World Cup 2026 group stage: has expanded format killed the drama of the final round?
The expanded 2026 World Cup format has left eight teams with nothing to play for heading into the final round of the group stage, raising serious questions about competitive integrity. Critics argue that dead-rubber matches create conditions ripe for match manipulation or half-hearted performances. The situation has sparked debate about whether FIFA's expansion from 32 to 48 teams has fundamentally undermined group-stage jeopardy. FIFA has defended the format as giving more nations the opportunity to participate.
With the 2026 Hockey Hall of Fame class freshly announced, attention has already turned to who could be inducted in 2027. The piece ranks the leading candidates based on their career achievements and eligibility. No official nominations have been made yet for the 2027 class.
US authorities have eased entry rules for Iran's national football team ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The squad will be permitted to arrive in Seattle two days before their group-stage match against Egypt. Polish referee Szymon Marciniak has been assigned to officiate that game.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Iran that no country has the right to charge tolls for passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The UN announced it will evacuate sailors currently stranded in the strait. Tensions around the strategically critical waterway remain high.
Rockstar Games has confirmed that GTA 6 pre-orders will go live on Thursday, June 25. Rumors based on a Portuguese retailer listing suggest the standard edition could cost up to $100 / £80, though no official price has been confirmed. PS5 players looking to save money are being pointed toward £70 PlayStation Store gift cards as a potential workaround.
In case you missed it, Rockstar Games has finally announced that GTA 6 pre-orders will go live on Thursday, 25th June, which has opened the floodgates of excitement and relief, as the feared potential delays have now been put to bed.However, there's one major factor that we'll have to wait to find out on the very day, and that's how much GTA 6 will cost for PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S. Rumors based on recent Portuguese retailer listings suggest we could see a potential £80 / $100 price tag for the standard edition, but there's still no confirmation.At the very least, we can predict that Rockstar's blockbuster title will hit the £70 region. Regardless, there's bound to be an influx of console users looking for the best way to save on gaming's biggest event in 2026 — and if you're a PS5 user, you're in luck.(Image credit: Rockstar / PlayStation)The £70 PlayStation Store gift card gives users access to a choice of one among a huge catalog of PlayStation's first-party exclusives and other third-party games, and serves as a bargain leading into GTA 6's pre-order day.View DealFortunately, the £70 PlayStation Store gift card is available on ShopTo for £60.85 (was £70), thanks to a significant 13% discount. Effectively, you'll be paying the previous standard £59.99 price model for £70 games — and in this case, you'll save a significant amount on GTA 6.If Rockstar matches Nintendo's £79.99 price standard, the £10 PlayStation Store gift card, available for £9.85 (was £10), will come in handy for buyers. Luckily, all gift cards are discounted at ShopTo, and better yet, ShopTo users with 'Gold' or 'Silver' memberships can get further discounts at checkout.It's worth taking a gamble now with securing the wallet funds, as discounted gift cards at multiple retailers like ShopTo are likely going to skyrocket in demand, so now may be the last chance to secure your GTA 6 purchase at the lowest possible price.Prime Day deals in the UKAmazon Prime: get a 30-day free trialAmazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99Amazon Haul: up to 30% offApple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple WatchAppliances: up to 45% off Ninja & TefalBeauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-BEssentials: household goods from £5Fans: from £20Fashion: up to 50% offGaming: £90 off PlayStation 5Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & SonyLaptops: from £149Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99Toys: up to 25% off Lego and ToniesTVs: from £129.99Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & RoborockWearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura
19-year-old Swedish forward Felicia Schroeder has left BK Hacken to join Real Madrid in a move described as the most expensive transfer ever in women's football. The fee has not been officially disclosed. Schroeder is considered one of European women's football's brightest young talents.
Cristiano Ronaldo became the first footballer ever to score at six different World Cups. The opinion piece argues he should now retire from international duty to protect his legacy and allow Portugal's national team to develop without depending on a 40-year-old star.
The Garmin Venu 4 is on sale for $499.99 (down from $549.99) at Amazon US during the Prime Day sale, its lowest-ever price. The reviewer rates it the best Garmin for most people due to its blend of comprehensive fitness features and a sleek, office-friendly design. It suits everyday users well, though hardcore trail runners and orienteers may want more specialist options.
