Romania’s manager, Mircea Lucescu, was warmly received in Turkey before the Turkey-Romania match. A Turkish journalist kissed Lucescu’s hand at the press conference. Lucescu previously managed Turkish sides Galatasaray and Besiktas, as well as the Turkish national team.
Victor Hedman is away from the Tampa Bay Lightning on a temporary leave absence for personal reasons. The team announced the news on Wednesday. The 35-year-old defenseman and captain has missed Tampa Bay’s past three games.
The Republic of Ireland are set to visit the Czech Republic in a World Cup playoff semi-final. Séamus Coleman believes the Republic of Ireland have “a duty” to lift the country by qualifying for a World Cup finals. A home playoff final against Denmark or North Macedonia awaits the winner of the semi-final.
Brazil are set to face France in a friendly match in Boston, as both teams prepare for the upcoming World Cup. The match is scheduled for Thursday and will be broadcast on ITV4 and streamed on ITVX in the UK. Both sides have key players missing through injury.
The WNBA has a new collective bargaining agreement which the players and board of governors have unanimously approved. The new agreement will bring historical gains in player salaries for 2026 and beyond. The salary cap will be $7 million per team in 2026, a significant increase from $1.5 million in 2025.
Wales are getting used to high-stakes matches as they aim to qualify for another major tournament. They host Bosnia-Herzegovina in a World Cup play-off semi-final. Head coach Craig Bellamy says the players are used to this.
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ plans for Jalen Ramsey are becoming clear after their free agency signings and pre-draft evaluations. Ramsey, who struggled as an outside cornerback last year, is likely to be an overpaid slot cornerback who may also play some safety. The team has added depth at cornerback and safety, pointing to a defined role for Ramsey.
FIFA has announced the final phase of ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup. The tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will run from June 11 to July 19. FIFA has faced criticism over its ticket pricing strategy for the tournament.
Since the beginning of 2026, the NBA has seen significant shifts in team performance and playoff positioning. The Charlotte Hornets have experienced a major turnaround, while the Detroit Pistons have faced challenges due to injuries. Several teams have capitalised on changes to improve their standings.
Six teams are preparing for one last chance to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026 through the interconfederation playoffs. The FIFA Playoff Tournament will see two teams seal their place in the tournament cohosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. Separate playoffs are also being held by UEFA for the final four European qualifiers.
