 2022 World Cup and scored a hat trick. Ronaldo will likely start the tournament up front for Portugal, but Ramos is one of the best backup strikers you’ll see this summer. Age: 34National team appearances: 125Club team: Fulham (England) Jiménez is a fixture in the Fulham starting lineup and will be the main man for Mexico this summer. With 44 goals for El Tri, he’s two goals behind former striker Jared Borgetti for second most all time. “The pressure that’s going to be on his shoulders will be incredibly heavy,” Edu said. Age: 20National team appearances: 28Club team: Juventus (Italy) Yıldız broke into the Juventus lineup three years ago and quickly became a focal point of the team’s attack. At 20 years old, he has already made 28 appearances for Türkiye. “He is a guy that, at any moment, can change a game,” Holen said. Age: 27National team appearances: 16Club team: Arsenal (England) Eze made a huge move to Arsenal last summer and immediately became a big part of Mikel Arteta’s squad. He normally plays an attacking role, but he could push for the spot in England’s midfield that is usually occupied by Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham. Age: 29National team appearances: 41Club team: Arsenal (England) Merino is unlikely to start for Spain, but he’ll still probably play a big role. He scored eight goals in 10 appearances last year for the reigning European champions. A midfielder by trade, Merino has also played as a striker for both club and country. Age: 34National team appearances: 84Club team: Manchester United (England) Casemiro is a four-time Champions League winner at Real Madrid, but he hasn’t maintained his high level of quality since moving to Manchester United in 2022. His former Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti, is now in charge of Brazil and brought the midfielder back to the national team last year. “Have you watched Casemiro this season? He’s having a renaissance,” Holden said. “He’s been flying. Brazil is going to need him with some of the injuries they’re picking up now.” Age: 30National team appearances: 41Club team: Paris Saint-Germain (France) Ruiz was part of PSG’s dominant midfield trio last year that powered the team’s Champions League victory. Spain’s midfield is loaded with talent, so it won’t be as easy for him to find a spot in the starting lineup. Age: 25National team appearances: 27Club team: Manchester City (England) Guéhi was the captain for Crystal Palace last summer when the South London club won the FA Cup. He moved to Manchester City earlier this year and has immediately become a fixture in the reigning Premier League champion’s defense. Age: 25National team appearances: 15Club team: Liverpool (England) Frimpong is listed as a defender, but he’s as important to the Dutch attack as he is to its defense. He has impressive pace and is a constant threat down the right wing when he’s on the pitch. Age: 26National team appearances: 22Club team: Chelsea (England) James will be an important player for England this summer with versatility to play either right back or midfield. Staying healthy has been James’ problem at Chelsea, although he has played in more than two dozen games in the Premier League this season. Age: 33National team appearances: 143Club team: LAFC (United States) Son is in the middle of his first full season in Los Angeles after a decade in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur. He’s South Korea’s all-time leader in national team appearances. “He’s struggling a little bit at the start of the season from a goals perspective. But I still think when it comes to South Korea, when it comes to big games, I don’t worry for a second,” Holden said. Age: 27National team appearances: 46Club team: Barcelona (Spain) Koundé will likely start at right back for the French, who are among the favorites this summer. He has made at least 40 appearances in each of the last four seasons for Barcelona. Age: 27National team appearances: 84Club team: AC Milan (Italy) “Captain America” will have all eyes on him this summer. At 27 years old, Pulisic has already made 84 appearances for the U.S. national team. His 32 goals are 25 behind Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey. Pulisic has not scored for the U.S. since November 2024, so he’ll need to regain his form if the Americans want to make a run into the knockout round. “On talent alone, Pulisic is a top-40 player in the world,” Holden said. Age: 21National team appearances: 28Club team: Real Madrid (Spain) Güler is finishing up his third season at Real Madrid and has emerged as a key player in the squad. He will be the main man for Türkiye for years to come, starting with this summer’s World Cup. “Güler and Kenan Yıldız are going to play a big part for Türkiye in this World Cup,” Holden said. “Playing at Real Madrid, there’s a certain level of not just quality that you need to have, but personality — being able to handle the weight of that shirt. And now, when you put on that Türkiye jersey as well, we’ve seen him deliver. At such a young age, we have seen him take that responsibility.” Age: 27National team appearances: 32Club team: Arsenal (England) Gyökeres scored a memorable hat trick against Poland in the UEFA World Cup playoffs in March, including one in the 87th minute to seal a 3-2 win. He moved to Arsenal last summer and has 18 goals in all competitions. Age: 27National team appearances: 48Club team: Barcelona (Spain) Olmo emerged as a key player for Spain at Euro 2024. He scored three goals — finishing in a six-way tie for the Golden Boot — including one in the quarterfinal and semifinal against Germany and France, respectively. 2026 FIFA World Cup Top 100 Players: Nos. 75-51 Age: 31National team appearances: 66Club team: Barcelona (Spain), on loan from Al-Hilal Few defenders will be important attackers for their countries this summer, but Cancelo is one of them. The right back has impressive pace that makes him a threat down the wing. He has 12 goals in 66 appearances for Portugal, which is a very good rate for a defender. Age: 24National team appearances: 22Club team: Arsenal (England) Martinelli will be a key player for Brazil this summer. He has struggled to establish a starting spot on the left wing because of Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo, but his pace means he will be a key contributor this summer. He only has one Premier League goal for Arsenal this season, so he isn’t in the best form right now. Age: 27National team appearances: 64Club team: Juventus (Italy) McKennie is the highest-rated American player on this list, having established himself as a fixture in Juventus’ lineup. He has played at least 34 games in Italy’s Serie A in each of the last three seasons and