The Garmin Venu 4 is a great Garmin watch, but it doesn't necessarily look like a Garmin. Most people think of the lumpy black Fenix, Forerunner, and Instinct ranges, but the Venu series has always been a bit sleeker, just at home in the office as it is on the trail or in the gym. Consequently, I labeled it my 'best Garmin watch for most people' when I reviewed it in October last year, and that remains my opinion due to its status as the ideal all-rounder watch: enough features to satisfy everyone but die-hard trail enthusiasts and orienteers, and an understated look ideal for modern life. It was my opinion when the watch was full price, and it's definitely still my opinion now that it's hit a lowest-ever price during the Amazon Prime Day sales. • Browse the full Amazon Prime Day saleRight now, the Garmin Venu 4 can be found on sale at Amazon US for $499.99 (was $549.99) with a $50 Prime Day discount for both 41mm and 45mm models, taking it to just $2 above its lowest price yet, according to our deals-checking tools. But the real gem of a deal is in the UK: the Garmin Venu 4 41mm in Black is discounted to £354 (was £469.99), a 25% discount and the lowest price. Other colorways and sizes cost more, but all are discounted to some degree. The closest you can get to the Black model's price is the 45mm Grey color, which costs £365 (down from the same £469.99). Check out the deals in full below. Not in the US or the UK? Scroll down for the best deals in your area. Today's best Garmin Venu 4 dealsRight now you can save $50 on both 41mm and 45mm Garmin Venu 4 models, in a variety of colors: Black and Lunar Gold for the 41mm, Grey and Citron for the 45mm. Up to 10 days of battery life, great workout and wellness tracking, and lots of Garmin Connect IQ third-party app support. View DealSave a hefty 25% on the Black 41mm of the Garmin Venu 4. If you're looking for a bigger size, the 45mm is available for £365 in Grey and £368.49 in Citron yellow.View DealAre you after something a little cheaper? The Garmin Vivoactive 5 is a similar all-rounder fitness tracker, albeit less premium and older than the Garmin Venu 4. Where the Venu uses metal, the Vivoactive uses plastic, and the Vivoactive uses an older heart rate sensor. It misses out on a few key smartwatch features such as the voice assistant and some more advanced workout metrics. However, it's currently very affordable and is a great budget alternative. The Garmin Vivoactive 5 is a fantastic all-rounder fitness smartwatch with tonnes of workout plans, a crisp AMOLED display, onboard GPS, and 11 days of battery life. At this price, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better-performing watch for general fitness, health, and exercise tracking.View DealA lowest-ever price on the Garmin Vivoactive 5 means there's never been a better time to snap this up. Garmin's comprehensive and (still mostly free) app has served me well for years, while the Vivoactive 5 at this price is an easly swallow for Fitbit users used to cheaper devices. View DealMore Prime Day deals in the US Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair toolsCheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & SamsungLaptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothingVacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34More Amazon Prime Day deals in the UKAmazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trialAmazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £21.99Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low priceAppliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & SageEssentials: household goods from under £10Laptops: from £149.99Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125TVs: from £129.99
Portugal beat Uzbekistan 5-0 in a FIFA World Cup Group K match played in Houston. Cristiano Ronaldo, who had been criticised for a poor performance in Portugal's opening game, responded with two goals. Colombia vs. Democratic Republic of Congo is the other fixture in Group K.
The NHL is eyeing Texas for its next expansion push, with Austin and Houston identified as the primary target cities, according to ESPN sources. The league is moving to begin the formal expansion process in the state. Texas would represent a major new market for professional ice hockey in the United States.
A United Nations commission has published a report concluding that Israeli killings of children in Gaza following a ceasefire amount to genocide. Israel's UN mission flatly rejected the findings, calling the report a "libelous sham" and dismissing the investigating commission as a "fundamentally flawed mechanism."
Elon Musk's SpaceX is set to raise $25 billion through a debut bond offering split into five parts. The company is paying a relatively wide premium over U.S. Treasury yields to attract buyers for the deal, according to sources familiar with the matter. The offering marks SpaceX's first-ever entry into the public debt markets.
Speedway rider Oskar Paluch admitted after a match in Wrocław that he struggles to push his bike forward on tracks of that type and would like more practice on similar surfaces. Teammate Nikodem Mikołajczyk explained what competing in the PGE Ekstraliga gives him as a rider. Both shared their post-match reflections.
Menlo Ventures has closed a new $3 billion fund, riding the success of its bold $750 million investment in AI company Anthropic made in 2024. That single bet established Menlo's reputation as a leading AI-focused venture capital firm. The new fund is expected to continue the firm's AI-heavy investment strategy.
Giles Hussey, ranked 293rd in the world, defeated seeded Matteo Arnaldi — one of the recent Roland Garros sensations — in three sets in the first round of the ATP 250 grass-court tournament in Eastbourne. Ugo Humbert also advanced to the next round.
According to a report, ICE agents led by Kristi Noem left two dogs alone in an apartment without food or water for a week after detaining their owners. ICE's official policy states that pet owners are given the opportunity to make arrangements for their animals before being detained, but that did not happen in this case.
Ahead of Algeria's final group-stage match against Austria at the World Cup, analysts have calculated that neither team may benefit from winning, making a deliberate draw a potentially rational outcome. The unusual standings situation in the group has sparked speculation about a possible collusive result. Commentators are calling it one of the most bizarre scenarios of the tournament.
Škoda has officially unveiled the Peaq, a large electric SUV that becomes the Czech brand's new flagship model. The car represents a significant refresh of Škoda's lineup and aligns with the Volkswagen Group's broader electrification strategy.
The United States has allowed Iran's national soccer team to remain on American soil for two days following their third group-stage match against Egypt on Friday at the World Cup. After that window, the Iranian squad will be required to leave the country.
GKS Katowice, set to make their debut in the Polish men's volleyball top flight PlusLiga next season as a promoted side, have announced their first signings. The club's management revealed the names of the new players joining the squad ahead of the upcoming season.
Klue has disclosed that hackers stole a credential dating back to 2022 — left active after a limited pilot programme — and used it to breach a system holding keys for accessing customer data. The company has not explained why the credential was never revoked after the pilot ended, leaving a critical security gap open for years.
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