has been all over the field — in defense at fullback, in midfield and as an attacker. “The guy is a baller. I would say he’s having the most impressive season of his career,” Holden added. “The most important thing is, now he’s playing further forward up the field, and he’s shown that he can score goals and create assists.” McKennie can do it all, which the United States may need him to do this summer if it makes a run through the knockout stages. If the Americans are playing, expect to see a lot of McKennie. “Ever since he came into the national team, when he’s on the pitch, the team has a different kind of bounce to them,” Edu said. “He’s expressive in everything he does, whether that’s attacking play in the final third or being on the opposite end defending and tracking back. One of the beautiful things about him is that he’s so adaptable. To me, he’s growing into being probably the most important player on this team.” Age: 27National team appearances: 44Club team: Liverpool (England) Mac Allister will be a key presence in the Argentina midfield this summer, as he was in 2022 en route to World Cup glory. Since then, he moved to Liverpool and won the Premier League last season. Mac Allister is capable of popping up and scoring a huge goal while also dictating the game on the ball. He’s one of the best center midfielders in the world. “If it’s one game in a World Cup to win, I want that guy on my team,” Holden said. “He’s a World Cup winner, a Premier League winner. He’s a gamer. He can flick the light switch and be a baller.” Age: 26National team appearances: 43Club team: AC Milan (Italy) When Leão is fit and in form, few attackers in the world are better. Consistency has been the issue for the Portugal attacker, who has only scored five goals in 43 games for the national team. If he’s in form, Leão could be an X-factor capable of pushing Portugal over the top this summer. Age: 28National team appearances: 82Club team: Crystal Palace (England) Sarr played all 38 games in the Premier League for Crystal Palace last season, during which the South London club also won the FA Cup. Sarr has made 83 appearances for Senegal and will be one of the go-to guys for his country this summer, alongside teammate Sadio Mané. Age: 30National team appearances: 38Club team: AC Milan (Italy) Hugo Lloris retired from international play after the 2022 World Cup, and Maignan stepped in and hasn’t given the job up. Maignan is one of the best shot-stopping goalkeepers in the world and is firmly entrenched as AC Milan’s starter. He will be one of the best last lines of defense for a French squad that will be one of the most talented in World Cup history. Age: 24National team appearances: 8Club team: Chelsea (England) Brazil has been looking for a definitive No. 9 in its lineup for years, and Pedro might be the answer. After two impressive seasons at Brighton, he has 14 Premier League goals for Chelsea this season. He’ll likely be the focal point of Brazil’s attack this summer, which puts a lot on his shoulders for the perennial contender. “He’s a guy that’s very dynamic on the ball,” Holden said. “He can run in behind, he likes to drop underneath and hold the ball up. You have someone that needs to say, ‘I’m going to be that guy that scores goals for Brazil,’ and I think João Pedro has the ability to do that.” Age: 25National team appearances: 31Club team: Arsenal (England) Since beginning his Arsenal career in 2022, Saliba has become one of the best defenders in the world. He’s an impressive athlete who was part of the French team that made it to the 2022 World Cup final. He’ll be one of the first names on the team sheet for Les Bleus this summer. “They call him the Rolls-Royce, Mr. William Saliba,” Edu said. “The guy does ooze class. He plays with a certain level of composure as a center back. He wins his one-on-one duels. He’s very strong, competitive and physical.” Age: 31National team appearances: 104Club team: Paris Saint-Germain (France) At 31 years old, Marquinhos has already played 104 times for his country. He has been widely considered one of the best defenders in the world for the past decade, having played more than 500 games for PSG since arriving in 2013. The 31-year-old is still playing at a high level and will be wearing the captain’s armband for Brazil this summer. “Marquinhos is going to have to be big with the injury to Militão,” Lalas said. Age: 19National team appearances: 11Club team: Barcelona (Spain) Cubarsí turned 19 in January and has already played 125 times for Barcelona. He’s less established for Spain, having only made 11 appearances for the national team. There is a lot of competition for spots in the Spanish defense, and it would not surprise anyone if Cubarsí was in the lineup for the team’s World Cup opener against Cape Verde on June 15. Age: 33National team appearances: 76Club team: Liverpool (England) Part of what makes Alisson one of the best goalkeepers in the world is his ability with his feet. He may be the best passer at his position in world soccer. His problem in past years has been staying on the pitch, as he’s missed at least 10 Premier League games in each of the last three seasons. When he’s between the posts, though, he’s still one of the world’s best for both club and country. Age: 26National team appearances: 27Club team: Liverpool (England) Konaté ranks just higher than Saliba, who he’ll likely partner in the middle of the French defense this summer. He’s one of the most physically imposing defenders in the world at 6-foot-4, and he also has the pace to stay with any attacker in the tournament. Age: 24National team appearances: 46Club team: Manchester City (England) Gvardiol is the most expensive defender in soccer history, having cost Manchester City $105 million back in 2023. He has been injured for much of this season, but he’s one of the best passing defenders in the world. While Luka Modrić runs the Croatian midfield, Gvardiol will command the defense. Age: 26National team appearances: 48Club team: Liverpool (England) Gakpo will be the key player in the Netherlands’ attack this summer, especially with news that his Oranje teammate Xavi Simons tore his ACL late in the season for Tottenham. Gakpo has emerged as a key playmaker for Liverpool and can play anywhere in attack. He’ll need to be at his best wherever he plays if the Dutch are going to contend this summer. “When he gets to the World Cup and big tournaments, he starts to get hot and score goals,” Holden said. “He broke onto the scene at the 2022 World Cup. He’s got a lot of ability running at players, and it gets a little frantic, but he’s streaky. He can score goals. Tons of talent.” Age: 22National team appearances: 7Club team: Barcelona (Spain) López is the perfect example of the impressive depth that Spain has in midfield. He has made more than 120 appearances for Barcelona over the past three seasons, but he might not come close to cracking the starting lineup. López is more than capable of scoring and creating goals and will be a key player for Spain this summer, regardless of whether he starts games. Age: 33National team appearances: 113Club team: Liverpool (England) Salah is lower on this list than he would have a couple of years ago. He is no longer in the conversation as one of the best players in the world, but he’ll still be the go-to guy for Egypt this summer. Salah’s post-World Cup future is up in the air, as he will be leaving Liverpool, but he’s Egypt’s main hope to make any noise this summer. “For a guy that’s done so much in his career, this is a massive opportunity,” Edu said. “When you talk about legacy and what you want to leave behind at club and national team level, for Mo Salah, if you can guide your team into the knockout round of the World Cup, it just adds to the legend. “I love the chance that he has at this World Cup to really cement who he is both at club and national team level.” Age: 23National team appearances: 25Club team: Liverpool (England) Gravenberch moved to Liverpool in 2023 after an uneventful season at Bayern Munich, and he has established himself as an elite defensive midfielder. He was a key player last season when Liverpool won the Premier League and has remained a fixture in the Reds’ midfield. Age: 29National team appearances: 69Club team: Napoli (Italy) McTominay went from Manchester United outcast to Napoli legend in his first season in Italy. He was the Serie A Player of the Season with Napoli winning the league in 2025. McTominay has also scored big goals for his country and will be Scotland’s key man in the middle this summer. If the Scots score a big goal or get a big result, chances are McTominay will be a big reason why. “The amount of respect he has gotten in Serie A, and again this year with Napoli — he’s physically so tall, so fast, strong and powerful,” Holden said. “He can score goals, he can assist. He’s a top-30 player in the world right now, Scott McTominay, for sure. Not even a question.” Age: 24National team appearances: 34Club team: Paris Saint-Germain (France) Pacho broke out last season for PSG, cementing his spot in the middle of the French champions’ defense. From there, he starred en route to Champions League glory. He’ll partner Arsenal’s Piero Hincapíé in the middle of Ecuador’s back four, which on paper might be one of the stronger units in the field. “Ecuador is my dark horse, and they’re going to make a run in this tournament built off being strong defensively,” Edu said. “William Pacho being at center back plays a massive role in that equation.” Age: 27National team appearances: 67Club team: Arsenal (England) Two years ago, Ødegaard was considered one of the top play-making midfielders in the world. His last two seasons at Arsenal have been ravaged by injuries, though, so he hasn’t been able to regain that form. He’ll be the key playmaker for Norway this summer with the goal of feeding strikers Erling Haaland and Alexander Sørloth. “He’s had so many injuries this season at club level,” Edu said. “At his best, this guy is a top-10 chance-maker in the world — his creativity, his weight of the final pass, his vision to see the final pass. “But as of late, it’s kind of been stop-start. It’s going to be him and Erling Haaland that really steer this ship and determine the fortunes for how far Norway can go.” Age: 25National team appearances: 40Club team: Chelsea (England) Fernández broke out during Argentina’s run to World Cup glory in 2022 and made a move to Chelsea one month after lifting the trophy. He’s an all-action midfielder who can cover every blade of grass and is capable of popping up with a big goal when necessary. He’ll be the key man in Argentina’s midfield this summer. Age: 23National team appearances: 30Club team: Athletic Club Bilbao (Spain) Williams was a star during Spain’s run two years ago at the Euros, but he hasn’t ascended at the club level since then. He has limitless potential and will be a key attacking option for Spain this summer. Whether he’s a starter or is doing so off the bench remains to be seen. “In the Euros, he was unplayable,” Holden said. “Nobody could stop him.” Age: 27National team appearances: 25Club team: Arsenal (England) When Rodri got hurt in the first half of the Euro 2024 final against England, Zubimendi stepped in at halftime and helped lead Spain to victory. “When I see him for Spain, I see a freer version of Zubimendi, and I think that’s where he is a little bit better because he can get around the field a little bit more,” Holden said. “He can read the spaces, and there are different types of combinations and a little bit more free-flowing attacking play. I think we see a better version of him with Spain than we do at Arsenal.” If healthy, Rodri is likely to start over Zubimendi, but the Arsenal midfielder provides plenty of stability off the bench when necessary. “This summer, based on the health, the fitness and the form of Rodri, he will have a significant role to play for Spain,” Edu said. “I still look at Zubimendi — he’s a top player. Quality on the ball, quality in the way that he sees the game. He’s just got to get back to being at his very best.” Age: 34National team appearances: 124Club team: Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia) Mané just turned 34, so his best days might be behind him, but he could definitely still be an impact player this summer. He is Senegal’s all-time leading goalscorer, and he’s five appearances behind teammate Idrissa Gueye’s 131 for the most in the history of the national team. “He’s going to be so important for Senegal,” Holden said. “In his day, this guy was a phenomenal player — 120 goals from 2016 to 2022 for Liverpool.” 2026 FIFA World Cup Top 100 Players: Nos. 50-26 Age: 27National team appearances: 23Club team: Chelsea (England) While players have come and gone at Chelsea over the past few years, Cucurella has been one constant presence. He’ll enter the World Cup having played more than 100 games over the past two seasons for the Blues, all since starting for Spain en route to the Euro 2024 crown two years ago. “He’s a shutdown defender,” Holden said. “Look, he’s played against some of the best in the world, and I’ve seen him play one-on-one. He’s smart. He’s tough. He’s a hard-nosed defender at the end of the day. He’s a guy I want on my team.” Age: 29National team appearances: 64Club team: Barcelona (Spain) Any manager would love to have a player like de Jong in midfield. The Barcelona man controls play and is one of the best defensive midfielders in the world. The combination of de Jong and Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch will be one of the best midfield duos in the tournament. Age: 33National team appearances: 59Club team: Aston Villa (England) Martínez burst onto the scene in 2020 for Arsenal, and his ascension has seemingly never stopped. He quickly became Argentina’s starting goalkeeper, and then he was the hero in the 2022 World Cup final in the penalty shootout. Martínez is among the best goalkeepers in the world and brings an attitude to the game that has the spotlight constantly on him. Age: 28National team appearances: 41Club team: Newcastle (England) Guimarães will be a big presence in midfield for Brazil. He’s capable of covering every blade of grass and has the kind of attitude that wins games. Age: 29National team appearances: 74Club team: Manchester City (England) Dias was the 2021 Premier League Player of the Season for Manchester City in his first year at the club. He is one of the most decorated defenders in the world. All that’s missing for the physical center back is success at the international level with Portugal. This summer will be a great chance for him to achieve that. Age: 27National team appearances: 30Club team: Manchester City (England) While de Jong and Gravenberch do the dirty work in the Dutch midfield, Reijnders will be pulling the strings. The Dutchman thrived at AC Milan before moving to Manchester City ahead of this past season. While he hasn’t maintained a consistent starting spot, he’s the kind of midfielder who can control the tempo of a game. Age: 34National team appearances: 107Club team: Real Madrid (Spain) Over the past decade, he has been the best goalkeeper in the world. At 6-foot-7, it’s very difficult to beat Courtois, who has put in match-winning performances on the biggest stages at Real Madrid. His performance at the 2022 Champions League Final in Real’s 1-0 win over Liverpool was the stuff of legend. Belgium has a big leg up with Courtois between the posts. Age: 35National team appearances: 67Club team: Fenerbahçe (Türkiye) Kanté may not be the flashiest name on the French team sheet, but he is arguably its most indispensable asset. Now 35 and playing in Turkey, the veteran has defied age to prove he is still one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe. As a key architect of France’s 2018 World Cup glory, the tireless midfielder has built a career on disrupting world-class attacks with a smile on his face. Age: 33National team appearances: 82Club team: Real Madrid (Spain) Rüdiger moved to Real Madrid in 2022 and quickly established himself as one of the best center backs in the world. He’s on the back nine of his career at 33 years old, but he would start for every country in this tournament. At 6-foot-3, Rüdiger brings an impressive combination of size and athleticism to the table that is rarely matched. Age: 22National team appearances: 5Club team: Manchester City (England) Cherki is finishing up his first season at Manchester City and has found his form since the calendar turned to 2026. He is a dynamic dribbler who’s very difficult to get the ball away from, and he’s scored some massive goals late in the season to show off his end product. “He’s silky smooth — like butter,” Holden said. “This guy is different. He has an aura. He has class. He’s skillful. He’s not afraid to take players on, and I think he’s becoming a poster boy for this over-coaching generation: Just let a guy like him be him. Let him enjoy the game. He makes me enjoy the game by watching him, and if anything, I think he should be higher than No. 41.” Cherki faces an uphill battle to start in a supremely talented France squad, but his late-season form might make manager Didier Deschamps’ decision easy. “I think everyone agrees he has the potential to be one of the greats,” Lalas said. Age: 41National team appearances: 226Club team: Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia) This may seem low for Ronaldo, but it’s impressive for the 41-year-old goalscoring extraordinaire to still be competing at this level. “We have underestimated just how much quality this guy still has at his age,” Holden said. “We look at the number, but age is only a number. I know he’s been playing in Saudi Arabia, and we talk about his level dropping, but the reality is that in the Nations League and in qualifying, Ronaldo was scoring goals left and right.” He’s closing in on 1,000 goals for his career and has the chance this summer to add the one piece of silverware his incredible resume is missing: the World Cup. “You need a winner,” Edu said. “You need a guy with this level of experience, a guy who has scored in five consecutive World Cups. No. 40? There, I said it: Cristiano should be higher. Even at this precious, delicate age of 41 years young, Cristiano Ronaldo is still a winner. He has a winner’s mentality.” Age: 23National team appearances: 41Club team: Manchester City (England) Doku is a defender’s nightmare when he is on his game. The Belgian winger might be the best dribbler in the World Cup. He’s smooth on the ball and has impressive pace and quickness that will wreak havoc in the opposition’s 18-yard box. With midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and striker Romelu Lukaku getting up there in years, Doku looks like the future of the Belgium team. Age: 20National team appearances: 6Club team: Paris Saint-Germain (France) Doué will turn 21 during the World Cup and is already one of the best wingers in the world. He scored in last year’s Champions League Final, which PSG won, and quickly has become a major contender for minutes in France’s stacked attack. Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise all seemingly have spots filled. Doué and Cherki will be the key contenders to start alongside that trio. Age: 34National team appearances: 117Club team: Napoli (Italy) While De Bruyne is getting older, class is permanent. At 34 years old, he is still one of the best playmakers in world soccer. The key for him is to make sure he stays healthy so he can add to his 117 national-team appearances and 36 goals. If Belgium has success this summer, it will go through its midfield maestro. Age: 30National team appearances: 71Club team: Inter Milan (Italy) Dumfries has established himself as one of the best attacking fullbacks in the world over the past few years. The right back is a constant goal threat and will be a focal point for opposition looking to slow down the Dutch this summer. Look for him to play a key role on both ends of the pitch for the Netherlands. Age: 23National team appearances: 43Club team: Paris Saint-Germain (France) Mendes is the No. 2 left back on this list and No. 3 fullback. He joined PSG in 2021 and quickly established himself as an elite player at his position. Mendes is one of the fastest fullbacks in the world, and he’s also an extremely capable defender. With João Cancelo at right back and Mendes on the left, Portugal have one of the best fullback pairs in the tournament. Age: 40National team appearances: 196Club team: AC Milan (Italy) This feels like it will be Modrić’s final major tournament for Croatia, but it feels unwise to count out the 40-year-old. After 13 years at Real Madrid, he moved to AC Milan before this past season and has not lost a step. Few players possess the control that Modrić has, and he can still boss a game as well as any midfielder in the world. Modrić’s 196 international appearances for Croatia rank third among players likely to play this summer, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo (226) and Lionel Messi (198). “I love watching Luka Modrić play,” Holden said. “He’s the ultimate conductor in the middle of the field. His technical ability, his engine — he can just run for days upon days. Age: 24National team appearances: 14Club team: Chelsea (England) Palmer joined Chelsea in 2023, and he will enter the World Cup in maybe his worst form since that move. The England midfielder scored 37 Premier League goals in his first two seasons with the Blues, but injuries have halted his progression this year. Still, we know what he is capable of, as evidenced by his goal in the Euro 2024 final against Spain. Whether Palmer starts for England remains to be seen, but the left-footed playmaker is likely to play a key role for the Three Lions. Editor’s note: Palmer will miss the World Cup after not being selected for England’s 26-man squad. Age: 23National team appearances: 40Club team: Bayern Munich (Germany) The 23-year-old suffered a fractured fibula during last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup and missed the rest of 2025. Since then, he has slowly returned to the form that makes him one of the world’s best playmakers. An elite dribbler, Musiala will be at the core of the German attack this summer. If he is playing well, expect Germany to become a contender for the title. “He, to me, is must-see TV,” Edu said. “He’s elite in terms of the way he just glides around the pitch. He’s not your overly flashy kind of player, but for Germany, since his introduction back in 2021 or so, the guy has matured year after year after year.” Age: 31National team appearances: 107Club team: Manchester City (England) Silva is finishing his final season at Manchester City after nine years at the club that have seen him win everything. He has six Premier League winners medals to go with two FA Cup and five EFL Cup victories, as well as the 2023 Champions League. He’s as dependable a player as they come in midfield and, along with Bruno Fernandes, will orchestrate the Portuguese attack this summer to help complement Ronaldo. Age: 25National team appearances: 58Club team: Bayern Munich (Germany) Davies moved to Canada when he was 5 years old and became the face of Canadian soccer about 12 years later. He started his career in MLS with the Vancouver Whitecaps before moving to Bayern Munich in 2018. From there, he became the best attacking left back in the world with his impressive pace and physicality. For Canada, Davies plays a more attacking role. He will have to play well if the host nation is going to succeed this summer. “Make no mistake about it: Alphonso Davies is by far the most important player for Canada,” Edu said. “Where he ends up playing positionally — whether it’s at left back or higher up the pitch in the attacking phase — is yet to be determined, and Jesse Marsch has the flexibility to play with that and tinker with it. “But at his best, Alphonso Davies is elite. He’s a quality player. He brings a different dynamic with his pace and, more than anything, his experience playing at such a high level on a consistent basis and playing a large role within a Bayern team.” Age: 31National team appearances: 108Club team: Bayern Munich (Germany) Kimmich is approaching 500 career appearances for Bayern Munich and has already played 108 times for Germany. The 31-year-old is a born leader and will patrol the midfield this summer for the Germans. He doesn’t seem to ever stop running and can play all over the pitch. Teams that win big tournaments like the World Cup need versatile and driven players like Kimmich in their team. Age: 34National team appearances: 90Club team: Liverpool (England) The No. 2-ranked center back on this list has been the standard at the position since moving to Liverpool in 2018. At 6-foot-5, van Dijk has impressive pace to accompany his size, which means few attackers are able to dribble past him. He has won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League with Liverpool, but there’s no international glory to go along with that. The 34-year-old Dutch captain will be the driving force of his team’s defense this summer. Age: 24National team appearances: 48Club team: Arsenal (England) Saka broke into the England team in 2021 and immediately made the right wing his position. The 24-year-old has 14 goals — three of which came at the 2022 World Cup — in 48 appearances for England and is a key player in the Three Lions’ attack. The fourth-highest ranked English player on this list, England will rely heavily on the left-footed Saka to create chances for goalscorer extraordinaire Harry Kane. “He is a player who has to show up for England,” Edu said. “England will tell you every single World Cup that it’s coming home. If they truly believe that, Bukayo Saka is one of those players who has to be at his very best and sharpest to give them a chance.” Age: 28National team appearances: 75Club team: Inter Milan (Italy) Martínez has scored more than 200 goals between Inter Milan and the national team since moving to Italy in 2018. He has firmly established himself as one of the best and most consistent strikers in the world, having scored at least 20 goals in each of the last five seasons. Whether Martínez starts for Argentina remains to be seen, with Julián Álvarez also thriving alongside Lionel Messi. 2026 FIFA World Cup Top 100 Players: Nos. 25-11 Age: 26National team appearances: 44Club team: Real Madrid (Spain) If France wins the World Cup this summer, the victory will be powered by its star attackers. Tchouaméni will likely be the unsung hero in midfield, though. The Real Madrid man will be on the ball more than any other French player this summer, dictating where the ball goes in attack and breaking up the opposition’s attacks. Tchouaméni is one of the best midfielders in the world, and his job is to complement the tournament’s best attack. Age: 26National team appearances: 34Club team: Manchester City (England) Semenyo has been a revelation in the Premier League this season. The London-born winger scored 10 goals in 20 appearances for Bournemouth before moving to Manchester City in January. England would love to have Semenyo in the fold for this tournament, but he made his debut for Ghana in 2022. He has become one of the best wingers in the world this season and will be the driving force behind any success Ghana has this summer. “One I want to pick out, Semenyo,” Holden said. “He was phenomenal for Bournemouth. He’s gone to Man City. I think he’s played every minute of every game for the last two years. He doesn’t miss games. He just plays. He’s an absolute amazing player, he glides, he’s on his toes constantly the way he moves, good finisher.” Holden later added: “I do like Semenyo as a player. I think it’s a fair number in terms of talent and ability.” Age: 29National team appearances: 72Club team: Bayern Munich (Germany) Díaz was already known as one of the best wingers in the world after four seasons at Liverpool, but he has gone to another level this season after moving to Bayern Munich. The Colombian winger is nonstop action when he’s on the pitch with a relentless motor and impressive pace that will create problems for any defense. While James Rodriguez is the big name for Colombia, Díaz will be the key player for it this summer. “Luis Diaz is Colombia’s by far and away most important player for them to have a good run in this World Cup,” Stu Holden said. “He’s a difference maker. That looks like a bargain for what Bayern paid for him from Liverpool. And that was a big price tag… I think what he’s shown is that going to a league in Germany, he has thrived. He’s going to be a big player in this World Cup.” Maurice Edu also praised Diaz’s impact, saying: “When you talk about the numbers that he’s put up, when you talk about his ability to be an individual game changer, solo magician, goals, assists… you can’t look beyond Luis Diaz and what he’s done.” Age: 23National team appearances: 39Club team: Liverpool (England) Wirtz broke out during the 2023-24 season when he led Bayer Leverkusen to an upset victory in the German Bundesliga. He scored 34 goals in his final two seasons with Leverkusen before making a nine-figure move to Liverpool, where he has failed to reach the same heights. Still, Wirtz will be a crucial factor for Germany this summer, alongside Jamal Musiala. The two young playmakers will be the keys for Germany for the next decade, if everything goes to plan. Age: 28National team appearances: 17Club team: Arsenal (England) Gabriel is the No. 1-ranked center back on this list, having established himself on both ends of the pitch for Arsenal in recent years. The Brazilian has made more than 220 appearances over the past five seasons for the Gunners, and he has established himself as a first-choice player for the national team. Gabriel has also made his name in attack as one of the best threats from corner and free kicks. The left-footed defender, though, will be a key cog as Brazil looks to return to glory this summer. Age: 24National team appearances: 60Club team: Chelsea (England) While Chelsea has been hot and cold in recent years, Caicedo’s presence in midfield is immense. In his first three seasons for the Blues, he has made just shy of 150 appearances. He is a physical player who is not afraid of a tackle. Along with defenders Willian Pacho and Piero Hincapié, Caicedo is the main man in a strong center of an Ecuador team that could play spoiler this summer. Age: 27National team appearances: 72Club team: Arsenal (England) Rice is an all-action midfielder who covers every blade of grass whenever he’s on the field. He is England’s engine and one of the first names on the team sheet. Over the past five seasons (two with West Ham and the last three with Arsenal), Rice has played more than 250 games. He is the definition of a box-to-box midfielder who will play a big role in both attack and defense for manager Thomas Tuchel’s team. When England is playing, expect to see a lot of Rice. “I like his all-around game,” Edu said. “He can play as a box-to-box midfielder. He can play as a number six, comfortable on the ball, aggressive in the challenge in that midfield.” Edu also highlighted Rice’s leadership qualities heading into the tournament. “He is the leader on the pitch,” Edu said. “If England are truly going to bring it home and have it coming home, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham are two guys that have to play massive roles throughout the course of this summer.” Holden added: “This season has changed the way we think about Declan Rice… he’s raised his profile and shown us that he has another level.” Age: 22National team appearances: 46Club team: Real Madrid (Spain) Bellingham broke out as a 17-year-old at Borussia Dortmund before a 2023 move to Real Madrid, with which he won the Champions League in his first season. In his third season in Spain, the 22-year-old hasn’t reached the heights he did in his first two campaigns. He is a constant threat in the 18-yard box and has scored many big goals for England. Already with 46 appearances for the national team at his young age, Bellingham is the present and future for the Three Lions. Whether they’re able to bring the World Cup home this summer may depend on his form. “Look, player of the year in the Bundesliga in ’23, player of the year in La Liga in 2024,” Holden said. “He was awesome for England at the Euro as well. He’s surrounded by global superstars at Real Madrid.” Despite discussing Bellingham’s recent dip in form, Holden remained optimistic about the England star’s future. “I don’t worry about him longer term,” Holden said. “He set such a high expectation for those years and now we’re like, ‘Okay, you’re a big star. You got to deliver.’” Age: 21National team appearances: 21Club team: Paris Saint-Germain (France) As a 19-year-old, Neves played 55 games for Benfica in Portugal before making a move to PSG, with which he won the Champions League in his first season. At just 5-foot-9, Neves is not an imposing figure in midfield, but he controls the game as well as any player in the world. He is a menace defensively but can also drive the ball up field with it at his feet. He will partner PSG teammate Vitinha and veteran midfielders Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva for a Portugal team that may boast the best midfield in the tournament. Age: 38National team appearances: 198Club team: Inter Miami (USA) Maybe the best player of all time, Messi will turn 39 years old on June 24. He is still extremely capable of leading the reigning world champions to a repeat run at the title. Messi has spent the past three seasons in MLS and is still averaging well north of 1.5 goals/assists per game for Inter Miami. Messi has made a staggering 198 appearances (second most among players likely to appear at the tournament) for Argentina with 116 goals to his name. As long as he is on the field, he will be the go-to guy for Argentines, who will go as far in the tournament as he takes them. “Lionel Messi, I think what you’re seeing with him being at 16 is an MLS bias,” Holden said. “He’s lower than he should be. I think still this is the GOAT. This is the greatest player of all time.” Holden continued: “I still think he will be as lethal as ever on the ball in the World Cup this summer. He’s the best player I’ve ever seen with my eyes and he can do things on the ball… at any given time.” Edu echoed that praise. “The guy is just a pure footballer,” Edu said. “When he’s on the ball, he is always the difference for Argentina… he still has that elite level quality, that GOAT level quality.” Alexi Lalas also emphasized Messi’s ability to deliver on the biggest stage. “He delivers and time and time again, he delivers,” Lalas said. “Nobody would put it past him.” Age: 29National team appearances: 37Club team: Barcelona (Spain) While Vinícius Júnior makes the headlines for Brazil, Raphinha will be just as important to any success that the Seleção will have this summer. He moved to Barcelona in 2022 after two seasons in the Premier League with Leeds United and has been a key man for the club since. His best moment was the 2024-25 season, when he registered 34 goals and 22 assists across 57 games. He has been injured for a large part of this season but is regaining fitness just in time to play a starring role for Brazil this summer. The left-footed winger will be a force to be reckoned with on the right wing. “Raphinha has been amazing since that transfer from Leeds to Barcelona,” Holden said. “He’s had a little bit of injuries of late, but I think Brazil, if they’re back, if they’re going to be good this World Cup, they’re going to rely a lot on Raphinha.” Age: 29National team appearances: 61Club team: Manchester City (England) When Spain won Euro 2024, it was with Rodri pulling the strings in midfield. His performances that year with the national team and winning the Premier League with Manchester City saw him win the Ballon d’Or, which goes to the best player in the world for that season. Unfortunately, the past two seasons since that Euro triumph have been defined by injuries, with him playing just four games the following season while dealing with a knee injury. When he is fit, he is one of the first names on the team sheet for Spain. Rodri is one of the best midfielders in the world, dictating play on the ball while breaking up opposing attacks defensively. “Man, Rodri, what a player,” Holden said. “We feel his presence when he’s not there for Manchester City. When he was injured, you saw the drop in their form.” Holden also praised Rodri’s intelligence and influence on matches. “He’s so smart up in the head, physically so good,” Holden said. “If he wants the game to go fast, the game goes fast. If he wants to slow the game down, he goes slow. I think he’s incredible.” Age: 26National team appearances: 51Club team: Atlético Madrid (Spain) Álvarez’s coming-out party was during the 2024 World Cup, when he was a key piece in Argentina’s attack en route to the title. After two seasons at Manchester City, Álvarez moved to Atlético Madrid, where he has played more of a starring role as a center forward. Technically quick with his feet, Álvarez’s work rate is impressive for a striker. After years of looking for the ideal strike partner next to Messi, Álvarez has emerged as the ideal player to go alongside the all-time great. He’ll play a crucial part in Argentina’s title defense. Age: 31National team appearances: 87Club team: Manchester United (England) Since moving to Manchester United in January 2020, Fernandes has been one of the best playmakers in the Premier League. He has made more than 300 appearances for the Red Devils in those six seasons. While Ronaldo will grab the headlines, the Portuguese attack will go through Fernandes. He has 19 assists in the Premier League this season, and he’s second in the Premier League in assists to only Mohamed Salah since arriving in England. Given his recent form, ability to create scoring chances and to score goals, Fernandes will be the star man for Portugal’s attack this summer. “A player I want to look at — throw some respect on Bruno Fernandes,” Holden said. “The season he’s having right now for Manchester United… he’s been the captain there for a number of years now. I think he’s a top, top player.” Holden later added: “I think he’s top 10.” Age: 27National team appearances: 73Club team: Real Madrid (Spain) Valverde has been an absolute machine for Real Madrid over the past four seasons, making at least 54 appearances in each campaign. Teams that win major trophies need a player like Valverde in midfield, as his motor will not stop over the course of the 90 minutes. He will do all the necessary dirty work while also contributing to his team’s attack. Uruguay is not among the favorites, but the two-time world champions will not be an easy out with Valverde leading the midfield. “It’s his importance to the Uruguay national team,” Edu said. “He’s an inspirational leader. He’s kind of like that heartbeat for the Uruguay national team.” Edu also highlighted Valverde’s longevity and consistency at club level. “This is the only reason why I’m kind of slightly saying that I would put Valverde above Rodri,” Edu said. “A player that’s been in Real Madrid what feels like forever.” 2026 FIFA World Cup Top 100 Players: Nos. 10-1 Age: 23National team appearances: 40Club team: Barcelona (Spain) Pedri went from playing in Spain’s second division to making 52 appearances for Barcelona in 2020. Since then, he has become one of the best players in the world as a box-to-box midfielder for the Spanish giants. Pedri has already made 40 appearances for Spain at 24 years old, but he missed the run-in to the final of Euro 2024 after suffering a knee injury in the quarterfinal against Germany. When fit, Pedri is one of the first names on Spain’s formidable team sheet, which is especially impressive given the range of midfield depth that La Roja possess. When the reigning European champions are playing, expect to see a lot of Pedri all over the pitch. Age: 26National team appearances: 37Club team: Paris Saint-Germain (France) From a failed loan move to Wolverhampton Wanderers to one of the best players in the world, Vitinha is the top-ranked midfield player on this list. The Portuguese maestro played 19 Premier League games for Wolves during the 2020-21 season, but the club decided against making the move permanent. He returned to Porto and was sensational the following season before moving to PSG in 2022. Since then, he has become the best on-ball midfielder in the world. Last season, he became PSG’s motor en route to a Champions League title and has not slowed down since. Portugal’s midfield is stacked with Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) and PSG teammate Joao Neves. Vitinha will be the conductor. Age: 27National team appearances: 95Club team: Paris Saint-Germain (France) Another PSG player, Hakimi is the top-ranked defender on this list, although he’s not necessarily this high because of his defense. Born in Madrid to Moroccan parents, Hakimi went through the ranks at Real Madrid before making successful moves to Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan and PSG. In the French capital, he has further established himself as a force on the right wing. Few players in world soccer can match his pace, and he has also proven to be a more-than-capable defender. Hakimi was one of the stars that led Morocco to the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup. Having already made 95 appearances for his country at just 27 years old, any success that Morocco has this summer will depend on how its star man performs. Age: 25National team appearances: 47Club team: Real Madrid (Spain) Few players grab headlines like Vini Jr. The 25-year-old joined Real Madrid at 18 years old and has made more than 370 appearances for Los Blancos. He has won the Champions League twice, including scoring the winner in both finals in 2022 and 2024. For the national team, though, Vini has not reached the same heights he has with his club. He is yet to win a major trophy at the international level but will be front and center of Brazil’s efforts this season. Vini will start on the left wing and be a focal point for manager Carlo Ancelotti, who coached him to those Champions League triumphs in Madrid. Age: 25National team appearances: 49Club team: Manchester City (England) Haaland is a 6-foot-5 monster whose pace and size are unmatched. He has scored more than 160 goals in his first four seasons with Manchester City, establishing himself as the best goal-scorer in the Premier League. He has been even more prolific for Norway with 55 goals in 49 appearances for the national team. Haaland has won the Premier League and Champions League, and he also has three Golden Boots as the Premier League’s top scorer on his resume. Next for him is success at the international level. This will be his first major tournament with Norway, which is potentially poised to break through this summer. Age: 24National team appearances: 15Club team: Bayern Munich (Germany) Olise was known as a very good playmaker for Crystal Palace in the Premier League, but he has gone into a new stratosphere since moving to Bayern Munich in 2024. The London-born playmaker has 41 goals and 46 assists through his first two seasons with the German giants. In that time, he established himself as a key player for France. He has only made 15 appearances for Les Bleus, but he will be a key player on the right wing for manager Didier Deschamps with his silky smooth dribbling and elegant left foot. Speaking of that incredible French attack… Age: 28National team appearances: 58Club team: Paris Saint-Germain (France) Dembélé won the Ballon d’Or as the best player in the world in 2025 after winning the Champions League with PSG. He played center forward for the French titans during that run but will likely find himself on the wing during the World Cup. Dembélé played six injury-riddled seasons with Barcelona before moving to PSG in 2023 and has thrived as the star since Kylian Mbappé moved to Real Madrid. This summer, Dembélé will feature alongside Mbappé and Olise to create one of the best attacking trios international soccer has ever seen. We’ll find out whether France can turn that collection of talent into another World Cup triumph. Age: 32National team appearances: 112Club team: Bayern Munich (Germany) Kane does not have the physical traits of Haaland. He is simply the most prolific goal-scorer in the world, though. The former Tottenham star just finished his third season with Bayern Munich and has 139 goals in 143 appearances. He also averaged 23.3 goals per season during his nine full-time campaigns for Spurs. Kane is England’s all-time-leading scorer with 78 goals, and he is 13 appearances shy of the all-time record for most appearances for the Three Lions. He consistently finds space in the opposition’s 18-yard box and usually makes teams pay when he does. England reached the semifinals in 2018 and the quarterfinals in 2022. At 32 years old, this might be Kane’s last opportunity to lift the trophy and bring the World Cup back to England for the first time in 60 years. Age: 27National team appearances: 96Club team: Real Madrid (Spain) Mbappé has scored at least 39 goals in each of the last six seasons between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. His pace is what separates him from Kane, as the Frenchman has the ability to blow past any defender to create chances for himself. Mbappe’s coming-out party was in 2018, when he scored four goals (three in the knockout stage) en route to France’s World Cup triumph. Since then, though, he has not won a major trophy beyond Ligue 1 with PSG outside of the UEFA Nations League in 2021. Mbappé has been in the headlines recently as he ends a second straight trophy-less season with Real Madrid. He will captain France this summer, though, and is in a great position to lift the World Cup on July 19. Age: 18National team appearances: 25Club team: Barcelona (Spain) Over the past three years, Yamal has taken over global soccer. He made his Barcelona debut as a 15-year-old in May 2023 and made his first start right after turning 16. Since then, he has made more than 150 appearances for Barcelona and 30 for Spain. He turned 17 during Euro 2024, during which he powered La Roja to win the tournament. Yamal suffered a hamstring injury in late April and faces a fitness race to ensure he’s healthy for the World Cup. When he’s fit, the young phenom will be on the right wing wreaking havoc on opposing defenses. 2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch The 2026 FIFA 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. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19). The opening match on June 11 between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will stream for free on Tubi, as well as the USA’s opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET). Watch FIFA World Cup 2026: Stream all 104 games on FOX One. Start your free trial today.